A few months ago Margaret Huyck, a Sounds Good singer and a family friend for 50 years, asked if I would come and lead a sing-along of “golden oldies and protest songs” at a Chicago Hyde Park Village CHPV) gathering; (Margaret is also one of the co-founders of Chicago Hyde Park Village). It seemed logical to invite Amy Wurtz to do the song leading, because she conducts the Hyde Park choir now. But Amy wasn’t available, so I decided I would do it. With lots of help from Sandy, we culled the repertoire down to a playlist of six great songs, and CHPV paid for Richard Sladek to accompany on his electronic keyboard.

Margaret Huyck and friend, Mike.

The first set was good: “If I Had a Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and “This Land is Your Land.” People sang along quite well. I did a little spiel for Sounds Good Choir. 

Before the second set, Toni Preckwinkle—Cook County Board President and a former alderperson from Hyde Park—spoke briefly about the need to stay strong, speak up and work together to make a better world. Her words were a big boost to people’s moods. 

Then the second set blew the roof off. There were about 100 people in the room—probably 50 white folks, 45 Black folks, and half a dozen Asian Americans. The second set started with Jon Lennon’s “Imagine,” which got people singing fervently. Then we picked up the tempo with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” I reminded people that those early Beatles hits were really dance music, that they should get up and dance, and about half a dozen people did, including one very elderly couple, one of whom was using a walker. That was fun.  

Just two of the of the many smiling faces at the lunch that day. (Photo by Grace Latibeaudiere-Williams)

But nobody really expected what would happen when we sang the last song, “We Shall Overcome.” Virtually everyone was on their feet, arms around one another’s shoulders, swaying to the song and singing their hearts out in awesome vocal harmony. Just about everyone had tears in their eyes. It was one of the most powerful episodes of group singing that I have witnessed in a very long time. Among the guests was Clara Takarabe, co-director and investigator at Northwestern’s Music and Medicine program and one of the co-authors of our research study on group singing that was recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. In the days following the sing-along, I received this email from Clara:

Hand in hand, singing as they stood beside one another, it was a moment where everyone was brought together through the power of music. (Photo by Lucas Livingston)

Jonathan and Sandy, 

Thank you so much for having us at your table at the CHPV fundraiser on Saturday. My mom, Anton, and I had a profound time. It was an experience to see my mom weeping with the songs; both Anton and I could hardly believe our eyes. I don’t know if I have seen my mother weep in a social setting before. During “We Shall Overcome,” Anton and I hugged my mom, swayed, and sang together. It was so magical. It’s definitely going to be a memory that I will cherish. 

It was also such an experience to sing those songs, at this particular time in history–wow, so powerful. To feel the collective grief and sadness of where we are in time. We should all be singing together—well, that’s what Plato said in the Republic; choir is life. And a life where choir is a mainstay of social-political activity lays the foundation for the just society. Again, thank you so much. 

Warm regards, 

Clara

Singing together is magical. It just might change the world. 

The music lifted everyone’s spirits. (Photo by Margaret Huyck)