Music warms my heart and soul.

by Chester Freeman
Rochester Meeting

When I first began to attend Quaker meeting, it was the music in Central Finger Lakes Meeting that kept bringing me back again and again.

There was a gentleman in the group who had a beautiful melodic voice and he often offered the earthy Native American songs and chants in our meetings. His voice was very soft, which, to me, was like a downy feather floating in the air.  Each time he sang, it reminded me of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.

His singing brought me to a place of gratitude, since the prayer ends with the line, “And now our minds are one.”  His a cappella vocals were transcendent and were integrated so gracefully into our meeting that I think we all looked forward to his vocal ministry in song.

I especially loved his mastery of the Native American language, the high tense notes, the descending melodic patterns, and the vocables — those terms for which our English language has no interpretation.  He captured all of it so fluidly.

There was another gentleman in our meeting who brought his harmonica from time to time.  He too, was a master of his skill that gave me a jazz-like feeling.  It took me back to when I would listen to Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.  His playing was deeply moving.  We all know that certain frequencies speak to our bodies and his playing always put me in a place of serenity.

These two men gave me the courage to sing in meeting.  I reflected on my years of singing in the Chapel Choir at Hampton University.  Our Minister of Music taught us all the songs from the Dett Collection of Negro Spirituals, by Robert Nathaniel Dett. When I was moved by the Spirit, I would sing one of those spirituals a cappella.  Everyone in our meeting expressed how much they enjoyed my ministry of music and encouraged me to do more.  

In our unprogrammed meeting, we always seemed to have time and space for music. Personally, I feel all genres of music resonate with Quaker values. It all depends on the song and who is singing it. For instance, Judy Collins and Joan Baez bring great depth to their music and that resonates with Friends.  

One of my favorites by Yolanda Adams is “Open Your Heart,” which captures the gospel nature.  Each time I hear that song, it awakens something with me and causes me to reflect on my life and what I can do to become a better person.

I attend one other meeting, the Farmington Friends Church in Farmington, New York.  Again, the main reason that I keep returning to this meeting is because of their choir. The music they bring to a service is so uplifting and transformative that I can’t wait to sit down in worship. They have a special “Music Sunday” service in which the whole service is given through music, with scripture readings interspersed. This service always takes me to a higher plane.  They often have special instrumental solos with violins and piano.

We as Quakers often think that George Fox was not a fan of music.  But that is not so. 

Music is definitely a form of prayer for me. Music is my go-to place. When I am down, I play Yolanda Adams. When I am happy, I play Aretha Franklin. When I am in a meditative mood, I play Richard Shulman. Music sets the tone for meditation and I could not live without music. I think music is one of the greatest gifts that we as humans can receive.