2012 has creep-ed up on me, and as I look through my blog posting history of 2011, it's a surprise that google has allowed me to continue residency in this place. Perhaps a simple New Year's resolution would be to put out a post once a week, heck, even once a month would be an improvement!
Before I look at what is to come in 2012, let's look back at 2011, picking up somewhere in September.
It's been, to say the least, a very busy season. I've participated, either as a chorister or conductor, in seven different concert programs. One with Scona Chamber Singers, three with Da Camera Singers, and four with Pro Coro. Ok, I cheat a bit - Da Camera and Pro Coro collaborated on a concert the week before Christmas, and I just counted that one twice - but I had to double up rehearsals with the two different choirs, so it is fair to count it twice.
A very exciting year for all three choirs though, let's stat with the youngest, Scona Chamber Singers. this is our third full season as an ensemble in Edmonton - specializing in early music repertoire. We have a very close association now with Early Music Alberta, also in its fledgling state as a society, just a year and a half old. In October, we mounted a one to a part concert of the madrigals of Monteverdi and Gesualdo. It was a great collaborative effort from the five of us who sang. And a great reminder to me of just how difficult the music of Gesulado is! We were successful, two years in a row now, at securing a bit of grant money from the provincial arts granting organization, and continue to receive support from both my church concert series, as well as Early Music Alberta. I think, in due time, this ensemble will flourish - but it will continue to take some work.
Da Camera is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an ensemble. No, there are no original members in the choir anymore, however we are having a great time going through archive material, and notifying past members to come back in March to join us for a weekend of socializing, and most importantly, singing! Already, since September, we have performed three concerts. One complete a cappella concert of new music and past commissions of the choir, then a collaboration with Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and then the aforementioned collaboration with Pro Coro Canada.
Pro Coro Canada is having an exciting year as well - six concert with six different conductors. The first three were concerts that featured candidates for the position of Artistic Director of the choir. This was an absolutely fascinating process for me as a chorister in the choir. The opportunity to observe three different conductors styles and expertise was as much of a great an experience from a musical standpoint as it was professional development. I learned something from all of them, and took features of conducting style, repertoire selection, diction lessons, and rehearsal planning, and brought them with me to my own ensembles. It was invaluable as a conductor to be able to be a part of this. There is still an official gag order on the selection itself, but no matter which direction the choir takes, we will be in very good hands.
The rest of my choral season of 2012 will bring more memorable moments, and another extremely busy period for the next few months. First, Scona Chamber Singers will present a concert of music from the Sistine Chapel this coming Sunday. We will feature music of Allegri mostly, including a complete performance of his Missa 'che oggi il mio sole (as well as the famed Miserere Mei), but a few other great composers as well. We'll meet again in mid-April for a concert as part of the 2nd annual Early Music Festival, however, my involvement will be limited - more on that later. Pro Coro has concerts in mid-February and early April to round out their season, but the most involved work for me will be with Da Camera.
Our anniversary concert weekend is slated for the first weekend of March. We have invited all almuni members of the choir to join us for the chamber performance of Carmina Burana. The response has been great, and we expect around 90 singers for this performance. However, only a week before that, we will be performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in a choral concert, with a few other local choirs, in a performance of the Poulenc Gloria, as well as works of Bach, Mendelssohn and Schubert. All this music needs to be learned in two months, or about eight rehearsals (including Carmina!) so needless to say, it's going to be busy. After that weekend is done, we revisit Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil with Spiritus Chamber Choir of Calgary for two performance (one here, one there). At least that's not until May, so a few months to put that back in our ears. We performed it about six years ago, so it should come back fairly quickly.
AND (if I haven't mentioned this before) in mid-April, Kathleen and I will welcome our first child into the world. So ... 2012... Here we go! I hope you're ready!
Showing posts with label professional choir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label professional choir. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2012
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Great Expectations
You might read one of two things in the fact that I haven't had a post on this blog since August 30th. Either I've been neglectful blogger, or I've just been flat out too busy.
