The Crossing: Assembly of the Poor Hymnal

 A hymn is a song people sing together, often in worship, to express a shared belief. David Lang’s poor hymnal imagines an entire hymnal—a collection of those songs—in which every song comes back to the same idea: We should take care of one another. 

Sit close to the singers of The Crossing, led by Donald Nally inside Gerrard Hall as they perform new hymns about kindness, charity, and what we owe one another. They won’t just stand in rows and sing: choreographer Annie-B Parson created movement for the choir members, bringing their voices and bodies into the performance as they explore those ideas together. 

Photo by Winslow Townson

The words are simple and direct: notice when someone needs help, open your hands, and consider what you can give. Together, the songs move from a familiar value—caring for one another—to the harder work of putting it into practice. 

The setting adds another layer. Built in 1837 as UNC’s “New Chapel,” Gerrard Hall is the fourth-oldest building still standing on campus. For nearly two centuries, it has hosted public addresses, poetry readings, and major University gatherings. In 1859, while still enslaved, poet George Moses Horton addressed UNC’s freshman class there. More than 70 years later, in 1931, Langston Hughes spoke and read poetry in the hall. 

Now, in a place where people have gathered to address the questions of their own time, poor hymnal turns toward ours: What does caring for one another require of us today? Rather than treating care as an abstract belief, the work presents it as a practice—something sung, embodied, and shared. 

Friday, Saturday, or Sunday festival day pass required for the day of attendance. Seating is first-come, first-served and subject to venue capacity. A day pass does not guarantee entry; plan to arrive early.