Submitted by David Warder
It’s hard to believe, but it was 10 years ago – 2015 – when the Christmas Cantata Choir branched out and experimented with a Cantata for Easter. I still remember my anxiety. Would the choir like the piece I had bought? Would the public? Would the churches approve? Would anybody come?
All of the answers were yes! Here we are, 10 years later.
The first several years, we performed Cantatas composed in the form of a Tenebrae Service, incorporating the lighting, then extinguishing, of candles as the Story of Holy Week is retold and we get closer to the Crucifixion. Many of these Cantatas made reference to shadows.
I am always looking for new ways to tell the familiar stories. Two thousand years later, it really is possible to hear something new if you listen for it. I also find that current events have a huge impact on how we listen to the familiar stories. It’s incredible how some other angle to the story becomes more or less relevant depending on our own life circumstances.
So, last year, we moved away from the Tenebrae Service; away from the candles and the shadows. We incorporated several character actors who retold the story in a modern way. This was juxtaposed with music using ancient hymn tunes and words. Combined, it was a very effective way to present an ancient story that remains relevant to this day. It all could have happened in modern times.
And now, for something completely different!
This year’s Cantata was composed in 2023. It includes contemporary songs, some of which have quite upbeat tunes and rhythms. The thread that ties them all together is love. I chose this Cantata long before our world was turned upside down by threats and tariffs, a resurgence of national pride and unity, a big dose of fear and despair and back-to-back elections. There are many days when its not that hard to imagine a scenario where an angry mob tries to take matters into its own hands.
What strikes me about this Cantata is how it juxtaposes all the terrible things that happened during Holy Week with a constant, underlying current that reminds us of the love that was happening even in the midst of the awfulness. Could the same be happening today? It really makes one think.
This Cantata even includes a hymn that I have never liked, but now I love it (pardon the pun) because I get it when it is presented in the context of this Cantata.
I don’t want to give it all away, but I do think you’re going to hear the story in a new way if you come out to hear this year’s Cantata. In fact, if you’ve got time, I think you might want to come and hear it twice. You can get a bit caught up in the toe-tapping tunes and miss some of the subtly presented underlying drama.
Get your calendars out! There are 3 opportunities to catch the Cantata:
• Palm Sunday, April 13 at 7:30 pm, we’ll be at the Tobermory United Church (5 Brock Street).
• Good Friday, April 18 at 10:30 am, we’re at Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church (18 Ferndale Road) in Lion’s Head and, at 7:30 pm, we’re at Cape Croker United Church (Pit Road and Community Centre Road) in Neyaashiinigmiing.
We will be collecting donations at all 3 sites. After the choir’s expenses are paid, the surplus will go towards the Redevelopment of the Golden Dawn Senior Citizen Home in Lion’s Head.
