THE RECORD Online

Spring 2002

Chronicles of the Greenville College Choir

For 110 years, the gift of song has been passed around the campus of Greenville College. According to Dr. James Wilson, former choir director, publications such as the Vista, Okaw (forerunner to the Vista), Papyrus, Record, GC Quarterly and college catalogs indicate organized choral groups have performed at GC since the turn of the century, and “probably” since the founding of GC in 1892.

But certainly since 1927, when the GC choir was founded.In 1995, a year before his retirement as choir director, Wilson sent letters to all GC choir alumni asking for anecdotes about their singing experiences while in college. He received 146 responses, which laid the foundation for the book he was about to write, a book chronicling the 75-year history of the GC choir.

“I felt it should be done,” said Wilson.

For one, he commented, he knew personally the founder of the choir, Robert Woods. And then there was his own legacy from which to draw. As the anecdotes from former choir members rolled in, Wilson started compiling them.

Former GC President W. Richard Stephens donated an old word processor (pre-desktop computer) to the cause. This presented Wilson with a challenge: he had never learned to type. So he borrowed a typing book and taught himself.
He said it still took him several years to type all of the anecdotes, adding a few himself.

After his retirement, Wilson began digging in earnest through old publications such as the Vista, Papyrus and Record. The history of the choir started taking shape in written form.

“I began to get a view of what the book should include,” he said.

In January 1999, he bought a computer, and transferred the word processor text to the newer medium.

Wilson received help from a number of people. Former student Yoshio Gotoh sponsored the project. Rachel (Borwick) Stotts served as text editor. Philip A. Eppard completed the graphic design and layout. GC Professor Dale F. Martin provided “critical reading.” Editorial assistants were Sarah Thompson, Michelle Fitzsimmons and Shelly Ragan. Retired GC Professor Everett Sanders lent photographic assistance. The book was sent to the printer in October 2001.

In its published form, “Ye Shall Have a Song: A History of the Greenville College Choir” includes the eras of Woods, Wilson and his successor, Dr. Jeff Wilson; more than 150 pictures and the alumni anecdotes; 75 years of annual pictures and choir personnel lists; 75 years of literature performed by the choir; and 75 years of spring tour itineraries. The book also presents a list of “most often sung songs” and a complete list of all choir alumni.

The book “is truly a work of art - a magnificent work - and so very interesting and informative,” said Dorothea Andrews Maxwell, of St. Louis, who sang in the choir from 1930-33.

“Leafing through the pages hurridly, I am impressed,” said Olivia Olive from Solvang, Calif. “You gathered an enormous amount of information, and it must have been fun, too.”

Commented Ray Robinson, a music professor at Palm Beach Atlantic in West Palm Beach, Fla., “Congratulations! Your book on the GC choir is wonderful. It is really something you should be proud of!”

Copies of the book can be ordered on-line at www.greenville.edu/publications/songbook, by phone (618) 664-6560 or by mail Dr. Jeff Wilson, 315 East College Avenue, Greenville, IL 62246.

Excerpts from the book appear on the following pages of THE RECORD.

Mary LaDue told me many years ago that President Marston urged Robert Woods to do special choral training at the new Westminster Choir School in Dayton, OH and then return to Greenville College and organize for Greenville a similar refined choir to sing unaccompanied music. It was hoped he could take them on tour to Free Methodist Churches and other churches across the nation.

Right at the beginning the spelling of “a cappella” should be clarified. The word means literally to sing in chapel style, and refers to singing without accompaniment. The word, however, should have two p’s and two l’s. According to Italian dictionaries the word with one p and two l’s refers to a person’s hair. [Cassell’s Italian Dictionary, 1959, Funk and Wagnalls, Co.] “Capellino” means fine or thin hair. In the same dictionary the term “musica a cappella” means singing to the accompaniment of the organ. More recently it has come to denote choral singing without accompaniment.

When I came to campus many folks used the term “a cappella” as a noun. From early programs one finds “Greenville College Chorus” with the word “a cappella” under it. Many years Dr. Woods used “Greenville College A Cappella Choir,” and yet the programs for 1954 and 1956 used the term “Greenville College Choir.” During my time I consistently used this term, although many friends felt I was changing the name. Articles in the Papyrus particularly, came up with some creative nouns and adjectives – “a cappellians” and “a cappellans.”

