The virtual choir: how do they do that?

By Marie Carter

During the church renovation in 2015, parishioner John Phillips encouraged a project to cover all the kneelers in the pews with hand-stitched needlepoint. The needlepoint guild formed in 2016 and the first phase of this vision launched with kneelers for the chairs in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. The canvases were painted by artist Nancy Lukoskie, who has designed and restored needlework art for the Washington National Cathedral; these were based on motifs from our stained glass windows. This group was completed in 2017 and work on the Chapel of the Good Shepherd kneelers began, with canvases designed by parishioner and needlepoint artist Jessica Tongel. Each Good Shepherd kneeler features a different spiritual symbol. Jessica is at work on canvases for the extralong first row kneelers, featuring Episcopal churches and other Virginia scenes.

There are over 250 kneelers, and so we originally thought this project would take a minimum of 10 years. As it turns out, we have many talented and enthusiastic stitchers at St. Stephen’s! The Good Shepherd project is substantially completed, and we are excited to be starting the Nave phase of the project ahead of schedule. Anne Pennypacker’s vision for the Nave kneelers is unique and has been embraced enthusiastically by clergy, staff and vestry. While many churches have needlepoint cushions, St. Stephen’s is the only church we are aware of that will have well-loved scripture verses on its kneelers.

Each kneeler is stitched in memory or honor of a loved one. A kneeler directory will be available at the Grove Avenue entrance when we return to worship in the church. But you don’t have to wait until then to take part in this phase of the project. Go to ststephensRVA. org/needlepoint to reserve a kneeler in memory or in honor of a loved one, to see examples of Anne’s designs, and learn how to volunteer to stitch a kneeler. If you have questions, please contact me at mdcarter27@gmail.com or 804.402.4003. ✤ How do they do that? The process behind our ‘virtual choir’ By Brent te Velde

Although not officially recognized as such, many have noted how music is like another sacrament of our worship and spiritual lives. In an Outline of the Faith in the Book of Common Prayer, we are reminded that a sacrament is an “outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace.” The inward grace that music signifies could be understood as many things, but surely among these are the reminder that we are all made in God’s image, and that all are members of the Body of Christ. All are given the ability to sing. And music has a cherished place in the worship life of St. Stephen’s Church.

So several months ago, we faced the difficult question of how we would honor these gifts during the pandemic. Not only are we not able to worship together in person, but choirs cannot get together to sing, because the act of singing is an especially effective means of spreading a virus that affects the respiratory system.

A solution that’s being used around the world is “virtual choir,” edited videos combining performances by individual singers. Before the pandemic, to be sure, such virtual choir videos were seen by many as novelties, used by some choral composers to increase their personal celebrity. While in-person, “live” singing continues to be severely limited, however, virtual choir has become a lifeline. I am very thankful that while we remain apart we have this tool to not only bring the choir together, but also provide another way to reach those most isolated by this crisis.

Of course, making music through virtual choir videos is more complicated than it was before the pandemic. Before, 45 minutes was ample time for a choir to rehearse five hymns to be prepared to lead the congregation’s singing. Now, to record one hymn involves many steps. First, a score is prepared with detailed markings in order to unify breathing and declamation of the text. While singers formerly could rely on each other in order to sneak a breath here or there as necessary, this becomes much more noticeable in a virtual choir recording.

A guide video is then prepared by recording the piece at the organ or piano. This is sent to Arts Laureate, a team of highly skilled sound engineers and editors, who add a metronome “click track.” Each singer then rehearses their part on their own at home. They must also record their part on their own, singing to a smartphone, iPad or other device while listening to the guide video in headphones and following the score on a second device. Their recordings are uploaded, and Arts Laureate synchronizes, edits, and blends all of the recordings together to form the finished product. These videos are then added to our weekly worship videos in the appropriate spots.

I am very grateful to Greg Vick, Chris Edwards, and our whole team of musicians at St. Stephen’s who have committed themselves to these recordings and given their time to keep this music alive. Although the demands of recording are different from leading an in-person worship service, they have renewed our dedication to the craft of making music. Every step of the process is done in isolation, so it is incredibly encouraging and meaningful to see and hear the choir singing together in the finished videos. While we are separated, music continues to unite us in the love of God. ✤