THE CHOIR POSSE RIDES OUT TOMORROW NIGHT!!

Yes, Family Weekend Concerts - Friday October 20th!

Followed by Kickoff Dinner - Friday November 3rd!

Where HAS Fall Quarter gone?!!! 

Our recent spate of cold (and, today - excessively rainy and windy) weather inspires me to say a few words here about self-care.

Between now and concert night, it's important to give your body a break if at all possible.

You need sufficient sleep, sufficient food, plenty of water, and a calm and alert mind.

SUFFICIENT SLEEP. 

This varies according to each person's physiology and temperament - HOWEVER, "authorities" seem to agree that even allowing for variations in physiology, temperament, and activity/stress level, there is a baseline - a minimum number of restful hours necessary for good mental and physical functioning.

Do you know what your "Number" is?

If you don't, I highly recommend that you perform experiments until you are able to find your baseline.

I'm not talking about "lying down with eyes closed but mind racing at warp speed." I'm talking about uninterrupted hours of good, healing, restorative REM sleep. (Look it up) 

Musical performance requires total alertness - tightrope alertness. Ensemble performance introduces the added requirement of SIMULTANEOUS PRECISION. Our reflexes need to be as tuneful as our instruments. 

FOOD.

Please eat as well as you possibly can on Thursday AND Friday. Avoid things that "linger" on the way down (dairy products, for example). Eat a light meal right before coming to the pre-concert rehearsal. Top this off with a light, protein-rich nosh at 6.30 and another nosh at 8.00 (A single protein bar broken in half will do nicely). Be sure that you have eaten enough complex cars to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

WATER.

Drink drink drink drink drink drink water water water! Hot water! Cool water! Tepid water! Water with citrus squeezes! Herbal teas! Stay away from the coffee (which can crash the blood sugars and dry out the inside of the mouth). STAY AWAY FROM ALCOHOL!! 

CALM ALERTNESS.

The breathing exercises that we do in rehearsals aren't just for rehearsals. Practie deep even enagaged breathing throughout the day, every day. Your singing apparatus is also your speaking apparatus. Energize your speech with the same core energy, focus, support and resonance as your singing.

Give yourself a short and restful walk before the concert on Friday. How many of us walk simply to be walking? We always seem to be rushing off towards an intended destination. Try walking simply for the pleasure of walking- of engaging your breath and body core in perfect coordination, of feeling yourself move through space with centered calm and grace. 

COMMUNITY BUILDING.

When you greet each other, really look into each other's eyes. Send each other thoughts of acceptance, positive emotion, encouragement, and support. We are all in this together! 

NUTS AND BOLTS.

1. Attire: Your choir T-shirt over black pants. Do not wear black jeans. Do not wear black leggings.

2. Shoes: Black shoes with quiet heels. Don't clack.

3. Hair: Pulled back and fastened, away from the face.

4. Jewelry: Discreet earrings are okay. Pendants and bling are NOT okay. 

5. Scent: Shower up and use deodorant. If you're in doubt, ask someone for olfactory feedback.

6. Scent 2: Please DO NOT WEAR ANY STRONGLY SCENTED PRODUCTS. It would be best if you were determinedly scent-free. Remember that your riser-mates may be living with sensitivities. 

7. Stuff: We'll be able to lock purses, etc. in the sacristy before the concerts. It would be best if you come with as little "stuff" as possible. The sacristy is small and we are many :-)

8. Smoking: Do not smoke while wearing your concert outfit. 

9. Talking: Consider yourself on Vocal Rest just before and between concerts. You /will/ be very excited and enthusiastic about the performances. Please channel this excitement and enthusiasm into the actual performances - don't dissipate this vital energy through excessive and/or loud talking.  Remember: energy flows where attention goes!

I look forward to our first roll-out on Friday! You have all done an immense amount of work in a short time and you have every right to be proud of your accomplishments. You're serious choral singers now! Look the part - act the part - make this a wonderful, memorable experience for our audience - - - AND FOR OURSELVES!!!!!