Several aspects of this early history are from my own unsubstantiated rememberings; others are from the Papyrus, the college’s student newspaper; the Vista, the yearbook; or the Greenville College Record, the alumni magazine.

Before attending Greenville College, Robert Woods attended Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y. According to an archivist at Houghton, Woods was listed as a student there in 1918. He later attended the College of Fine Arts at Syracuse University. In the 1922 Vista, Robert Woods is listed as “Preceptor” and Mrs. Lois W. Woods as “Preceptress.” In the 1923 Vista, both Robert and his wife are pictured as graduating. He earned an A.B. degree with majors in Biblical literature and church history, and Greek. He also is pictured as a member of the “College Male Quartette,” with other members, LeRoy M. Lowell, Ermon S. Wiedman and Charles F. Rogers. The 1924 Vista lists Woods as dean of men and Lois A. Woods as dean of women and instructor in rhetoric.

Following his time at Greenville, Woods attended Westminster Choir School in Dayton, Ohio. Westminster Choir School began in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, OH, and later moved to Princeton, NJ. About 10 years ago, it joined with Ryder University to become that institution’s music school. For several generations it has trained church musicians in choir, organ and piano preparation. I believe Woods studied there for three years, culminating in a choral director’s certificate.

A Papyrus article of 1927 says that Woods was a tenor soloist of the famed Westminster Choir, which appeared in many cities of the United States. According to the June 1954 Greenville College Record, the board of trustees awarded him an honorary degree, D. Music.

A headline for the Papyrus of Sept. 21, 1927, reads, Prof. and Mrs. Woods Return to Greenville. He was a former dean of men and graduated with the class of 1923. In addition to his studies at Westminster, he also taught voice development and vocal expression at the Central Theological Seminary. The Vista of 1929 lists Robert Woods as “Instructor in Voice and Choral Director, with training from: College of Fine Arts, Syracuse University; A.B. Greenville College, 1923; Graduate, Westminster Choral School; Pupil of Howard Lyman and John Finley Williamson.”

From those early choir programs one can see the choice of quality choral pieces that would sound good without accompaniment. This music was appropriate for singing in churches of the area since the Free Methodist Church at that time prohibited instruments, either piano or organ, in their services. In those days, a college choir singing unaccompanied music and going on extended tours was a rather new idea. Dr. Woods brought to Greenville the pattern established by the St. Olaf College Choir under F. Melius Christiansen and the Westminster Choir under John Finley Williamson, Woods’ teacher.

It was the custom for his wife, Lois Woods (her maiden name was Wood), to speak presenting the college in the concerts. Apparently, it was she who wrote the many letters to pastors in arranging the concerts and tour. She taught freshman English to many generations of students. From her some learned to pronounce appreciate [a p r i s i e t].

While teaching at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, OK, 1954–56, I was made aware of Dr. Woods’ retirement by alumna, Dr. Virginia Hoffman. Upon learning this, I wrote to Dr. Long, and after some correspondence and a visit to campus, I signed a contract to come a year later. During the academic year 1956–57, I began doctoral study at Indiana University in Bloomington. That year, in addition to Wilma’s music teaching job at Spencer, IN, we were able to find employment and extra income as choir director and organist at the West Morris Street Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis. On a weekend trip when the Greenville Choir came to that church, Dr. Woods graciously introduced the young Jim Wilson to the choir members as their new choir director for the next year. In the fall of 1957, I came to Greenville College as choir director and voice teacher.

For 1964–65, I was granted a sabbatical leave for further doctoral study. Joe Noble, twin brother of our own Professor JoAnn Noble, came to direct the choir and teach voice that year. He also directed the choir at the Free Methodist Church across the street. He remained for an additional year teaching at the college, although I directed the choir again in the fall of 1965.

Paul Vanderkoy directed the choir 1970–72 while I was doing dissertation research. Paul continued to teach here from 1970 through 1974. I finally completed the D. Music degree in voice pedagogy from Indiana University on March 8, 1972. I became director again in the fall of 1972 and continued until the spring of 1996. I taught at Greenville College for 39 years but for three of those years I was away doing doctoral work, thus 36 years as director.

