Singing the way forward

On December 10 and 11 the Auroville Choir, led by Nuria, presented an evening of a cappella ‘Spirituals and Gospel Songs’. These originated predominantly in the American South and emerged through the African American community’s experience and response to slavery and discrimination. A large choir of about forty men and women performed in the CRIPA hall. An overflowing audience braved the dug-up roads and post cyclonic weather to enjoy a choral evening of a dozen or so songs sung with a familiar high quality.

The evening began with ‘The Storm Is Passing Over’, followed by ‘Shoshone Love Song’ which celebrates faith and the relationship we have with the natural world. This was followed by ‘The Battle of Jericho’ where the city’s walls come tumbling down. The highlight of the evening, with a marching beat and powerful call, was ‘Stand Up’, which comes from the 2019 film about Harriet Tubman, the American abolitionist. The performance ended with ‘Lean On Me’ from Bill Withers and, lastly, Pete Seeger’s version of ‘We Shall Overcome’. These songs share a sense of solace whilst in struggle and name some of the elements that help, namely community, hope and the power of voice itself.

Art has often spoken truth to power, and many of these songs come from the slave heritage that speaks to promised Biblical redemption, eventual justice and inner and outer freedom. Nina Simone’s ‘Mississippi Goddam’ is among other examples of this powerful heritage which has also sounded a note of warning for us all.

This was a timely evening of upliftment and hope, shared in community.