Wedding Schedule Updated

For the 2019-20 St. Mary's Cathedral Choir year, we have already eight weddings on the schedule. You can view the wedding schedule here, and the wedding group assignment here.

Fall Schedule

Dear Choir!

I hope everyone is having a restful summer. This coming Thursday is the Dormition of the Theotokos. I hope as many of you that can will come to Vespers (6:15 pm on Wednesday) and Liturgy (9 am on Thursday) for the feast. 

This coming Sunday, August 18, the male choir will sing divine liturgy at the cathedral. So, sopranos and altos, make note: you have this Sunday off from singing. Of course, there's also the 8:30 am liturgy at the cemetery chapel, which you (female singers) are most welcome to attend and sing for. 

Please note!!! Saturday, August 31 we have a wedding at 3 PM (not at 2 PM like originally scheduled). Group 1 is scheduled to sing. 

Our rehearsals resume on Wednesday, September 4. 

Things to have on your choir calendar for this upcoming fall and into winter: 

1. Wednesday, September 4. Rehearsals resume.

2. Saturday, September 28. Taste of Northeast Concert, 3:30 pm.

3. Saturday, October 5, 9 am. Byzantine Festival Workshop, 9 am.

4. Sunday, October 6, 5 pm. Byzantine Festival Concert 5 pm.

5. Wednesday, October 9. Annual Choir Meeting, 7 pm.

6. Saturday, December 7. Advent Concert 7 pm. 

7. Sunday, December 8. Heirarchical Divine Liturgy 8:30 am. 

8. Friday, December 13. TMORA Concert, time TBD. 

This coming November the Basilica Choir and MEOCCA Choir are collaborating to sing the Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil. If you have interest in this (and I encourage you to, especially if you've never sung this work before) please contact Sara Ann Pogorely (saraann.pogorely@gmail.com).

Finally, about our recording this past spring. Just this past Friday I received from Doug, our recording engineer, the edited and mixed audio files. I'll still have go through these with a fine-tooth comb, but I can say from what I listened to everything sounds wonderful. There'll more information on this in the near future. 

Deacon Gregory

Male Choir Liturgy

On Sunday August 18 the male choir will sing the Divine Liturgy at the cathedral. Male singers - if you'd like to sing, please attend the special rehearsal on Wednesday, August 14 after Great Vespers (approximately 7 pm). Female singers - you have the Sunday off from singing. Or, of course, you're more than welcome to sing at the 8:30 am liturgy at the cemetery chapel that morning. Tanya Dmowski would be happy to have you I'm sure!

Male singers. It's really important that you attend rehearsal on Wednesday, August 14. There are a few new pieces that we'll be introducing into the male repertoire for liturgy. Also, I ask that everyone arrive at the cathedral at 8:30 am on Sunday, August 18 to warmup and re-acquaint ourselves with some of the new repertoire. I'm very much looking forward to directing you!

Happy July

Happy July! I hope summer is going well for everyone. The sight singing class on Wednesdays is moving right along and there are about ten people or so attending. We are learning a lot and having fund doing it. We'll continue this Wednesday focusing (hopefully) more on simply sight reading through music. Please consider coming!

On Sunday, August 18 the male choir will sing at the cathedral. In preparation for this liturgy we'll have one rehearsal on Wednesday, August 14 after Great Vespers. So, male singers, please make note of this! Female singers, enjoy the Sunday off.

Below is a reflection on the potential positive effects of music on people who struggle with stress, addiction, mental instability, and music's benefits on contemporary society at large. Maria Sheehan from St. Tikhon's Seminary really raises some interesting points and it's worth reading.

We live in a VERY unusual time, in terms of the human experience. 

For millennia, even as civilized humans, we were hungry, and we were naked, and we were oppressed (or imprisoned). But for most modern societies those are no longer our major obstacles. Materially, modern societies are extremely wealthy. Even the poorest Americans are radically more privileged than any other humans at any other time in human history. Things we take for granted—clean water, sanitation, indoor climate control, basic medical care, basic human rights, a steady (even indulgent) food supply, refrigeration, agricultural and manufacturing machinery, comfortable and fast transportation, sufficient artificial lighting, even window screens and glass—all would be unimaginable luxuries to humans from any other age, even as recently as the nineteenth century. Of course, poverty and homelessness are still present and as terrible as they ever were, the changes in the practical lifestyle of the average westerner in the past two hundred years have been dramatically for the better. And that means that those historical problems of humanity aren’t, in a sense, our problems. So what actually are our problems? 