Well, truthfully, it's a bit of both. I really should blog more, and I can make time for it, but I've also been very busy. I'm back singing with Pro Coro full time. We are going through an artistic director search this year, and the first three concerts of that season are the finalists concerts. We've done one already, and are well into the rehearsal process for the next one. A very interesting experience. I'm very much enjoying what each conductor has to bring, and I'm learning a lot as a chorister and conductor from each of them, so far. Pro Coro's new artistic director will be the first of the great expectations this year.
The fourth concert of the Pro Coro season is the Christmas concert, and I'm happy to say that I've been offered the podium for that one. I'm very much looking forward to joining Da Camera an Pro Coro forces for that one. I still have to finalize the program, something I better do this week.
Da Camera's season is also a busy one - it is our 50th anniversary year, and we are involved in many a collaborative concert. November with Tonus Vivus (Edmonton's Composer's Society), then in early December with Alberta Baroque, and the aforementioned concert with Pro Coro later that month. In late February we sing with the Edmonton Symphony, then a week later our alumni weekend concert feature Carmina Burana. In May we take on Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil with Spiritus Chamber Choir from Calgary - a great season ahead - the second of the great expectations!
I'm also continuing to build the early music group, Scona Chamber Singers. We presented a concert last week of madrigals of Monteverdi and Gesualdo, all sung one to a part. Considering it was Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada - it was a reasonably well attended concert, and I thought we sounded great! There is one video up from this concert on YouTube now - and there will be more to come yet - click here to see the duet "O Come Sei Gentile" of Monteverdi from that concert. In January we'll present a concert of the sacred music of Palestrina, and then in April a concert of the music of Thomas Tallis, with a larger ensemble for both those concerts. The third of the great expectations of the year ahead.
But, without argument, the GREATEST expectation of the year will come in mid-April, when my wife and I will welcome into the world, our first child!
Well, truthfully, it's a bit of both. I really should blog more, and I can make time for it, but I've also been very busy. I'm back singing with Pro Coro full time. We are going through an artistic director search this year, and the first three concerts of that season are the finalists concerts. We've done one already, and are well into the rehearsal process for the next one. A very interesting experience. I'm very much enjoying what each conductor has to bring, and I'm learning a lot as a chorister and conductor from each of them, so far. Pro Coro's new artistic director will be the first of the great expectations this year.
The fourth concert of the Pro Coro season is the Christmas concert, and I'm happy to say that I've been offered the podium for that one. I'm very much looking forward to joining Da Camera an Pro Coro forces for that one. I still have to finalize the program, something I better do this week.
Da Camera's season is also a busy one - it is our 50th anniversary year, and we are involved in many a collaborative concert. November with Tonus Vivus (Edmonton's Composer's Society), then in early December with Alberta Baroque, and the aforementioned concert with Pro Coro later that month. In late February we sing with the Edmonton Symphony, then a week later our alumni weekend concert feature Carmina Burana. In May we take on Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil with Spiritus Chamber Choir from Calgary - a great season ahead - the second of the great expectations!
I'm also continuing to build the early music group, Scona Chamber Singers. We presented a concert last week of madrigals of Monteverdi and Gesualdo, all sung one to a part. Considering it was Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada - it was a reasonably well attended concert, and I thought we sounded great! There is one video up from this concert on YouTube now - and there will be more to come yet - click here to see the duet "O Come Sei Gentile" of Monteverdi from that concert. In January we'll present a concert of the sacred music of Palestrina, and then in April a concert of the music of Thomas Tallis, with a larger ensemble for both those concerts. The third of the great expectations of the year ahead.
But, without argument, the GREATEST expectation of the year will come in mid-April, when my wife and I will welcome into the world, our first child!
Monday, November 2, 2009
and on the eighth day ...
Having enjoyed all 25 hours of All Saints' Day (thank you day light savings time - see you in the Spring!) I'm wondering if we can just keep that extra hour in the day, every day, and while we are at it, add one extra day in the week? I could get SO much more accomplished!