In musical solidarity,

Lee

Gospel Clips for Chamber "Breathe on Me"

Hello everyone,

A little gospel inspiration for you this fine evening!
So many ways to Gospel sing! Enjoy!

Mahalia Jackson - "How I Got Over"

Tremaine Hawkins, "Highway"

By Grace (Sweden) - "Souled Out"

More from By Grace

Detroit Mass Choir, "The Storm is Passing Over"

Aretha Franklin and James Cleveland, "Precious Memories"

Elvis Presley, "How Great Thou Art"

Take 6, "Mary"

I'll close out with Take 6, "If We Ever Needed the Lord Before"

WEEK 2!

Hello everyone,
My - what a fabulous Choir Posse we have this year - I look forward to making music with you.

Here's a little follow-up re: vocal anatomy.
Here's a video of SATB singing - vocal folds (aka, "cords")  The comments for this video are particularly puerile and witless; ignore them

Basic vocal anatomy

Opera singer - vocal folds of a soprano in action!

Good explanation of vocal cords and associated anatomy / function

The divine Ms. Cecelia Bartoli, supreme Queen of glottal articulation!

Inspiration for our sopranos: Diana Damrau, Queen of the Night!

Inspiration for our tenors and basses!

Placido Domingo for the tenors!

Fischer-Dieskau for the baritones!

Altos, I have not forgotten you - take a listen - This is Hilary Summers, who is more properly classified as a dramatic contralto.

Here is Hilary Summers singing the famous "Habanera" from Bizet's opera, "Carmen."

ONGOING RESOURCE:
Dr. Lloyd W. Hanson - one of the best vocal pedagogues ANYWHERE.
Here is his blog.

COUNTDOWN TO FALL QUARTER 2017 HAS BEGUN...

Hello everyone!

Hoping that all of you enjoyed a summer that was (in turn) restful, exciting, energizing, lazy, productive, creative, and flat-out FUN :-)

RETURNING STUDENTS: Please check your Seattle U email for an important message from Doc. The annual meeting for returning choirfolk is on Tuesday, September 19 at Doc's house. BE THERE!!!

We have lots of wonderful music planned this year, including Fresh Music! Yes, recent and new compositions by some of our own folk:

Nicky Manlove - "His Eye is on the Sparrow," first performed Spring 2017, to be performed at Lenten Prayer, 2018

Maria Dougherty (now Maria Vega) - "Adoramus Te, Christe" - classic piece written some years ago, featured on the new Chapel Choir CD! -  to be performed at Christmas 2017)

Joseph Tancioco - "Silent Night" arrangement, our perennial favorite at Christmas, PLUS a new arrangement commissioned for Spring 2018!)

Doc - "Love's Lament," first performed 2015,  plus a new piece - both to be performed at Lenten Prayer 2018)

Lee - Missa Animae "Kyrie" (Christmas 2017), Missa Animae "Sanctus" and "Agnus Dei" (Lenten Prayer 2018),  PLUS a new piece commissioned for Spring 2018 concert!)

Question for us all: What act/s of revolutionary empowerment can and WILL we perform for ourselves and others this coming academic year? Yes, learning to read music is /definitely/ an act of revolutionary empowerment! So is learning to sing well. So is maintaining a consistent, disciplined approach to our work together. Think about it!!

See you soon!
In musical solidarity,
Lee

PS. Here's a little marching music to set you on your way: the divine Ms. Aretha Franklin!

THE END IS NEAR - IT IS LATER THAN YOU THINK!

Hello everyone -

A parable.

When the physician prescribes a medication for you and instructs you to take, say, 3 a day for seven consecutive days - don't stop taking the meds at Day 3 just because you feel better!

It's called a "course" of medication for a reason ;-)

Every group made enormous, significant progress this past week and a half.
You really heeded instruction and you Took The Musical Meds.

It's now Day 3. You are feeling and sounding much better!
And - you are not done with the course of medication.

Use this "hiatus" to devote more time and careful attention to your music.
Plan your work for the day. Make a little chart to track pieces worked on, days worked, and specific tasks and accomplishments for each piece.
Something like this, perhaps -

Listen to the choral recordings!
Go over your specific part(s)
MAKE SURE YOUR CONCERT OUTFIT IS COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED, PACKED UP AND READY TO TRANSPORT ON FRIDAY.

