We now join the holiday spirit, already in progress
Oh it is wondrous what a difference vacation makes for me! I do love school but I have worked and worked and worked at being a good student and now - I am glad to be done with being a student for a bit.
This weekend was a splendid start to my Christmas holiday because I spent time with every one of my siblings as well as my mom, dad, kids, many of my good friends and my sweetheart. I got to go to a Christmas concert in Boulder, have an overnight sleepover party with mom/brother/sisters, work a holiday party at the boutique downtown, enjoy a friend-filled graduation party for our dear lenaen as well as give and get my first Christmas present (a beautiful citrine and white-gold ring made for me by Jme).
All in all, I have been reborn into Christmas cheer. I've remembered what it's like to enjoy the leisurely company of lovely people and children, to clean and organize and decorate my house, to laugh and talk and eat well all without thought of hurry or homework. It's lovely and I'm going to be quite happy indulging in my Christmas vacation for a while.
So! Modest goals for a quiet vacation: first, more music in my life - specifically the classical and religious music that inevitably takes a backseat to other, more energetic but prosaic popular music of my every day. Second, the economy being what it is this year there are a few causes I want to help above and beyond the usual charities I support. Third: Courtney, my children and my dad will be getting quite a bit of my attention. Lastly, I'll keep up with my work responsibilities as well as my commitment to being an artist.
Join me?
_________________________
Caroling for Cans
6:00pm - 9:00pm Thursday (12/17/09)
Wash Park Tavern
1066 S Gaylord St
Denver, CO 80209
Let's get together and do some Christmas caroling. Not the old stuffy Christmas caroling but the happy hour, boom box, sing along, spirit fingers type of caroling. We will be caroling for canned goods to donate to The Food Bank of the Rockies. Good times and a good cause; it's a win-win, people. We will be starting the evening at the Wash Park Tavern for happy hour/liquid courage and to get prepared for ridiculousness. Santa hats or reindeer antlers are required and anything that lights up is a bonus. Feel free to bring any musical instruments to help spruce up the party such as tambourines, triangles, cowbells etc. We'll bring the boom box, a mixed tape, and the wagon for the cans.
Free Event. (Click here for more information)
_________________________
Noël nouvelet
7:30pm-9:30pm Friday (12/18/ 2009)
St. John's Episcopal Cathedral
1350 Washington Street
Denver, CO 80203
Two of Colorado's premier classical-music ensembles, St. Martin's Chamber Choir and the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, join forces for "Noël nouvelet" a special holiday concert. The program features the Messe de Menuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve) by the Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier, featuring vocal soloists, choir, and orchestra. The composer ingeniously set the words of the Mass to popular French Noël tunes, which were as well known in 17th-century France as favorite Christmas carols are today. To complement this rarely performed gem from the Baroque era, the groups will also perform rustic Noël arrangements and a motet for Christmas by Charpentier. In addition, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra will perform Arcangelo Corelli's popular Christmas Concerto (composed for Christmas Eve), while St. Martin's will perform a set of Noel-inspired choral works ranging from the 15th to 21st century.
Charge for admission - beware this if you're not a student. (Click here for more information)
_________________________
And then there's my very most anticipated event:
Sing-along performance of Handel's Messiah
The Boulder Messiah Chorale and Orchestra
7:00 pm Saturday or Sunday (12/19 and 12/20)
St. John's Episcopal Church
1419 Pine Street
Boulder, CO 80302
The Boulder Messiah Chorale and Orchestra has performed Handel's Messiah every year since 1983, under the leadership of Robert Arentz. The performances are community "sing-alongs," with professional soloists and with an amateur chorus to provide a core of support for the singing. The sing-along was founded on a principle of openness - everyone is welcome in the choir, and everyone is welcome in the performance. As an audience member you are not required to sing, but you are certainly invited to sing.