Great concert yesterday afternoon with Da Camera. In particular, the Mendelssohn Sechs Sprüche was a highlight for me, and much of the audience I think. The rest of the program was also well received, and the choir's first attempt at Jesu Meine Freude was full of highlights. Bravo to all I say.
So what's next you ask?
Of course, by the time we get to the Lodge, it will probably look like this, but you got to trust me on this one - there is nothing like swimming in a 90 degree pool when it's below freezing outside!
Great concert yesterday afternoon with Da Camera. In particular, the Mendelssohn Sechs Sprüche was a highlight for me, and much of the audience I think. The rest of the program was also well received, and the choir's first attempt at Jesu Meine Freude was full of highlights. Bravo to all I say.
So what's next you ask?
- Next weekend is a "dark" weekend for me - in the sense that I can actually get my tux to the cleaners and not worry about needing it for at least 14 more days. I do have a full slate of rehearsals to prepare for a Pro Coro Concert, the annual "Men's choir" concert, which is becoming a mainstay for the choir and is always a personal highlight for my concert year. That concert is on the 15th.
- Then in a blink of an eye Richard Eaton Singers performs the Verdi Requiem on the 22nd (a first sing for me, if you can believe it, and I'm loving it!)
- Then six days later I have to prepare the choir for the annual Christmas Wish Foundation concert with the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, not really a musical highlight, but good old fashioned fun, and anytime you get to sing the Sir David Willcocks' descants with the Davis Organ makes it worth it.
- A day later it is Advent I, which includes the Advent Carol Service.
- A week after that Da Camera sings with Alberta Baroque on their Christmas show, with BWV 140 (apparently I have to sing the tenor recit - frankly, I'm scared). Also on this program I get to conduct Haydn's Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo (aka the "little organ mass")- which has one of the most beautiful Benedictus (Benedicti?) movements in any of his masses.
- A week and a half later I'm singing with RES for the Edmonton Symphony's lighter Christmas Classics concert. Again, not particularly musically fulfilling, aside from RVW's Fantasia on Christmas Carols, which will always have a firm place in my heart, however the Christopher Rouse "Karolju", is just not doing it for me. Perhaps worth a later blog post. It will, however, attract a good sized audience, and they are sure to love it all.
- On all weekends in December I got talked into doing a few caroling gigs, something I haven't done since I left Ottawa, and figured I was pretty much done, but the fee for this is almost embarrassingly good, too good to turn down. And the other three singers are great friends, so aside from the financially rewarding aspect, it's going to be a hell of a good time, even if it is four hours a day singing in a shopping centre.
- Then it is Christmas! Two Christmas eve services and one Christmas morning service.
- Then my wife and I are packing up the car and heading HERE for two nights for our annual "sit in the lodge, swim outside in the huge heated pool while the snow falls, enjoy the mountain backdrop, skate on the lake, play cribbage, eat good food, drink good wine, leave our computers at home, and DO NOTHING for three days. A good way to spend the extra money made on caroling!
Of course, by the time we get to the Lodge, it will probably look like this, but you got to trust me on this one - there is nothing like swimming in a 90 degree pool when it's below freezing outside!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Happy Birthday Rachmaninoff, sort of ...
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was born on March 20th 1873 - well, according to the Julian Calendar - it's not actually until April 1st on the Gregorian Calendar, but I figured today would be a good day to celebrate his birthday nonetheless.I only announce this for a selfish reason. Tomorrow night, Good Friday, I'll be performing with Pro Coro Canada with Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil.
The concert is at the Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton. Concert time is at 7:30 PM.
If you live in the Edmonton area, I highly recommend taking in this concert.
Tickets are available at the Winspear Centre Box Office.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Happy Birthday W. A. Mozart
The title of my post really has nothing to do with the content, so I'm sorry if Google took you here looking for all sorts of details on the life of the classical prodigy. However, it is his birthday today, so I thought I should at least acknowledge it!