There's still a long way to go before April 21. Every day is crucial to our individual and collective success.

Eyes on the prize!

In musical solidarity,
Lee

30 calendar days remain until our Spring Concerts!

That is all.
Do enjoy what remains of the hiatus!

The Lake Isle of Innisfree - more!

Hello everyone,
Here's a treat: W.B. Yeats reading his poem, "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"

Innisfree! From that fountain of knowlede, Wikipedia...
Approaching the Isle by small boat:

Clay and wattles!

About Yeats: 

In a larger context: Celtic Revival

SOSTENUTO presents a musical feast for the TTBB!!

Hello tenors and basses,
With permission from Daniel Dovinh (choir/SU alum and founder - director of the acapella group Sostenuto), I am posting these clips of "Loch Lomond" and of the Vittoria "Magnificat." Enjoy!

can't get this thing to put them in chronological order -

First, Vittoria "Magnificat"

Here's "Loch Lomond" at Daniel's senior voice/conducting recital:

here's "Loch Lomond," 2013!

and, 2012

Ante-penultimate concert tips

Hello everyone,

Well  - here we are ;-)

A few things I have found to be helpful, vis-a-vis concert prep:

1. Eating carefully before and especially /on/ the day of the performance.
2. Making sure that I'm well-fueled (more than I think I'd usually need!) and well-hydrated before the performance.
3. Getting enough sleep!
4. Physical activity on concert day, for its own sake - to get the blood flowing
5. Stay away from alcohol between now and concert time, please. Many of you will also find it useful to limit or eliminate caffeine and sugary drinks on concert day.

CONCERT ATTIRE GUIDELINES  ARE ON PAGE 4 OF THE SYLLABUS!!! Take time to review these and to govern yourself accordingly. We are not wearing uniforms - but we DO need to project an atmosphere of overall "uniformity."

S/A needing long black (dresses, tops, skirts) - I recommend Deseret.
find them on FB here and here

NOTE! Anyone with special issues regarding attire, please discuss them with Doc asap if you have not already done so. Thank you.

Do not smoke in your concert outfit.
Do not wear scented products (perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented shampoo/soap/body gel, etc. It may be useful to have a stash of scentless products marked specifically for concert wear!
DO WEAR DEODORANT.

BAD IDEAS!!
Alcohol: Look here:
Smoking (tobacco and marijuana)

---
Please pamper yourselves a bit right now.

---
Rest well, eat well, stay hydrated, keep on keeping on with score study/listening/fixing "spots" - and invite EVERYONE to this event!

In musical solidarity,
Lee

Making music is an act of revolutionary empowerment!

Lenten Prayer performance minus NINE DAYS!!

Hello everyone,

Last night's dress rehearsal (2/21/17) convinced me that all of us need to pay more attention to self-care. Unfortunately, many of us appeared to be "running on fumes." That is understandable - in general!! - but potentially disastrous if it occurs again at Dress Rehearsal #2.

We simply must not come into the upcoming rehearsal OR PERFORMANCE!!! enervated, overstressed / underfed, sick, fatigued, or mentally scattered / distracted / overloaded.

I'm guessing that winter may be a difficult time for many of us, physically. Some of us want to wake and sleep with the sun - and that instinctive drive is already affecting our energy levels. It's hard to sidestep this issue, but here's a great opportunity to do MIND OVER MATTER.

Being a hibernating kind of person myself, and never a morning person - NEVER NEVER NEVER a morning person!! -  I offer a few self-care suggestions, based upon a lifetime of being out-of-sync with "schedules and seasons."

NOTE: What follows is a collection of self-care strategies that have worked for /me/. Your mileage may vary. This is not gospel.

