Sunday was the last day together for Weston Noble and the Carthage Choir – and amidst everything else which went on, there were two moments when director and singers could say thank you and Godspeed to one other. The first came right after Baccalaureate. As I vocalized the choir earlier that morning (Mr. Noble was up in Siebert, rehearsing with the instrumentalists for the Rutter) I announced that they all needed to return to the recital hall right after the service was over. . . even the seniors, despite the fact that they had family with whom they surely were anxious to be with. . . because this would be the last opportunity for Mr. Noble to say a few words to the choir – and for them in turn to present him with a gift. And I am so thrilled and happy that – as far as I can tell – pretty much everybody made it to the recital hall as requested, including the seniors. Mr. Noble began and his words to the choir were most eloquent – and I especially loved when he told them of how moved he was by their singing of Walter Rodby’s “The Lord Bless you and keep you” at the end- which is the traditional concert closer for the choir and has been for a long time. This is a piece which Mr. Noble basically did not know at all before this year- and frankly a piece of music which did not impress him as great music by any stretch. But he had the choir sing it as part of pre-concert devotions on tour- and for baccalaureate, senior Caitlin Smulski conducted it. Mr. Noble said that as he listened to them sing that piece, for each other and for everyone there, he found himself really touched in a way that hasn’t really happened before with that piece. He said that it was sign to him that he has a bit of Carthage now in the depths of his soul, and that piece of music was obviously touching that part of his soul very deeply. It was a neat moment. And as Mr. Noble shared with them the glorious news (which some of them already knew) that Carthage would be giving him an honorary doctorate that afternoon, he wept.
Then it was the choir’s turn, as choir secretary Jennifer Bodrie – who has such a way with words – said thank you on behalf of the choir and presented him with a memory book which includes a personal letter of appreciation from nearly every member of the choir – plus photographs from throughout the year. Mr. Noble replied, gratefully, that he looks forward to reading every single word of every single letter. And I know he will. The choir will also be presenting him, at some point, with a color photograph of the choir taken on campus (my favorite pose is in front of the lake).
And after that were hugs (and a few tears) and photos taken…. and that was cool to see so many of the choir members requesting that a photo be taken of them standing beside Weston Noble. As some of them cried, I realized that this was for many of them the moment when it was first hitting them in the solar plexus that all this was about to end and that very likely this would be the very last time to see Mr. Noble and exchange words or a hug. What could be more bittersweet?
At commencement, the choir sang Besley’s “Alleluia” wonderfully well . . . and then, when Mr. Noble motioned for them to be seated, the choir stayed standing – and Dr. Ripley walked over from his place by the wind ensemble (as previously arranged) to whisper into Mr. Noble’s ear that the choir was about to surprise him with a little something. Simultaneously, these words flashed on the screen:
In tribute to Weston Noble,
and as a surprise for him,
the Carthage Choir will sing
“God be with you ‘til we Meet Again.”
It worked nicely that I was already at the piano, could give them their pitches, and get them started. And they sang this so beautifully – so tenderly – so musically – and so expressively.
This was my idea and I thought of it for several different reasons. First of all, on my last Sunday as organist at Southwood Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, Pastor Hanselman chose this as the final hymn. And I have tears in my eyes now as I type this. The organ at that church was located at the back of the sanctuary, and during my postlude I would almost always have at least two or three little kids sitting beside me on the bench or watching and listening; I don’t know just how that happened, but it was partly possible because I’m someone who would typically make up the postlude and not have to worry about watching any music- so I could play and also chat with these young friends of mine, and did. Anyway, that day, as the congregation began to sing that hymn, some of those kids started making their way back to the organ – several of them crying, as was I – and we wallowed our way through this hymn as best we could. I know that for young people, such moment can seem so monumental at the time but eventually fade away altogether, so I have no idea if any of them still remember any of this at all. But I remember it and I always will- and five weeks ago when we sang “God be with you til we meet again” as the closing hymn at church, I cried my eyes out …. mostly remembering that poignant day in Lincoln when it was time to say goodbye.
I also wanted this to happen because back in the spring of 1999, for Dr. Windh’s final concert with the Carthage Choir, I arranged the same thing as a surprise from the choir to him. I think he appreciated the gesture, although I strongly suspect that the hymn itself is not a favorite and didn’t resonate with him except as a sweet gesture. I liked how this could be an echo of that gesture from almost ten years ago.
I also chose / suggested it because I knew that rehearsal time would be almost absurdly limited and we needed to be doing something rather simple. (I had originally thought of the choir singing my setting of Simeon’s Song, which would have been cool – but we ran through it right after the choir posed for its photographs for Mr. Noble, and I knew right away that this song would require more time than we could possibly have to really prepared adequately.) I knew this hymn could be prepared in very short order (we probably had a grand total of 15 minutes of rehearsal – once after a rehearsal with Dr. Dennee for which Mr. Noble was absent- once right before a pizza party which about 30 of the singers attended- (I stationed one of the choir members out in the hall, just to make sure that Mr. Noble didn’t walk in on us.) And then there was five minutes right after I vocalized them for baccalaureate. That was it – and obviously under those circumstances you’re not going to choose a movement from Bach’s B minor Mass as your little surprise. This was doable- and its simplicity was also ideal for the audience. They would understand and grasp every word and the gesture would mean something to everyone.
But mostly, I wanted this to happen because Mr. Noble so deeply admires the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – and they end every one of their concerts with this hymn. So I knew that this hymn and these words would have a powerful impact on him. . . and these words would be so fitting, especially as Mr. Noble goes off for a new adventure in a place called Waverly, Iowa . . . and to who knows what other adventures after that? Almost certainly, his path will take him far from Carthage, most likely never to return. . . which made singing these words even more poignant for the Carthage Choir members who have come to love this man so much:
God be with you ‘til we meet again.
By His counsels, guide, uphold you.
With His sheep securely fold you.
God be with you ‘til we meet again.
God be with you ‘til we meet again.
If life’s trials should confound you,
God will put His arms around you.
God be with you ‘til we meet again.
Perhaps you know this- I didn’t until rather recently. . . the word Goodbye is actually a contraction of “God be with ye.” So what better way could there have been to say goodbye?