It's been a great musical weekend. Today I sang with the city's professional choir in a concert centered around the theme of "night", a popular topic of the romantic poet, mostly as a metaphor for other things like - lost love and death, and sometime even happy things. Anyhow, the repertoire was GREAT, and stretched from German Romantic masters such as Reinberger, Brahms and his lesser known contemporary Herzogenberg (what a great candidacy topic that would have been), and through the English 20th century, starting with Elgar through Sir Michael Tippett. I was also called on to the be the rooster crow in Ligeti's "Morning". Not exactly a solo career highlight - but pretty fun nonetheless.
The only problem was the weather. It was -40 with the wind chill today (for you on the Fahrenheit scale, that is ... -40. Yes, -40 is where Celcius and Farenhiet meet. Don't ask me why, I don't understand, and really don't need to. Basically, it was COLD - and still is, and will be for the foreseeable future). It was also snowing - not hard, but with the wind you'd think it was snowing eight times as hard as it was. So the hall, which holds nearly 1,850, was a little sparse. But they all seemed to enjoy it, and I know the choir enjoyed it too.
With my schedule the way it is, I really don't get a chance to sing with this choir that much anymore. I was a core member on and off (mostly on) for the last ten years, but the last two years I've had to cut back considerably, and the forecast for next year isn't much better. I do get to do one more concert this year, Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil, and after having conducted it last year, I am very much looking forward to singing it this year. It is a great piece of music!
Making this concert all that much more special was that this concert was conducted by my graduate supervisor - a friend, and mentor - who, coincidentally, shares Mozart's Birthday. I can't think of a better way to celebrate it, as he did today.
Post-concert? A warm furnace, a bottle of Californian Zinfandel, my wonderful wife, two warm cats and some low-hitting, yet mildly entertaining all-star hockey. Makes for a nice evening in from the cold.
Tomorrow - shoveling, and a little praying that my car will start, and one more evening with Bach and Handel.
It's been a great musical weekend. Today I sang with the city's professional choir in a concert centered around the theme of "night", a popular topic of the romantic poet, mostly as a metaphor for other things like - lost love and death, and sometime even happy things. Anyhow, the repertoire was GREAT, and stretched from German Romantic masters such as Reinberger, Brahms and his lesser known contemporary Herzogenberg (what a great candidacy topic that would have been), and through the English 20th century, starting with Elgar through Sir Michael Tippett. I was also called on to the be the rooster crow in Ligeti's "Morning". Not exactly a solo career highlight - but pretty fun nonetheless.
The only problem was the weather. It was -40 with the wind chill today (for you on the Fahrenheit scale, that is ... -40. Yes, -40 is where Celcius and Farenhiet meet. Don't ask me why, I don't understand, and really don't need to. Basically, it was COLD - and still is, and will be for the foreseeable future). It was also snowing - not hard, but with the wind you'd think it was snowing eight times as hard as it was. So the hall, which holds nearly 1,850, was a little sparse. But they all seemed to enjoy it, and I know the choir enjoyed it too.
With my schedule the way it is, I really don't get a chance to sing with this choir that much anymore. I was a core member on and off (mostly on) for the last ten years, but the last two years I've had to cut back considerably, and the forecast for next year isn't much better. I do get to do one more concert this year, Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil, and after having conducted it last year, I am very much looking forward to singing it this year. It is a great piece of music!
Making this concert all that much more special was that this concert was conducted by my graduate supervisor - a friend, and mentor - who, coincidentally, shares Mozart's Birthday. I can't think of a better way to celebrate it, as he did today.
Post-concert? A warm furnace, a bottle of Californian Zinfandel, my wonderful wife, two warm cats and some low-hitting, yet mildly entertaining all-star hockey. Makes for a nice evening in from the cold.
