2003 Chancel Choir
Queen Coronation Ceremony Transcript

Herald Walks Out, Steps to the Microphone and States Regally:

Hear Yea! Hear Yea!
The Royal Court of The Chancel Choir is now in session.

Herald Now Plays: Processional Fanfare (Joy In The Morning)
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Pay yea heed to the court!
Halt yea gossip!
Stop yea laughter!
Face to the front and look alive!

On this day, the seventh day of June in the year of our Lord 2003, annae dominae, and the year of our Kevin, seven:

This court is called to annual session, uno annae, in solemn commemoration and for the performance of the official and annual right of service of the defrocking and succession of Her Majesty, the Queen of the Chancel Choir.

[Security "problem" in audience. Subject Terry Houts is wrestled to ground as candy bar is mistaken for a weapon.]]

Be yea advised, that due to pressing concerns for security, this court has been assigned two agents of the dreaded Royal Music Police. These agents will serve as Bailiffs for these proceedings.

The peasants here assembled are warned. These agents are skilled in the application of the Formada. They hold black belts in Counterpoint.

They are mean. They are dangerous. They will maintain order at any cost as you have seen. They will assist with these ceremonies in all ways necessary.
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For those new to the choir. You may ask: Who is the Chief Justice and why do we have this court?

This court is empowered by a higher authority and serves as a judicial review for Chanceldom and its peasant singers.

It functions to bring order to a group where often no order exists.

It functions to arbitrate disputes among its several leaders and assumed leaders.

It dispenses justice when no one else is willing.

And, as today witnessed, it serves as a formal body for the conference of special honors, oaths and distinctions.

The court’s power is complete, its authority absolute and its patience nonexistent.

Without this court, and the reverent respect paid to it, all of Chanceldom would sink into disharmonic chaos.

Why then, is there a queen and who serves as this Monarch?

The legend of the queen originates with the peasant soprano named Sue Woolweaver. As with so many stories originating with the subject Sue Woolweaver, the details and importance escapes the court.

The Chancel Queen serves for a term of one year and provides three important services to the choir:

First, she is a ceremonial symbolic monarch that supports guides and enthralls her subject singers.

Secondly, she lives out her charge to provide symbolic leadership with specific instructions to do nothing to assist or change the course or fortune of the choir during her term.

And thirdly, she provides a useful and convenient subject to blame should the choir’s fortune turn negative during her reign. The importance of this third responsibility cannot be over emphasized.

Who then serves as the queen?

From time immoral, the spouse of the duly elected Chancel Choir president automatically ascends to the thrown – willingly or not.

Should the elected president by without a spouse, the court is empowered to fill the vacancy by conscription after careful review of candidates and their qualifications. This process sometimes works – but as will be evident during this session -- often fails.
_______________________________
Prepare yourselves to receive your Queen.

Herald, call forth the queen.

Herald Shouts: Call Forth The Queen.

Herald Plays: The Fanfare and Processional through once.)

(Queen regally walks to the front of the court and faces the crowd of subjects)

Oh, hello your Royal Majesty. We are so happy that you could join us. Yes, we are.

Before you, and about you, your Royal Majesty, are your subjects.

Now, shall all the queen’s subjects pay her tribute and honor her on this, her final day.

(Applause)

Your Majesty, this court is empowered to speak on behalf of your subjects. They now express their gratitude and humility for your unswerving leadership during your lofty reign.

Your subjects are grateful for your ambivalence.

Your subjects are grateful for your despondence.

Your subjects are grateful for your arrogance.

During your rule, they believe absolutely nothing was accomplished . . . and for that, your subjects are most thankful, your Royal Majesty.

For this mediocre monarchy, your people express their love and gratitude, your hein-ass.

However, Your Majesty, this court begs to differ with your subjects. Your misdemeanors are numerous and all of Chanceldom has sunk to the depths of a new low during your reign.

Indeed, you are a wanted marauding Monarch. Allow me to read the charges listed in your indictments.

> You are charged with onerous neglect. Thorough your absence, a boxing match prevented the Chancel Choir from visiting Graceland.

> You are charged with abandonment. Your felonious absence encouraged your subjects to run rampant through the streets of New York City misbehaving in all manors and forms.

> Your are charged with pernicious financial misadministration. During your watch, the Royal Chancel coffers were drained, debt collectors called on the treasurer, and dreaded deficit spending become the policy of the realm.

> You are charged with soiling the high reputation of all Chanceldom. Shamefully, the once Regal Chancel Choir was forced to sing “Show Tunes” and dance to pay its bills.

> And worst of all, you are charged with impersonating a musician. You were seen strumming a geeee-tar in front of more than 1,200 people paying for real music.

And while these indictments were accumulating, surveillance found that you mascaraided as a commoner. Display the evidence.

The Royal Court of the Chancel hereby issues a bench warrant for the commoner James Adrain Belval who was elevated to the high office of Queen.

