Cathy's Grace Notes

Piano - 4 hands

Today my mother and I were driving home from eating out and we were listening to pubic radio. Featured at the time was the music of Dohnanyi, a 20th century composer who was a conductor in Hungary, and became a WWII refuge and ended up in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University as a composer in residence until his death.  
 They had a recording of one of his compositions for piano for 4 hands -- and the recording was of him and pianist Edward Kilenyi, who was professor at FSU.   I found the selection of them playing Dohnanyi's composition Valse Boiteuse from his Suite en Valse for Two Pianos. The ONLY connection I have with Kilenyi was he sat in on one of my juries for end of the year assessment. When I was there, he only taught piano majors, and I was a music therapy student.

Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool when I found the recording on Youtube, so I share it with you.

Sunday Hymn - My Song is Love Unknown

This is probably in one of the top 10 hymns I truly love and brings tears to my eyes.

But O my friend,
my friend indeed,
who at my need,
His life did spend.

My Song is Love Unknown

No one remembers the songs I sing and love.....

Over the past week, our public television station has featured Ken Burns' documentary of "The War". I have not been able to watch it in its entirety, but have watched enough to know it is excellent. It's not a moment too soon as those who can provide anecdotal stories are in the time of their life that if we are to hear their story, we must listen to them before they are no longer able.

The footage of the WWII is the ones that are familiar to us who have watched war movies growing up. The black and white accounts of folks on the front line show young men who fought for our country and of those that tell the story through Burns' documentary.

However, the part of the documentary which is so touching and beautiful is the music. I hear pieces of music I am familiar, not associated by war, but from my love of classical music. There is the music from that time, ones that i heard over and over and over again as a child. The music of my parents.

There were times when I was a teen when I tried to not like that music - it was "old" music, a music that happened before me and was claimed by my parents. And, my grandmother would play the music which was her music and would play it over and over again on the piano - songs like "I'll take you home again Kathleen" and "My Buddy".

When my uncle and aunt decided to move from their home and  make the transition to a retirement community, the comment that stuck with me came from my uncle "no one sings and knows the same songs I love". I knew that the songs he knew and love were slowly fading from the music known today. Comfort songs, songs that remind of our youth, and who we were and where we were. 

I don't know the last time I heard some of the music my grandmother played on the piano. I don't know where the sheet music went. And I know there are those who are trying to preserve the songs from that era. 

Perhaps you know the songs of those who lived in the time of WWII -- or know someone who does. As Big Geez stated in his review - The problem is that it's so freakin' good that I'm afraid I'm in danger of overselling it, but at the same time I can't help myself — it's that remarkable. He's right.

Last, but not least, I offer a piece of music from that time

What songs do you remember??

Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma

In memory --- may light perpetual shine upon him.

Friday 5 - American Idols

Yes, it's true. Songbird has been watching Season Six of American Idol with my daughter, our first time dipping into this particular well of pop culture. In the spirit of believing you can do anything, as the auditioners so clearly do, please fill in the following five blanks.

1) If I could sing like anyone, it would be ________.
There are one voice in particular I would like to be able to sing like and she sings in the group I sing with on Thursday nights. And that is Heather - y'all don't know her, but she has one of the most beautiful voices I have heard. But to give a name that might be better known, I wouldn't mind being able to sing like Sarah Brightman

2) I would love to sing the song _________________.

Hmmmmm - Exsultate jubilate, K 165 (158a): Alleluia by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - if I could sing that and sing it well, then I would feel like I would be on top of the world! That ain't going to happen - so I will be content with hymns :)

3) It would be really cool to sing at ____________.

I think it would be cool to sing at the National Cathedral
- Nope, I just checked - I'm not in their line up of upcoming performances.

4) If I could sing a dream duet it would be with with a dream group it would be  ___________.

Changing this question --- I would like to sing with either Anonymous 4 or The Cambridge Singers 

5) If I could sing on a TV or radio show, it would be __________________.
I have a feeling that Prairie Home Companion is going to have a lot of RGBP folks being singing wannabes on that program. So since there will be fierce competition there, I think I am going to say I would like to sing on the TV show Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. That would not be possible since Fred Rogers is no longer alive, but this is dreaming. I think it would be cool to sing on his show!

But, I am quite content singing with the group which I sing with every Thursday night :)

Friday 5 - Badda Bing Badda Boom Edition

It's been a very full, busy week. Here's the F5, short and sweet.

The questions are simple, the answers unlimited. Go!

Who - anyone who loves hymns

What - Hymn Festival

When - Thursday, January 25, 2007

Where - St. John's Episcopal Church, Tallahassee, Florida

Why - lots of reasons why - it's part of a church music conference, great musicians will be there as keynoters and performers, and if you come, I JUST MIGHT..... I JUST MIGHT..... I JUST MIGHT......... yep, I just might!!!!!! get to meet YOU!

Bonus: How - go to this page - and find out more about the conference (or you can find out  more by the previous posting. Hymnfest is FREE - yessiree.

Let me know if you will be attending - perhaps we can meet up!

Church Music Conference

Next week Thursday, January 25, our women's chamber group has been invited to sing at a church music conference. I'm excited and honored that the group in which I am a part of will be singing for church musicians from around our area (and beyond). What is really exciting to me is we will be singing following a Hymn Festival. According to the flyer, the hymns are from many centuries and traditions.

What I am REALLY excited about is that this will be a church filled with church musicians who love church music and hopefully, will sing their hearts out. And, if you are into organs, this church has more than one organ and the hymn festival will have this organist to accompany the singers. Here is detailed information on the organ.

After the hymn fest, we will sing during Evening Prayer and will be singing two selections pre Baroque - Regina Coeli by Lully, Cuncti Simus, and 20th century Magnificat by Gwyneth Walker. 

Won't you come and sing with me? Is there a RGBP around that I might meet there? Anyone out there that loves hymns?

Handel it!

Tonight I listened to Handel's Messiah - in its entirety - on Vox XM - without interruption -- do you hear that last part? Without interruption. Right now Vox XM is playing Christmas music during the season of .. yep, you got it. Christmas! And doing some neat interviews with folks in the choral world. Last night was an interview with John Rutter.

I feel like I am getting my fix of some really good choral music.

Advent IV - Singing

Today I sang duing Morning Prayer at the Sunday service. I selected a piece our group sang this season. Called "Before the Paling of the Stars" the lyrics are based on a poem by Christina Rosetti. Music by composer John Boda in 1959 - who was a professor at FSU while I was a student in the University's School of Music. Though I never had him as a professor, I remember seeing him in the halls.

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:

Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.

Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel, ox and ass,
To hail the King of Glory.

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born.

Fa-la-la-la-la, La Friday Five

1. A favorite 'secular' Christmas song.
I love "I'll Be Home for Christmas" - sung by Bing Crosby during WWII.

2. Christmas song that chokes you up (maybe even in spite of yourself--the cheesier the better)
I love "I'll Be Home for Christmas" - sung by Bing Crosby during WWII.

3. Christmas song that makes you want to stuff your ears with chestnuts roasted on an open fire.
Little Drummer Boy - I can't stand the Pa Rum pum pum pum

4. The Twelve Days of Christmas: is there *any* redeeming value to that song? Discuss.

Helps build memory skills, students learn to count/sing backwards, fills up concert/cd time, helps remind folks that there ARE 12 days of Christmas and the 1st one IS on December 25!

5. A favorite Christmas album
It is really unfair to only select one, but there is one I like that is a little off the beaten path. It's Maddy Prior's Carols and Capers.
I also like Anonymous 4's Wolcum Yule