"Oneness"

This past weekend myself and 11 of my closest friends squeezed into a cozy apartment on the east side of Manhattan for fun, good times, and singing...hours and hours of singing. The soiree was one of our many rehearsals in preparation for our guest appearance at our old college a cappella group's ten year celebration.

For the last song of the evening, we sang Angel by Sarah McLachlan. Angel is a very deep and passionate song, overflowing with emotion and pensive reflection. This song required all of us to utilize staggered breathing, taking deep breaths, and projecting with not just our bodies, but our minds as well. In our college days, it was not uncommon to turn off the lights and stand in a circle with our arms around each other during rehearsals and even at concerts. This particular time was no different. Here's one recording of our rendition.

The song begins simply with held notes in a nice 6/8 feel. The soloist starts out gently with sol, mi, re, do, do, re: a powerful melodic introduction that solidifies the key center through the major pentatonic scale (minus la), and leaves the listener suspended on the re. The background vocals are always moving, giving the listener that sense of being on a small boat in the middle of the ocean...just rolling along in the water, towards some unknown destination. The group stays low-key during the verses with simple doo's for syllables. It is not until all the vocal parts sing the lyrics of the chorus with the soloist that the feeling of oneness surrounds the listener. The tenor line provides a nice harmony to the soloist by providing the underneath support, a third lower. The basses provide the rock solid foundation with the root of each chord, while the sopranos top off the sound giving each chord flavor and character. The altos hold down the fort by rounding out each triad. The second verse comes back stronger, with more vigor; the listener knows where he is being taken; he's been down that path before. Instead of rolling along listlessly in the water, the boat is driven this time, determined, storming ahead into the deep waters before returning the listener to the familiar shores of the chorus. And as the second and final chorus swells with intensity, a great feeling of unity, togetherness, and oneness envelopes everyone.

It was at this point in the song that I realized moments like these are what I missed most about performing in a college a cappella group. Sure, the wild after-parties were great and the drunken hookups weren't bad either, but what always stood out in my mind and what I have always longed for since graduation, was that feeling that we weren't just separate individuals destined to pursue our own selfish motives. We lifted our voices in unison (although not in "harmonic unison") and laid it all out. Singing the song was about being a part of something bigger than yourself...bigger than your fears, worries, failures and selfish goals. It was about letting it all go for the sake of everyone else, and losing yourself in old, familiar friends.

It was amazing how everyone else has moved on, leading exciting lives spread all over the country from LA to DC to Philly to NY. Perhaps what was more amazing, was that we all shared that common bond, a shared history of being a part of something special during our time at college (even if some of us never sang with the other). Our concert is in two weeks and I can't wait to be back on that stage...singing, dancing, beatboxing away and feeling that rush of being one with old friends.