Hi, 

 

Sacred music can be construed as promoting a religious agenda - as indicated by the comments above, and  also others' difficulties in programming it in public schools.  However, the most clear-minded administrators understand that this need not be the case.  Personally, I would respond "Thank you for coming and supporting our program.  I am happy you enjoyed it."  A more specific response could either encourage or offend them, neither of which would support your future programming of excellent sacred repertoire.  If you have a positive and open relationship with your administrators - and it sounds like you do - mention this to them, so you can establish a consistent response to such sentiments. 

 

Good luck, Paul

I include the following in all concert programs, hope this helps.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SACRED (RELIGIOUS) MUSIC

The selection of sacred music in public schools has been addressed in a policy statement by the American Choral Directors Association, in conjunction with legal professionals. All choral music selected for this performance conforms to that statement. When selected, sacred music is studied and performed for its inherent beauty of structure and form; its purpose in study is learning for the sake of developing artistic understanding and responsiveness. Therefore we appreciate your understanding as to why we perform sacred choral literature and we hope that you enjoy oour program.

Peace,

Chris

I instruct my students that they need to find something in the music (or text) that speaks to them.  Parents and audience members need to be informed that a choral piece (that happens to be religious) is being used as an exemplar of GREAT choral music from its time period.  It is used for instructional purposes and performed for its beauty not its religious connection. 

 

no one can deny the wonderful teaching possibilities of a Bach Cantata or a Mozart mass, or even motets by Palestrina/Victoria etc. 

 

I'd say, "We just sing great music as well as we can; glad you enjoyed it."

(:-)

They mean it as a compliment, so it is always appropriate to say something along the lines of "I'm glad you enjoyed the music".  If your programming is balanced and well-presented then you will make clear your intentions but for many religious audience members those songs that speak to their faith are bound to be the ones they remember and reference.  I'm sure others will take away different "favorites" and others will enjoy the concert just because their child happens to be on the stage.  I was taught early on to acknowledge all compliments with a simple thank you or expression of gratitude.

 

I serve in a Baptist college and we tour often.  It's interesting to me that on a recent tour, we included some secular songs in our concerts in churches. The churches were not only accepting of the literature, which was part of a tour program that included much sacred music in a variety of style, but one piece in particular was commented on by attendeee at every concert - a setting of "Afternoon on a Hill" by Eric William Barnum. The poem is by Edna St. Vincent Millay and the setting is very expressive of the poetry.  For some of the listeners this song was interpreted in a "religious" context so it became very meaningful to their own life experiecne. Others were taken with the sheer drama and beauty of the music.

 

My point is, you can never determine or control people's apprehension of music in any setting.  A study of Aesthetics can suggest how people may receive works of art but their own personal experience will always color how they perceive it.  The same is true for the performers.  When my students are singing a song of any kind, I ask them to bring some meaning to it from their own life or create a "character" for that song.  They may not all have the same "subtext" playing in their minds but if all of them have some internal motivation for singing that lyric and that music, then the result tends to be more expressive, in my opinion.

 

Enjoy the compliments and be amazed at the different ways music impacts lives.

 

Grace and peace,

Larry Smith

MIssouri Baptist University

One College Park Drive

St. Louis MO 63141

smithl(a)mobap.edu

Although not a school choir director, I do a great deal of recording - and the notice that is attached to many of the performances in Fairfax County School choral programs is not dissimilar from Chris Fields' comment and addition to his programs.  The point is, people will take away from music well-done their own understandings and interpretations - and any comment on your part other than a general one will not only raise the possibility of a firestorm being raised, but truly create damage to the point and purpose of an academic choral program, which is to instruct and inform students (and, indirectly, the audience) about different music from different eras with different purposes but all of some beauty and merit to someone.  In a sacred context, I tell my choir:  "If one person takes one step closer to God because of something we've sung, we've done our job."  Taking that same viewpoint but in the secular arena, you could view it (but not say it) as "If one person is moved by what we've sung, we've done our job."