Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

Back to Work

Hello and happy Sunday, Friends!

Tomorrow evening brings the return to Masterworks Chorale's Monday night rehearsals.  I always look forward to getting back into a rehearsal groove, and finding out what music is planned for the year.  I will also be mentoring one of our high school intern singers this year!

John and I are just home from Masterworks' annual kick-off picnic gathering.  We ate too much, chatted a bit, and had some good laughs.  This is a fun group of folks.  I'll update here on the season's programs as I learn about them.  (Holiday concerts will be Saturday evening and Sunday late afternoon of the first full weekend in December!)

Happy return to whatever you return to this week, All.  Be Well in the World!

What Sweeter Music?

This is the Masterworks Chorale's Christmas concert weekend!  (December 2-3)  This is always an extremely busy weekend for John and I (as well as a busy week leading into this weekend).  The concerts should be great - we've worked hard and come to love music that not all of us were sure of in the beginning.

You can read a bit about the program on the Masterworks website at www.masterworkschorale.us/christmas.php

The pieces that aren't mentioned in the website blurb are the most unique ones on the concert.  We will be performing 5 of the 7 Antiphons by Bob Chilcott.  These are his settings of traditional Latin texts for the Antiphons at Christmas.   They are beautiful and challenging - and definitely the pieces that have grown on the chorale the most in prepping the concert.  Music of Bob Chilcott's is of particular interest to me, as he was a founding member of The King's Singers.  He is also a very prolific choral arranger and composer, and just generally an amazing talent.

We will also perform the Messiah choruses with a chamber orchestra of 12 - all familiar faces/players in Toledo if you attend performances of any kind.  The John Rutter pieces will be familiar to many, and all 4 were recorded on our new Christmas CD (conveniently available for purchase at the concerts).

This weekend typically feels like "off and running" to the holidays for me.  In the words of Rutter from one of the pieces we sing this weekend:

"What sweeter music can we bring than a carol for to sing?"

Peace, Dear Friends.  Be Well!

One more collage

In honor of Masterworks' recording session earlier today for our 35th season CD, I just finished this one this evening!  I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, but this is a collage using the images from our new Masterworks Chorale season brochure.  (With permission from our outstanding graphics/design guy, Steve Wipfli!)  There are also two pictures of the same piece in the collage album.  One is quite dark, but gives a different impression of the piece.  Next step - framing with mom! 

Peace and Good Things to you all, Friends!

Masterworks Chorale 2006-2007

The new Masterworks Chorale season is in full swing, although our audiences probably don't know it yet.  The season promises to be a good one! 

This is Masterworks' 35th year.  (It also happens to be my 35th year...  coincidence?!?)  We will be recording a new CD to celebrate and commemorate this 35th season.  We started rehearsing a bit earlier than usual to be ready to record this coming Saturday - October 7th!  Yes, in 5 rehearsals we have put together 18 pieces that we plan to record in a total of 6 hours this coming weekend.  Insane?  Probably.  Challenging, beautiful, and worth it?  Definitely.

Please take a look at our website and consider joining us for a concert or two, or even all 3.

www.masterworkschorale.us

If you haven't been able to join us for a concert yet, I especially challenge you to come hear us!  I also have several season brochures to pass on to anyone who would like to read about us and the season ahead.

Peace, Friends.  Be Well and Be Taking Care.