Tomorrow - shoveling, and a little praying that my car will start, and one more evening with Bach and Handel.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Life of the freelance musician
I'm not sure if any of you read Jason Heath's blog Art's Addict found on the network of musician's blogs on Adaptistration.com, however I highly recommend it. Jason has done a 4 part series (so far) of experiences as a freelance musician (double bass) and the trials and tribulations of the sometimes lonely life of a musician with no "home" as it were, and instead relies on a job here, a job there, teaching here and there, and trying balance that life with a family life and social life. The posts are very cleverly written, and are sometimes fall on the floor funny. Be sure to go back and read the posts in order - they are worth the read.
I occasionally look at my own schedule and wonder if it's all "worth it", and why it is that even though my wife and I have a comfortable sense of financially security, why I just can't seem to say "no" to just about any gig that I'm offered, as long as it pays reasonably well (and that's not even always the case). Take today for instance. I'm about 30 minutes away from getting in my car to drive, in what can always be a potentially dangerous highway in the best of conditions, in the middle of winter for an hour and a half one way, for a job that will take about an hour, and then turn around and drive for another hour and a half back to make it in time for Church Choir.
On top of this, I have a concert this weekend with the Professional Choir which has had me in rehearsal on every evening that I would normally have "off" (don't get me wrong here - this is going to be a great concert - with absolutely fantastic music - so I'm looking forward to it a great deal). Generally speaking, I see my wife for about an hour in the morning (when I'm conscious) and maybe for one to two hours in the evening when we are not rehearsing in the same choir together. We make up for this with numerous emails, and a few "check up" phone calls through the day, and have learned to savour the wonderful dinner moments together, and the odd weekend afternoon that I'm not rehearsing somewhere.
I suppose my biggest fear of saying "no" to a gig, is that I'll never be asked again. And maybe, down the road, it will be that gig that allows us to go out for dinner, rent a movie, or buy the "Above $10 bottle of Melbac" when we next have a night off. Or maybe it's just a habit for me to take the phone call, look in my calendar and see "you have nothing on that Sunday afternoon" and just say "yes" in spite of the idea that at one point, that afternoon was free.
I better get my suit and tie on and start warming up the car. At least it's not snowing, so the drive should be no trouble.
I occasionally look at my own schedule and wonder if it's all "worth it", and why it is that even though my wife and I have a comfortable sense of financially security, why I just can't seem to say "no" to just about any gig that I'm offered, as long as it pays reasonably well (and that's not even always the case). Take today for instance. I'm about 30 minutes away from getting in my car to drive, in what can always be a potentially dangerous highway in the best of conditions, in the middle of winter for an hour and a half one way, for a job that will take about an hour, and then turn around and drive for another hour and a half back to make it in time for Church Choir.
On top of this, I have a concert this weekend with the Professional Choir which has had me in rehearsal on every evening that I would normally have "off" (don't get me wrong here - this is going to be a great concert - with absolutely fantastic music - so I'm looking forward to it a great deal). Generally speaking, I see my wife for about an hour in the morning (when I'm conscious) and maybe for one to two hours in the evening when we are not rehearsing in the same choir together. We make up for this with numerous emails, and a few "check up" phone calls through the day, and have learned to savour the wonderful dinner moments together, and the odd weekend afternoon that I'm not rehearsing somewhere.
I suppose my biggest fear of saying "no" to a gig, is that I'll never be asked again. And maybe, down the road, it will be that gig that allows us to go out for dinner, rent a movie, or buy the "Above $10 bottle of Melbac" when we next have a night off. Or maybe it's just a habit for me to take the phone call, look in my calendar and see "you have nothing on that Sunday afternoon" and just say "yes" in spite of the idea that at one point, that afternoon was free.
I better get my suit and tie on and start warming up the car. At least it's not snowing, so the drive should be no trouble.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Closing the Flu
This morning I finally got around to getting my flu shot. I haven't had one in a number of years. It seems that by the time I get around to thinking about getting my flu shot, I am too sick to take it, and it's too late in the season to worry about it. I actually felt sickness setting in on Monday, after my busy weekend, but I think I've managed to stay it off for the time being. Large doses of Cold FX and rest for the next few days should help.
