35 years of music

Landmark moments in life deserve rich celebration, and the Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir, after 35 years of educating children in the music of the church and Canadian culture has done just that. This recording, the latest in a number of projects, weaves a rich tapestry of music from various times, cultures and experiences. With these able bodied musical guides we traverse North America and enter into the lives of fishing villages on the east coast, enjoy the rhythms of African people, dance and move with southern gospel rhythms, and sail to England to hear songs of faith by John Rutter.

The children sing with a full sound, and I had no difficulty understanding the texts because they sing with clear diction and have learned their phrasing well. The choir is ably accompanied and the addition of other instruments maintains listener interest.

The sound of boys and girls singing is a disarming one. “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” (Matthew 21:16) is proved true when one listens to this recording. The innocence of the unchanged voice quickly winds its way into ones heart. One wonders if the world would be a different place if we listened to what children could tell us through song.

Tony Funk teaches music and worship at Columbia Bible College, directs the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir and sings with the Vancouver Cantata Singers.