The St. Michael’s Choristers finish up their season this Sunday at 9:00 am, singing an anthem all on their own during communion. Their anthem, Ching-a-Ring Chaw, arranged by celebrated American composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990), is one that requires some context. While its origins date back to the minstrel show tradition, Copland wisely rewrote the lyrics to include in his 1952 Old American Songs set, so as not “to take any chance on it being construed as racist.” His version contains fun, meaningless gibberish (“Ho a ding-a-ding kum larkee”), with the “ching-a-rings” themselves meant to represent the strumming of a banjo. Meanwhile, other lyrics are more recognizably traditional (“Brothers gather round/ Listen to this story/ ‘Bout the promised land/ An’ the promised glory”).

Other featured music on Sunday includes organ voluntaries by the French woman composer Mel Bonis (1858-1937). She was a prolific composer, writing over 300 works, and attended the Paris Conservatoire where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Claude Debussy and César Franck. Even Saint-Saens wrote of one of her compositions: “I never imagined a woman could write such music!”