Friday cat blogging

Tommie looks at me while having a bit of a standoff with Jellico.

Meanwhile PuddyTat wonders why I'm sticking the camera out the kitchen window.

Jellico will run if I open the door so I opened the window to take the picture of the boys.

Friday shuffle

1. Alexander: Jesus Met the Woman at the Well - Chanticleer
2. Bugle Call Rag - Glenn Miller Orchestra
3. Hold Your Head Up - Argent
4. Twilight Time - Platters
5. Never Be Anyone Else But You - Ricky Nelson
6. The Masochism Tango - Tom Lehrer
7. Zingaro - Ali Ryerson
8. Elgar: Whither I Find You - Finzi Singers
9. A World Without Love - Peter and Gordon
10. Brahms: Symphony 1 - Berlin Philharmonic

BCF Week 1 2009 photos

are posted here. This was in Sheffield, MA at The Berkshire School.

Photos from the Berkshire Choral Festival weeks in Montreal and last year are here.

My name is not Those People

Hat tip to FranIAm on Facebook.

Earworm inspires question

One of the lyrics we sang last week was:
Oh, Lord of Lords, how majestic is your name o'er all the earth. Oh, Lord, we praise your name. We magnify your name. Prince of Peace, Mighty God, how majestic is your name, oh Lord! King of kings and Lord of Lords for ever and ever Hallelujah. And he shall reign for ever and ever. Oh, Lord, our God!
Over and over and over and over for 5 minutes. Needless to say it has become a persistent earworm.

I'm not a fan of "praise" music. I wonder why we should praise Jesus at all. Or even Godde for that matter. They are who or what they are and seem to not need reinforcement. Thanks, yes, but adulation of the names?

My opinion of the Bible is that it is a go and do manual for living successfully in community. Should we be standing around getting carried away by pounding rhythms and redundant melodies or should we be out taking care of others?

Hanging out

The cats seem to be happy that I'm home. Tommie, Dudie and PuddyTat watched as I unloaded birdseed from the car and fed the winged creatures.

More daylilies today

How to never be wrong

Daylily

And on GC 2009

Obviously - see week's postings below - I was not able to follow every nuance of General Convention. Nevertheless, as does everyone else, I have a few barely supported opinions garnered from what I did have time to read.

I am greatly disappointed in our bishop Sean Rowe who voted against inclusion of all the baptized in all the orders of TEC. I find clericalism disgusting and very unChristlike so I was really irritated to read the following which admittedly contains the opinion of the writer:

Then a bit of a blockbuster, Bishop Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania, (the youngest bishop in the House) supported by Bishop Kirk Smith of Arizona want the resolution discharged (killed.) Rowe says legislation doesn't work. What he offers sure plays to me as a sweeping attack on the House of Deputies authority. Smith says the bishops should do a pastoral letter. (Maybe it is just the fact that I am helping hte House of Deputies with media, but this seems disrespectful of the Deputies.... Another attempt to disenfranchise them for the governance of their church.) Most of the debate seems to be going against it.

The Bishop of Hawaii, Fitzpatrick, speaks in favor of discharge, as does Doyle of Texas.

it is very hard for me to see this as anything other than an attempt to assert the authority of the bishops and the bishops only on this matter.

Rowe asks for a roll call on the discharge vote. This feels like an effort to run out the clock. What possible reason can there be for getting this vote on the record. It is of no lasting significance.

Halfway through, the move to discharge is losing 42-19. The vote isn't over, but 55 no votes are already in, so I'd say the move to discharge fails. Final now 42-94-1, the motion fails

You can read the entire live blogging article at The Lead. +Gene also mentioned his action tho not by name.

Fortunately, those who try to live by the Gospel and love Godde and others unconditionally and leave judgment to Godde prevailed. I pray for the people who seem to worship Jesus but refuse to do as he taught. That is a divide which may never be crossed except by the individuals who eventually get it. May there be many more of them/us soon.

The concept that sexuality can cause schism among Christ's people is amazing. The Anglican Communion has been no real communion for quite awhile - ever since the first bishop decided the others present were not worthy of his sharing the eucharist. As if it were his invitation to issue. I'd like to say a pox on the men who are so pure and holy and knowledgeable about Godde that they can't stoop to Jesus's level and share his meal with someone. But I'd rather pray they grow in the knowledge and love of Godde. Tempting however...

