Church shares message through music

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| Monday, December 20, 2004 12:42 AM CST | () comments

Tamara Fudge

One of the hottest tickets in town this weekend didn't cost spectators a dime.

At least 1,400 people heard members of the First Presbyterian Church of Davenport's adult choir lift their voices for the 15th Annual Christmas Concert, "A Symphony of Carols," held Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Each ticket-required performance was at the historic church on Iowa Street.

"This church has a real history of putting an emphasis on the role of music in worship," said Jane Emeis, an alto in the choir. "A few of our groups require auditions, but there is a choir for anyone who wants to sing," she said.

This last weekend it was apparent that many in that congregation share the desire. Minister of Music Steve R. Jobman had plenty to do to prepare for the event, with 110 members in the adult Sanctuary Choir, 45 in the high school Celebration Singers, 30 girls in the Cecelian Carolers, 30 members of the Cathedral Choir of Young Men and Boys, 14 handbell choir participants and a select Chamber Chorale.

"It's an eclectic mix of Christmas music primarily based on familiar carols," Jobman said. "My big task is to find creative arrangements for orchestra and choir."

An orchestra of 40 professional musicians and a sea of singers filled the front of the church. The silver pipes of the 61-rank Magnusson Memorial Casavant organ, played by church organist Ruth E. Baker, "is always an integral part of the concert," Jobman said.

The choirs often perform works commissioned especially for them. This year they presented the world premiere of Howard Helvey's arrangement of "What Shall We Sing for the Child?"

Jobman started the tradition in 1990 after moving from Galesburg, Ill. The adult choir has performed with celebrities such as Andy Williams and Kenny Rodgers, and since 1993 has participated in the Quad-City Symphony and Festival of Trees Holiday Pops Concert in late November.

Their concerts have been televised on PBS stations across the country.

Much of the congregation works to pull of the massive show. Church member Diane Gere, who assisted on Sunday at the ticket and the table with CDs for sale, said her husband, John, sang in the choir, and their three children, now grown, "grew up in the music of this church," she said.

Emeis, a lifelong member of the church, sang there since she was a little girl. "I met my husband in the high school choir," she said.

The holiday treats weren't just for the ears. The century-old Victorian sanctuary was decorated with care. Red and white poinsettias and well-placed boughs with gold and white ribbons cradling small, clear sparkling Christmas lights adorned the room. A large cr�che was placed in the back, facing the altar.

Attention to detail did not end with the d�cor. Musical attacks and releases, dynamics and diction were carefully executed, showing the musicians' discipline and dedication to their craft.

"The choirs of First Presbyterian church don't exist for music's sake," Jobman said. "The church and the members of the choirs have chosen music as a supreme expression of their faith, and to that end, nothing but our very best is an acceptable offering."

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(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.