God, pitying the toils which our race is born to undergo, gave us the gift of song.

-- Plato

There is no truer truth obtainable by man than comes of music.

-- Robert Browning

My soul spake unto me and said, "The lantern which you carry is not yours, and the song that you sing was not composed within your heart, for even if you bear the light, you are not the light, and even if you are a lute fastened with strings, you are not the lute player."

-- Kahlil Gibran

Choirs, both church and concert, sing community when there is human diversity to be seen in the membership of the choir.  Gender, ethnicity, age-range:  these are visuals that contribute to the community and peace environment that ensembles afford.  A choir's human diversity on display is bold protest, in this case, against segregation and discrimination.   . . . Art calls forth a diverse audience and gives them deep lessons in community and peace.

-- Terry York