Depression affects more than one in ten adults in the United States in any given year and is the primary reason why someone dies of suicide about every 13 minutes— over 41,000 people annually. 

Isolation is statistically as significant a risk factor for early death as obesity and smoking. Socially isolated children have significantly poorer health in adulthood. If you’re isolated, you’re twice as likely to die prematurely than someone with an active social life.   

One in every 10 Americans over the age of 12 suffers addiction to alcohol or drugs (that’s roughly equal to the entire population of Texas). Drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990. For nearly all drug addicts, their addictions began before they were 18 years old. This is to say nothing of the more “benign” kinds of addictions, such as screen addiction, pornography, gambling, and countless others. 

Anxiety disorders are the most common kinds of mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults—that’s nearly one out of every 5 Americans in any given year. Panic attacks, PTSD, phobias, social anxiety, and OCD are so common that most of us have someone in our lives who we know suffers from one (or several) of these disorders. 

Purposelessness—Power, pleasure, and pride are the assumed motivating forces behind all advertising and all political and economic movements. Advertising and political discourse tend to get the most media airtime in western culture, and most of us are influenced pretty heavily by those messages. But they pit us against one another, leaving us isolated, suspicious, and dissatisfied. So what can we Christians possibly do to minister to these afflictions? 

It’s interesting that so much of Orthodox Christian worship involves singing. We have to sing in church in order to do our services. But, as is so often true of God’s commandments, it’s not an arbitrary order that we are expected to obey for the sake of obedience. Obeying the commandment serves to actually HEAL us. Music making—and singing in particular—is actually physically, mentally and socially healing. 

The scientific data supporting the powerful physical therapeutic effectiveness of music is compelling. Music stimulates parts of the brain responsible for memory. Music can reduce blood pressure and slow heart rate. Singers’ heartbeats physically align as they sing together. Music can calm the parts of the brain that manage anxiety and stress, and significantly lower anxiety levels. Music making is a highly effective treatment for depression, and is able to improve a patient’s condition without the nearly universal side effects experienced with medications. Music triggers the brain to release dopamine (the same feel-good chemical that opiates, alcohol, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine stimulate the brain to produce). And as a psychological and social medicine, music turns out to be a powerhouse as well. Singing triggers the release of oxytocin in the brain, the hormone associated with intimate bonding and affection, and creates a powerful sense of intimacy between musicians. 

Musicians often (and often easily) experience flow state, and ensemble music-making triggers a social flow state in which many people can share the same ecstatic flow experience, and a subsequently deep connection. Ensemble music making requires a level of cooperation that serves to build social bonds and trust, characteristics essential to a stable society. Listening to music increases empathy and strengthens the social skill of imagining what someone else is thinking. Even just listening to music together—let alone making music together—increases social cohesion in families and peer groups. 

Singing can strengthen, inspire, and give meaning to people in even the darkest of circumstances. (Just consider how my friend wanted to stay in prison, of all places, so that he could sing in a choir.) It can actually heal the body at the same time as it heals the soul. I have to admit that I chose a career in music because I need this medicine as often as I can get it. And all of us suffer, to some degree, from these modern afflictions, even if we’re not carrying the cross of a chronic diagnosis. I think we all need this medicine.   

What if we started offering to the world our singing, our music—the actual medium of our worship— as a carefully crafted medicine for the ills that millions and millions are suffering? What if we realized that God made us able to be addicted not by some cosmic mistake, but so that we would want to come back again and again to this medicine, to this beauty? What heights of joy might we create for the world—and for ourselves, who need it, too—if we determined to make our music as good as it could be, to learn as much as we could, to improve as much as possible, and to keep doing it, to the Glory of God and to comfort His people—all people? And what if everyone began to know that the Orthodox Church was a source for this healing, and that beyond it lies an even greater healing? What then?

(to be continued)

- Talia Maria Sheehan

blogs.ancientfaith.com/musicstand/the-least-of-these-my-brethren/

Wedding this Saturday, May 11

Choir, please remember that tomorrow (Saturday, May 11) there is a wedding at the cathedral. Nathaniel Kostick is marring Emily Redding. The wedding begins at 2 pm, but please arrive no later than 1:45. As is usually the case, we will sing a few things before the wedding.