I seriously doubt that many butts in the pews care much about sexuality until the clergy stir them up. I'm not too fond of clergy sometimes, in case you never noticed. In general the people are ok but they get corrupted by the collar?

The budget seems to reflect a bunker mentality. That never works. A budget needs vision. Most people will not pour money into a sinking ship. TEC is not sinking. There is now a clear way ahead. TEC is for all people. Period. No more hatred or exclusion. What a gift! What a vision! Why not aim for it? If you aim for the floor, you may shoot yourself in the foot. Is that what TEC expects?

There were some wonderful affirmations coming from GC. There were some wonderful programs that will go unfunded and unimplemented. Sad. I think there should be a limit to the number of terms a deputy can serve. Say 3 - one to learn the ropes, one to work and one to help pass on to the next generation. Perhaps every diocese should be required to include one person - lay or clergy - under the age of 30? Tradition has rarely served the church well and tradition is embedded in long term service in any field.

Well, I may have other thoughts but that's it for now. I rejoice that TEC voted for inclusion and the recognition that the church must serve the community or die especially where the laws permit marriage between two people who love each other and seek to commit their lives to each other. The rest of it and our bishop, well, I'll share the eucharist with anyone. It is not my place to choose.

Thruway thoughts

Today I drove the Thruway from the Taconic to the Pennsylvania line. Whenever I transverse that highway I have many memories pop into my head. I've been going to the Berkshire Choral Festival since 1985 using that route for most of those journeys. This year I have been on portions of it several times. Here is what ran thru my thruway thoughts today.

I love the Taconic in good weather. It is a lovely drive and there is rarely anyone else at the tollgate, especially when I'm eastbound.

I wish I could have visited FranIAm today in Albany. Oh well, there is next year.

When Glenn was still at the cathedral in Albany, I would sometimes leave BCF early enough to attend mass then have lunch with him - before Karen. When they married, they invited me to sing with the choir which I did.

During the wedding festivities, I stayed with a gal in Schenectady whose name I can't recall at the moment. Sorry. On my way east last week, I visited a college friend Lynn near there. When a portion of the Thruway collapsed awhile back, I had driven over it only a few hours before and still recall where it was.

A number of years ago I drove recording equipment from Amherst, MA to Denver, CO for a friend who was recording the organ works of Langlais in the churches where he performed. The first night out I stayed at a Motel 6 in Utica. There were two rather large friendly ladies at the desk who welcomed me. Painted on a block wall on one side of the driveway was a message that there will be no noise after 11 pm. Around midnight there was noise and suddenly a big voice reminded the rowdies that they know the rules and there was quiet immediately. The next morning I commented that they run a tight ship. The same ladies just smiled.

On the way to Montreal I visited friends in the vicinity of Utica and saw the church he leads in downtown Utica. I was too late to attend the eucharist as I stayed to hear the recording of the first half of the concert so I just waved as I went by. I waved at lots of people today. New memories and old.

Many years ago I hauled my Sunfish behind my TR4A to a race at Cazenovia Lake which seemed more like a large pothole to me. I met some wonderful people who appeared here and there afterward too.

My father owned and I learned to sail Lightning 1182 whose keel was laid in Skaneateles the same year mine was. It had a double planked cypress hull and weighed 900 pounds which is why I could sail it single handedly in fairly strong winds.

Awhile ago I attended the Long Island Choral Festival and met a lovely gal from Rochester but lost touch with her. A few years later I had an opportunity to attend one rehearsal for the Verdi Requiem in Rochester before singing tenor at Chautauqua. I found my friend's email and hoped it worked then spent the night with her renewing a precious friendship.

A month ago I drove thru Buffalo to Fort Erie to get my Nexus pass which was very useful going to and from Montreal. I have other Buffalo memories but they are too many to detail.

Among the Buffalo memories are the folks at Holy Trinity Lutheran. I knew a number of people in that choir because they were also BCF people. One was a special friend who lived in East Aurora. I was sad to see his name on the list of people for whom the requiem would be sung last year.

