DeVaughn Norwood 12.4.

12 ENGL 1010 Jennifer Jameson E Pluribus, Unum: Part 2 Folklore is not just all old-time cowboys and saloons, tobacco dip and Paul Bunyan tales. It covers all areas of culture, even those that are just arising. The category of folklore that is dedicated to new cultural traditions is called emergent traditions or contemporary subcultures. Raymond Williams, cultural historian, defined emergent culture as the result of processes where new meanings and values, new practices, new relationships and kinds of relationships are continually being created. A great example of a contemporary tradition is that of the college gospel choir. In this essay, I will focus on the perspective of the choir director, honing in on how and why the director leads a coir, what makes a great director, and the different things that a director may do in the way of culture, including jokes, lingo, dress, and even events. In order to do this, I sat in on and practiced with MTSUs gospel choir, the Generation of Praise Gospel Choir and talked with its choir director, Ms. Bethany Paschall. I, myself am an insider to this gospel choir. I have been going to these practices since the beginning of the school year and Ive sung in my churchs choirs since I was fourteen, so I never thought that I had missed so much in the way of the choir director. After having read Victoria Browns essay on the dynamics of the choir and the choir practice, I felt compelled to go a step further and learn what it is to be the choirs director. First, in order to find out how she leads the choir, I needed to ask Bethany on why she leads the choir. I chose to lead this choir because I wanted to be a mother figure to these college students who are away from home and their

families. I wanted to be a role model, sort of, to the choir because Ive been in college and Ive gone through the same things that they have or will go through. So, how exactly does a motherly choir director lead? Before I asked Bethany on her methodology for directing, I watched her lead the choir (me included) in singing the song No Rock b Malcolm Williams. I watched as she stretched her arms wide or pinched her fingers together and stamped her feet or swung her head back. I watched as she pointed at each section of the choir-sopranos, altos, tenors- and directed them what to sing at a specific time. I listened as she corrected pronunciation and notes and helped with the timing of the words. I watched as she communicated with the musicians, the drummer and pianist and bass guitarist. I watched as she shouted out the words in joy and reverie and complete adoration. I watched as she clapped her hands. After the song had been finished and the last ooo had been sung, I asked her what all that moving around and pointing and shouting was about. She replied that its just a form of communication between director and choir, and director and God. The gestures that she used helped the choir understand how to sing and what to sing. Without her, the choir would be lost. So, after talking with her and hearing her responses, I couldnt help but to think This woman is amazing. She is utterly great. So, I asked, What makes a great choir director? In specific, what makes a great college choir director? According to Chris Rowbury, a renowned British choral director, a director must possess these six qualities: enthusiasm...fun...decisiveness...clarity...musicality...and patience. When I asked Bethany, she sat quietly for a moment and just stared at the floor, thinking (I think). Then suddenly she chuckled and said, I dont believe that there is such a thing as a great director, for there is no one correct way to direct, you know? She went on to say that directing isnt all about hand motions and telling the tenors to sing this and the altos not to sing that; it also involves leadership

and responsibility, respect and concern and care. A leader has to be able to do all things favorable so as to bring about a change daily in the life of each choir member. In essence, in addition to directing the singing, she has to be a spiritual counselor or therapist of sorts as well. To round off the interview, I talked with Bethany about the more entertaining things, such as the lingo or slang associated with choir directors (To be honest, there isnt much thats just used by choir directors.) We also talked about dress. Dress, according to Bethany, is a very important concept for a choirs success. For instance, if the choir was singing in a concert, and each choir member had on some completely different type of outfit than the person next to them, it creates a sense of discord and the audiences enjoyment of the music would be hindered by all of the different colors and styles being worn. But, if the choir came to the concert dressed in the same color scheme and similar outfits, then there comes the sense of unity and togetherness. Also, it just simply looks better.