DGC Blog

To all the students out there who are sitting, have sat or will sit exams this year. The Dublin Gospel Choir are pleased to invite you to our annual candlelit Gospel Music Mass for Students in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Church St, D7 (near the four courts), this Sunday at 7pm. A special blessing with the Relic of the Bone of St. Anthony, (patron saint of miracles and students) will be given during the mass and an anointing with the oil of St. Anthony for the gift of wisdom.

All are welcome to come and pray for our students at this testing time of year!
Peace and Blessing
Brother Richard

Well, after a long Summer of rehearsing and rehearsing…and even a litle more rehearsing on top of that, we are almost ready to hit the tour circuit again. Only last weekend we unleashed a few of our new numbers on an unsuspecting (and slightly the worse for wear) crowd at the Electric Picnic!

For the third year in a row we had the privilege of opening the main stage on the Sunday Morning before a crowd that quickly grew to around 3,000 festival goers. The DGC once again proving that it’s truly “festival fit” and that we will go anywhere there are people who will listen to our music and be open to its message! Once our new brass section kicked in for our opening Anthem of Praise there were very few who could stay asleep buried in their tents and we soon had the festival hopping again after the craziness of Saturday Night!

Later in the day we were delighted to perform a smaller gig at the World Vision Tent to assist their campaign to get 1,000 new child sponsors for Africa. Someone was certainly smiling on us for just as we hit the opening Chorus of “Lovely Day!” the clouds pulled back and the sun shone for the only time that day…yup it’s good to have friends in high places…

If you’d like to have a look at the EP performances check out our pics page!

As well as our Tour about to start we are really happy to be returning to our home venue this coming Sunday the 16th of Sept at 7pm for the first of our regular Candle-lit Gospel Masses. Always drawing a huge crowd, this is an opportunity for you to join us and listen to our music in a Church context, in the birthplace of Gospel Music in Ireland, the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Church St. D7, (just beside the Four Courts). The Choir will be in residence there on the first and third Sundays of the Month from now until the Christmas Break so feel free to come along!

For more news, dates and info check out our website www.dublingospelchoir.com

Peace to you all!

Brother Richard

Well, it’s been quite a while since anything was written into the DGC blog and as I was passing and as it’s (yet again) a wet Summer’s afternoon I thought why not pause and leave a few words behind me? So here they are… a few midsummer musings on the nature of Gospel and the DGC…

One of the great compliments often levelled at the DGC is their tremendous “enthusiasm”…a contagious joy that often has the whole house singing and dancing by the end of a night’s performance. Well I can testify that the enthusiasm shown at those performances is not an act… rather it comes from a deep appreciation of the music we sing and of the privilege it is to be part of the DGC. Every year we hold auditions for choir members… a few talented souls are asked to join but often after a few months one or two drift off, having come to the conclusion that the DGC is not for them. We wish them well and bless their future… but what is more extraordinary is to watch those that stay, and to see them gradually become filled with that gift of enthusiasm for the music and for the DGC. Often when joining they know next to nothing about Gospel, its themes or its history. They’ve seen…or in a few cases just heard…the DGC and something in their heart has responded. And so, it’s a joy to watch them grow and change over their first year or so in the choir as they come to know gospel and its message and realise that, though they may have joined for various reasons, the DGC experience asks for more than just commitment or talent…it asks for heart and soul…because without that there is no Gospel music…there is no DGC…there is no enthusiasm…

And you know it’s no accident that the word enthusiasm is used for the DGC. The ancient roots of the word come from the Greek, en-theos, literally to be filled with God. And so we believe that when our hearts are open, and band and choir are in harmony, after all the countless hours of rehearsal and the painstking and sometimes painful process of putting it all together is done, the DGC is more than the sum of it’s parts.. it is “enthused”…God filled…and that speaks and sings to the hearts of those that listen… So here’s a summer invite…find us, come listen and be part of tha DGC joy! Our dates are on our calendar on this site, or check us out on Bebo… we’ll be waiting…

Blessings!

