My husband and I attended the Virginia Glee Club’s annual Christmas Concert held at the Paramount. We thoroughly enjoyed this concert under the expert direction of Frank Albinder, with one exception.
The program was advertised as a Christmas concert, so we were surprised to see one of his selections, “Zikr.” This song has nothing to do with Christmas. It is a Muslim chant to their God. I think it is disingenuous to insert an Islamic chant, however good and exciting the music, which is the antithesis of Christian music.
Zikr reminds Muslims to remember their God — Allah, who is not the God of the Christians. We celebrate at Christmas the biblical view of God — that he is one in three persons: God the Fa-ther, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. To give recognition to the Muslim’s God by putting this devotional chant along side Christian songs is totally inappropriate. Would a Ramadan celebration include a Christmas song?
The God of the Koran does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Father who came to earth to save us from our sins. Was this chant included for the purpose of political correctness?
Mr. Albinder does an outstanding job every year as the Glee Club conductor. I just hope he is more sensitive to his audience next year.