1. SLEEP. It's helpful to develop the ability to power down very quickly, even if only for short amounts of time. But, nothing can take the place of a good solid block of deep sleep. Don't read or watch TV or work at the computer or nosh while you are in bed. Make sure that your sleep environment is conducive to restful slumber: temperature, bedcovers, empty bladder!, what you are wearing (make sure your head and feet are nice and warm!), ambient sound (earplugs or white noise generator may be necessary), lighting (use an eye mask or tie a strip-folded bandanna over your eyes with the knot to the side of your head), smell - everything.
1A. BEFORE SLEEP. Clear the decks. Put a little notepad and pen beside the bed to capture stuff that won't leave your mind. Deep slow breathing always helps. Another trick that is surprisingly effective: Instead of trying to sleep "right now," look forward to the /next/ night's sleep! Don't drink alcohol or things with caffeine within 3 hours of bedtime. "Sleepytime" or chamomile tea is refreshing and soothing. Also, hot milk! Don't go to bed hungry, either. Try noshing on something that is light and easy to digest.

2. FOOD. We all have our theories about which foods to eat / not eat before prolonged activity. I recommend a carb / protein balance of about 1: 1.5. You need enough complex carbs to get you through a 4-5 hour stint of demanding activity, plus enough simple sugars to give you a quick start, plus enough protein for a slow burn. A hardboiled egg with a few crackers and a piece of fruit (or cheese, crackers and fruit) makes an ideal pre-rehearsal nosh. If you prefer to ingest a protein bar before rehearsal or performance, I recommend Premier Protein. This is a gluten-free bar with 290 calories, about 16g of sugar (less than a cookie!!), and - are you ready for this? - 30 grams of protein!! Yes, THIRTY GRAMS OF PROTEIN PER BAR. This is the highest-protein bar I have been able to find in local stores. It comes in several flavors. I buy them at Walmart for around $1.40 per bar. If you buy a box of 6 bars, you can save a little. If you have a Costco card, you can save a LOT.
I recommend you make a list of suitable "prep" foods, with information on when they should be eaten, relative to the activity.

2A. TIMING OF FOOD. Carbs get going as soon as they are in the mouth - you /need/ protein for a slow burn, however. I recommend eating no earlier than 2 hours before you are called upon. A balanced light meal can be eaten as close as 30 or even 15 minutes before rehearsal.

3. HYDRATION. Yes, Water!!! Water!!! WATER!!! Hot or cold, with or without a bit of lemon. You need water. YOU NEED WATER.

4. THROAT SOOTHING. Avoid menthol or mint lozenges, please. Instead, look for a lozenge that contains slippery elm. Slippery elm is the preferred throat-soother of experienced public speakers and many singers. Hot water with a little honey and lemon stirred into it is also good.

5. MUSICAL PREPARATION. As we found out last night, it's necessary to do careful review of /everything/ that one is singing, even (ESPECIALLY!) pieces that one has sung before. Memory can be a tricky thing, and there's a lot to keep in mind! Try approaching the "old" pieces with beginner's mind. Re-trace your learning steps. Get a practice buddy and sing for / check each other. Practice in front of a mirror so that you can also monitor your posture and facial expressions.

#6 is really important - please take note and do ALL you can to govern yourself accordingly.

6. STAY WELL, RESPIRATORILY SPEAKING (is "respiratorialy" a word?).
Don't touch "public" surfaces. If people are coughing, sneezing, expectorating, or sniffling within 6 feet of you, do what you can to get away from them! Wear a little germ mask (available at drugstore for very low price). WASH YOUR HANDS frequently. Do not touch your face with your hands if your hands aren't freshly washed. If you use the computer lab on campus, carry a package of wipes to hose down those keyboards before you lay a finger on them!!! (I remember being /deathly/ ill for over a week from something that I am 100 percent sure I picked up in the computer lab - "virus," hah! no spit!)
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER TOUCH ANYTHING ON A BUS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS.

7. DO NOTHING FOR ONE HOUR!!. Yes, that's right - DO NOTHING. 

Here's a powerful motivating method that has gotten me through more things in my life than I can possibly enumerate. It's 2-edged.

When I meet internal resistance to something (even something that isn't a bad thing in itself - just something I'd rather not have in my life at the moment, for whatever reason!) - I say to myself silently AND aloud (if possible):

I DON'T WANT TO - BUT I WILL!

