Trinity Presbyterian Church - Kumbaya

Topic: Instrumental Versions - Handbells
Some have seen handbells as ideal instruments for children. Malmark introduced a line of less-expensive bells for elementary schools in 1982. [1] That same year Bob Bergin edited a collection of 8 Note Bell Songs for Rhythm Band Instruments. [2] It included the standard version of "Kumbaya" in 4/4.

Playing any instrument is fun and aids cognitive development. One drawback for handbells is that, like recorders, they are pitched an octave higher than the notation on the sheet music. Thus, children learn to coordinate physical actions to printed symbols, but cannot connect the resulting sounds with the tones the spots on the page generally indicate. The relatively of transposition and the acoustics of octaves are inherent in music, but usually learned by osmosis.

The larger problem with handbells is young children want to make music, not take turns or listen. An instrument like a bell tree would be more to their liking because they could play every note. And, in fact, despite the title of his book, Bergin’s arrangements are marked for chromaharps, a form of autoharp. Rhythm Band Instruments also was selling chime bars that resembled like xylophones. [3]

The difficulties of submerging oneself in the group was obvious in a version of "Kumbaya" performed by the Trinity Youth Choir of Montclair, New Jersey, in 2013. June Jennings had organized an afternoon of choral music in the Presbyterian church that featured groups from the African-American church and the Essex County College Choir.

She selected "Kumbaya" to showcase the very youngest singers, two boys and a girl. They sang the kumbaya verse together, then each sang one stanza as a solo. They were accompanied by a piano that played the melody and simple chords. The older members of the choir sounded the melody with handbells.

The youngsters were old enough to learn and reproduce the song, but only the girl was a confident performer in the concert setting. Jennings needed to give the boys hand-held microphones so the they could be heard. The young girl eyed the floor microphone, took her position, and sang. The audience rewarded her with "amens."

The rest of the youth choir appeared to be middle-school aged. "Kumbaya" has six notes and there were ten members of the group. It looked like most of the girls were ringing, which meant some of the boys were not.

They did not wear gloves, but did hold the bells upright when they shook them. The bells themselves were different colors. The most visible ones were red, yellow, and blue.

Most had learned their parts, but some kept an eye on the sheet music sitting on collapsible stands. They all stood solemnly in place. The formality of the program may have prevented them from smiling or otherwise communicating some pleasure in making music.

After the last solo, Jennings turned to face the audience, who responded to her hand signals by singing a final repetition of the kumbaya verse. The youth choir did not join them, but continued playing the bell accompaniment. The two adult choirs behind them did not join the audience either.

Performers
Vocal Soloists: one girl, two boys
Vocal Group: congregation
Vocal Director: June Jennings
Instrumental Accompaniment: piano, handbells
Rhythm Accompaniment: none

Credits
None given

Notes on Lyrics
Language: English
Verses: kumbaya, crying, singing, praying

Vocabulary
Pronoun: someone
Term for Deity: my Lord
Special Terms: none

Basic Form: three-verse song, framed by kumbaya
Ending: none
Unique Features: none

Notes on Music
Opening Phrase: 1-3-5
Tempo: moderately slow
Basic Structure: strophic repetition

Singing Style: one note to one syllable except for final "Lord"

Notes on Performance
Occasion: concert, 21 April 2013

Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church. The bell ringers stood between the altar and choir rails.

Microphones: two boys had hand-held mikes; the girl used a floor mike

Clothing: black slacks and white tops

Notes on Movement
The ringers stood in two rows with five girls in one line and five boys in back. The soloists stood in front of the girls. The director was in front on the soloists, and used both forearms symmetrically. While the ringers moved a bit, they were supposed to stand still facing the audience. At the end, they walked back into the audience.

Notes on Audience
Sounds of "amens" followed the girl’s solo. The audience clapped at the end of the third solo, though I don’t know if they were recognizing the boy or the trio. It did not need to be asked to sing; gestures by Jennings were enough. The people in the church applauded at the end; a few stood.

Notes on Performers
Trinity Presbyterian began in 1913 as a Sunday school for local children. [4] Montclair was a bedroom community a rail ride from New York. [5] African Americans were then moving "from Loudon and Fahquier Counties in Northern Virginia" to work for the more affluent families. [6]

Jennings was raised in Montclair where she graduated from Montclair State University. [7] She had taken classes at Julliard and the Westminster Choir College. In 2013, the soprano was studying piano with Richard Alston, who was featured in the concert. The two appeared together the next month in Norfolk, Virginia. [8]

Availability
YouTube: uploaded by Kathryn Weller on 22 April 2013.

End Notes
1. "Our History." Malmark corporate website.
2. Bob Bergin. 8 Note Bell Songs. Fort Worth: Rhythm Band Instruments,1982.

3. Rhythm Band Instruments included a songbook with their chime bars according to WorldCat. It probably was Bergin’s.

4. "A Centennial Anniversary Historical Perspective (1913-2013)." Church’s website.
5. "Montclair History." Montclair Township website.

6. Patricia Hampson Eget. "Challenging Containment: African Americans and Racial Politics in Montclair, New Jersey, 1920-1940." New Jersey History 126:1-17:2011. 1. Her source was Our Town and the Old Townsmen of Montclair. (Montclair, New Jersey: Townswomen of Montclair, 1952).

7. "About June Jennings." Facebook.

8. Denice Thibodeau. "Calvary Baptist Church Offers Free Concert." The News and Advance website. 1 May 2013.