Coming farther west, I always have to chuckle when I pass Silver Creek. I met a gal in summer choir at Westminster Choir College before I was a student who was from that town. She was always annoyed that I pronounced it Silver Crick. And still do.

Years ago I crewed on a 40 foot Rhodes 27 out of Erie Yacht Club. We always used the Dunkirk stacks as a landmark. I still look for them for some unknown reason only now from the highway side.

Dunkirk used to have a restaurant that served all the lobster you could eat. On the way back from a meeting in Buffalo with coworkers one time, we stopped there. I had way too much to eat and drink. I will never forget the headache.

The Dunkirk exit is also the one to take to experience the New York State Summer School for the Arts performances which I did once.

Lots of associations with the Westfield/Mayville exit. Jay lives in Mayville now. And of course that is the exit for Chautauqua. Many stories there.

And then there is Westfield. A bunch of us had sailed from Erie to Barcelona Harbor. There was a restaurant in Westfield which, again, served all the lobster you could eat and we ate and drank well. Another memorable headache for me and it wasn't the lobster. One of the men in the fleet had had a financial problem with the owner of the restaurant. After the 15 or so of us had eaten, we left. That's how he collected on his bill.

The Thruway holds lots of memories for me. Helps during the long drive.

Sunday morning at BCF

Dawn and time to pack the car and get on the road.

The concert was inspiring.

A regret expressed last year was that we meet people we learn to love yet may never see again. I had that problem last year and was surprised, pleasantly, in Montreal. In Sheffield I met some people with whom I have sung but had never conversed and would like to continue the conversations. Yea. Many "new" and "old" friends will also attend the 4th week in 2010. I'm already excited about next year.

So now it is back to reality. I came home to a trashed shed. The raccoons figured out how to open the door. Fortunately I was almost out of birdseed so they didn't get much reward for overturning the three garbage cans. I didn't appreciate the destroyed floor lamp or the general mess they left. I'll do more damage assessment tomorrow. The doors are tied together now.

All five cats greeted me. That was nice.

Friday morning at BCF

The composer of Dear Mrs. Parks, Hannibal Lokumbe, and the arranger of several of our smaller pieces, Pamela Warrick-Smith, arrived last evening. Hannibal talked to us about his experiences which inspire his music.

Hannibal Lokumbe, Philip Brunelle and Trudy Weaver Miller.

During the rehearsal, there was a rather lengthy thunderstorm storm which killed the lights over the choir and orchestra in the shed. I'm surprised the camera caught any detail.

We moved to the audience space where we could read by the emergency lighting.

This morning we awoke to dense fog.

But the lights were fixed and we could get on with the business of preparing a concert.

Thursday at BCF

There was a nasty thunderstorm tonight which killed the lights above the choir in the shed. Exciting. That and a bit disorganization made the evening rehearsal with soloists a bit frazzling and frazzled. The mezzo soloist is awesome. The soprano and bass are longtime BCF soloists. They are great too but the mezzo sang black - if you will permit me to use that word. It was inspiring.

At this point I would be worried about the confidence of the chorus. There are some really nasty entrances. But I think it will all come together with the orchestra - unlike more classical works.

The mosquitoes are ruling the shed however. I inhaled, coughed up and swallowed one tonight. Not fun. I must have a dozen itchy places and they won't stop itching for a week or more. Ugh.

Otherwise it was a quiet day. The gals going to see the Capitol Steps tomorrow found another driver so I decided to skip the rather steep expense and watch the orchestra rehearsal instead.

Wednesday at BCF

We have now been thru all the music. Most is amazingly redundant but that is the nature of Gospel music as it is an oral tradition.

I was waiting for the van to pick me up to go to Naumkeag when a friend wandered by and took my picture with the sign that points to the Berkshire School dorms. I'm in Eipper which you can see behind me.

Some of the photos below will embiggen if you click on them. This is the house.

The view of the Berkshire Hills from the front of the house.

I have no idea what this greenery is but the leaves are HUGE. compare them to my 16 oz water bottle at the bottom of the photo.

Then back for evening rehearsal. These are altos.

And those are sopranos and Kathy doing lip trills.

