I went caroling for the first time the other day, I've never done it before. We went to a nursing home with some women front he local library and a number of young Catholics. My singing teacher played the piano, her mother; the violin and my other friend her guitar. We had not practiced at all, so we were just making it up as we went along, it made me a little nervous, and when I'm nervous the edges of my mouth (which unfornuately is what I'm usually using in these moments) starts to twitch, which adds embarrassment to the nerves!
I've never been to a nursing home without visiting a relative. I'm so bad at talking to old people because they're usually deaf or not-all-there and I really don't know what to say half the time lol! One of my friends works in a nursing home, so it was interesting to watch her interact, she's so gentle too. Mum says to just patter on to them. My friend's mum said it took her while to know what to do, it just seems to take practice really.
I'm glad I got to do a good deed this Christmas ^_^
Showing posts with label singing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label singing. Show all posts
Friday, 16 December 2011
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Allelujia - Magnus Dominum
Ages ago, before I knew was Gregorian Chant was about, my Dad brought me "The best Gregorian Chant Album in the WOrld...ever". I listen to my iTunes on shuffle so it comes up occasionally. I just heard the Allelujia - Magnus Dominum. Wow! It's so beautiful, the way it flows reminds me of waves lapping on the shore. I found the score for it too.It reminded me of how beauty draws us to the truth. Because I found it so beautiful, I had to look it up (or find the truth!) and traslate it. "Lord is great and greatly to be praised in the city of God in the holy mount." I know...Google translate :P I couldn't help but imagine it being sung in heaven, and desiring heaven that little bit more, so I think that's the goodness bit.
At the moment, I'm watching Mum being drawn to the Church by it's beauty. She even admitted today, in her own way, that she agrees with the Church's stance on women priests. I'm so overjoyed for her, I really hope this is the doorway that she steps through to find the goodness and truth within.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Eve of The Ordinations and Profession
As I write it's a cold and rainy night (in the height of summer!) and I'm snuggled up in my bed. Today I spent nearly the whole day out of the house and in the Catholic community. I can really feel the excitement level rising! Priests, seminarians and lay people are beginning to arrive. One girl who has come up to fill a soloist role in our cathedral choir mentioned she recognised several Catholics, including a priest, on her flight alone.
Stress levels are rising too. Our choir director at the cathedral was very tense, hard not to be with all the divas around! One woman behind me wouldn't stop with the passive-aggressive comments, and the terrible singing (as if she was in her death-bed) in my ear. However, the real highlight was the arrival of our male cantor who practiced a communion verse, and did it so beautifully my skin broke out in goosebumps. It was a take on the Magnificant, but tailored for a male voice, and he was angelic! I was amazed that the four young people thee, including him, spent their time practicing and the over 50s wouldn't stop whinging. I really hope we stay like this as we get older so we can just get on with the worship of our Father and Creator, rather than turning it into an ego-fest!
My poor friend (and other choir director) is stressed as well. She keeps having nightmares about the choir going terribly wrong (always due to some people who don't turn up for practice). She's really been banging her head against a wall trying to deal with them. Tomorrow she's going to be asking for an explanation for why they weren't there for the final practice, which really stuffed us around because we couldn't practice the drone for the Kyrie. On top of all this the organ she's used to working with has broken last minute, so we may have to do a lot of it unaccompanied. Oh, pray for us, St Cecilia!
I really can't wait for tomorrow! I'm going to record the Masses and I'll see if I can put up the highlights. It should be spectacular!
Stress levels are rising too. Our choir director at the cathedral was very tense, hard not to be with all the divas around! One woman behind me wouldn't stop with the passive-aggressive comments, and the terrible singing (as if she was in her death-bed) in my ear. However, the real highlight was the arrival of our male cantor who practiced a communion verse, and did it so beautifully my skin broke out in goosebumps. It was a take on the Magnificant, but tailored for a male voice, and he was angelic! I was amazed that the four young people thee, including him, spent their time practicing and the over 50s wouldn't stop whinging. I really hope we stay like this as we get older so we can just get on with the worship of our Father and Creator, rather than turning it into an ego-fest!
My poor friend (and other choir director) is stressed as well. She keeps having nightmares about the choir going terribly wrong (always due to some people who don't turn up for practice). She's really been banging her head against a wall trying to deal with them. Tomorrow she's going to be asking for an explanation for why they weren't there for the final practice, which really stuffed us around because we couldn't practice the drone for the Kyrie. On top of all this the organ she's used to working with has broken last minute, so we may have to do a lot of it unaccompanied. Oh, pray for us, St Cecilia!
I really can't wait for tomorrow! I'm going to record the Masses and I'll see if I can put up the highlights. It should be spectacular!
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Near-final Practice
This is one our last practices before the ordination night. We're sounding pretty good. I was having problems with "Veni Creator Spiritus", but I feel a lot more confident in the choir, I just need to practice the Latin and placement of the words (it seems a little random sometimes).
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| The team |
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Singing
As I've mentioned, I'm singing in a couple of choirs at the moment. It's been interesting and challenging because I'm new to both singing and the Catholic Church (I was baptised in 2009), so I'm not very familiar with a lot of even basic hymns. It's especially awkward when everyone knows "Salve Regina" off by heart and you still have your head buried in the sheet music.
