Greetings Everyone,
Happy Winter Solstice and Happy New Year! This time of year always encourages reflection, contemplation and resolution. I am continually grateful to be able to do what I love for a living and am constantly reminded of how important music is for the human spirit to endure and thrive. These past years have proven just how much we need music and the arts in all forms, and I am eager to embark on a new calendar year of music making with you all.
My plan for the January 6 playing session is to ring in the new year with seasonal pieces that I love and have patiently been waiting to hear played live at our meetings! We’ll start with the lovely Danish hymn: Vær Velkommen Herrens År roughly translated as “We Welcome you, Year of the Lord”. Some of you may remember playing along with my pre-recorded files last January and I thought it would be nice to start with everyone playing together in the large group. After that Laura will whisk folks who prefer a smaller group off to the “backroom”.
The large group will continue with one of my favorite four-part motets by Palestrina from 1604, ‘Sicut Cervus desiderat ad fontes.’ Then, true to tradition, we’ll play Charles Coldwell’s wonderful six-part arrangement of the lovely Andante Festivo by Jean Sibelius, originally scored for string orchestra, broadcast live on January 1, 1939 to a worldwide audience. We’ll end the evening on a festive note with Jan Pieterzoon Sweelinck’s Hodie Christus Natus est.
I look forward to seeing you again, and as always, please don’t hesitate to email me or any other board member with questions, feedback, or comments. May good health, hope, happiness, harmony, and humor flow abundantly for us all in the coming year.
Pdfs of the music and Link to the Zoom session will magically appear in your inboxes no later than January 2.
In person attendees:
Please plan to arrive in the sanctuary of Maple Leaf Lutheran Church with enough time to unpack and get settled so we can start promptly at 7:00 pm. Send Vicki an email no later than Wednesday prior to the Friday meeting with your intent to come and desired part. If you want to join Laura Townsend with the Back Room Gang, please email her (beginbaroque@gmail.com) as well. If you have previously attended in person and already sent me proof of vaccination, there is no need to do so again. If this is your first time attending in person, please read and comply with our safety protocols.