The Matinee Musical Club met on February 19, at the First Presbyterian Church in Rockdale with 13 members and two guests present. The hosts were Mona Butala and Marie Gest who served delicious refreshments.
The business meeting was called to order, the Collect read, and Lisa Loewe read the poem of the month, “It Sifts from Leaden Sieves” by Emily Dickinson. The group sang the song of the month, “Velvet Shoes” accompanied by Loewe. The business meeting was conducted.
JoAnn Bradford presented the program on gospel music. She talked about Thomas A. Dorsey, the Father of American Gospel music. He wrote “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” after losing his wife and child in childbirth. Dorsey’s style skillfully incorporated the new secular blues style and sacred lyrics and initially met much resistance in the church.
Bradford talked about Mahalia Jackson, the legendary gospel singer who worked extensively with Dorsey. The group listened to the Mahalia Jackson recording of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” Bradford and Joyce Ford then sang “The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow.”
The meeting was closed by singing “The Gift of Song” accompanied by Melissa Shipley.
The Matinee Musical Club is a member of the Texas Federation of Music Clubs and the National Federation of Music Clubs.
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