When I meet internal compulsion to do something that isn't in my best interest (can you say, "potato chips at 11 p.m.?!!!"), I say to myself silently AND aloud (if possible):

I WANT TO - BUT I WON'T!

I'm giving you this powerful information free of charge - yes, you're welcome! It took me half a lifetime to quit saying and thinking, "I have to..." "I have to..." is a dis-empowering statement that disrespects one's own personal power and agency. Anyway, it isn't really true, strictly speaking. Nobody /has/ to do /anything!!/ We choose one way or another, for whatever reason. Best to be honest with oneself, honor what is really going on inside, and then make a conscious choice and GO ON AFTER THAT WITHOUT LOOKING BACK!!! Honesty is the best policy!

-------

Okay, I'm taking my Aunty Hat off now - we're in this together and it's good to share tips and tricks to keep ourselves functioning at the highest possible level right along through here.

Yours in musical solidarity and health!

Lee

Be ye not weary in well-doing!

...for Lenten Prayer is
EIGHTEEN
DAYS
AWAY!!!!

Victory is within your grasp!!

The Straits of Mid-Term now successfully navigated, we reach a short stretch of open sea

It is now time to double down on your efforts to

master your music
test and strengthen your musical memory
extend your Ear to include awareness of the diverse voice parts happening around you as you make your own tonal contribution to our combined sonic offerings!!

Yes,
only
eighteen
days

Spring Concert is only 65 days away!

Sixty
Five
Days!

Y'all, take it from one who knows...

Those 65 days will go by in a flash!

Persevere!
Ask for help if you need it!
Stay on it!

In musical solidarity,
Lee

Cantemus Congratulations!

Congratulations to Joseph de los Reyes and Jordan Levine, who will be presented with their Research Tchotchkes Wed. in Cantemus!

ONE TCHOTCHKE REMAINS TO BE CLAIMED. Will you be the 3rd person to answer my "I Love the Lord" questions? Email me at the SU email address and stake your claim!

IN musical solidarity,
Lee

CANTEMUS - Materials related to 1/30/17 Noon Class

Hello Cantemus!
Here are a few barbershop and close-harmony examples to help you get into the groove of "O What a Beautiful Morning! - Enjoy

I absolutely HAD to include this! From the film...

One person does it all!

Barbershop quartet example 1 - many snippets

More barbershop!

Not barbershop, but an incredible close-harmony group - Take 6!!

Take 6  spreads the love!

---------

This info is for TTBB who are also in Chorale TTBB - 

"I Love the Lord" - text source

To the best of my knowledge, we have never before performed a setting from the primary source of the song text.

Time for a little personal research! 

The first 3 people to email me AT MY SU EMAIL ADDRESS, please (I don't transact SU biz on Facebook) - the first 3 people will be gifted with a little tchotchke ;-)

What I want to know:

1. Primary text source (the text is from something that is part of a larger something)

2. Tradition associated with that text

3. Names of two people most closely associated with this tradition 

Have a wonderful and productive weekend - see you soon!

In musical solidarity,

Lee

Cantemus F major and A flat major materials

Hello Cantemus,
I just spent TWO HOURS working on this stupid Chrome Book, gathering tips, writing tips, and linking sites for you to practice F major and A-flat major,.

SOMETHING HAPPENED - either my palm touched the pad or something? and everything suddenly clicked out - I wound up back at the log-in screen.
Two hours of dedicated labor has been irretrievably lost, and it is too late to go to campus and repeat this on a real computer.

I ask you for your pardon. I had intended to have these things ready for you yesterday.
I will post a bunch of material tomorrow (Monday) from a real computer.

In the meantime!
First - using keyboard app or regular keyboard, find and play the major scale whole/half step pattern beginning on C, F, and A-flat.

Reminder: W W H W W W H

Do to Re - whole step
Re to Mi - whole step
Mi to Fa - half step
Fa to Sol - whole step
Sol to La - whole step
La to Ti - whole step
Ti to Do - half step
Do spend a few minutes writing out, playing, and singing solfege for the keys of F major and A flat major.
You can find scales and key signatures here

SOLFEGE YOUR MUSIC FOR "WALKING" - Leave altered tones (accidentals) blank if you aren't sure how to designate them.

