Christmas Cantata

In choir practice, we have been working hard on the music for the Cluster Choir event. We have 2 new pieces that we have not yet sung in our own place, much less shared elsewhere, so we have a lot of work to do. And we have indeed been working hard. Not just on these pieces, but music for services, and the three mass choir selections for the year, 2 of which we will sing for services ourselves.

Tonight we spent a considerable amount of time on the harder passages and for a full hour and 15 minutes, have drilled and listened and tried out and spoken in rhythm and clapped rhythms and worked on intervals. We are worn to a frazzle with work. I can't let a rehearsal end this way! I know the perfect antidote to a hard workout. Sing Christmas Music!

I pull out the cantata we will sing this year and we read through the first three pieces. This is a cantata that the choir has not sung in a long time. It harks back to an era of simple melody, telling the story without some slant or twist. It is filled with angels and shepherds and wisemen, just like the Christmas story ought to be. The bass line is straight forward, the harmonies thirds, the melody singable. Yes, they are remembering it. And -- best of all -- they are definitely having fun.

That's better! And on that merry note, we wander out of the sanctuary and chat light heartedly in the hall as we head home, visions of Christmas stars dancing in our heads. I hear familiar carols humming through the air as several people head to their cars. I do want Christmas to come this year. Let's do it up right and just have a lovely time of it.