$15 charge at the door. (Click here for more information)
FYI The attendees are usually separated into traditional choir parts inside the church. I'm an alto and would be more than happy to share a copy of Schirmer's edition.
This weekend was a splendid start to my Christmas holiday because I spent time with every one of my siblings as well as my mom, dad, kids, many of my good friends and my sweetheart. I got to go to a Christmas concert in Boulder, have an overnight sleepover party with mom/brother/sisters, work a holiday party at the boutique downtown, enjoy a friend-filled graduation party for our dear lenaen as well as give and get my first Christmas present (a beautiful citrine and white-gold ring made for me by Jme).
All in all, I have been reborn into Christmas cheer. I've remembered what it's like to enjoy the leisurely company of lovely people and children, to clean and organize and decorate my house, to laugh and talk and eat well all without thought of hurry or homework. It's lovely and I'm going to be quite happy indulging in my Christmas vacation for a while.
So! Modest goals for a quiet vacation: first, more music in my life - specifically the classical and religious music that inevitably takes a backseat to other, more energetic but prosaic popular music of my every day. Second, the economy being what it is this year there are a few causes I want to help above and beyond the usual charities I support. Third: Courtney, my children and my dad will be getting quite a bit of my attention. Lastly, I'll keep up with my work responsibilities as well as my commitment to being an artist.
Join me?
_________________________
Caroling for Cans
6:00pm - 9:00pm Thursday (12/17/09)
Wash Park Tavern
1066 S Gaylord St
Denver, CO 80209
Let's get together and do some Christmas caroling. Not the old stuffy Christmas caroling but the happy hour, boom box, sing along, spirit fingers type of caroling. We will be caroling for canned goods to donate to The Food Bank of the Rockies. Good times and a good cause; it's a win-win, people. We will be starting the evening at the Wash Park Tavern for happy hour/liquid courage and to get prepared for ridiculousness. Santa hats or reindeer antlers are required and anything that lights up is a bonus. Feel free to bring any musical instruments to help spruce up the party such as tambourines, triangles, cowbells etc. We'll bring the boom box, a mixed tape, and the wagon for the cans.
Free Event. (Click here for more information)
_________________________
Noël nouvelet
7:30pm-9:30pm Friday (12/18/ 2009)
St. John's Episcopal Cathedral
1350 Washington Street
Denver, CO 80203
Two of Colorado's premier classical-music ensembles, St. Martin's Chamber Choir and the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, join forces for "Noël nouvelet" a special holiday concert. The program features the Messe de Menuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve) by the Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier, featuring vocal soloists, choir, and orchestra. The composer ingeniously set the words of the Mass to popular French Noël tunes, which were as well known in 17th-century France as favorite Christmas carols are today. To complement this rarely performed gem from the Baroque era, the groups will also perform rustic Noël arrangements and a motet for Christmas by Charpentier. In addition, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra will perform Arcangelo Corelli's popular Christmas Concerto (composed for Christmas Eve), while St. Martin's will perform a set of Noel-inspired choral works ranging from the 15th to 21st century.
Charge for admission - beware this if you're not a student. (Click here for more information)
_________________________
And then there's my very most anticipated event:
Sing-along performance of Handel's Messiah
The Boulder Messiah Chorale and Orchestra
7:00 pm Saturday or Sunday (12/19 and 12/20)
St. John's Episcopal Church
1419 Pine Street
Boulder, CO 80302
The Boulder Messiah Chorale and Orchestra has performed Handel's Messiah every year since 1983, under the leadership of Robert Arentz. The performances are community "sing-alongs," with professional soloists and with an amateur chorus to provide a core of support for the singing. The sing-along was founded on a principle of openness - everyone is welcome in the choir, and everyone is welcome in the performance. As an audience member you are not required to sing, but you are certainly invited to sing.
$15 charge at the door. (Click here for more information)
FYI The attendees are usually separated into traditional choir parts inside the church. I'm an alto and would be more than happy to share a copy of Schirmer's edition.