Tree of Science, January 22

An important disclaimer to almost everything I say about Williams is the fact that I am an alum of the "Fairest College",  Amherst.  Indeed, while I was at the "Singing College", I sang for many years with the Glee Club, a boy-sterous group that sang sacred music to madrigals, spirituals to anthems, bawdy beer songs in solo to more refined pieces partnered with Smith and Wheaton. We sang, always in tails, and whenever possible, without music.

At this time, one year, we sang civil rights music together with our longtime friends at Morehouse and Spelman at the National Cathedral.  There is no more challenging environment in which to sing than a quarter-mile long stone building, carpeted by a floor of people in down coats.  Nor more rewarding.  Our brothers and sisters from those other fine singing schools taught us something that night: good friends make better music.

Williams, too, has a strong history of song, with an especially large number of groups singing a cappella.  Some actually do sing in chapels!  Tonight, at St. John's Church, in sight of the Tree of Science, I was lucky enough to hear the sweet tones of Pickup, a small, informal, spontaneous group that that surfaced this fall to sing 4- and 8-part pieces.

The audience in this acoustically lovely room just barely exceeded the group in size, but the offerings from Tallis to Pearsall warmed this cold night.  Congratulations!

* * *

It's tempting, these days, to place people in boxes: Red State Senator, Yankee fan, science student, glee club/frat boy, southern preacher.  It's all the more surprising, then, to find all people lead lives with many facets.  When our local super market (or the "SUU-per MARR-ket" as our local locals used to say) was open 24-hours per day, I'd shop at 1 or 2am when the music tended more toward Rocky Horror or Queen balladry.  It was not uncommon to run across students in Aisle 3 seeking a late-night snack, dancing and singing with great abandon.  The moment was typically one of mutual shock: this student sings or that professor eats. As Tom (or, perhaps, Ray) pointed out, Reality often astonishes Theory.

Among the few I know above: a cabinet maker and glass artist, a cyclist and arranger, and a puzzlist and font designer.  I can't wait to hear more!

* * *

And, now, because I can, and you can't even comment:

To the Fairest College

To the fairest college of them all,

  We will sing with hearty will.

Till the echoes from each classic hall

  Fill our hearts with answering thrill.

We will sing of many a victory,

  On diamond, field, and track.

Midst the golden haze of college days,

  Our hearts to thee turn back.

Hail Alma Mater!

  Our well-loved mother,

Old Amherst, here's to thee:

We'll love thee ever,

  All bound together,

And ever faithful be.