What would you like to know about St. Joan of Arc? Do you have a story about our parish or of general interest that you think others would like to hear? For story ideas, contact Jeff Rholl, jeff@stjoan.com.

Gifted Gospel singer Robert Robinson, busy recording music for two future releases, asked our SJA Choir Director Anna Vagle if there was an interest from our choir to record with him. Our choir season begins in September and ends after Easter leaving us on hiatus for the summer. We would be needed in two weeks for one rehearsal and a two-hour recording session. Robinson actually asked, "Well, if you can get ten," and 61 choir members showed up for the July 21st rehearsal. Oh, the power of e-mail! The following story traces the timeline of the ensuing two-hour July 26th recording session.

• 5:30 PM - Choir members arrived at Creation Audio on 2541 Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis. Talking to the owner and recording engineer Steven Wiese, I found out that he recorded Anna and Fred Vagle's first album in this very space back in the early 1970s. Everyone filed to their designated spots while Anna rearranged some folks in each section for as even a blend of voices as possible. Producer Scott Nelson and Assistant Engineer Steve Peterson talk and bustle about with Wiese and Anna. We soon warmed up our voices and physically loosened up our bodies for the task ahead. Excitement built as we were informed to muster as much discipline as possible regarding quietness and turning off any cell phones. Trust me. As an eight-year choir veteran, I can tell you, this is a tall order for such a loquacious bunch. We soon are in place. Our stoic stillness puts a relieved smile on Anna's face. We were set.
• 6:00 PM - Robinson graciously thanked us for such quick response and turn out. We are much obliged for this recording honor. Each Palm Sunday we've been blessed with his glorious gospel voice collaborating with us. Now we get to record for him. We could feel each other's goose bumps. He leads us in a prayer for focus, gratitude and inspiration. He won't be recording his vocals today. It's just our choir part that will be recorded. Providing his vocal to guide us, he quipped, "I'll go back to my corner."

  We rehearsed "Steal Away," our first of three traditional spirituals. A sound guy responded "less piano from Dan" and another suggested that Robert's monitor sounded "a little grainy. A little more bottom and less top." Equipment was adjusted and we did our first take. After dead silence, Wiese returned from the sound booth clapping and announced, "We'll do just one more take." Our own piano player Dan Chouinard was intricately placed behind us so that just our voices would be recorded. The problem with this placement was that Anna and he could not adequately see each other for conducting. A gap in the middle of the choir was established with enthusiastic response from Anna, "As long as I can see Dan, I'll be fine."

• 6:40 PM - Just as we were about to begin our second take, a soprano collapsed from the back row causing a stir of concern. She was quickly rushed out of the session and taken to ER. Turns out the tension of standing still in such claustrophobic surroundings on a riser had caused blood pooling in her feet. She was fine. We got through our second take and smiles on the sound technician's faces indicated we could "take five."
• 7:00 PM - After consuming bottles of water, we reconvened to record our second offering "Wondrous Day of Our God." Anna announced before recording that "we could do this [in] one take with ENERGY." After the first take was completed, she addressed the soprano section, "No speaking at the end." Anna inquired if the chattering voices were "sticking out?" Our producer Scott Nelson coming out of the booth responded with, "the only thing sticking out is the hair on my arm."
  
• 7:25 PM - We've completed the second take of "Wondrous" and began Moses Kaufman's haunting composition "Jesus Lay Your Head In the Window." After the first take, Nelson announced that he heard "little creaks in the riser, so less moving on the risers."
• 7:45 PM - We began our second take of "Window." We soon stopped as Anna announced that a soprano's voice was sticking out. We started over and continued through the session. Each section has long sustained whole notes so the trick was to stagger our breathing as seamlessly as possible.
• 8:00 PM - We're done. It's a rap. We convened into a green room for mini sandwiches, chips, m & m's, soda and water. What an experience! Anna had remarked that we were recorded purposely with a dry sound so that we could hear our intonation as clearly as possible. A fuller warmer sound would be mixed in later. She was quite impressed with our first recording session. I'm sure that a little discipline and carefully listening to each other had a lot to do with it.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Look for SJA Choir's collaboration with Robert Robinson on the spirituals "Steal Away" and "Wondrous Day of Our God" on his up-coming album of inspirational music due before Christmas 2004. The final recording "Jesus Lay Your Head On the Window" will be used on a future release in 2005.

Fred Vagle is an SJA musician, husband of Anna and recorder/editor of the website's online highlights.

Bill Cameron was a pilot at Northwest Airlines for 32 years until his retirement in June of 2001. Also an attorney, Bill now practices law about half-time. The rest of his time is spent taking pictures (... a serious photography habit), playing tennis, and working on volunteer projects. Bill's wife Connie is an educational consultant and they have three adult sons.