We wish Nathaniel and Emily many years!

Please don't forget that this coming Wednesday we have our last recording date with Doug Geston. Please arrive at the cathedral at 6:30 pm.

Christ is Risen!

I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Pascha! This past week's services were all so splendid. Thank you for all your hard work, voices and love for the liturgical services.

Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!
Христосъ воскресе!
Хрістос воскрес!
Hristos a înviat! 
Kristus vstal z mŕtvych!
Chrystus zmartwychwstał!
ქრისტე აღსდგა!
Kristus er oppstanden!
Kristus är uppstånden! 
Christus ist auferstanden!
Kristus augšāmcēlies!
Feltámadt Krisztus!
ハリストス復活！

Also, there are many new videos on our Youtube channel that Emily Pilacinski has posted. Please have a look when you get a chance!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZETfaMpsHKv8PAceNhfNoA

 

Rehearsals till Pascha and New Recording Date

Tomorrow will be our second of four rehearsals before Pascha. Even though very few new pieces of music will be introduced for Holy Week and Pascha, it goes without saying that the next three rehearsals are very important. In my experience, one of the biggest challenges for our choir during these long services is focus and endurance. These remaining rehearsals will not only prepare us as to sustain a prayerful and joyful atmosphere, but help keep our focus and stamina. If you were not able to come to last week's rehearsal, the next three rehearsals are mandatory for you if you wish to sing at the midnight service. If you are unable to attend a rehearsal, please let me know.

Next three rehearsals:

Wednesday, April 10, 7 PM
Wednesday, April 17, 7 PM
Tuesday, April 23, 7 PM

As I mentioned previously, our last recording on March 30 went extremely well. The more I listen to what we produced the more I'm impressed. Thank you for all your work thus far.

There are however a few things that we've yet to record: a couple stichera for the feast, as well as Kastalsky's Open Unto Us. Plus, there are couple things that I'd like to have another take with. So, after talking with Doug Geston, we've decided to do another recording on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 pm. May is a rather busy month for Doug with college and school concerts, so this was the only Wednesday that he had available. This recording should not be very long (well, at least shorter than our other ones). I'd imagine we'd be done no later than 9 pm.

Again, thank you for all your hard work thus far! 

Saturday's Recording and Rehearsals Through Pascha

Congratulations on a wonderful recording session this past Saturday. I imagine that all of you have received already the "It is Truly" file I forwarded via email. It really was quite wonderful. Our phrasing was together and good, dynamics through phrases were great, our intonation was exceptional, and intensity remained throughout the piece. It was just great. Not to burst everyone's bubble, but one thing that could be better is our diction. Some words just aren't as clear as they should or could be.

Here's one of the takes from Fr. Sergei's Praise the Name of the Lord. Just remember - these are unedited files. The file below is our first take (of two) and it's just great. The second take might actually be better with phrasing, but we end slightly under pitch.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JOHDoUq30lhm1jtQS2jmled6S4UbOpdT

There's just a lot of great stuff that came out of Saturday's recording. You all should be proud!

Looking further down the stretch we need to remember that we only have four more rehearsals till Pascha. We just got over one hump, but have another one to push through, too. Please, *all* of these rehearsals leading up to Holy Week and Pascha are important. I ask that you make at least three of the four if you plan on singing at the midnight service. If you cannot make a rehearsal please let me know. Rehearsal dates are:

Wednesday, April 3
Wednesday, April 10
Wednesday, April 17
Tuesday, April 23 (starting after Bridegroom Matins)

Rehearsal is canceled on Bright Wednesday (May 1).

Again, congratulations on a wonderful recording session this past Saturday! See you tomorrow evening as we begin to prepare for Holy Week and Pascha!

Saturday March 30 Recording

This coming Saturday is our last scheduled recording session. Please be at the cathedral by 9 AM to help set up downstairs and warmup. We'll begin recording very soon after our recording engineer, Doug, is all set up.

Things that we still have to record:

1. Psalm 103, Greek Chant
2. Blessed is the Man
3. Stichera at Lord I Call (five total)
4. Praise the Name of the Lord
5. Magnificat
6. Cherubikon
7. It is Truly Meet
8. Open unto us the doors

Just like our last recording we'll have lunch prepared for everyone from Jimmy John's at the end of the recording session. 

