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It happened in clear view of a 2023 Grammy-nominated a capella ensemble.
I crossed over from staunch defender of babies - that they belong in all spaces, like regular people - to the kind of uppity person who thinks, “Get that baby out of here.”
I didn’t mean to think it. But I guarantee if you’d been there, you would have thought it too.
The Invitation
An enthusiastic email to parents from my son’s choir teacher informed me of “a great opportunity to hear some outstanding choral music.” Voces8 is a British vocal ensemble whose fall tour in the U.S. celebrates the group’s 20th year.
While Voces8’s sound resembles a living choir of angels, their performance isn’t all serious. Most members of the group took turns speaking between sets to share anecdotes, some history of the pieces in the concert, and light jokes.
During one of these interludes, the singer explained that the composer of the next piece had big feelings about the important role that silence plays in music. This composer even added an 8-count rest after the last note!
The Assignment
We were asked to hold our applause until the performance of the next piece was fully complete. Including the 8-count rest, we were reminded.
An overflowing church sat ready to honor the precious silences we were about to hear. We made an unspoken pact that any of us would sooner die than clear our throats while Voces8 observed the rests in the music.
If the the pristine ice melting off a glacier were a sound, that was the sound of the first verse. There was no shifting in our seats or movement of any kind. We held our breath as Voces8 allowed silent space before the next verse. When, suddenly—
“Ba ba ba ba ba.”
The timing of this innocent, clueless baby was impeccable. If we hadn’t just been given strict instructions on minding our overly expressive American selves, it might have been funny.
Voces8 continued to the next verse, and went silent again. “Please don’t do it, baby,” I thought.
“Ah BA ba ba ba ba.”
That was it. I couldn’t think about anything else except how if I heard that baby one more time I was going to lose my carefully held together shit.
In the previous clip, I am John Cusack and smug Tim Robbins is the baby.
I didn’t dare turn around to look at the mother holding the baby, because, in my past I WAS THAT MOTHER.
Also, I hoped that, in a church full of people, many of whom were much crankier than me, I could count on someone in the back to take care of business.
The Finale
Voces8 flawlessly performed the last verse and the last note. It reverberated over the arches in the ceiling, up to the heavens, and back to the bodies in the seats.
The lingering note found the audience’s eyes fixed on the giant cross in the back. We were praying with all our might that we’d heard the last of that demon baby.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight counts of perfect silence.
The choir smiled to let us know we had permission to applaud.
We resumed breathing and let it rip.
Recreate This Date
How: Visit the Voces8 website to view future concert dates.
Travel Time: Depends. But get there early to grab a seat.
Date: The fall tour continues through October 30.
Cost: Thanks to the generous donors of St. George Church, this event was free! Ticket prices probably vary.
In the Bookshop
Anticipating an hour of wait time before the concert, I started a somewhat random library find called Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War, 1930-1944.
So far, so good.
The book cover is perfection. Happy reading!
I’ve been that mother too! I’m so glad you didn’t go John Cusack on her 😉