Three weeks ago, I posted an invitation on Instagram to work on a virtual choir project. This is the result. In the end, more than 50 of my friends responded and worked on Far Greater Love, all of them representing communities I've been a part of throughout my life (Soulsearch, Ateneo High School Glee Club, Ateneo College Glee Club, Ateneo Chamber Singers, Jesuit Music Ministry friends, Berklee, Saint Peter's Prep, Saint Joseph's Church, even the Michael Gerry Live Stream!).
I think in the beginning everybody felt like their contribution was so tiny and possibly insignificant. But as with many worthwhile endeavors like this, it soon became obvious that the little that we had came together as a really big, beautiful thing.
Huge shoutout to Jett Galindo, our sound engineer and Ethan McChristian, our video editor, for taking the time to meticulously assemble, polish and refine the song with me.
Most of all, thank you to this amazing virtual choir. It was pure joy to make music with you. Can this be an ongoing thing??
RJ Woessner
Dr. Pauline Peronilla-Cauton
Zach Birdsall
Katrina Saporsantos
Ged Dagot
Rich Abante Moats
Juliana Dominguez
Grace Marie Keck
SOPRANO
Aui Tamayo
Cate Marcial Kapunan
Elaine Aliga
Giorgia Renosto
Joy Cortez-Dauz
Katrina Gutierrez
Mark Robles Salvador
Miggi Angangco
Priscilla Morris
Sarah Sando
Shannon Semenko
Vanessa Njos
ALTO
Aleli Salazar
Carla Vannatta
Dr. Pauline Peronilla-Cauton*
Erin Craig*
Jacqui Jimenez
Jeanie Tolentino
Kylie Krone
Leslie Perez
Pia Santos *
Rachel Lordemann
Tricia Tan
TENOR
Alex Amado
Dom Bulan
Dr. Lance Lazatin
John Cas
Jon Carlo Dominguez
Jonel Mojica
Josh Ackerman
Leo Paolo Leal
Lester Tanquilut*
Louie Morante
Paulo Tirol
Tim Tabbada
TJ San Jose*
Will Tan
BASS
Adrian Camano
Enrico Lagasca
James Ryan
Jon Dendy
Luke Lordemann
*sang multiple parts
Thank you, Michael Gerry, for the thumbNAIL!
****
FAR GREATER LOVE
words by Johnny Go, SJ
music by Manoling Francisco, SJ
Who would have known this would be a history so torn with wars?
The sky seems grayer than our hearts. It's grayer in our hearts.
I could have sworn this would end in misery. But the world is turning still,
and we're also learning somewhere, hidden out there,
something's greater than our hearts.
REF:
The storms of life may shake our ground,
a greater peace still dwells in our hearts.
The dreams we build may fall apart; a deeper hope still runs in our hearts.
Fear no harm, we are ruled by a far greater love, a far greater love.
Who would have known life would be such a mystery?
For the world is yearning still, and our hearts keep burning.
We dare to believe there's something greater than our hearts (REF)
CODA:
Fear no harm, we are ruled by a far greater love,
We're never alone. All else may go wrong,
still with there be a love far greater than our hearts.