I can't emphasis how important tomorrow's rehearsal is for our last recording this coming Saturday. Please make every effort to be there on time and focused, ready to rehearse. I need your focus attention for 90 minutes!

Last but not least, here is an audio file from our last recording session. Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev's Beatitudes. As you'll hear it turned out very nicely. You should be proud!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pAahvAILzVCMB6J81WLTpa4uNHQgjAOL
 

Saturday March 9 Recording

Thank you for a very productive rehearsal last evening. We covered a lot of material that we'll record this Saturday, so thank you for your focus and endurance!

About this Saturday:

As most of you know the weather is looking pretty bad for Saturday. The forecast now has the snow starting in the afternoon - maybe even right at noon and getting heavier as the afternoon progresses. After talking to Doug (our recording engineer) and all of you last evening at rehearsal, we've decided to start the recording at 8 am to avoid the bad weather and everyone get home safely. We'll end right around 11 and have lunch. So, please be at the cathedral by 7:30 AM. I don't think I need to express to you how important it is that you're there at 7:30 so that we can start on time.

Also, there's still a possibility that the forecast changes for the worst. In this case we'll just have to cancel the entire recording session. In consultation with the choir board and Doug, we'll make this decision Friday evening and send an email to you.

I don't think any of us like the idea of starting at 8. Think of it this way, though. The next day we have to change our clocks anyhow. Just think that you're changing a day early...maybe that will help just a tad :-)

See you all Saturday bright and early (hopefully!).

Today's Recording and Looking Ahead at What's Next

Choir - what a huge effort and great job you did at today's recording session. Congratulations! We got off on the right foot today, and I'm confident that this will translate into two more good recording sessions and a wonderful final product. Thank you for all of your focus, stamina, and love for liturgical music.

Just to review what we recorded today and where we stand looking forward.

At today's session we recorded:

1. Canon to the Theotokos
2. Troparion, Common Chant
3. Troparion, Serbian Chant
4. Troparion, Russian Greek Chant
5. Kontakion, Common Chant
6. We Have See the True Light
7. Blessed be the Name of the Lord
8. Antiphon 1
9. Antiphon 2
10. Magnification

The canon was a big thing to get out of the way, and we sang it so beautifully. Kurt asked that we send him a copy of the final product and I'm sure he will be satisfied. We still have quite a few things to tackle in the next two recordings. At this coming Wednesday 's rehearsal, along with other things, I'd like to rehearse Kastalsky's Open Unto Us and Glagolev's Praise the Name of the Lord.  I'd prefer not to wait till the last recording session on March 30 to have our first stab at Kastalsky's piece. But, with the other things that we still need to record, and the extra rehearsal time we'll get waiting until the end of March to record this piece, it just might be worth it to wait. I'll have to think about it a bit more. Regardless, here is a list of all the pieces we still need to record:

1. Psalm 103
2. Blessed is the Man
3. Stichera at Lord I Call
4. Gladsome Light (male choir)
5. St. Simeon's Prayer (male choir) 
6. Praise the Name of the Lord
7. Matins Prokeimenon
8. Magnificat
9. Exaposteilarion (Russian Bulgarian)
10. Exaposteilarion (male choir)
11. Stichera at the Praises (male choir)
12. Beatitudes
13. Come Let us Worship
14. Kontakion (Resa)
15. Trisagion
16. Cherubikon
17. It is Truly Meet
18. Open unto me the Doors
19. Beneath your compassion
20. O Victorious Leader (Sarov Chant)
21. O Victorious Leader (Valaam Chant)

Looking at what we still have to record and comparing it to what did today may seem like a lot. But, please remember that in today's recording session we recorded the canon, which has eight troparia. So, essentially we recorded 18 pieces today and not ten. And, in the yet-to-do list, there are four pieces that only the male choir will sing. So, female singers - you're off the hook for those! It's good to keep things in perspective.

Needless to say, this Wednesday's rehearsal is very important for everyone to attend! Please, eat well, get plenty of rest and stay healthy. We need everyone's voice!

Saturday's Recording

Some of you have asked that I forward a list of things we'll record this Saturday. Below is such list. Please know that these pieces we plan to record. Depending on how things go we might do more, less, or even different pieces than on the list. 

