Thursday, December 27, 2007

rehearsals

It is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of the ungodly, or something...so we are told, at least, not so?

And so this evening (I didn't manage to make good my escape from the office in time) I AM the doorkeeper, in charge of jumping up when the buzzer sounds, to admit a whole retinue of young singers -- well, young = twenty-somethings mostly. They are here to rehearse.

Every year on New Year's Eve, Most Holy and Undivided hosts a very special concert...the group assembled first ten years ago in support of a doctoral candidate in choral music who was specializing in the music of Pierre de la Rue. (The fun part of advanced work in choral music, as I've come to see, is that one needs collaborators!!!)

In the succeeding years although the members of the group have scattered hither and yon around the planet in the manner of their generation, they somehow manage to reassemble in Prairie Metropolis around about Christmas...and as they're all here anyway...why not have another concert?

The music is generally speaking either "early" or "contemporary" -- a cappella -- there is champagne and Ghirardelli chocolate in the intermission... and over the last six or seven years this has become a very hot New Year's Eve ticket indeed, in these parts.

They're all in the nave, not far from where I sit, getting properly "tore in" on a Kyrie. And they will rehearse intensively from now until Monday evening, when the place will be packed to the doors. Their concert always ends with an audience-participation version of "Auld Lang Syne."
I can hardly wait.

8 comments:

more cows than people said...

sounds fabulous. what a great tradition!

Cathy said...

I was not familiar with Pierre de la Rue, but am familiar with his contemporary Josquin des Prez. This sounds phenomenal - and wish I could not only listen but participate!

Terri said...

This sounds awesome!

Also, I finally played, Favorite Things....

suzanne said...

Blessings of the season, Rev. Crimson! The concert and the anticipation both sound glorious. I will be there in spirit, singing too loudly during the audience participation part!

Jan said...

The concert sounds wonderful, and what a tradition!

Jim said...

And how I wish I could be there to hear it! I will be at home doing plumbing repairs with my friend Charles, at least until the serious drinking begins.

Jim

Diane M. Roth said...

this sounds absolutely heavenly, even though I'm not familiar with de la Rue (might need to get some). Wow what a way to spend New year's eve.

RevDrKate said...

Ooooohhhh....I'm wishing that StarTrek transporter had been perfected....I'd be there in a heartbeat. It sounds splendid.