Thursday Thoughts

There is a quote which reads:  I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours.  But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places.  Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality. (H. A. Overstreet)

I think the quote sums up rather well the impact you made on many of our concert patrons last Saturday in St. Patrick's. I have had so many messages, emails, conversations, etc of people who were not only there, but took the time to try to put into words what your music meant to them. Some examples:

- It is a real privilege to be part of this music-making (SNSC member)

- Saturday night’s concert was a highlight! Just spectacular! It brought me to tears when I was describing how beautiful it was to someone the next day! You and every member of the choir should be very proud!  (concert patron)

- it was the most exquisite musical event I have been to in a very long time - moved me to tears, touched the soul and was so beautifully choreographed - such a gift and commitment you have to the art - thank you. (patron who has not heart the choir in a long time)

- Yes, it does remind us why we do music, to lift people's souls (SNSC member)

I included some of the comments to remind you that we do more than just sing concerts and make pretty music. People come to our concerts for various reasons and one such reason is that our music helps them cope with whatever life is throwing at them. We must not loose sight that.
 
So on to St. Bernard's!  Another wonderful acoustic - very different but wonderful.  The program is below - I know I sent it to you at least once before but you need to have a copy of this in your folder. Go through your scores before Tuesday and make sure you have everything. Please do this now - not three weeks downthe road. Email me if there is anything missing.
 
I also want to welcome Judith Burdett (soprano) and Bill Perrot (bass) who will be singing this concert with us. Please introduce yourselves to Judith and Bill if you don't already know them.
 
This concert is a combination of the year's work and we have performed everything before in concert this season.  However there are scores which need to be reviewed, so for this Tuesday, at First Baptist I will concentrate on the following:

Many Winters - Enns
O Sacrum Convivium - Miskinis
I Am Not Yours - Stroope
Benedicto - Sisask
First Snow - Holten
Kyrie - Palestrina (I am considering doing the Christe w a solo quartet. Email me if you are interested)
Northern Lights - Gjeilo

See you Tuesday.

Musique St. Bernard Program

Sunday June 26, 2011 4pm - St. Mary’s Church, St. Bernard, NS
Call for choir: 2:30 pm

Programme order

Totus Tuus – Henryk Górecki  9’
Ave Verum – Imant Raminsh * 5:15
Benedicto – Urmas Sisask  6:30 (Tristan to conduct)
Agneau de Dieu – Rupert Lang *  (3) * (quartet: Christina, Laura, Chris, Lynn)
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Pärt (6:40)  (solo: Danielle)
O Sacrum Convivium – Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania) 4:45

Intermission

i thank You God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre (6)  (solo: Paula)
Lay A Garland – Robert Pearsall (2:45)
Many Winters – Jeff Enns * (9:30)
I Am Not Yours – Randall Stroope (4)
First Snow - Bo Holten (Denmark) (5)
Northern Lights – Ola Gjeilo (Norway) (4:45)
On suuri sun rantas’ autius – trad Finnish/arr. Juha Törmä 3
[encore: Kyrie (Missa Brevis) – Palestrina]