1. Magnification
2. Matins Prokeimenon
3. General Canon to Theotokos (Sander)
4. Exaposteilarion, Bulgarian Chant
5. Antiphon 1
6. Antiphon 2
7. Beatitudes (Alfeyev)
8. Troparion, Common Chant
9. Troparion, Serbian Chant
10. Troparion, Greek Russian Chant (Trubachov)
11. Kontakion, Common Chant
12. Kontakion, Greek Russian Chant (Elison)
13. Trisagion (Alfeyev)
14. We Have seen (Alfeyev)
15. Blessed be the Name (Alfeyev)
16. Beneath Your Compassion (Archbishop Job)

Such a long list might seem optimistic, and maybe it is. But, many of these pieces we know well and are very short, and I don't anticipate doing many takes with them.

Just to reiterate some things we discussed last night about Saturday:

Please, it is much more important to be early to the recording than arriving at the last minute. It is best to avoid any tension or stress, and arriving just before we begin adds greatly to this - both for you and me! So, please be at the cathedral no later than 12:30. There are a few things that we need to do, like clear space in front of the amvon/altar area, bring stands and books down from the loft, and also the water cooler. Arriving this early will allow you to help move some of these things, and give you a chance to maybe review briefly the music or ask questions if you have them. But, most importantly, arriving early will allow you to relax and focus calmly on what we're going to do.

Attire: please dress comfortably. Make sure you have comfortable shoes since we'll be standing on the hardwood floor for a few hours. We'll have to turn the heat off, so towards the end of the recording session it might get slightly chilly. Bring a light jacket or sweater if you think it's necessary.

Please, no shoes, slacks, shirts, jackets, etc. that make noise or any kind of crinkling sounds. The mics will pick this up.

Please, no perfume, cologne etc.

Before and after each take we'll have two or three seconds of dead sound. So, before we start singing, I will give the pitch, then I'll wait three seconds or so before I cue you to begin singing. Likewise, at the end of the take, after the final cutoff and before I relax my arms, we'll have three seconds or so of dead sound.

While recording, it's important that we do not make any noises such as coughing, sniffling, creaking the floor with our feet, etc. If any of these things happen during a take - even inadvertently - it will unfortunately be ruined. So, please take care during each take that we don't make any noises!

Finally, just to remind you again. Please be at the cathedral no later than 12:30. See you all on Saturday!

Rehearsals and Recordings

The past few weeks have been difficult for rehearsals and church attendance because of weather. This, of course, is just one of those things we can't plan for when making our choir's schedule. I've talked to Doug Geston, our recording engineer, and we've come up with a new plan for our recording schedule. What we'll do is the following: our Wednesday, March 6 recording is postponed to Saturday, March 30 at 9 AM. If this new date is a problem for many people, we'll figure something out. But, for now this is what the plan is. Looking through the rest of March, our schedule is:

Wednesday, February 27. Rehearsal 7 PM
Saturday, March 2. Recording 1 PM
Wednesday, March 6. Rehearsal 7 PM
Saturday, March 9. Recording 9 AM
Wednesday, March 13. Canon of St. Andrew followed by rehearsal 7 PM
Wednesday, March 20. Rehearsal 7 PM
Wednesday, March 27. Rehearsal 7 PM
Saturday, March 30. Recording 9 AM

There is an outside chance that we do finish recording everything in two sessions (the first two Saturdays in March), but this is probably optimistic.

On Saturday, March 9 lunch will be provided for the choir.

Canon for the Theotokos

Below is a link to a folder that has audio files of Kurt Sander's canon to the Theotokos. Thank you Emily for getting this together.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R1zwewPkiZmWNj0DowgM4eFrBZMw9YL3

In the folder you'll only be interested in the files that have the word "Continued" in the file name. In total, there are four of these: odes three, six, eight, and nine. There are no recordings of the other odes as far as I know.

Last Sunday, while working with some singers on this canon, I realized that there are two versions of this composition floating around. Surprisingly, both have been available from Kurt's website (if you're interested, Kurt's website is: orthodoxchoralmusic.com). To make a long story short, two of the heirmoi are different - six and seven. The sheet music in the binders in the loft for these two heirmoi is not the same as the electronic sheet music files that I sent out a few weeks ago. So, please be aware of this as you singing through the music on your own at home. We will use the versions in the binder for the recording.