Tenors - familiarize yourselves with bass AND tenor clef.
Basses - you need to know this in bass clef only

INTERVALS - from Do
Do - Re: major 2nd
Do - Mi: major 3rd
Do - Fa: perfect fourth
Do - Sol: perfect fifth
Do - La: major sixth
Do - Ti: major seventh
Do - Do: perfect octave

How many half steps are in the various intervals? You can't always count from Do, yanno -  (use piano keyboard to help - remember that you are counting the DISTANCE between pitches)
Examples are given in the key of C major. Ascending and descending intervals are the same size and have the same pitch names (when you're not starting them all from Do, that is! Why?)

Minor 2nd is 1 half step (example, E to F)
Major 2nd is 2 half steps (example, C to D)
Minor 3rd is 3 half steps (example, D to F)
Major third is 4 half steps (example, C to E)
Perfect fourth is 5 half steps (example, D to G)
TRITONE! is 6 half steps (example, F to B)
Perfect fifth is 7 half staps (examples C to G, D to A, E to B, F up to C)
Minor sixth is 8 half steps (example, B up to G, E up to C)
Major sixth is 9 half steps (example, C to A, D to B
Minor seventh is  10 half steps (example, D up to C)
Major seventh is 11 half steps (example, C to B)

Yours in  musical enjoyment,
Lee

CHOIR POSSE SUBGROUP UPDATES!!

Monday SubGroup - Bella Voce - update
The voice part tracks for "Birdsong" were put into DropBox on Friday, January 20th. There are 2 tracks: a S1 track and a DOUBLE track with the parts for S2 and Alto. I made a double track because some of you Altos may be singing bits of S2, and vice versa.

Monday SubGroup - Chamber Singers - updates
1. The voice part tracks for "Erie Canal" and "Under the Willow Tree" are not yet in DropBox, but I hope to have them in DB by the weekend. Check DB on Sunday evening, January 29th. You'll have one week from that time to get "Willow Tree" worked out on your own; the first group rehearsal for "Willow Tree" is on Monday, February 6th.
2. We will cover the Mass part music for our February 5 performance at St. Joe's on Wednesday, February 1.

Tuesday/Thursday SubGroup - Chorale - updates"I Love The Lord" (tenors and basses) - remember 2 things for tomorrow'sperformance in rehearsal (Thursday January 26th):
a.  am conducting/leading it "in 4" for the time being - HOWEVER! we need to feel this "in 2" beginning as soon as possible. You need to remember that it does not begin on a downbeat! Remember that the music actually begins BEFORE you start singing!  it's BEAT I love the / LORD"
b. The key changes are easy as pie when you remember that Do (final pitch before the key change) becomes Mi (first melodic tone) in the new key - keep that in mind and find your new pitch accordingly.

Inspiration!

"Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs" - I invite you to sit quietly in a quiet space, cue up the choral recording, and move towards the spirit and message in whatever way you see fit.
Here.
And here.
And here...
Here.
Those who love Chaim Potok's fiction (?) will remember a relevant sub-plot in "My Name is Asher Lev." ("Brooklyn Crucifixion").

I invite you to move more deeply into the "crucifixion" story. What is happening here? Why? And to whom? (the answer to that last question may surprise you - go with what you find).

I like to do etymological searches when I tackle "Big Concept Words" - here are a few, for starters:

sacrifice
paradox
volition
in/justice
burden
suffering
empathy

In search of greater musical and heart-understanding,
Lee

CHBR folk: Pergolesi

WOW, an amazing YT post from Rachel Yonek at FB:

Incredible. Absolutely exquisite. Perfection. We MUST do this with strings. We MUST. MUST.
Natalie Stutzmann - what an amazing musician! http://nathaliestutzmann.com/biography/

Countertenor P. Jaroussky - interview:
http://www.npr.org/…/philippe-jaroussky-and-the-impossibly-…

Soprano Emoke Barath (Hungary) began her musical training with different instruments!
http://www.concertsparisiens.fr/…/em%C3%B6ke-bar%C3%A1th-so…

Lenten Prayer Concert Materials

Hello, everyone!

