Poetry Train Monday - 148 - American sentence 6

Just got back from the first of three intense evenings of choral singing:

Sunday evening rehearsal, the first with Nova Sinfonia and our guest conductor, Dr. Mark Shapiro, from New York.


Monday evening dress rehearsal

Tuesday evening - concert!











I confess I was a bit nervous all day, knowing that he would make us work hard. We're a combined choir of amateur singers ( my choir, Dartmouth Choral Society and the Chebucto Singers) and he's used to professional singers.

However, he turned out to be extremely forgiving, yet at the same time took hold of us and yanked us up to stand tall and let loose our inner divas.

For today's stop on the Poetry Train, I give you this American sentence:



First violinist introduced conductor to director - old charm.



For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!

For any of you in the Halifax area, my concert is on:


Tuesday, April 20th
St. Matthew's Church
1479 Barrington St., Halifax, Nova Scotia
7:30 pm

The concert program:

Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G major
Vaughan Williams' Antiphon from Five Mystical Songs
Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major

Tickets are:

$15 adults
$10 seniors
$5 students

Stan Ski says I'm sure you sing just as well as professionals.

Gautami Tripathy says Good one too!

Travis says I didn't write nearly enough poetry during my vacation, especially with this being poetry month. Oh well...

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've got a busy weekend.

Tonight, after an extremely challenging week at work, I had a dress rehearsal for tomorrow's choir concert. It went the way dress rehearsals generally should go - not so super fabulous that we won't be paying close attention to all the spots that sounded shaky tonight. It's a strange-but-true thing - a really great dress rehearsal usually results in a flat performance.

Tomorrow morning I'll be hopping on the bus and heading for Spring Garden Road, to have an afternoon at the ballet courtesy of Empire Theatres and Opus Arte Ballet in HD.

I've had this picture as my screen saver at work all month, waiting until tomorrow:










It's the Kingdom of the Shades sequence from La Bayadere, where the entire corps shows us what its made of.

"The shades (usually thirty two of them) enter down a zigzag ramp coming down the back of the stage. They take two steps into an arabesque in plié, then two steps to pose in tendue derriere (the pose shown.) This short phrase of movement brings all of the shades on stage in single file. They zigzag down the ramp, then continue down the stage. The lead dancer has to repeat the phrase an incredible number of times, with the same leg every time." - Ballet Encyclopedia

"Like a patient drillmaster, original choreographer Marius Petipa opens the piece with a single, two-phrase theme in adagio tempo, repeated over and over until all the dancers have filed onto the stage. Petipa gives it a long time to creep under our skins. The choreography is considered to be the first expression of grand scale symphonism in dance. The subject of The Kingdom of the Shades is not really death, although everybody in this scene except the hero is dead. It's Elysian bliss, and its setting is eternity. The long slow repeated-arabesque sequence creates the impression of a grand crescendo that seems to annihilate all time." - Wikipedia















Ooo! I can't wait! Especially since Cuban wonder Carlos Acosta will be dancing, as well as Marianela Nuñez and Tamara Rojo.











After the ballet, it's hurry-scurry home, get changed and drive my husband and me to my choir concert, where he'll watch from the audience.














This was taken at the last concert in February, by my cousin's wife, Heather. Saturday's performance starts at 7:30 at Grace United Church, 70 King Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

And then Sunday I'll head out to have lunch with the writers, and afterwards I'll be giving the workshop at our monthly Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada meeting. It's called A Date With Creativity.

So what are you up to this weekend?









Nikki says Hey! I hope your choir concert goes really well! Hope you enjoy the Ballet too!

Akelamalu says Wow Julia, you have got a busy weekend ahead and an exciting one to boot!

Dorte H says Good luck to you with concert and everything - and remember to take care of yourself.

