A Bow Valley choir group is giving the gift of lovely voices to calm the soul.
Alpine Voices, the local chapter of Threshold Choir, has a gentle tune they’re eager to sing.
The Threshold Choir collectively is found in about 150 communities around the world, most based in North America. It gives singers opportunities to offer bedside singing as a free gift in large and small communities.
The local Alpine Voices began rehearsals this past June and has grown to about a dozen members who have their community in mind and a song in their heart.
At Ralph Connor United Church in downtown Canmore, the acoustics filled the building during a Monday evening Alpine Voices rehearsal.
The choir group, though, is not church-based – it’s for everyone to enjoy.
“It’s a very inclusive practice, no matter what somebody is, whether they have a religious belief or no religious belief, this is for everyone,” said Jan Tissandier, who helped get the ball rolling for Alpine Voices.
“The language in the songs is it’s about life and respectful of whatever path people might be on.”
Typically, two to four singers will enter a setting and once there, they bring songs of sweet dreams, resting easy, taking a deep breath to relax, and letting all troubles drift away to their subjects.
Threshold Choirs started as people singing at hospital settings, but has grown to include those in grief or undergoing chemotherapy, among others.
In many ways, the soothing melodies are an extension of nurturing and caregiving and working collaboratively with Canmore Hospital’s Golden Eagle View long-term care unit.
Alpine Voices will sing to people that have difficulty settling in for the evening, or those who can’t enjoy live music anymore.
There are sometimes tears from the person who’s in the bed and the singers can come to tears too, said Tissandier.
“When you go into someone’s room and they tell you they’re lonely and you sit at their bedside and you’re present with them and sing to them and see their face as it relaxes and they become calm and at peace, you realize you’re bringing something lovely to someone who can’t get out; this is a gift for you,” said Tissandier. Their kindhearted voices are just one way Alpine Voices can be distinguished. The choir also wears colourful sewn scarves as a way to help identify them.
Alpine Voices meets about once every two weeks for rehearsals and the choir is open to having more singers and anyone interested, regardless of singing experience, is encouraged to contact the group by email at [email protected].