Google-fu gems re: SOME of our Lenten Prayer concert repertoire:

Javier Busto Ave Maria (Chbr): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Busto
Transcript of an interview with Javier Busto: http://icb.ifcm.net/en_US/choral-medicine-basque-country-javier-busto/?print=pdf

I Love You, Lord (chbr TB)
Story behind the song: http://staugustine.com/living/religion/2015-02-05/story-behind-song-i-love-you-lord

The King of Love My Shepherd Is - a setting of Psalm 23
in my opinion, the most beautiful English translation of that text is here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=KJV

O Love that will not let me go (story behind the song):
http://www.crichbaptist.org/articles/christian-poetry-hymns/poems-hymns/o-love-that-wilt-not-let-me-go-george-matheson/

Surely, He hath borne our griefs
Scripture text is found here http://www.biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/53-4.htm
Graun: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Graun-Carl-Heinrich.htm

There is a balm in Gilead
Background of the saying: https://www.gotquestions.org/balm-of-Gilead.html
A more musicologically-oriented look at this song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Is_a_Balm_in_Gilead

Thy Perfect Love
Diligent net-search did not turn up anything definite re: source of the text - but my guess is that it comes from England.
Here is a lengthy but utterly fascinating article about the religious situation in that country during the medieval period: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Medieval_England
And here's information about the 15th century in general - always good to have a broader context in which to put the music!
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/266LecN.html - focus primarily on Europe - see Lectures 3 and 4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century - However, the world is a lot bigger than Europe! ;-)


Next post: Cheat sheet for Cantemus (Oh what a Beautiful Morning) and more context info for Spring Concert!

(insert Star Trek BOLDLY GO theme music)

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the continuation of Flight 2016-17, Winter Quarter!

After a fabulous Christmas concert, we went our separate ways for a brief shore leave, only to reconvene and recombine for our next event: Lenten Prayer!

Saturday - March 4, 2017 - 8 p.m. St. Ignatius

Tell ALL of your friends! Begin inviting people /now/!! We have some wonderful music.

I shouldn't call Lenten Prayer a "concert" - not exactly, not really. It's more of a musical offering or worship concert, offered with no applause before/during/or after. LP provides an hour of engaged listening, contemplation, reflection and meditation. Most of the people who attend LP are Roman Catholics or members of another faith tradition that follows a liturgical calendar. In these traditions, the Ash Wednesday begins a 40-day period (Lent) leading up to Easter (which is always, btw, the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox).

Wikipedia article about Lent. 

But not everyone is a R.C. - in fact, not everyone who comes to our LP or ChrC concerts is even "religious."
Our choir is as diverse (perhaps more diverse) as our audiences. Some of our choir folk identify with world faith traditions other than Christianity. Others identify as agnostics, seekers, or atheists. Still others are (in Karen Armstrong's delightful self-identification) "freelance monotheists."
This, I say, is a Very Good Thing.

If you find yourself saying to yourself, "I don't know if I can really relate to the text of this song," think again - look at it from a "macro" perspective. I challenge you to determine the Big Story expressed by the music we're singing. What human needs, aspirations, challenges, experiences, etc. are being explored and expressed in this music? If you think of the texts as "particulars," where and what is the "universal??" What's there for everyone to gather and to find nourishment?
Okay, end of sermon.

And now!

Composer of the Week: William Grant Still (1895 - 1978)
Read about him here at the mighty fount of all knowledge, Wikipedia
His surviving family operates a website with biographical material, sources, and other good things.

Here's a link to what is perhaps his best known composition, "Afro-American Symphony" -
Movement 1 What's happening at the beginning of this movement (form)?
Movement 2
Movement 3 scoring includes an instrument not usually found in symphony orchestras - what is it?!
Movement 4

WGS was a very fine pianist and wrote many wonderful piano pieces.
Here's one: "Summerland."

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