Thursday Thirteen - 96 - 13 Random Shots From My Collection

- 1

One happy me at Toronto's Union Station













- 2











Two shutterbugs at my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary, Oct. 2007

My sister-in-law Violetta and my husband's cousin Sheila


- 3










Three high school choir friends, 20 years and counting on a Girls' Overnight in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

Maureen, Dawn and me


- 4









Three uncles and a niece

My mom's brothers: Uncle Warren, me, Uncle Charlie and Uncle Louie


- 5











Five cousins at the November family dinner, 2007

Myself and fellow blogger Heather, my cousin's wife

My cousin Julianne, her daughter Laura, my sister Michelle


- 6











Six members of my parents-in-law's bridal party:

Groom's sister Pat, groom's best friend Dalton, bride's sister Ruthie, couple's friend Barry, bride Joan and groom David


- 7










Seven Christmas partiers from my old office, Land Registration:

A fellow from another county (in the city for the party,) then my Legendary Scan Team of Yore - Mike H.; Mike J. - the King of Supervisors, me, Ning, my late friend and Eco-Hero of the mega-watt smile Pam Langille, and Chris


- 8












Eight members of my great-grandparents' family:

Isabel, Adelta, my great-grandfather Eugene, Danny, my great-grandmother Emilie, baby Olivette, eldest child Angeline, and my late grandmother Juliette at far right.

There would be four more children before their family was complete.


- 9











Nine writers at the White Point Beach summer retreat:

Elaine, Annette, Pam, Nikki, John, Heidi, Christine, Renee and me


- 10

Ten members of the Dartmouth Choral Society in concert (I'm in there somewhere)



- 11











Eleven old friends sharing stories at my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary, Oct. 2007

Clockwise from left, my father-in-law is 2nd and my mother-in-law is 4th


- 12











Twelve diners at O'Carroll's Restaurant in Halifax when my writers' group took visiting Tor editor Heather Osborn out to dinner.

Clockwise from center: Julianne, Heidi, Pat, Cathryn Fox, two anonymous diners in the back corner, visiting editor Heather Osborn, Annette, Renee, Tammy and Anne


- 13











Thirteen Pension Agency team members who manned the stations for our Amazing Race last summer:

Stephen, me, the CEO, Laura, Karen, Bev, JR, Denise, Jim, Kathy, a member of the White Team, Tracy, and the dance instructor who taught us Irish step dancing

Wordless Wednesday - 88

Photos by Heather Doucet

Poetry Train Monday - 78 - Jeg Er Sa Glad

Last night was my Christmas concert with the Dartmouth Choral Society. That's me above in the center, and my mom at far left. The seasons of my life have always been set by Christmas concerts and spring concerts. Like the leaves changing, the temperature dropping, the first snowflakes fluttering to earth - my Christmas concert sparks the glow of the heart of the season.

One of my instant favorites when we began rehearsals in September was this Norwegian carol, which formed part of a work that incorporated carols from around the world. As soon as we started to learn it, I got shivers. I adored it on the spot.

We sang this verse in Norwegian. Luckily, we have a tenor who is originally from Norway - he went over the pronunciation with us, and translated the words for us.

Jeg er så glad hver julekveld,
for da ble Jesus født,
da lyste stjernen som en sol,
og engler sang så søtt.

For today's Poetry Train, I'd like to share this beautiful carol with you. This is the English translation, but the clip from YouTube is sung in Norwegian. The footage was shot at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.



I Am So Glad


I am so glad each Christmas Eve
The night of Jesus’ birth!
Then like the sun the Star shone forth
And angels sang on earth.

The little Child in Bethlehem
He was a King indeed!
For He came down from heaven above
To help a world in need.

He dwells again in heaven’s realm
The Son of God today
And still He loves His little ones
And hears them when they pray.

I am so glad on Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing
He opens then for every child
The palace of the King.

When mother trims the Christmas tree
Which fills the room with light
She tells me of the wondrous Star
That made the dark world bright.

She says the Star is shining still
And never will grow dim
And if it shines upon my way
It leads me up to Him.

And so I love each Christmas Eve
And I love Jesus, too
And that He loves me every day
I know so well is true.

- Marie Wexelsen, 1859
(translation by Peter Andrew Sveeggen)

Wordless Wednesday - 66

Thursday Thirteen - 33 - 13 of My Favorite Christmas Choral Pieces

I've been in choirs since I was a girl. I sang in my elementary school concerts, and for a short time my church choir (my church was very basic and didn't really have an official choir, just the congregation singing, mostly - but for a few years we had someone in our parish who was musically inclined and she started a youth choir for awhile.)


In high school I was extremely lucky to have a fantastic choir director, Jim Farmer who really whipped us into fighting shape! My life really took off when I joined that choir, the Prince Andrew Chorus. It turned my high school years into a version of 'Fame', the arts high school film & TV drama.

