I almost never take medication. I have always been one of those “walk it off” types since I was a little kid. It probably comes from being a tomboy raised in a long line of athletes. Anyway, one winter, when my college choir was preparing to perform Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” I came down with a sinus infection that was so debilitating I actually sought medical attention! This is also a rarity. The doctor prescribed a high-powered steroid that ended up making me rather loopy. I swear, I lost an entire week! I was functioning, but I don’t remember a thing except my students laughing through most of our rehearsals.

After I recovered a week later, I started hearing reports of the strange antics resulting from my drug-induced stupor. All of them were pretty embarrassing, but the real low point (or perhaps “high” point would be more accurate) had to have been when I was rehearsing the fast mixed odd meter section of Britten’s masterpiece. The lyrics quickly rattle off Biblical characters and ways in which they honor God with their various abilities; the first of which goes: “Let Nimrod the mighty hunter bind a leopard to the altar and consecrate his spear to the Lord.” According to all accounts, I demonstrated the tricky rhythms by speaking these lyrics in tempo: “Let Nimrod the mighty hunter bind a shepherd to the altar and consecrate his spear to the Lord,” giving the piece an entirely different slant than was Britten’s intent!

Although “Rejoice in the Lamb” is one of my favorite choral works, I still struggle to sing or speak this part of the text correctly. That darned shepherd creeps in every time! It even happens when I’m just thinking the music. Most of my students from that particular choir say they have the same problem all these years later. Sorry, Maestro Britten! I meant no disrespect. (Although, something tells me he would have found it pretty funny, too.)