Mixed emotions

I'm very happy that it looks like D025 will be passed by the HoD as amended by the HoB. I'm very disappointed that our bishop voted with the exclusionists. If this is all gobbledygook to you, don't worry about it. If it is of interest, go to The Lead at Episcopal Cafe and read all about it.

Monday at BCF

We have now been thru most of the first half of the program. The remaining three will be done in sectionals tomorrow. The spirituals are all very different. Makes it fun. Then we start with the second half - Dear Mrs. Parks - which will be more than an hour long unless there are cuts. I didn't listen to it last night. Apparently it scared some folks but they didn't quit.

Today I visited the Berkshire Botanical Garden. The wet weather seems to have caused some problems there. Lots of beetle damage. Perhaps retarded some growth. There is a walk of daylilies some of which I wish I could have borrowed.

The Capitol Steps are in residence up the road in Lenox. Some of us are planning to go Friday night. Tickets are pretty expensive but nothing like Cirque du Soleil. Apparently I'm one of the few who can drive at night. I think they should buy my ticket. LOL.

Still dealing with plastic mattress but may just leave it the way it is. Since I have a private room, there is an extra blanket so I don't need the one I brought on top.

In the Berkshires in SW Massachusetts

Yes, another BCF week. The conductor is Philip Brunelle. You can read more here.

Pleasant drive today. Lots of traffic but no problems. Stopped in the Schenectady area for a short visit with Westminster Choir College classmate Lynn who provided a late lunch. She is a champion quilter. Her quilts are fascinating. It was good to catch up. Unfortunately I didn't get to meet her daughter who was napping or her husband who was at work. Someday...

There are a couple of people here who were in Montreal. Several who were in Vancouver. One gal I met here then at Westminster then here then Vancouver now here again. Some friends I haven't seen for several years. The chorus is very small - 128 or so I think they said. Back to the old days. The private room was a surprise. Lots of space to fill with stuff. LOL. Forgot the foam pad so will have to make a trip to Kmart tomorrow. Meanwhile have the blanket I brought between the plastic mattress and me.

A little frustrated because I can't access Facebook or IM for some reason. FB was ok when I arrived. Weird. I can send email from my windstream account and that is an improvement.

Am about to fall asleep. Up at 4:30 which is when I'm sometimes just falling asleep lately.

Photo posting

Photos from BCF Montreal 2009 are here.

Photos from our annual July birthdays party are here.

Friday shuffle

1. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals
2. Black Sheep - Concordia Choir
3. Set Me as a Seal - Trinity Choir
4. Haydn: Die Schöpfung - Colin Davis
5. Big Girls Don't Cry - Frankie Valli and Four Seasons
6. Amazing Grace - Judy Collins
7. Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman
8. Guiliani: Guitar Concerto 1 in A - Pepe Romero
9. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Stefan Scaggian Trio
10. Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney
Not taking time to find vids. Sorry. Will resume in a couple of weeks.

Friday cat blogging

As taken thru the door, PuddyTat and Dudie avoid Jellico while heading for breakfast.

12:34:56 7/8/9

Here in NW PA we just passed 12:34:56 7/8/9.

Ears

As many of you know, I had surgery to replace the bones in my ears 20 years ago. Lately I have been having problems understanding speech especially in church and last week in Montreal. It isn't a matter of volume. I can "hear" noise. I'm having trouble discriminating sounds. Background noises are intruding more than they used to. Hearing aid users know exactly what I'm talking about.

Well, I'm thrilled to get an appointment at Eye & Ear in Pittsburgh for 22 July. I expected to have to wait until sometime in the fall. I won't mind having hearing aids if that will help. I hate the embarrassment of having to ask a person to repeat. I don't understand people who, for cosmetic reasons, refuse to wear a hearing aid. Trying to communicate with them is frustrating for others. I'm sure several folks have felt that way about me lately. I hope there is a solution which will last another 20 years at least!

Welcoming committee

It was nice to be welcomed home by Tommie, PuddyTat and Tim.

I'm living in a little jungle

but it has pretty spots thanks to lilies.

Roommates

It's a Shell(e)y thing...

Home

In case you are curious and not on Facebook.

