The first thing I do is suffer withdrawal symptoms. This usually involves feeling jittery and anchor less. This can often be solved by a good Cabernet Sauvignon. It is difficult to not have any rehearsing to do. Sometimes I solve this by fantasizing that Daniel Barenboim may call me up to do solo work for him next season and I work through the alto solo pieces in Bach, by singing loudly with my recordings, just to be ready for him. I can fantasize this prior to any wine being consumed.
Now that the summer is in its last stages I can permit myself to look ahead. I have not been informed of the works we will perform in church choir but I do know that Brahms Requiem is on the menu for the upcoming Symphony season and this is sure to soothe any anxiety one may have. Is there anything more comforting? Brahms is the first full work I ever performed. I was a young university student and singing with the Winnipeg Symphony, and I was hooked on this piece.
It is now safe to look ahead and know that soon rehearsals will envelop and hold me.
Here's something for you to do during your dry season. Listen to this podcast: http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/catching-song/#musicalscore
ReplyDeleteAnd another shorter podcast to keep you occupied (that melds two of your first loves . . . Germany and choirs): Abby Darcy reports from Berlin on the rise in popularity of choirs - from the very amateur to the highly professional - across Germany. Here's the link (scroll down to Chapter 4).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00dy40j#p00fc6j2
For everything there is a season.
ReplyDeleteOh my rehearsing withdrawal, is there a support group for that? Hah!!!! Keep bringing the Cab Sav, at least you drank some good stuff while in California.
I enjoyed listening to the link that Monica posted. Thanks was interesting... oh brother but forgot why? My memory!!!!
One thing I do remember is that J might be interested for we were discussing the different tones that choirs sing here, sound differently to us than choirs we are used to, be interested in if she hears it in this piece too.
Look fwd to reading about your rehearsals when life goes back to choir routine.
I must say I always loved the first choir rehearsal too even though I am not a fanatic like you and mostly enjoyed the first regular church service when the choir sang, when I was in or out of the choir. It is like the official openining of a new church season.