Yes, It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like...

You fill in the blank. It’s interesting how one particular event/feeling/moment is what really makes it feel like a certain time of year. For me, I feel like the Christmas “season” officially starts with the Farandole from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite. It seems to be the traditional opener for our Celebration of Christmas concert every year.

Last night, I arrived at Maryland Hall a bit frazzled after a long day of work, driving 20 miles away to an office party in the rain, and then back down to Annapolis in rainy traffic…having a conversation with my mom on the way. I was a true “Bag Lady” as well when I walked in the door with 4 bags, an umbrella, and my water bottle. I managed to rehearse a bit, gather the proper colored undergarments that I had forgotten to bring along (black looks terrible under white!), change clothes, brighten my dead complexion with a little make-up, and get downstairs to line-up.

I was still breathing hard by the time we got on the stage, and was wondering if this was going to be another one of those Christmas Concerts that go on forever. But, as soon as I heard the beginning of the Farandole, my fuzzy brain realized, “It’s Christmas!”. Suddenly, I felt my mood brighten, and that elusive smile started to creep onto my face. As the evening went on, things that normally would annoy me just amused me. The night ended with a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells/O Come All Ye Faithful, complete with a dancing usher in the doorway. I was laughing so hard that I’m surprised I didn’t snort onstage!

Anyway, it’s always nice when the silly drama of rehearsal is over and everything is just fun, easy and pleasant…not that last night wasn’t without its own drama…but compared to Christmases past…it was a walk in the park.

I guess the next “Christmas Moment” is going to be the first chord of the Overture to Messiah…that’s always an “It’s Christmas!” moment for me as well.

It's Christmas in Annapolis

Embodied in singing with my friends. I'm reading a book right now called This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. That's a good name for this activity. I have had discussions, granted with other musicians, about how weird it really is to be doing this thing we call performing. This time of year its a 24/7 sort of committment.

What does it do for us? My friend from across the hallway at work came in saying, "I just haven't heard enough Christmas Music to be in the spirit!" I told her she should join a chorus - since November it's been Christmas for us. There is a pleasure I take in giving others the pleasure of listening to well-carols. You see them smile and relax for just a second.

It binds me closer to the reason for the celebration - the birth of Our Lord. YAY! Lord we greet thee. . .okay, I took some liberality with the wording.

A part of me feels useful, justified, needed. . .that co-dependent part that still rears its head and needs feeding.

In the simplest part of me, though, it's about just simply loving what I do so much that I couldn't imagine not doing it ever. . . this is your brain on music - a human obsession!

Merry Christmas
Fa la la la la

It's the most Wonderful time of the year? Really?

Hmmmm. . . .nights like this make me wonder.
The chorus was fine. That was not even close to it. So, I get to rehearsal after 15 parent teacher conferences - not a stellar beginning for sure. 6:45 p.m. I show up for our rehersal. Another chorister shows up who forgot the music. If you are not a choral singer you will not understand the concept of "sharing is bad" however, if you are, you totally get it. It's annoying - especially if you have supplemental glasses to add to your contacts already. You might as well give up on actually being connected to the music until the unprepared individual gets music - somehow. Then, up we go to our little cubby hole room with no chairs to rehearse "Reluctant Dragon". Poor friend had a cold - she trudged onward valiantly though - she did great. In everyone's defense - they haven't had nearly enough time to cram this together. Then back down to "markings by acclamation" or my least favorite waste of rehearsal time - just TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD DO - it isn't a free for all suggestion time!!!!!! Geez. Then the lady beside me says - "Ohhh we're flat". . .I was feeling snippy enough to say, "That's why its called 'rehearsal' - not perfection."
Then we find out, from our Asst. Mo., that, "Oh, did you guys know about the dress rehearsal for Dragon?" Uh, NO! Well, one more night gone. . . .
Dont' get me wrong - I love this stuff. I really do. It only gets annoying when people assume your time is theirs and that you'll be more than happy to drop everything for them at a moment's notice. In our Assit. Mo's defense - he probably did tell someone. Someone didn't tell us.

Tonight, I just wanted every idiot in the room to leave - - - - it would have been a mighty empty room as I led the way out the door.

AAARRRAGGGHHHHh

Christmas Carols

I love Christmas Carols. I really do. They are a mix of happy and beautiful and always bring back good memories. However, particularly as a soprano...Christmas Carols are far from musically fulfilling. I get tired of singing the melody. It's ok to sing through a song once...but when we start going over notes...I get so bored. I mean really...we sing the same stuff every year, and yet people still have issues. I know I'm being obnoxious, but that is just the way I'm feeling about these Christmas Carols.