I'm involved in two choirs on the same day. The first is for the First Profession of one of our young Carmelite Nuns. We'll be chanting the "Cum Jubilo" setting (as it's the feast of the Immaculate Conception), and the entrance and communion antiphons and then singing "Ubi Cartias" and "O Sanctissima" by Kevin Allen. It's separated into three parts and I'll be in the alto section. My very talented friend/singing teacher is directing it, she's been very helpful, I feel a lot less lost when she's around.
The other choir is for the Cathedral and we'll be singing for the ordinations of three men into the priesthood that night. I can't wait! We're going to par-tay! But the music for it is beautiful also, a lot of Marian hymns, like "Immaculate Mary" and "Sing to Mary" (my favourite) and the usual ordination hymns, such as "Tu Es Sacredos" and "O God of All Creation". It's funny because I recognised "O God of all Creation" from Holst's Planets Suite, rather than as a hymn.The only I really don't like about it is the choir loft politics. You've got a couple of people who have been there for decades and can't really sing properly anyway, but then they turn into divas (loud divas!) just because they've been there for ages. Then there's the old ladies who who all sing like opera-singers, therefore you can't hear the words of sacred prayers, properly. Even worse, there's the people who bad-mouth the bishop loudly, that annoys me the most because he does the best liturgy and I think they resent having to actually work harder, which is essentially working for the worship of God.
Other than all that I've been having a great time and learning so much. I can't wait for the big night!
I'm involved in two choirs on the same day. The first is for the First Profession of one of our young Carmelite Nuns. We'll be chanting the "Cum Jubilo" setting (as it's the feast of the Immaculate Conception), and the entrance and communion antiphons and then singing "Ubi Cartias" and "O Sanctissima" by Kevin Allen. It's separated into three parts and I'll be in the alto section. My very talented friend/singing teacher is directing it, she's been very helpful, I feel a lot less lost when she's around.
The other choir is for the Cathedral and we'll be singing for the ordinations of three men into the priesthood that night. I can't wait! We're going to par-tay! But the music for it is beautiful also, a lot of Marian hymns, like "Immaculate Mary" and "Sing to Mary" (my favourite) and the usual ordination hymns, such as "Tu Es Sacredos" and "O God of All Creation". It's funny because I recognised "O God of all Creation" from Holst's Planets Suite, rather than as a hymn.The only I really don't like about it is the choir loft politics. You've got a couple of people who have been there for decades and can't really sing properly anyway, but then they turn into divas (loud divas!) just because they've been there for ages. Then there's the old ladies who who all sing like opera-singers, therefore you can't hear the words of sacred prayers, properly. Even worse, there's the people who bad-mouth the bishop loudly, that annoys me the most because he does the best liturgy and I think they resent having to actually work harder, which is essentially working for the worship of God.
Other than all that I've been having a great time and learning so much. I can't wait for the big night!
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Litany of St. Cecilia
Super cool! (from the Chant Cafe)
Litany of St. Cecilia
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, wise virgin, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, whose heart burned with the fire of Divine love, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, apostle by thy zeal and charity, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who converted thy spouse and procured for him the crown of Martyrdom, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy pleadings moved the hearts of pagans, and brought them into the true Church,
Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst unceasingly see thy guardian Angel by thy side, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst mingle thy voice with the celestial harmonies of the virgins, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy melodious accents celebrated the praises of Jesus, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, illustrious Martyr of Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who during three days dist suffer most excruciating torments, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, consolation of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, protectress of all who invoke thee, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, patroness of holy canticles, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, special patroness and advocate of all singers, musicians, authors, and students, Pray for us.
We salute thee, O Virgin, who didst give thy blood for the defense and faith of Jesus Christ.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
God glorified Saint Cecilia,
And He crowned her virtues.
Let us pray: O Eternal God, Who didst give us, in the person of Saint Cecilia, a powerful protectress, grant that after having faithfully passed our days, like herself, in innocence and holiness, we may one day attain the land of beatitude, where in concert with her, we may praise Thee and bless Thee forevermore in eternity. Amen.
Litany of St. Cecilia
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, wise virgin, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, whose heart burned with the fire of Divine love, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, apostle by thy zeal and charity, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who converted thy spouse and procured for him the crown of Martyrdom, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy pleadings moved the hearts of pagans, and brought them into the true Church,
Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst unceasingly see thy guardian Angel by thy side, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst mingle thy voice with the celestial harmonies of the virgins, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy melodious accents celebrated the praises of Jesus, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, illustrious Martyr of Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who during three days dist suffer most excruciating torments, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, consolation of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, protectress of all who invoke thee, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, patroness of holy canticles, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, special patroness and advocate of all singers, musicians, authors, and students, Pray for us.
We salute thee, O Virgin, who didst give thy blood for the defense and faith of Jesus Christ.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
God glorified Saint Cecilia,
And He crowned her virtues.
Let us pray: O Eternal God, Who didst give us, in the person of Saint Cecilia, a powerful protectress, grant that after having faithfully passed our days, like herself, in innocence and holiness, we may one day attain the land of beatitude, where in concert with her, we may praise Thee and bless Thee forevermore in eternity. Amen.
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