You may now turn and face the court.
Bailiffs, prepare for the defrocking and then the extradition.

Your Majesty, you will now descend to your previous low status among your subjects. You will kneel before the court.

Remove the Royal Crown.
Remove the Royal Sceptor.
Remove the Royal Robe.

Will the once and former queen -- now again made a commoner -- arise and face the assembly.

Today, you have returned to the pathetic ranks of the simple gathered here before you.
No longer do you possess the vast powers and authority of the Queen of the Chancel Choir.

From this point forward, humility and blissful memory will be the rule of your day.

You will be assimilated as a peasant. Resistance will be fu-tile.

This court now finds that during your reign you overstepped your duty to do and accomplished nothing and contributed to the delinquency of your fellow chancel peasants.

You are hereby remanded to the custody of the Royal Music Police for extensive questioning. Now, get out!
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Order. Return to order.

     
Pay yea heed to the court! Halt yea gossip!
   
               
  The cry rang out,"I've got something for the Queen," and a candy bar, mistaken for a weapon, put Terry Houts on the ground as Royal Music Police Agent Larry Dietzel responded with force.
 
  The court’s power is complete, its authority absolute and its patience nonexistent.
           
  The outgoing monarch processes to the court only to learn of charges as the indictment is read.
             
  The regalia of office is removed. First, the Royal Crown, then the Royal Septor, and finally the robe. The former monarch faces the peasants of chanceldom, again made a commoner, as Royal Music Police Agent Gloria Graf prepares to take him away for questioning.
 
                Is your name Joy Abbott Parisien? Are you the trailing spouse of Sir Maurice Parisien, the future ruler of all Chanceldom and grandfather to twin subjects in the Royal City of Columbia?
 
  I, Joy Parisien, do solemnly swear that I will uphold the pristine image of the Chancel Choir and that I will accomplish absolutely nothing during my reign.
     
    The court will now invest you with the instruments, accessories and regalia of office. Install the Royal Crown. Install the Royal Septor. And the robe.
   
  The moment of coronation. The Royal Baaa-Tone of the choir touches upon her shoulders.
 
 
Her Majesty
The Queen of the Chancel Choir
2003-2004

The Royal Court of The Chancel now summons forth the commoner to be elevated to the high honor of queen of this monarchy.

Call yea, Joy Abbott Pareeee-sien.

Herald Shouts: CALL YEA JOY PARISIEN.
Herald Plays: Queen’s Fanfare through once

The subject will now face the oral questioning. During these solemn ceremonies the court will use the Royal European pronunciation of her name.

Is your name Joy Abbott Parisieeeeeen?

Are you a member of the house of Parisien?

Are you the trailing spouse of Sir Maurice Parisien, the future ruler of all Chanceldom and grandfather to twin subjects in the Royal City of Columbia?

Then this court finds you worthy and qualified. It now authorizes your ascension. You shall kneel.

The ascending Monarch shall now take the oath of office.

Repeat after me.

I, Joy Parisieeeen, do solemnly swear:

> that during my reign I will forsake all other offices of power,

> that I will uphold the pristine image of the Chancel Choir,

> that I will represent it well in all public ceremonies,

> that I will carry on in a manner befitting the dignified reputation of the chancel choir members and their president,

> that I will honor the will of its singers, would-be singers and attempted singers,

> that I will pay immediate deference to its all-powerful leadership,

> that I will do all in my power to discourage choir members from dancing on stage during my reign,

> that there will be Joy In The Morning On That Day.

> that I will suppress all mathematical urges and refrain from using numbers in a sentence while seen in public. Math teachers must be kept in check.

> and, that I will accomplish absolutely nothing during my reign.

So help me Kevin.

The court will now invest you with the instruments, accessories and regalia of office.

Install the Royal Crown.
Install the Royal Sceptor.
Install the Royal Robe.

By the power in me vested as the Chief Justice and Exchequer of the Chancel, I set my hand and cause the
Royal Baaa-Tone of the choir to touch upon your shoulders.

This court prays that your reign shall be free from the scurrilous scandals of your predecessor. May the blissful peace of a treasury surplus continue throughout your reign.

In the name of John Rutter, Robert Shaw and Jonathan Griffin, and in witness of the holy saints of music, I pronounce you to be the Queen of the Chancel Choir.

Arise!

The witnessing peasants will now stand and sing the first verse of “Joy To The World”. You will substitute the word Queen where appropriate. Herald, sound the appropriate pitch.

Sing, damn it.

Your Majesty, turn and face your subjects. Before you and about you are your subjects . . . well-meaning singers, all. From these pathetic ranks you have ascended and to these ranks you will soon return.

All rise for the queen.
Long live the queen.
Long live the queen.

Herald Plays Regally: (Queens Fanfare: Joy In The Morning)