So...last night I started sightreading the alto part. And it was fun. I've always loved singing harmony because it's so much more interesting than the melody. Having sung both alto and soprano in my life, I would say that the main difference between the two is that notes are much harder to sing as an alto (since it's not the melody), but as a soprano, tone is so much more important because you're often more exposed, floating somewhere above all of the other parts. And, for me, alto notes are much easier to sing with a good tone because they lie in the comfortable range of my voice.

Anyway, last night made me wish that I sang alto again. Especially on Christmas Carols...

Learning New Messiah Choruses

I must admit, one thing I like the most about singing Christmas music with the Chorale is that everything is so familiar and easy. Part I of Messiah falls into that category. It's fun to sing, I've heard it all my life, I finally have the soprano part almost memorized (For the first 25 years of my life I sang alto), and it's comfortable for me. Last year, we branched out for the first time since I've been singing here and sang a lot of Parts II and III. That was a little more challenging, but still fun.

For some reason, having to learn two new choruses last night ("But Thanks be to God" and "Lift Up Your Heads") just killed me. I've heard them both, of course, but never sung them. "But, Thanks" particularly felt as if I was slogging through a bunch of muck trying to find pitches, and even count rhythms. After wrestling with learning the dissonant harmonies of the Dona Nobis Pacem for the past few months, I was hoping to be able to relax a bit with Messiah. Guess that's not going to be the case. I know it will make me a better musician...so I suppose I'll just suck it up and spend a little quality time with my computer and Cyberbass this weekend....again. :)

Well. . .wow

It was marvelous and manic - all at the same time. It's amazing what a bit of healthy panic can do for one.
Personally, I was ready to sing. I was on the front row feeling like a five feet four and a half inch Hobbit (honestly, I felt REALLY short last night). I enjoyed bonding with the trumpet and the french horn.
I have to admit the Dona Nobis Pacem was my favorite. I've become a bit of a fanatic about RVW - I've devoted considerable time to understanding him and reading about his connection to Whitman's poetry. In the meantime, I've learned a lot about Whitman that I never knew. I am now a semi-walking repository of RVW and Whitman lore. If you want to be royally bored - just ask. I find it interesting.
The Dona moves me - really transcendentally. I mean - how do you not respond to "Open to me the gates of righteousness - I will go into them." "For as a New Heaven and a New Earth which I will make shall remain FOREVER". Whoopee!!!! That's it. . that's it. Thank God for that. We aren't stuck here with the war and remnants of war. God has provided a way. Glory be to God in the Highest and on earth PEACE. . . .
We all get wrapped up in a difficult passage or difficult stroph - when it comes down to it, it is as the Maestro says - get to the text. Always get to the text.

I am so energized

And Tonight is the Night...

***This is my first contribution to this blog...and it will be short. Hopefully I'll write more another time...***

Well, tonight will be the true test of whether or not everyone has actually learned their music. Right, Phyllis? :)

Personally, I wondered if this would finally be the concert where there was no seating drama. Of course, I was wrong. But, at least I wasn't directly involved in the drama. For once, I'm actually pretty happy with where I've ended up. Kinda far away, but with fairly decent notes around me. That actually makes me sing out.

So, good luck, break a leg, toi toi toi to everyone this evening!

These are the times. . . .

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their [Chorale]"
Forgive me Thomas Paine!

Tonight is the litmus test. Did they freak out enough to go home and learn it? Do they not care? It will be obvious which one comes to the front.

I heard the orchestra rehearsal last night. The English really love lush, beautiful, string sounds and the orchestra last night was wonderful. It always amazes me that orchestra players sit down, look, read, and play - and that they get the right notes 90% of the time.

I'm holding onto my voice barely - cold under control. . . .

Hold up your end of the Game, please!

So. . .it happened again.
Please tell me why this happens. When you have a passage that is wordy, full of twists and turns, odd rhythms, and difficulties - why is it that men cannot do that?
Are they not constructed physically to actually walk, chew gum, memorize, and sing well all at the same time?
And for pities sake - if you have a coveted berth in a Chamber Chorus seat - for which they all hate us anyway - hold up your end of the bargain. With the seat come the responsibilities and the obligations. Yes, its what you signed up for. Rise to the occasion. Find a friend. Study your music. The rest of us are depending on you. It is not an independent action as in, "Oh, I don't know my part but everyone else probably will." WRONG! If you don't know your part it throws me off my part - which I know by the way - but which I cannot sing with a totally wrong note in my ear.

This is not an exercise in lackadaisicality! This is great music that deserves great effort. Frankly, at this point, I'm just embarrassed to be associated with them.

I just don't get it. I just don't get it. If you are going to do a half assed job - please, sing with another chorus. . .soon. .like day after tomorrow. . I can get you an audition!!!!!!!

