On the weekend before the upcoming presidential election, we want to buoy your spirits and elevate the joy factor by presenting our exhilarating concert: “Hold On, Hold Hope. “
Join us on Saturday November 2 at 7:00pm and Sunday November 3 at 4:00pm in the Foundry Theater, 920 Corry St. in Yellow Springs. We take our title from the traditional African-American spiritual, “Hold On.” During the Civil Rights Movement, words from this spiritual were changed from “keep your hand on the plow, hold on” to “keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.” These new verses still resonate for us today:
The only thing we did wrong was stay in the wilderness a day too long.
The only thing we did right was the day we started to fight.
The only chain that we can stand is the chain of hand in hand.
Keep you eyes on the prize……HOLD ON.
Our eclectic program includes a newly composed composition by Elizabeth Alexander called, “Disenfranchised.” It will delight you and resonate with Ohio’s anti-gerrymandering ballot Issue 1.
We will sing the poignant “Take Care of this House,” from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, the well loved song from Leonard Bernstein’s
unsuccessful Broadway musical.
Take care of this house, keep it from harm, if bandits break in, sound the alarm.
Fifty years ago, the ever-inspiring Mavis Staples wrote “If You’re Ready, Come Go with Me.” with lyrics:
No economical exploitation and no political domination
love is the only transportation to where there’s total communication.
This song still transports us to a hope filled future. Our soloist, alto Queen Zabriskie, is guaranteed bring the house down.
Finally, how do we honor the peacemakers among us? It is important to remember and acknowledge that people on both sides of current conflicts continue to work together toward peace. A short movement from Mendelssohn’s oratorio St. Paul includes a piece “How Lovely Are the Messengers that Preach Us the Gospel of Peace.” We dedicate this to those in our community who seek to understand the complexity and strive to connect across differences through dialogue and listening.
As always, there will be audience participation songs: “Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz and “Standing on the Side of Love” by Jason Shelton.
The World House Choir invites you to take a breather and join us during the final days leading up to this unprecedented election. Childcare is available, but you must reserve a spot for your child by calling 937-207-1517 before October 28.
All are welcome.
Admission is free, donations are welcome.