Speaking of concert weekend - it was a very successful weekend all around. My chamber choir concert on Saturday night went exceedingly well, and was well received. A 75% standing ovation at the end of the show, which our faithful followers don't give very readily, so I was quite pleased. More importantly though, the choir peaked in all respects. The music making was some of the highest we have achieved - adding the level by which I was pleased.
The professional choir's show on Sunday was also a resounding success. As predicted early this week, it was exactly as what people expected. All were entertained in every sense of the word, which was the goal of the whole production.
This week brings in my inbox two job applications - one local - one out east. I'm not certain that either of them will go so far as shortlisting me, but I have to get into the routine of applying for everything that comes across my plate, so I will apply for all and everything that is available. I have to say, it does feel nice to see "Doctorate required" and be able to say "That's me!"
Parents are arriving on Saturday afternoon for a week - where I have a concert, and convocation on Wednesday. There is much joy to look forward to in the days ahead ...
Keep working Cold FX!!
Speaking of concert weekend - it was a very successful weekend all around. My chamber choir concert on Saturday night went exceedingly well, and was well received. A 75% standing ovation at the end of the show, which our faithful followers don't give very readily, so I was quite pleased. More importantly though, the choir peaked in all respects. The music making was some of the highest we have achieved - adding the level by which I was pleased.
The professional choir's show on Sunday was also a resounding success. As predicted early this week, it was exactly as what people expected. All were entertained in every sense of the word, which was the goal of the whole production.
This week brings in my inbox two job applications - one local - one out east. I'm not certain that either of them will go so far as shortlisting me, but I have to get into the routine of applying for everything that comes across my plate, so I will apply for all and everything that is available. I have to say, it does feel nice to see "Doctorate required" and be able to say "That's me!"
Parents are arriving on Saturday afternoon for a week - where I have a concert, and convocation on Wednesday. There is much joy to look forward to in the days ahead ...
Keep working Cold FX!!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Never underestimate a man with a vision
For all my complaining about the concert that I am singing tomorrow with our professional choir - - we had our dress rehearsal this morning, and I have to say, it's going to be pretty entertaining! I'm still not completely overwhelmed by a great majority of the music, but as an overall concept, the concert will have it highlights, and I think those who have bought tickets will leave with the feeling that they got what they came for.
Speaking of concerts - I have my chamber choir's concert tonight - and as I predicted in my last post, Thursday's actual dress rehearsal did not go as well as Monday's rehearsal. Many factors involved, including the "end of the week" stress most of us feel, and some under the weather voices in the choir, which promise to be better by tonight (here's hoping).
I've been tagged by I am Chorus to do my 10 random things - I'll try to get those posted later tonight or tomorrow.
Peace to you all this weekend.
Speaking of concerts - I have my chamber choir's concert tonight - and as I predicted in my last post, Thursday's actual dress rehearsal did not go as well as Monday's rehearsal. Many factors involved, including the "end of the week" stress most of us feel, and some under the weather voices in the choir, which promise to be better by tonight (here's hoping).
I've been tagged by I am Chorus to do my 10 random things - I'll try to get those posted later tonight or tomorrow.
Peace to you all this weekend.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
For All The Saints
Today is All Saints Day - well, removed from last Thursday anyway. One of the joys of a major feast day is that no matter when it is celebrated through the week, it always makes its appearance at church next Sunday, at least in the Anglican faith it does. I have the feeling that the only reason All Saints' Day receives this status is because of Ralph Vaughan Williams - however I'm good with that.
It didn't get off to a great start. I didn't sleep all that well, mainly due to having a very large empty bed, with my wife away at a conference, and also due to a late arriving house guest who was caught in the snow storm south of the city. Yes - snow. Winter seems to be here. Then there was the daunting thought that after church I would have to stick around for a bit while someone ran an audition in the church, and then I had to head off to rehearse music with the city's professional choir for which the music, as stated earlier, was not something I was looking forward too. Once I had to leave the house at 8:30 am, I would not plan to return until close to dinner time.
