Farewell remarks
by
The Very Rev. N. DeLiza Spangler
January 21, 2007
At Farewell Reception for
Drew Cantrill
In one of the books in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles, entitled The Magician’s Nephew, there is a scene where creation comes into being. Aslan the Lion, the Christ figure, sings it into being: mountains, sun, moon and stars. Then creation itself joins into the song, and the stars themselves began to sing. This ties in, of course, with the portion from the Book of Job which talks about how—at creation—all the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
I think there’s something to the idea of creation having been sung into being. It would explain why music speaks to human beings on a very deep level in a way that nothing else can, for it would mean that music lies at the heart of our being, at the heart of our very creation. It’s also interesting that in two of the Gospels, Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn on their way to the Mount of Olives following the Last Supper, when Jesus knew he was soon to die. From our beginning to our end, music is a part of us all.
Drew Cantrill has reminded us of that. We have heard a caliber of music—in selection and sound—that simply is not heard elsewhere. We have heard it day in and day out—and yet we have never taken it for granted.
But Drew has brought more to the life of this cathedral than simply the music. He has taught children and adults about the gift God has given them—and the importance of offering that back to the best of their ability. Drew has taken children whose parents didn’t even know their child could sing (one parent commented that, as far as she knew, her child couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket) and helped them become amazing choristers. Drew once told me that, when he was auditioning children for the choir, the ability to sing then and there wasn’t the top priority. Rather, he focused more on the child’s interest, willingness to work, perseverance and responsibility—and those traits would allow the development of the gift of music.
Once in the choir, our children have learned not only about music, but about Scripture and liturgy. They have learned about the centrality of music to the worship of the Church and individual spirituality. They have learned about real community, about working with those very different from themselves to reach a common goal. And they have learned that they have something very valuable to offer to God, to this cathedral, and to the larger community—not just Buffalo, but the United States and beyond.
Members of the men’s choir have told me that, under Drew, they have sung music that has stretched them, and yet, under his direction, they have done it and done it extraordinarily well. And I, personally, will never forget Tuesday of Holy Week, 2006, when the Schola Cantorum sounded like one voice.
Church music is not an end in and of itself. We all know that. Its purpose is to praise God and enhance our worship. Under the direction of Drew Cantrill, it has done that—and has done much more. It has helped form our youth who participate in the choir; it has changed lives, deepened faith and created a community. It has reminded us that music lies at the heart of who we are—and at the heart of God. It has helped us experience the music underlying creation itself, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
Drew, for all you and your music have given to our children, our adult members, and our life together, we thank you. |