After high school I joined my mom's choir, the Dartmouth Choral Society, where she and my Aunt Noel sang every Christmas and my sister and I used to hand out the programs. When I moved to Toronto I wasn't in any choir for about four years while I adjusted to living away from home in a big city. I can't tell you how much I missed singing during those years. When you're a choir person, the seasons of your life are marked by Christmas concerts and spring concerts.

As soon as I started university I joined the choir there, Oakham House Choir. I was lucky again with another fabulous choir director who really showed me how to lead a group of people just as I was studying to be a filmmaker. We did full pieces like Mozart's 'Requiem' and Carl Orf's 'Carmina Burana', which was dream-come-true stuff for me. When I moved to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1999 to help take care of my gram, I joined my mom's choir once again, the Yarmouth Community Chorale. What an exceptional group of voices in that small town choir! Especially the men, which often are outnumbered by women in choirs.


In 2001 we moved back to Dartmouth (YAY!) and for a second time I joined the Dartmouth Choral Society. We just had our Christmas concert last night. The early music ensemble accompanying us was just fantastic. My choir director is at the far left, playing the harpsicord. I'm second from the left, just peeking out in the second row.

Fall and winter are completely tied to learning and singing Christmas programs with my choir. It makes me feel so connected to the people I sing with, the audience, the orchestra, the composer and to the Creator. There's nothing more spiritually connecting for me than when I'm a part of beautiful music and all is harmonious. Sometimes it's so beautiful my eyes fill with tears and I can't actually sing. That's when I'm glad I'm in a choir and not singing by myself!

Here are some of my favorite pieces I've sung over the years. Enjoy!



1 - O Come O Come Emmanuel by Boyz II Men


I've always loved this one, from childhood. I like the longing present in the melody.











2 - Gabriel's Message sung by The Choir of Winchester Cathedral

As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the old Renaissance carols.










'The Annunciation to Mary' by Keith Newton




3 - Magnificat by Pergolesi

This is one of the pieces we performed last night. The Magnificat is the prayer offered by Mary upon learning her blessed role from the angel Gabriel. 'Magnificat' means 'my soul doth magnify the Lord.'









The Sistine Madonna by Raphael




4 - The Cherry Tree Carol

A no-show on YouTube. All I can offer is some trial audio of the first verse. For the lyrics, click here. I sang this one last year and was struck by the relationship dynamics in this carol between Joseph and Mary. I also LOVE it when the cherry tree bows down so Mary can have her cherries.







'The Cherry Tree' by Emile Munier



5 - The Wexford Carol sung by the Celtic Women

I haven't sung this one yet in concert, but my current choir director is part of an early music ensemble, so maybe one day...



6 - Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day sung by Libera


How can I not be enamoured of a carol about dancing? And I always enjoy the line 'this have I done for my true love.'








7 - Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine 15th century traditional German carol

I couldn't find a version of it on YouTube, so feel free to sing along. I always like the sense of an actual family I get from this carol, where Mary asks Joseph to 'help cradle the child divine'.





'Holy Family With Palm Tree' by Raphael



8 - The Holly and The Ivy sung by the King´s College Chapel Boys Choir









I just LOVE this one. It goes through my head a lot in the winter when I'm walking my dog in the woods.










9 - I Saw Three Ships

Another of my lifelong faves. Maybe being from a harbor city does it...




Statue in the church at Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France



10 - Adoramus Te
(We adore you, O Christ)

I sang this acapella with my high school choir, both in concert and when we went carolling from house to house in the snowy cold. People actually stood in their doorways and listened even though it was freezing, and passed around boxes of chocolates to us. Ah, those were the days.







11 - Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest) by Vivaldi

I sang this one with my university choir, also with orchestra and I listen to it often on CD. One of my ABSOLUTE favorites.








Map of the Milky Way


12 - Hallelujah Chorus by Handel
Even loading it onto my blog, I got teary. I've sung this one several times, but truthfully I get too choked up once we get to the 'and he shall reign' part. I often get shivery and teary and can't continue into the 'King of Kings' part - this piece of music sums up my feelings about God so perfectly I can't contain the huge emotion it evokes in me. So there you have a window into my soul.


Photo of snail shell by Darlyne A. Murawski



13 - Carol of The Bells sung by the Ben Davis show choirs


I like the mysterious undercurrent to this one.











Hope you enjoyed the program!

Wordless Wednesday - 27