After a stop through Tim Horton's on the way to church for the ubiquitous "Medium, double cream and a toasted bagel with cream cheese", I planned my day through the rest of the short drive to Church. I COULD get through the afternoon rehearsal, smiling the whole time, for there was a full bottle of Shiraz on the wine rack with my name on it. I wonder if I could train the cats to open it around 4:30 so that it had 45 minutes to breathe before I got home?
Church was great as predicted, R. Vaughan Williams in at least three separate occasions, including Sine Nomine "For All the Saints" - a definite top ten on the "favourite hymns to play and sing" list. The service did go a bit overtime, however, not to worry - if there wasn't this audition scheduled at the church, or if I didn't have my 2PM rehearsal, it could have gone all day for all I cared. I'll get back to this audition later.
As I arrived at my "not looking forward to this" rehearsal - the accompanist, who is also the organist and choirmaster of the Anglican Cathedral asked if I could sing Evensong - as he was short of tenors. I didn't hesitate much, and said I would. I had already paid for parking directly outside the cathedral for the day due to the afternoon rehearsal, and besides, I love Evensong. Perhaps there'd be another opportunity to sing Sine Nomine.
The rehearsal was also not a complete waste of time. It is starting to come together a bit, and there are at least two Beatles' arrangements we learned today, that I probably wouldn't be upset to sing again - so that was a bit of a relief.
From Rehearsal - to Evensong rehearsal at 5:30 pm, no time for dinner, to evensong itself at 7:00 PM, still no dinner. Never mind though - great anthems - great canticles - and yes, the final hymn: Sine Nomine. I sat in the congregation during the postlude, a wickedly atonal voluntary by Langlais - for which the congregation didn't move for a good three minutes afterwards - I'm not sure they new if, when or, in some cases perhaps, why to applaud, so they didn't. I figured they were awe struck ... or perhaps ... just "struck". My mind went through the events of the day - from getting up and not looking forward to the middle part of the day - to sitting in the Cathedral at 8 PM with no food in my stomach for quite some time, as content as I could very well be.
My thoughts shifted back to the audition that happened at my church in the afternoon. The auditionee, a young, barely twenty, soprano was auditioning with a few of the slower arias from Handel's Messiah "He shall feed his flock" being one of them, "How beautiful are the feet" the other. They started 30 minutes late, due to the length of the service (a parish photograph near the start of the service put us overtime - but what a lovely gift to our retiring Bishop it will be!) - the accompanist was understanding of the situation at first. Until the audition turned into a coaching session by the "auditioner" (excuse me for making up words). Visibly, the accompanist became extremely agitated by the fact that her time was being "wasted" at a session for which she thought she would be only two minutes. The session ended up being over twenty minutes long. Every passing minute she became more visibly agitated. Adding to the fire was when the "auditioner"acutally began suggesting ways for which the associate professor of music could improve her accompanying. She finally got up and left in a huff, so I took her place. I'm not sure if she really had to "be" somewhere, however I suppose she felt as she was only being paid for the audition, that it was in her right to leave - even though the young girl was getting what turned out to be a free lesson from a very reputable clinician. Perhaps she was in her right.
Back to the pew at the Cathedral - the final chords (or discords) of the Langlais filling the nave - I couldn't help to think that I had just donated three extra hours of my day - just for the thought that I might get to sing Sine Nomine one more time. And yet for one person - twenty minutes of their time was twenty minutes too many.
When I arrived home after dinner, which we had with the choir of the cathedral at a small Polish bistro, popular to local musicians in the city, it was nearly 10 PM. The cats were happy to see me, in other words - they were hungry beyond reason - the bottle of Shiraz will have to wait another day.
I do have time to sing two more verses before bed though:
"The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"
It didn't get off to a great start. I didn't sleep all that well, mainly due to having a very large empty bed, with my wife away at a conference, and also due to a late arriving house guest who was caught in the snow storm south of the city. Yes - snow. Winter seems to be here. Then there was the daunting thought that after church I would have to stick around for a bit while someone ran an audition in the church, and then I had to head off to rehearse music with the city's professional choir for which the music, as stated earlier, was not something I was looking forward too. Once I had to leave the house at 8:30 am, I would not plan to return until close to dinner time.
