Words from Our Director of Music
Music Notes
This month we have lost two of our dear founding members—Oscar Butler and Patsy Tombaugh. It’s hard even to think of this congregation without them as part of it. Others have eulogized them (or will) far better than I can, and we know their amazing biographies. I would just like to share a couple of memories that I have of them.
Before we had a regular Sunday choir, Oscar used to organize and conduct choirs for Christmas and Easter. I was fortunate to sing in some of Oscar’s choirs, and also invited him to be guest conductor for our regular choir. I learned a lot from him, and here are a few of the things I remember him saying: “Always remember the poetry of the words you are singing. Sing the words as you would read the poem.” “Do you believe it? Sing it like you believe it!” “Try to sing like a cello would sound. Isn’t that interesting? When you play a cello, you try to play it like you are singing.” Oh, and I’m not sure we ever sang any song for Oscar all the way through without stopping at least once for a comment or two along the way.
Patsy was at the first church campout that we attended, in 1998. A group of us were sitting around playing a word game. We were all trying to figure out a word pattern, and we were supposed to guess by giving examples that fit the pattern. One by one we started figuring it out. Suddenly Patsy blurted out, “It’s double letters.” The game leader said, “Oh, Patsy, you weren’t supposed to give away the answer.” She replied, “I decided that was just about enough of that.”
Keeping Patsy’s admonition in mind, I’ll just say that I’m a better person for having known her and Oscar, and I will miss them both.
Catherine Massey, Director of Music