Singing should seem simple

I don't believe a word of what I just wrote as a Title for this blog. Singing, if done correctly, should never be simple or easy. It should always be a meeting of the mind of the composer, the conductor, the orchestra, and the singer. That sort of synergy is amazing when it is executed in as perfect a fashion as possible. However, if you look at what is involved - the fact that it ever happens at all is slightly close to a miracle.

Take the composer for instance. Having read up on Ralph VW prior to singing his Dona Nobis Pacem I have become fascinated with his dedication to English music. He took tons of time to collect and compile English folk songs to save the art form as he knew it. He had issues with his wife. He performed the Bach Passions every year (alternating the St. Matt with the St. John). Altogether, he was fascinating. Quirky? Yeah, quirky.

Then there is the conductor. Talk about Quirky (that capital "Q" was intentional). Talented - no doubt. Able to convey nuances easily - yep. Hard to please - at times. Does he know what he's doing - no one in the immediate area does it better. He is worthy of great respect, regardless of the feelings you may have for him at any given time. Sometimes, there is miscommunication - you want what cut off where?? Usually as you did something he said previously as he yells that you need to change that cut-off NOW! Conductors don't have to be your best friend - heck, they don't even need to particularly like you. The question is - do they like the music and are they dedicated to it.

The orchestra. I wish, oh how I wish, a chorus was a facile and as quick a study as an orchestra. One of my personal soapboxes is that the chorus complains that "they haven't been to music school. .e tc" to learn music. I don't buy it. Especially for people who have been involved in music for much of their adult life. Too easy. Orchestras pay attention. It is as simple as that. Not only that, they apply knowledge in one section so that when they hear the same musical patterns repeated later in the piece - guess what Smiley? - they actually do the same thing there! They also are fully present (concerts are different - there are many issues of Car and Driver in the trombone section) But hey, if you can make that kind of music and read Car and Driver - awesome, have at it. Until you can - leave your reading matter at home. Oh, they also write stuff down - amazing. . .

Singers. We're QUIRKY - we get all caps. First, we all think we can hear the mistakes of others, correct them, and tell them how they could be better singers if only. . . fill in your personal word bank of correction words. One thing I wish singers would do is stop worrying about the person next to them and play their own game. Do the best you can do and for pete's sake, let Joe Blow next to you go about their business. You know, if you can sing against someone who isn't so good it just might show that you can hold your part against all adversity and just maybe you took your music out of the back seat of your car sometime during the week. I hold choristers to high standards. Yep, we all have full time jobs. Yep, we aren't all well-heeled musicians. But you know what - we can all be better than we are. And we can all play collegially together with our fellow choristers and our conductor. It makes for a much more pleasant atmosphere. I'll talk more about choristers actually "talking" during rehearsal in another blog - it really makes me wiggy.

So, miraculous event the concert of singers and orchestra and conductor. . miraculous. Synergy - very important. Is it automatic - no. Does it come from one source - no. It takes all of the component parts working together - always. There is no laying back, marking, not sticking your neck out. Creating beauty is all about sticking your neck out regardless of adversity, affinity for the piece, or general attitude of the moment. The music which has endured longer than you have been alive deserves that!

A place for everything. . . .

And everything in it's place.
A blog for Chorale thoughts and musings.

Let me begin. . . . I'm not just blowing smoke. I love the RVW Dona. Why? Many reasons.
First: is it "beautiful" music. No. I find it sort of like reading Schindler's List. Weird I know. Schindler's List was a well written book about a terrible subject. Was it the best book I've ever read? No. Did it make a lasting impression on me - for sure. The lasting impression of the Dona Nobis Pacem is one of a piece to which you absolutely must pay attention. If not for the odd harmonizations that send this choristers brain into tailspins then you should listen for the words. Read the text. Alone. Without music superimposed. There is a story there of a leading forward into a place of hope. That mankind isn't all dead and dying forever (Amen)
Second: I love to learn hard music. I love to make it work and understand it. I love to do something that will stretch my mind into new brainwave patterns and understanding. It pushes me and I relish it. I have learned so much music in my lifetime. It is always refreshing and joyful to apply my brain to more and more!

Christmas - it's one of the ways I measure my life. My life is something like this.
My new year begins in September: Back to school; Back to Chorale
First holiday: Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur
Second marker: First concert
Third marker: December (just put an "X" through it)
Fourth marker: Gala
Fifth marker: January pops
Sixth Marker: the push to the end of the season

There is only one thing on there that isn't related to my singing. . .back to school. Should tell you something about what I set an extreme amount of value on in my life.

The Chorale has been an intimate component of my life for the last 24 years. Any time that sort of relationship has been established it becomes as much a part of you as your soul. All of its members bring stories. Individual stories. I find it amazing that in a world of division we come together for the joy of music - we unite and sing because we must.

Cool