The Basses and Tenors of the 1st Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir were rehearsing tonight for the world premiere of "The Martyrdom of Polycarp" by J.A.C. Redford, and our director was warning the basses about a particular note they were to sing, saying that the sopranos are singing a note that is just a half step different from that note at the same time, and the temptation would be to sing the same note and avoid the discord. "I called J.A.C., who lives out in California, about this and asked him if it was really necessary. Apparently he thought it was," he explained with a chuckle.
It was here that I shot in: "So you made a long-dissonance phone call?" and was rewarded by chuckles and groans throughout the room.