Brother Richard

It has been quite a while since I posted on this Blog! To be honest, I think Kevin has been doing a wonderful job keeping you all up to date on the joys of being a member of the DGC! However, once in a while an event happens that makes me reach for the keybord again in order to let all and sundry know what an amazing gift being a part of the DGC is. “What could possibly have prodded me to make such a remark?” I hear you cry; well only the fact that on Tuesday we will be launching our new album, a fact that you may well have seen mentioned elsewhere on this site. (And if you didn’t notice then shame on you…you’re not paying attention….go now and check out a few of the songs on our music page…I’ll still be here when you get back…)

OK…so you’re back and I bet you’re humming at least one of the tracks and have already made up your mind to go get the album…So let’s talk about it for a mo… Aptly titled “Moving On” it is a celebration of ten years of Gospel Music in Ireland as well as looking forward to all that is yet to come. Yes, in 1996 when there were far less grey hairs upon this head of mine, we saw the first Gospel Concert take place in our little Capuchin Franciscan Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Church st. D7. Little did I suspect that ten years later Gospel would still be at the centre of my work and that the DGC would have been formed from that first choir over the intervening years.

You can be sure that there has been a lot of learning over those years and many blessings received, and friendships made (and even a few tears wiped away); but perhaps the greatest joy is seeing so many people in so many places being touched by the Spirit and message of the Gospel through the DGC. I’ve seen people brought to tears of joy and healing through the music, and we have even left a trail of Gospel Choirs behind us in many of the parishes and youth groups we have worked with. I’ve seen theatre audiences on their feet shouting for more and churches full of young people where before they have been half empty. You see, from the start of Gospel in Church St we have always seen ourselves as Franciscan in spirit and inspiration. Now St. Francis didn’t wait for people to come to him to hear the Gospel being preached, oh no! He went out to the people and preached and sang wherever and whenever he could get them to listen… and that is the spirit of the DGC too! We will not confine this music and its message to a Church building…we go wherever the Spirit has provided hearts to hear, hands to clap and feet to dance! And you know what? In going out like that to theatres and venues up and down the country…we have brought many of our listeners back to celebrate Gospel Music in Church with us.

In a very real way that is what this Album celebrates, that for the past ten years a quiet revolution has been taking place in Churches and Communities and Theatres up and down the country, a Gospel Revolution! Last night we sang in a little, but very fine, theatre in Ratoath to a crowd that had largely never heard us perform before…and once again I saw the music of the DGC touch the spirit of that crowd until in the end they were shouting for more and the manager was saying he wanted us back there again… Yes, something powerful and blessed had happened, something that has been happening for the past ten years wherever Gospel Music has been sung…something that we hope will happen for a very long time to come as we keep “Moving On” into the future, and who knows something that may even happen to you as you listen to the message behind the music of the DGC! The eternal message of the Gospel. So come on, celebrate with us this milestone in Gospel Music history in Ireland and come see us soon…we’ll be expecting you!

Until the next time…and I promise it won’t be so long!

Peace and Blessing to you all!

Brother Richard.

It started as all the best days do with a very early rise to meet the DGC boogie bus on the Naas Road. One by one the choir assembled at that lonesome Bus Eireann stop opposite the Green Isle Hotel. Shaking off the early morning fog was easy, a few coffees and we were off, full of excitement and anticipation for what was to be a landmark day in the life of DGC. To top off the fantastic experience we had had in 2005, this year we were to again open the main stage with a longer set but this year we were also to perform at 9pm on the Big Tree Stage with the cream of Ireland’s talent and artists. We knew this was going to be an amazing day.
Read the rest of this entry »

But what’s three and a half months between friends? Or, more accurately, blog writers and the throngs of avid blog readers. Ahem.

So what have we been up to? It’s been deceptively quiet-ish on the gig front for the past few months, because of our really-quite-exciting new project which I’ll mention later. We’ve just started our summer break from the fortnightly masses on Church Street, which I’m missing already. Oh and we’re featured on the Bupa ad that’s currently on your television screens (possibly not right at this minute, but you know).