Only five persons have directed the Greenville College Choir since its beginning in 1927:

Robert W. Woods (1927–57)
James E. Wilson (1957–64; 65–70; 72–96)
Joe M. Noble (1964–65)
Paul A. Vanderkoy (1970–72)
Jeffrey S. Wilson (1996– )

Chapter Two
THE NEW AMERICAN CONCEPT OF A CAPPELLA CHORAL SINGING

In light of the social and religious attitudes of the time it is simply amazing that Robert Woods, with the encouragement of President Marston, would attempt to form a touring, a cappella college choir. The Free Methodist Church was founded and developod in the 1860s during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. B.T. Roberts and several other young pastors were forced out of the Methodist Church because of their emphasis on conservative holiness evangelical views, including the prohibition of musical instruments and robed choirs, “dressy” clothes and fine church buildings.

John Finley Williamson established the Westminster Choir School to train church choir directors and organists expressly to improve the level of music in churches. Robert Woods, a fine tenor and musician, spent three years of graduate level training in this very stimulating atmosphere. How daring for President Marston to encourage Robert to take this training and then develop a touring college choir for Greenville! Would the Free Methodist Churches, small or large, be willing to accept sacred concerts by such a choir? While gathering information for this book it was surprising to note the variety of church denominations where the choir was invited to sing. Perusing the lists of choir itineraries in chapter 9, one becomes aware of the scope of the tours to many states, large cities, large churches, tabernacles and radio stations.

There were FM Churches accepting enough of their music and large enough to house forty college singers, but opportunities were opened to many other denominations by GC alumni contacts, and this provided a widening influence for the name of Greenville College.

Chapter Four
THE JAMES E. WILSON ERA

Each choir tour was distinctive, and I can honestly say I enjoyed them all. Of course, I always was exhausted upon returning to campus to enter into a full schedule of classes and lessons. Many images of these trips have blended together with the passing years, but several still stand out clearly.

My first tour was to Florida in the spring of 1958. Howard Krober drove our own bus; his wife, Anita, and my wife, Wilma, also came along. It was great to have an older, experienced man along to help with decisions. We had a lot of fun at Cypress Gardens—beautiful flowers, beautiful ladies in long dresses, and graceful water skiers. We enjoyed an afternoon at Haulover Beach near Ft. Lauderdale. I remember we sang a concert at the Boca Raton Bible Conference. We had a near-catastrophe with a fire in the rear compartment of the bus. A broken exhaust pipe built up too much heat and began to char the wooden slats upon which our risers were stored. Fortunately, the driver of a passing truck noticed smoke at the rear, stopped us, and used a fire extinguisher to save our risers and our robe boxes in that compartment.

The second outstanding one was to the Northeast and Ontario. We sang at my home church, Wesleyan Methodist, in Brockville, Ontario on Easter Sunday morning, April 1967. Wilma’s teaching schedule coincided with our spring tour. With our small daughter, Carol, she flew from St. Louis to Detroit (we were singing at the Dearborn FM Church) where Frank VanValin picked them up at the airport while we were singing our concert. It was pretty special to be able to be at my home church for Easter and have Wilma and Carol along.

Many images of other tours come to mind, but likely the 1993 tour to Phoenix and California, our first time to fly, and my last tour in 1996, flying again, to Washington State, Oregon, and Colorado, were certainly memorable. Also pretty exciting was recording our first CD in our own GC studios. It took just plain hard work and intense concentration, but the result was gratifying.

My Retirement
A committee spearheaded by Dave Tomb (who at that time had moved to Greenville for two years) and Becky Tracy, alumni secretary, organized an Alumni Choir Celebration for the Saturday afternoon of Commencement Weekend, May 18, 1996. Choir alumni were invited back to sing. After reworking our alumni files strenuously, letters were sent out. Packets of music were sent to those who responded. We rehearsed in the afternoon and then sang nine songs in the Recreation Center at 5 p.m. before the Alumni Banquet at 6 p.m. About 160 alumni returned, plus the current choir of 40, totaling 200 singers. What a thrill for them and also for me! What an honor!

Earlier that same day, the college had arranged a lovely retirement party for me in LaDue Auditorium. All my family members were present: our daughter Carol, her husband Al Shoultz and our granddaughter Lee; our daughter, Mary Beth and her husband, John Wright; and my brother, Paul Wilson and his wife, Connie. There were some surprises and lots of emotional moments. Again, I felt greatly honored.

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Last updated: March 19, 2002