Husband and I had the pleasure of attending Middle Child's high school choir concert last evening. It was a showcase of all the district's choirs, including seven different chorale groups, an elite jazz band and a singing/dancing troupe. What I love most about our school's music department is that they always give us great variety and are not afraid to perform difficult pieces. Every other spring, they take a trip to NYC to sing at St. John the Divine Cathedral. Middle Child will go her senior year when she is in Madrigal Choir (and I will hopefully get to be a chaperone). This year they will be performing Bloch's Sacred Service, which I believe is entirely in Hebrew.
Last night was no exception. We heard a negro spiritual, Mozart's Ave verum Corpus, a South American song Tres Cantos Nativos Sos Indios Krao featuring the kids doing bird calls, and Husband's personal favorite, What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor. The evening concluded with a combined performance of all the groups up on stage (over 400 voices), singing The Rhythm of Life. It was especially thrilling for me to hear, as I remember performing the same version of that song from the musical "Sweet Charity" back in about 1977 when I was in my junior high choir. I don't think I've heard the song in over 30 years, so it was cool that I could remember the lyrics once they got going. I've been humming it all day! I found this video on youtube; you can't get the full effect of 400 singing it, but maybe you will recognize the song if you were ever in choir.
Last night was no exception. We heard a negro spiritual, Mozart's Ave verum Corpus, a South American song Tres Cantos Nativos Sos Indios Krao featuring the kids doing bird calls, and Husband's personal favorite, What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor. The evening concluded with a combined performance of all the groups up on stage (over 400 voices), singing The Rhythm of Life. It was especially thrilling for me to hear, as I remember performing the same version of that song from the musical "Sweet Charity" back in about 1977 when I was in my junior high choir. I don't think I've heard the song in over 30 years, so it was cool that I could remember the lyrics once they got going. I've been humming it all day! I found this video on youtube; you can't get the full effect of 400 singing it, but maybe you will recognize the song if you were ever in choir.
As a former choir girl, this transports me! I'd be one of those girl in the back row, a tall alto who loved hearing all the voices melting together.
ReplyDeleteoh rats, it says the video is no longer available.
ReplyDeleteit sounds like it was a wonderful evening though. it's so great to hear all the efforts from the kids come to such an artistic fruition.
Well, it sounds like yer girl is singin' at a pretty high level! Good for her!
ReplyDeleteAnd I won't even mention that you were in jr. hi the year I got my BS degree. . .
And, uh, my WordVer is 'fecides'. Which sounds like killing manure, or something. . .
FADKOG - Tall second soprano here. I sometimes notice my daughter not singing when she's up on stage, and I know it's because she's listening to the harmony and loving it.
ReplyDeleteLime - Not sure why it's not working for you?
Desmond - You're not THAT much older than me!
Very cool. I have similar feelinsg about watching my kids in band.
ReplyDeleteCitizen - Isn't it fun to see your kids enjoy the same thing you used to? Kind of like watching the Brady Bunch together!
ReplyDelete