Celebrating the power and glory of our gospel tradition.Dizzy Gillespie. The Temptations. Stevie Wonder. Eartha Kitt. American composer/conductor Woody Woods has performed with some of this century's musical greats. But hearing the Nova Scotia Mass Choir at the 30th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech in Washington moved him in a way no other musical performance had. In fact, he was so impressed by the spirit and energy of this unique multi-racial gospel choir, he decided to visit them in Halifax. "I came for two weeks, and stayed for two-and-a-half years," he laughs, remembering how he became the choir director.
Today, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir has a television series, a CD, and reams of glowing reviews to their credit. Who would have thought all this possible for a group formed only four years ago—especially considering its humble beginnings. In 1992, an small ad was placed in the local papers looking for people interested in singing in a gospel choir. The only requirements were a passion for gospel music and attendance at rehearsals. The notice attracted singers from Peggy's Cove to the Prestons, junior high to their senior years, even several mother/daughter teams.
For personal reasons, Woody Woods has to spend most of his time back in the States now but the Mass Choir he helped polish is still wowing audiences. The choir brings its rich, bluesy sound to many of the old-time gospel hymns that still rock in churches such as the Cornwallis Street Baptist in Halifax and Something Something in Preston, . With the help of its incredible roster of talented soloists, it has also made several compositions its own, especially The Strength of Love, Woody Woods' musical homage to Martin Luther King. But the Mass Choir does more than just make gorgeous music. As one reviewer noted: "It isn't just that they sing with a superlatively rich sound, an explosive sense of rhythm and a balance of voices that has both breadth and depth. It's also that they sing as though they fervently believe it is up to each one of them personally to bring the walls of racial prejudice and intolerance tumbling down."
No wonder their audiences are moved to shout "Hallelujah!"