“What a long strange trip it’s been.” –The Grateful Dead

I was chatting with Mrs. Blogmeister over a very palatable Californian pinot noir and she asked, “So, how many different languages has the Choral Society sung?” Good question. Luckily all of the songs from all of the concerts are on the WCS web site (http://www.thewindwardchoralsociety.org/about-us/about-us-past-seasons/) so I sat down to count them.

Wow.

Now before I give you the list I want you to guess what the total number is. NO PEEKING. To be a separate entry, the piece needs to either 1) be in a language other than English or 2) originate in a different country so the list is a mix of languages and locations. And yes, substantially different styles here in the good ol’ USA are called out (I’ll give you a head start, there are only three of those mentioned). Got a number in your head? Alrighty then, here we go.

Argentina
Brazil
Cameroon
Canada
China
England
Germany
Hawaii
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Kenya (Swahili)
Korea
Latin
Mexico
Norway
Phillipines
Puerto Rico
Romania
Samoa
Scotland
South Africa (Zulu)
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
Ukraine
US (African-American Spiritual)
US (Appalachian)
US (Gospel)
Wales
Zambia (Chibemba)

I’m no math whiz but that adds up to 31 (!!!). We all know where to lay the blame: Susie. She’s the origin of that mixture of excitement, curiosity and sheer terror that blows through your mind when the folders of music are handed out at the beginning of a semester.

Thanks, boss-lady. A good (and strange) trip indeed.