Inetta Harris
Yesterday, I received news that my friend and former choirmaster,
Inetta Harris has died.
Inetta led the E.C.H.O.E.S. From Heaven Gospel Choir at Michigan
Technological University. E.C.H.O.E.S. was a choir one could join
without audition. Inetta took the choir of largely untrained voices
and turned it into a magnificent vocal ensemble, capable of making
great sounds and great music. When she would rehearse us – and the
“us” was a collection of mostly students with some townies (like
me) and people from high school age to much older (like me, in my
40’s and 50’s) – we’d go from not knowing a song to getting
all the parts in place in a remarkably short time. I used to sit and
watch this, trying to find the moment that the learning took place,
but it always slipped by me. Remember that, being a Gospel choir, we
rarely had music to read, and didn't at all when we performed.
Inetta's piano playing was another key to the choir's success.
She had the strongest left hand I'd ever heard this side of the also
recently passed Oscar Peterson. Whether from year to year we had a
bassist or drummer was of only small importance, as it was that left
hand that kept things where they needed to be. On the occasions when
I played my flute with the choir, it was a joy to have that strong
piano right there.
And Inetta was a singer. She had an operatic background sang
everything from Gospel music with us to opera and oratorio with the
orchestra at Michigan Tech. She was thrilling to hear.
I never knew how Inetta managed to come to this place. She was
a Californian, and never comfortable with winter here, but she did
come here, and she made so many of us glad that she did. She was, in
all likelihood, the greatest musician that ever came to these parts.
I'm thankful that I got to know her, and to be part of E.C.H.O.E.S.
and all the great people I met in the choir. We're all very sad right
now, but as time passes, we'll remember the great gifts of music and
friendship Inetta gave us. And we'll remember moments from
rehearsals, performances, and Spring Concerts. My favourite of these
was the first I was in when we did the great and famous arrangement of
Ezekul Saw Da Wheel and Hold Up The Light. I still
remember that wonderful Spring day (in early May, no less; I've known
snowstorms here at that time of May) when the weather was warm enough
that Hezekiah Ford, one of our great basses remarked that the day
reminded him of home: home in his case is the Tallahassee area. There
was a magic that day that I've rarely known before or since.
1 comment(s)
It's so sad when people die... and it's even more painful when good
people leave us... but this is life, it goes on and all that matters
are the good memories that remain forever after. Inetta Harris was a
great personality. used to read a lot about her (downloaded many
articles by http://rapid4me.com SE) unfortunately have never had an
opportunity to hear her live, but still enjoyed her music.
Posted by Edward Horton on Wednesday, 20 January 2010, 0647 EST (-0500)
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