My favourite event of the past few months has to be last night though - we did a Night of Soul on our home patch, in St. Mary of the Angels Church on Church St., and if anyone who came along is reading this, fair play to you for coming and thanks for the amazing atmosphere! There’s no need to put too fine a point on it, but I loved every minute of it, and I think it was a very special gig. So thanks!

But yeah, exciting things on the DGC-related horizon include: Electric Picnic (I’m literally counting the minutes - only 80,639 to go!) and a special performance in the National Concert Hall with The Chieftans in August. Possibly the most exciting thing (possibly ever) is happening right now though, because as of today, the recording of our new album has begun. The blog will be updated more regularly throughout the recording process. Or at least that’s the idea. But ciao for now.

Kevin.

There are loads of great things about being in the Dublin Gospel Choir, or the DGC as we like to say sometimes (can you crack the code?). For example, having a ticket to see one of your favourite singers (in this case John Legend) and then finding out you’ll be backing him up onstage. Or performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic and, instead of getting bottled as you might have feared, actually getting a rapturous reception from the crowd. Plus, there’s the pretending-you’re-in-Sister-Act-3 angle. Always fun.

In amongst the great things are the Nights of Soul. If you didn’t know, we regularly do these full concerts in churches around the country in association with the CYC. In terms of the setlist, they’re almost identical to our theatre concerts but they have a unique atmosphere that’s hard to define, but I suppose it might be one of celebration, which makes sense given where they take place. And it’s a cliché, but it’s true - there really is a cross-section of the community there, from teenagers to elderly couples to hordes of kids running around the place and then gathering in front of the altar, dancing away.

It hasn’t quite been all good experiences for me at Nights of Soul though. At one recent show, let’s just say I had one too many bottles of water and found myself caught short two songs into the second half. Suddenly, our song ‘I Almost Let Go’ took on a new, deeply personal significance. But happily for everyone concerned, I got through it - mainly by jogging on the spot in-between songs.

Nobody really wants to read about this do they.

But yeah, Nights of Soul are quickly becoming my most favourite thing about the choir, and I’m almost ready to get over the fact that our commitment to one concert meant we couldn’t perform with Kanye West during his recent Point gigs. Almost.

Might as well plug our next one - it’s in the Navan Road parish on March 31st and tickets are available from the parish office!

If you’ve been to see us recently - or ever! - why not leave a comment after this post? It’d be great to hear what you thought…

Kevin

You know, the Dublin Gospel Choir has a lot in common with the Sugababes. Namely the letters s, b, u, g and e. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, we too have an ever-shifting lineup. So, just as they welcome That New Girl into their group, the DGC says hello (in three-part harmony, of course) to an array of fresh-faced, wide-eyed new singers. It’s great to get an influx of new blood into the choir, but it is even greater to have members who are newer than me. They all seem to be settling in really well, which is excellent, and I reckon they’ll be ready to perform with us in no time.

Sticking to the sugary theme, it’s probably a good time to mention our gig tonight in the SUGAR CLUB (see how it all ties together?? Genius, if I do say so myself) on Leeson St. We played there last year as part of our Revelation tour, and the atmosphere was just electric! I’m really looking forward to tonight, not least because it’s been AGES since our last full concert.

So over the past few weeks we’ve been dry-cleaning our robes, warming our vocal chords and brushing up on our dance moves - it’s not all swaying and clapping, you know!! Although there is quite a bit of both. Basically, we’re more than ready to push the right buttons (the Sugababes thing is getting a bit tiresome now isn’t it) and put on the best show we can!

So to anyone who’s coming, prepare for gospel overload (!), but don’t forget to arrive at around (round) 7:30 for an 8pm start.

See you there!

Kevin.