Later Friday in Montreal

Julian Wachner has a whole new fan club. Wow! He's wonderful! The men were a disappointment but he tried.

What a banner!
The chancel of St John the Baptist, Montreal.

The organ.

The lights reminded us of pearl necklaces.

We rehearsed every evening except Wednesday when we got home in daylight. Shelly and I were surprised to see the lights in the city after Cirque.

Friday morning in Montreal

The penultimate day at BCF is always pretty busy, especially if there are plans for the evening. The day began with a choral rehearsal in Église St.-Jean-Baptiste which is a very large barn of a place. We were greeted with a huge poster outside like those advertising an exhibit at an art museum. Also saw an ad in the Metro. I doubt I will get around to posting photos maybe until I get home. It took some shuffling and last minute bleacher seats to get everyone organized but eventually I ended up where I wanted to be. The gal on my right ear is not easy to sing beside but I can deal. I'm glad I didn't have to sit next to one of the gals I sat with in Vancouver and the lady behind me ports slightly like she is used to country music. As long as I have my favorite alto on my left ear, I'm happy.

At lunchtime Shelly and I found a place called Wok and Roll and ate outside. Inexpensive, filling and good.

The afternoon brought the orchestra and soloists. The bass soloist had a bit of difficulty with the ending of one recit and the men were raggedy but otherwise it went pretty well. The conductor cut the organ from one movement and had some difficulty with the camera setup which was fixed at break. He is an organist so he knew what stops needed to be used. The orgel is a huge thing in the back gallery. I know nothing about it.

During the break two of the altos' bleacher seats collapsed because they weren't locked in place. We learned later that one woman was injured but we know nothing more. My vocal folds were so coated with mucus that I had no idea what was going to come out of my mouth. I need to work on that this afternoon so I can really sing tonight. Probably need to drink lots more water today. Which means lots more time for something else. grump.

The evening was spectacular. We rode the Metro then walked down to the river for Cirque du Soleis. That is a very interesting setup. A huge complicated tent structure that takes a week to set up. When it is removed, an usher told us they find tons of popcorn. LOL. The program was Ovo - about bugs. My favorite part was a slinky-like worm-like thing but the trampoline and wall were fascinating. I sat there with my mouth gaping like a little kid. It was fun. Bette and her mother were there so the four of us took a cab back.

Today we have dress rehearsal in the morning and the afternoon "free". Ha. The afternoon is for shoving everything back in the car except concert and travelling clothes, music, computer and the coffee pot and for going over those nasty bits of music plus, if possible, a nap. We are grateful for buses to take us to the church tonight. It is about a 20 minute walk.

After the concert a party at which we usually roast the conductor tho we did not do so in Vancouver. Wine and beer flow and there are usually lots of hugs and goodbyes till next year. In Austria the party prefaced a miserable next day for me. I'm praying that is not repeated and don't think it will but I'm wary. If it does, it could be the misery of parting again for an unknown period.

I haven't talked to anyone who is also going to Sheffield the first week tho I'll admit I haven't talked to as many people as usual this week, mostly because we don't eat together except a brief breakfast. I'm looking forward to the meals at Sheffield. They are a great time to meet ew people and reestablish old summer friendships. The meals in Austria were together but not here or in Vancouver. That to me is a disadvantage.

Don't know if I will blog later. Will try to do so when I get home tomorrow but don't hold your breath. I need to sleep sometime and haven't done much of that here.

Friday shuffle from Montreal

1. Lonesome River - Here today
2. Mozart: Ach Ich Fulds - Maya Wirz
3. Walton: Where does the uttered music go? - Trinity Choir
4. Rheinberger: Mass, Credo - Phoenix Bach Choir
5. Breaking up is Hard to do - Neil Sedaka
6. Berlin: Blue Skies - Chanticleer
7. Looking for Love - J. Geils Band
8. He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler
9. Mister, Can't You See? - Buffy Sainte-Marie
10. Light My Fire - José Feliciano

Friday cat blogging on Thursday from Montreal

This fellow crossed my path yesterday and allowed me to take his photo. He disappeared thru a hole in a fence. Today on the way home I told Shelly that I had seen a cat there. Lo and behold, there he was peeking out of the fence hole watching everyone go by.