Todo...I don't think we are at Ave anymore

This past friday was the annual Christmas Concert at the Seminary. The concert was a marvelous success, and included the Detroit Sinfonietta (a small string orchestra). The theme of the evening's concert was Christmas Throughout the Ages, encompassing the musical tradition of the Church over the past 2000 years.

The evening began with the SHMS Chant Schola chanting the ancient propers of Christmas. The SHMS Choir (of which I am part) then processed in singing the traditional advent hymn Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, and continued with selections of early polyphonic works from the High Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. The evening concluded with Baroque pieces from Handel, Mozart and Bach as well as some modern pieces including one written by one of our own seminarians.

While I enjoyed the evening immensly...I could not help by reminisce about what I missed about Ave Concerts.

• There was no wisecracking caterwalling Louise constantly demanding a solo...which she often would do whether or not the song called for one.


• The coke-addicted Mel was not there making faces at me throughout practice causing me to loose composure.


• While there were no Sopranos or Altos, there were plenty of Tenors (1st and 2nds), which was a pleasant change...since I did not have to stress my voice, and I could hide my loud voice among the better ones.


• I actually had a voice this year...God is good.


• Mrs. Fedoryka was not there poking and prodding me like some sort of unrully pillow in order to correct my posture...making me feel like a scarecrow on a stake.
  
• The concert took place two weeks before finals...so even though the pre-concert madness was there, it was not the pre-concert madness of Ave which was only increased by the pressure and madness of finals...as they always coincided.


• And last but not least...I was singing for strangers rather than my dear friends at Ave.