After a stop through Tim Horton's on the way to church for the ubiquitous "Medium, double cream and a toasted bagel with cream cheese", I planned my day through the rest of the short drive to Church. I COULD get through the afternoon rehearsal, smiling the whole time, for there was a full bottle of Shiraz on the wine rack with my name on it. I wonder if I could train the cats to open it around 4:30 so that it had 45 minutes to breathe before I got home?
Church was great as predicted, R. Vaughan Williams in at least three separate occasions, including Sine Nomine "For All the Saints" - a definite top ten on the "favourite hymns to play and sing" list. The service did go a bit overtime, however, not to worry - if there wasn't this audition scheduled at the church, or if I didn't have my 2PM rehearsal, it could have gone all day for all I cared. I'll get back to this audition later.
As I arrived at my "not looking forward to this" rehearsal - the accompanist, who is also the organist and choirmaster of the Anglican Cathedral asked if I could sing Evensong - as he was short of tenors. I didn't hesitate much, and said I would. I had already paid for parking directly outside the cathedral for the day due to the afternoon rehearsal, and besides, I love Evensong. Perhaps there'd be another opportunity to sing Sine Nomine.
The rehearsal was also not a complete waste of time. It is starting to come together a bit, and there are at least two Beatles' arrangements we learned today, that I probably wouldn't be upset to sing again - so that was a bit of a relief.
From Rehearsal - to Evensong rehearsal at 5:30 pm, no time for dinner, to evensong itself at 7:00 PM, still no dinner. Never mind though - great anthems - great canticles - and yes, the final hymn: Sine Nomine. I sat in the congregation during the postlude, a wickedly atonal voluntary by Langlais - for which the congregation didn't move for a good three minutes afterwards - I'm not sure they new if, when or, in some cases perhaps, why to applaud, so they didn't. I figured they were awe struck ... or perhaps ... just "struck". My mind went through the events of the day - from getting up and not looking forward to the middle part of the day - to sitting in the Cathedral at 8 PM with no food in my stomach for quite some time, as content as I could very well be.
My thoughts shifted back to the audition that happened at my church in the afternoon. The auditionee, a young, barely twenty, soprano was auditioning with a few of the slower arias from Handel's Messiah "He shall feed his flock" being one of them, "How beautiful are the feet" the other. They started 30 minutes late, due to the length of the service (a parish photograph near the start of the service put us overtime - but what a lovely gift to our retiring Bishop it will be!) - the accompanist was understanding of the situation at first. Until the audition turned into a coaching session by the "auditioner" (excuse me for making up words). Visibly, the accompanist became extremely agitated by the fact that her time was being "wasted" at a session for which she thought she would be only two minutes. The session ended up being over twenty minutes long. Every passing minute she became more visibly agitated. Adding to the fire was when the "auditioner"acutally began suggesting ways for which the associate professor of music could improve her accompanying. She finally got up and left in a huff, so I took her place. I'm not sure if she really had to "be" somewhere, however I suppose she felt as she was only being paid for the audition, that it was in her right to leave - even though the young girl was getting what turned out to be a free lesson from a very reputable clinician. Perhaps she was in her right.
Back to the pew at the Cathedral - the final chords (or discords) of the Langlais filling the nave - I couldn't help to think that I had just donated three extra hours of my day - just for the thought that I might get to sing Sine Nomine one more time. And yet for one person - twenty minutes of their time was twenty minutes too many.
When I arrived home after dinner, which we had with the choir of the cathedral at a small Polish bistro, popular to local musicians in the city, it was nearly 10 PM. The cats were happy to see me, in other words - they were hungry beyond reason - the bottle of Shiraz will have to wait another day.
I do have time to sing two more verses before bed though:
"The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"
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