From The Choir Loft: March Sadness Edition

Well folks, unless you are Gonzaga, South Carolina, Oregon, or Carolina.... my sincere commiseration.

Personally... I'm pulling for Anyone But Chapel Hill.

Boom. That's right. I went there.

(But I'd really like South Carolina to take it even though my bracket has Gonzaga...)

But with that said, it's officially April, and I suppose time to move on.... back to Netflix, and waiting for football season.

March Sadness, indeed.



This Week In Music Lit:

The march-like quality of Handel's 'Lift Up Your Heads' is because French Overtures included a march for royalty, who liked to make an entrance.

And the previously mentioned antiphonal effect echos the origins of Psalm 24, which is implicitly about the King entering Jerusalem and the Biblical accounts that the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem involved two choirs, answering each other.

(I may have made some of that up. Pls verify with someone who took better notes.)

Handel was theatrical at heart, and only wrote Oratorios because they were cheaper than opera-type endeavors, with sets and costumes.

And one small note about O Vos Omnes, which is based on Isaiah's references to the suffering servant, and includes some painfully intense dissonance.


This Week In... Other News:

We were treated to a rousing reenactment of M. Dodds' Zacchaeus experience, and also learned that his previous work history includes a stint at the UN, so you now know where to direct your complaints re: world matters.

We welcomed another new choir member, one P. Barnes! This reporter has not been able to confirm whether he is more concerned about catching his robes on the stairs on the way too and from his various Sunday morning obligations, or losing his place in the worship notes and winding up on the wrong side of the chancel at the wrong part of the service. Rest assured, your intrepid reporter is on the case.

The Sopranos, in recognition of both their attendance and punctuality last Sunday, would like their usual award of 'extra gold stars'.

Susan received extra points for figuring out how to get some air-flow into the room.

Oh! Right! yeah, we totally met in the chapel because the Sanctuary lights were still out of commission. Goes to show you how jam-packed this rehearsal was!

And at some point, for some reason, the choir notes reflect mention of yodeling goats. I have no idea how, or why, because all I could think about was this:


The Lonely Goatherd - The Sound Of Music, Sung by Julie Andrews as Wonderful Original Maria from Isaac Sarayiah on Vimeo.





Interviews:

Bennie (Soprano)

- Has spent the past three years helping Edye* corralling the children's choir, to great and adorable success

- Has lived in W-S the past 11 years, but has claimed Ridgeway, Virginia and Huntington, West Virginia as home

- Caretaker to 2 cats and "something of a homebody"

- In news that should surprise no-one: was once in a Rock n Roll band, singing backup and playing the tambourine.

*editor's note: I have no idea if this is the correct spelling of 'Edye'. Or, perhaps, 'Bennie', now that I think about it... Apologies!

Mary (Alto)

- Originally from Charlotte, but in Winston since 1991

- Was a nurse in her former life, but received her Master's degree from Gordon-Conwell and is currently a practicing counselor

- Is planning an EPIC bike trip, from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, which means covering some 50 miles per day

- Joined choir as the result of a kidnapping from Wednesday Night dinner, which is a strategy the choir has been sorely neglecting! Take Note, choristers.




This Sunday!

Go Before Us.
In the words of our fearless leader: "when you see this on Sunday morning, it will seem like we are seeing it for the first time"... Plan accordingly.