Video: Harmonium ‘Open Minds’ explores madness, through music, in Morristown

Anne Matlack leads Harmonium Choral Society performance of ‘Open Minds,’ at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Feb. 29, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Over the last couple of years, towns across Morris County have declared themselves “stigma-free” in dealing with mental illness and substance use disorders.

It’s hard to define what stigma-free looks like. But it might sound something like Open Minds, a cantata performed by the 100-voice Harmonium Choral Society over the weekend in a pair of concerts at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown.

Harmonium Choral Society performance of ‘Open Minds,’ at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Feb. 29, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“A lot of us cried during rehearsal,” said soprano Nancy Bangiola. “It’s amazing how many people are touched by mental illness. It can be devastating, and lonely. That’s the idea here–that maybe we’re not so alone.”

Open Minds poked at the shadows. An estimated 45 million Americans live with mental-, behavioral or emotional disorders. As many as one-quarter of U.S. adults suffer from depression during the course of a year, and one death-by-suicide occurs every 12 minutes, on average.

Anne Matlack, Harmonium’s artistic director for the last three decades, said she felt drained after Saturday night’s concert.

“It’s really intense, and it’s a big sing for the choir,” which sang almost nonstop for the entire second half.

Matlack learned about Open Minds from her daughter Grace, who sang it during its premiere last year with the Rowan University Concert Choir.

The Harmonium director found the movement Where You Go especially touching.  “It’s sung by a loved one, to someone who’s suffering, and you don’t know how to reach them,” she said.

Video: Harmonium sings ‘Where You Go’

Deborah Kennedy, right, who composed the poems that are the basis of ‘Open Minds,’ is called onstage by Harmonium Artistic Director Anne Matlack, Feb. 29, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Deborah Kennedy, whose poetry is the basis of Open Minds, appeared moved on Saturday when she was called onstage to acknowledge a standing ovation.

Kennedy began the project five years ago, in response to the suicide of her church music director.

Rob Redei, her interim music director, agreed to compose the score, which was commissioned by Rowan University’s choir director, Christopher Thomas.

Harmonium’s weekend concerts also included the premiere of I Am in Need of Music. Thomas Parente, an associate professor of piano at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, wrote the piece after losing his sister to mental illness in 2016.

Video: Harmonium premieres ‘I Am in Need of Music’:

Harmonium learned Open Minds in about seven weeks. It was daunting at first. Matlack told her members this would be a process; they would work through their emotions before the concerts.

Harmonium soprano Nancy Bangiola, right, with daughter Gloria, an alumna of Harmonium. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“Now I know how many people in the choir are suffering,” she said. “But now they know they are not alone. That’s the point of the piece.”

Bass Dan Karger said he felt good about Saturday’s performance.

In addition to its cathartic elements, Open Minds “was also challenging musically, and proved we can do it so well.”

Mental health agencies distributed information in the church narthex, where Harmonium members placed poster boards sharing their experiences with mental illness.

One of them, bass Jabez Van Cleef, revealed childhood struggles in a family tinged by alcoholism.

Even so, Van Cleef, who is married to Matlack, said he had an easier time getting through Open Minds than Anneliese, Harmonium’s 2014 performance of The Diary of Anne Frank.

“That one you can hardly sing, because it’s so sad,” Van Cleef said.

He sees ominous parallels between Anneliese and Open Minds.

The first victims Hitler exterminated, he said, “were the people this program is about: People in mental hospitals. He called them ‘useless eaters.’ I hope we don’t arrive at that point again.”

Open Minds grappled with despair and isolation, panic attacks and helplessness. Yet rays of sunshine punched through the darkness. A send-up of “miracle” drugs called All Better hinted of Frank Zappa.

Video: Harmonium sings ‘All Better’:

A joyous arrangement of James Taylor’s Shed a Little Light concluded the night.

“It has a lot of great lines in it about wanting a great future for our children,” Matlack told the audience. “And that’s what this concert has been about as well.”

Video: Harmonium sings ‘Shed a Little Light’:

If you are in crisis, call:

The National Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris 973-509-9777

New Jersey Mental Health Cares 1-866202-HELP (4357)

Harmonium Choral Society performance of ‘Open Minds,’ at the recently renovated Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Feb. 29, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

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2 COMMENTS

  1. It is not pejorative. Webster’s defines madness as “a state of severe mental illness —not used technically.” It cites this example:
    “… fortifications against an inner darkness, the threat of madness that crouched above him throughout his life.”
    — Robert F. Moss

  2. Why are you using terms like “madness” if you claim this is a “stigma-free” approach to mental health?

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