I am feeling sad because it's time to drop out of the Notre Dame Repertory Choir. I cannot sing in the April 19 performance because we are going to witness little Alex's baptism that weekend. That may be just as well because the music is very challenging and I would really hate to be the alto who sings the wrong rhythm or the wrong pitch or the wrong vowel sound. This is one excellent and demanding group.
The Britten piece has alto lines that go from a low E to a high g. I lip-sync some phrases! The Ralph-Vaughn Williams has an eight part chorus with soloists and if I am not able to be at the performance, the student conductor needs to know how to assign parts. Carmen, the professor, told me not to sing loudly on my alto 2 part in chorus 2--and I said that I never dare sing loudly in this group!
The joy of singing with the Repertory Choir has been the challenge of sight-reading and the fun of blending my ordinary choir voice with those who truly have beautiful solo voices. But the sadness of singing is that sometimes the challenge is beyond my abilities and I don't want to hold anyone back.
I'll visit one more time before we leave for the east coast just to listen to how it all gets put together--and to bring a home-baked treat. That seems to have been greatly appreciated. In fact, one of the student conductors said that next year they may make it a requirement of any community member who auditions.
Another joy has been getting to know some of the students and attending their performances. I have felt a motherly pride in their MFA recitals and concerts. I probably went to more events this year than ever before for that reason--and have been really blessed by the music I have heard.
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