Spring 2004
Gospel Across the Sea
Join Plattsburgh State's internationally recognized gospel choir!
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courtesy of Dexter Criss |
There are no borders in gospel music. As religious music for West Africans crossing to the American South, gospel music emerged to celebrate God’s love, and has been sung not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Don’t consider it as just a music style: Gospel is accomplished only when it combines soul and voice. Gospel music can be everywhere and for everyone.
This winter, souls and voices from Plattsburgh State University's (PSU) Gospel Choir crossed the sea and bridged the cultures of the United States and Japan.
PSU's Gospel Choir spent eight days in Japan, from Christmas Eve of 2003 through January 2, 2004. Dexter Criss, who has been the director of the choir since the fall of 2001, says, “Japan was wonderful. We interacted with Japanese people and watched them really enjoy our music.”
During the trip, the choir performed four different concerts. The first one was in a local church at Sunday morning service, and next concert was later that day in another local church, which held about 100 people.
At the third concert, in Tokyo Central Church, 300 people, primarily from Japan, joined the choir. PSU's 27 members, and University of Toronto’s 34 members, were added to the choir. According to Criss, that event probably had more than 1,000 people in attendance. For the finale of PSU's Gospel Choir performance, they sun at the American church called Tokyo Baptist Church.
“It’s been my understanding that gospel is one of the fastest growing genres in Japan,” Criss says.“One reason is that it is powerful, and it requires a lot of talented people.” He also mentions the strength of gospel is the flexibility that the gospel choir can get everywhere. “People can go to your country rather than you come to America to bombard themselves with gospel.”
The plan of taking the choir to Japan was realized when they were invited by Ron Rucker, who moved to Japan about 25 years ago. According to Criss, he had been a music instructor and was writing children’s music in Japan. After a while, he became more involved in gospel music. His resources, skills, contacts all contributed to the prosperity of gospel music there while he was developing ministry in which he conducted workshops.
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courtesy of Dexter Criss |
The PSU Gospel Choir was formed in 1991 by students, and now 60 people, including faculty, and community members, belong to it today.
“Anyone can participate in the club, that’s no problem,” says Criss.“ But to sing in the choir, you have to try out.” You can also contribute to the club as a manager, helper, and those kinds of things, says Criss. Every Friday, the gospel choir holds a lesson at the Myers Fine Arts building of PSU.
PSU's gospel voices never cease. “Our mission next is to expose gospel music to the North Country,” says Criss.
PSU's Gospel Choir membership have increased from 12 to 60 people in the recent years, and also the quality is getting better, according to Criss.
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Gospel in Japan
Gospel is still not widely known in Japan; however, with the movie, "Sister Act 2," the popularity of gospel music has risen in many parts of the country. Among the choir groups that have contributed to the prosperity of gospel is Bright Rights Choir; 80% of them not being Christian. Directed by Ron Rucker, who has been a minister in Japan since 1989, eight choirs emerged in the major cities of Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo. His teachings are based on singing without a score. Gospel is attractive because you don't need much experience, and you can sing as freely as you feel, according to Rucker.
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