Well we’re back in to the swing of things in terms of rehearsals and preparations for what is shaping up to be a hectic 2006… Rehearsals have a different feel so far though. We usually have two rehearsals a week, and at the minute one of those is a little bit different to what I’m used to. So instead of going over our songs, we’re doing some other kinds of pursuits with the inordinately talented Honor Heffernan. They are geared to helping us get to know each other that little bit better and helping our stage performance by doing trust exercises and improvs as well as vocal exercises to help us get the most from our voices. Honor really knows her stuff so it’s great for someone like me, who has never had any kind of training and didn’t know the difference between a diaphragm and a doorknob before I joined, to learn the kind of specific techniques to help me up to the ever-elusive power notes in songs like ‘Hosanna’ and ‘My Life, My Love, My All’. My previous technique - closing my eyes, clenching my fists (and other bodily areas) while hoping for the best was proving to be somewhat unreliable.

Our other rehearsal of the week concentrates on our songs. It’s a really exciting time for the choir, what with our coachload of new members about to make their spectacular debuts (no pressure guys), and a certain project coming up later in the year which may or may not be top-secret but let’s just say it’s circular and rhymes with balbum. This week, we hit the ground running, starting work on two new songs, ‘Let It Rain’ and ‘Because Of Who You Are’. They’re both marvellous and I can’t wait to start performing them. So it’s just as well we’re thinking of doing the latter this Sunday, February 5th, at Mass (7pm at St. Mary of the Angels Church on Church Street), because I’m very impatient. There’s other new material on the way too, and hopefully we’ll be able to fit some of it into our set for our concert in the Sugar Club on the 17th of February (tickets available now from the “Upcoming Events” page of our website)

It wouldn’t be a blog post by me without a random choir photograph, so here’s one of us looking extra moody during our performance with Riverdance in Ballyfermot last year. That was my first proper gig with the choir, and what a way to start!

That’ll do for now!

Kevin

It says much of the commitment of the members of the DGC to Gospel Music that it was not until Christmas Eve that most of them reported that tingly scratchiness in the back of the throat that is the first of the four horsemen of the common cold to ride out! One of our newer members watched in mystification as, at a lunchtime gathering to wish each other the best of the Season’s blessings and joy such festive fun as existed was being offered through hankies, sneezes and the odd whiff of olbas! “Oh yes!” I cheerfuly affirmed, from a safe distance, “It’s like this most years…once the adrenelin of multiple performances, travelling, long rehearsals and late nights falters out come the colds and flus to whisk us off to bedrest and a happy Christmas!” And, believe me, that does show the commitment of the DGC members…as manfully, (and womanfully!), they did battle to ensure that the Revelation Tour and so many other performances took place and filled the audience with the power of Gospel Music. A fitting preparation for Christmas for them and us!

You see as Pastor to the Choir since it’s inception one of the great gifts I’ve received is to see an unsuspecting person come and audition for the DGC, (as will be happening this month!), only to watch their appreciation for all things Gospel, including their fellow members, grow until they can’t do without it! You find yourself humming it in the street / car / shower or wherever the acoustics, (and the solitude!) lead you to believe that your inner Gospel diva can take flight. Idly you begin to flip to Gospel websites or channels on radio and TV, you are astounded to hear yourself say that “Sister Act” is one of your favourite movies of all time, and you find yourself with the infused knowledge that goes with knowing EVERY verse of Amazing Grace. but perhaps the greatest sign that you’ve gone totally DGC is thatevery one wants to know why you’re so happy! It’s the music and the power that lies behind it. The joy of knowing that there is “a blessing in the water!” as the old preachers would say as well as being part of a wonderful group of people.

So I guess as I sit here and blog for the first time I’m wondering if you out there have felt the magic and power that goes with this music? That touch of Grace that makes your heart leap as a Gospel Soprano like our Magdee goes for it, or the power that issues from a tenor lost in his own song and almost bursting a blood vessel as he expresses what’s in his heart and soul, (watch that vein Eoin!). If you have then you’ll realise the truth of what I’ve written above if not, then please get yourself to a DGC performance asap! We have a year of performances ahead of us in venues that range from Churches to Clubs so there will be one that suits you! We’ll be waiting for you…and don’t worry the colds have cleared up by now…all that’s contagious is the music!

Peace to you all

brother Richard