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Hi everyone,
Another first! In all our many years of existence, we've never been driven out by cold! I have to say that we applied incredible energy and dedication to our first foray into the opening movement of the Bach. The excitement was palpable as you grew in confidence. It's just irresistible, isn't it? Your eyes were aglow! It's going to be fun to study that one.
Then we had the break, and following that, the first movement of the Rutter got off to a delightful start. However, I fear that my experimental approach to checking all the tricky places before running the movement straight through might not have been the best plan for last Tuesday. It wasn't long before I could sense that as an ensemble the spirit was willing but the cold flesh was weak. And coming up to 9:00, your spirit even drained away! I felt like a monster keeping you in that cold room. At least I had the benefit of constant movement up there on the podium, and Ann was somehow doing a masterful job of using her fingers, but the look of abject misery on all your faces was simply too much. Time for all of us to head home for a hot bath.
So the plan now for next Tuesday will be to investigate p.17-21 of the Rutter, which you'll have no reason to remember at all: you were beyond all reason by that time. I think we'll start with that setting, hoping to feel that we understand it better and will enjoy deeper study the next time we encounter it. If there's time before the break, we'll also revisit Fecit Potentiam.
After the break, we'll see what we remember of the first movement and also check on Fecit Potentiam. Hopefully, then we'll be ready to turn to new material in both works on the 18th.
We're very grateful for the help we've had from our Accompanist Emerita Ann Snelling! The irony of her answer wasn't lost on any of us in that frigid gymnasium when I asked where she and husband Le were headed on their trip: Arizona! She felt guilty even saying the word! Well, we're happy for her, aren't we? (Nod your heads up and down.)
For the next four rehearsals we will welcome the help of Anne Britt as our rehearsal accompanist. Anne is a staff accompanist at Linfield, and luckily for us, lives in Keizer. Please give her a warm and grateful welcome, hopefully in a warm room!
Until Tuesday,
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