On the second day of Christmas ...

and I stayed in my PJs all day and watched all 26 episodes of season five of "The Office".

Tomorrow, we have the farewell church service and party of the rector of my parish - in which there will be much emotion and celebration. Those who know me, and know of the family connection will understand the emotional aspect. We will have a seven month interim priest-in-charge before the new incumbent beings. And although there is understandably a bit of trepidation in this whole process, I have full confidence in the selection committee, and am looking forward to the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the parish. If it's anything like the last chapter - it will continue to remain one of the most fantastic places to work.

On Monday - my wife and I head to Jasper for a three day trip, and the itinerary will be very stressful. Hours and hours of sitting in the outdoor pool, playing cribbage in the lodge, possibly skating on the lake, and definitely eating good food - something we haven't been lacking in the last week or so.

Needless to say - you probably won't hear from me for the next week or so.

Hope your Christmas holidays brings you the rest that you need to start 2010 with a renewed energy!

Music for the road

Over the weekend, my wife and I went on a short road trip - well, short only in the fact that we left on Thursday evening, and returned on Saturday evening. We did cover 1,240 KM (770 miles) and sat in a car for 14 hours of the 50 hour trip. The trip was a family reunion of sorts in Humboldt Saskatchewan - and it was well worth the drive to see family that I don't see very often, and it is always a great excuse to visit my parents.

The prairie skies didn't disappoint, with a beautiful array of storm clouds, with full double rainbows. The landscape was rolling green with the occasional huge field of bright yellow canola. The kind of yellow you would otherwise only see on paintings (just think of all the biodiesel possibilities!) Our view at times was not unlike this photo (including the vast gray skies, with breaks of sunlight):


Whoever says that driving through the prairies is boring, needs to develop a new understanding of what beauty actually is.

The music was the important part of this trip.

It was all Bach in one direction:

• Edmonton Alberta through to Vermillion: Angela Hewitt - Bach Arrangements
• Vermillion through to Lloydminster: Angela Hewitt - Well Tempered Clavier Book I #1-12

(Stayed the night - the cross the Alberta Saskatchewan Border)

• Lloydminster to North Battleford: WTC Book I#13-24, WTC Book II #1-4

(filled up the tank)

• North Battleford to Saskatoon: WTC Book II #5-24
• Saskatoon to Humboldt: Jordi Savall - The Muiscal Offering (up to the 2nd movement of the Trio Sonata)

On the way home, a bit more of a mixed bag:

• Humboldt to Saskatoon: Jordi Savall - The Musical Offering (finish) and Bach's Whitsunday Cantatas (Gardiner).

(filled up the tank)

• Saskatoon to North Battleford: continuation of Bach's Whitsunday Cantatas, and Holst's: Planets
• North Battleford to Lloydminster: Liszt piano concertos and Mozart concerto for two pianos.

(Stop for dinner then cross the Saskatchewan Alberta border)

• Lloydminster to Edmonton: (well, Sherwood Park): Messiah (Paul McCreesh). Although, we had to cut from the B section of Sound the Trumpet to Worthy is the Lamb to make it all fit. We did sing every chorus though.

What do you listen to when you are on the long drive?

Productivity

Sorry for the non-music related posts as of late, but unless you are interested in hearing about the dozen weddings I've done, or am going to do, there really isn't much to write about. So I bring you a few posts of "life in the off-season of a freelance musician"

This past week, my wife suggested that every night we should do something "productive" in the house. On Tuesday, we cleaned the main floor of the house, yesterday we put up some paintings on the wall that we took down to make room for an upright piano which we are babysitting, and today, we took on the biggest job on the list. The Garage! We emptied it out, swept it clean, cleaned out the mouse droppings (that's another story), and then reorganized it in such a way that everything is accessible. It is a very small garage, in fact, it's technically a 1920's carriage house, so we can't park a car in there even if we wanted, but at least all our outdoor tools, lawnmower and wheelbarrow are now organized amidst the winter sport equipment, bicycle, and camping equipment.

My wife and I work very well together on projects like this. We've hung ceiling fans, put shelves up, painted, renovated a kitchen, built IKEA furniture and moved our various apartments into one house without any fuss or arguing.

Decorating the Christmas tree however ...

Dormant, but alive

Just thought I'd put down a quick post letting all my faithful readers (all two or three of you) that I am still alive and well, and on holidays.

We've just finished a ten day holiday in California, Six of them in San Francisco, and four days trekking through wine country in Sonoma County. To the left is a photo of me taking a rest between wineries in a vineyard.

It was a holiday to remember!

Now I'm off to Southern BC for an annual golf trip and tournament, then I'll be back in full swing.

You may look forward to a variety of posts on Handel's Solomon, which I am conducting in late November, as well as Monteverdi's Orfeo, which I will be singing in early November. I'm also conducting a concert with Da Camera in November.

So, this holiday is going to be well deserved!

"Unto the hills"

I think among the psalm texts - psalm 121 has always been one of my fav's. It could be because of the simple yet powerful Walford Davies chant that normally goes with it - but also because of the proximity for where we live, as we are only a couple of hours drive before we see the great Canadian Rocky Mountains. There is also a paraphrase of the psalm in the Hymnal to the tune "Sandon" which is also among my top 10. Funny thing is - the text has always been a favourite of mine, even before I ever knew I'd be living so close to mountains.

Last Sunday, we did both the Walford Davies psalm, and the hymn. And TODAY - my wife and I have packed the car, and are heading for Jasper for a much deserved four day stay at the Lodge. There might be some score studying, although, mostly there will be walking, eating, wine drinking and soaking in the view of the lofty mountain peaks. There really is no other way to rejuvenate one's spirits than being in the mountains.

Especially when the forecast for the next few days will actually be around zero (32F) the whole time!

See you on Monday!