The Work in Progress, and CHRISTMAS is COMING

Last night we met with the Rome Participants. Decisions were made. For a full report on those decisions, please call Ms. C if you were unable to attend the meeting.

Last night was also our usual Wednesday Night Treble rehearsal. After the newbies leave each week, we settle in to the hard work before us. As I watched the videos this morning I realize how lax and disorganized things have gotten these days while I've been trapped at the keyboard doing neither thing particularly well: conducting or accompanying. It will be nice to get back to our usual discipline of conductor watching and following...(and it will be good to not be playing while listening and half conducting with one hand).

But, even in chaos, hope emerges and as I listen, I know where these songs will be when the Mass they are sung at arrives, and I am starting to get excited. In November, we will sing Jesu! Rex Admirabilis, and it will be in three parts (the guys are doing quite well, and I will hopefully remember to video tape them, too this weekend---I took the camera last Sunday and totally forgot I had it and then they were out the door and no one will ever know how hard they worked or how good they are starting to sound---until next weekend at least!)



CHRISTMAS is COMING!!!!!

Not to give away any secrets, but our program before Mass will have a sweetness, and charm to it unlike anything done at St. R's in a very long time. Rennaissance dressed angels, shepherds, anthems that tell the story...a very young child in white and a congregation singing well loved familiar carols in candlelight near a stable with sheep and oxen and a manger... these are our fond wishes for a beautiful Christmas out of an illuminated manuscript of olde before we begin the ancient rite of Christmas Vigil Mass in the dark cold Mississippi night (well, it BETTER be cold this year darn it!)

We'll ask a question, relevant to us all in one way or another..."How Far is it to Bethlehem?"



and an answer rings out across the night...the story sung by angels to the shepherds, announced with joy, "Gaudete"



I cannot wait until these pieces are polished and shiny and bright, guys and ladies side by side, costumes done, butterflies in the stomach, waiting to welcome HIM on Christmas Eve. Until then...please enjoy our "work in progress." God Bless and have a great week.