At tomorrow's liturgy (if some of you read this before the morning), at the Troparia/Kontakia run we'll sing the following:

1. Resurrection Troparion, Tone 5
2. Glory...Kontakion for the Publican and the Pharisee
3. Now...Kontakion for Protection

For the cathedral's kontakion at the end, I'd like to sing the Bulgarian Chant setting by Resa. It's in the Liturgy binder at the end of the Troparia and Kontakia section.

While the clergy commune, we will sing "Open to me the doors of repentance..." and if there's some time, Fr. Sergei Glagolev's "Praise the Name of the Lord" from the recording binder.

Men, please remember that we're meeting this coming Wednesday after rehearsal and the following to rehearse some things for the recording. 

St. Simeon's Prayer, Carpathian Chant, arr. Trubachev

This evening the male choir rehearsed for the first time Trubachev's St. Simeon's Prayer. As promised, here is a recording of it in Slavonic. Probably thanks to the wonderful space where it was recorded the sound is good, but the videography leaves much to be desired. With the exception of one phrase (and the fact that it's in Slavonic), it's essentially the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZX87UN4I4

I've updated the St. Simeon's Prayer file. After rehearsing it yesterday, it was obvious that there were some problem spots that needed to be improved. Here is the new file:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pMkDkMZecDIgN8bbDTC0ByoKmrjFFF-K

Siberian Singing Session on Wednesday

Some people have asked me about this Wednesday's rehearsal. I talked about it with a few people and think that we'll keep the rehearsal schedule as is. However, if you are at all apprehensive about traveling to rehearsal in the bitter cold, let me know and please stay home. I'm sure you'll be able to make up for time lost.

As a suggestion, please consider carpooling with other singers this Wednesday if you're concerned about driving in the cold and if it's convenient for you.

We plan to rehearse Glagolev's Polyeleos, Alfeyev's It is Truly Meet, parts of Kastalsky's Open Unto Us, as well as one or two model melodies.

Also, men - let's still plan on meeting after Wednesday's rehearsal.

Recording Rehearsals

Thank you for a wonderful rehearsal last evening. We made a lot of progress with Kurt Sander's Canon for the Theotokos, as well as the Exaposteilarion (both the Bulgarian Chant and Put' (Znamenny) Chant arrangements), and the Greek Chant Troparion for the feast. As it stands right now, we only have five rehearsals until our recording dates. There are still quite a few things that we need to review before March. Some of the pieces that I'm think of are: Glagolev's Polyeleos, Alfeyev's Beatitudes and It is Truly Meet, Kastalsky's Open Unto Us and St. Simeon's Prayer, Sander's Canon (yes, we still need to look at this yet), plus special melodies for stichera at Lord I Call and the Praises at Matins. In light of all this, it would be beneficial for everyone to have two rehearsals on a Sunday so that we're not crunched for time in the last rehearsals leading up to the recording.

In addition to our normal Wednesday rehearsals we will add two Sunday rehearsals on February, 17 and 24. Rehearsal will start at 11:50 in the choir loft and we'll plan to sing till about 12:35.

So, our updated rehearsal schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, January 30, 7 PM
Wednesday, February 6, 7 PM
Wednesday, February 13, 7 PM
Sunday, February 17, 11:50 AM
Wednesday, February 20, 7 PM
Sunday, February 24, 11:50 AM
Wednesday, February 27, 7 PM

After these two Sunday rehearsals Miho and I are inviting everyone to our house for fellowship. More information about this to come. 

Please remember that our recording dates are:
Saturday, March 2 at 1 PM
Wednesday, March 6 at 7 PM
Saturday, March 9 at 9 AM

Male Singers:

There are at least two pieces that I'd like to sing in male arrangement for the recording: St. Simeon's Prayer (Trubachev) and the Praises at Matins. I'd like to rehearse with you for 15-20 minutes after our Wednesday rehearsals on the following dates:
January 30
February 13
February 24

Some singers have asked if I could print out recording music for them to take home and practice. Please let me know if you'd like me to do this. The music is accessible online at the following location if you'd prefer electronic copies: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OgXju0dYDYZqFSyPA9eIXBmrIM6Cgp_E

Last but not least, please make every effort to come to all scheduled rehearsals. St. Mary's Choir is a volunteer choir, and as such we make a commitment to participate in all aspects of choir life, both liturgical and other. This includes not just the weekly services, but also concerts and recordings. I'm not only depending on you, but every singer in the choir is depending you, too. We can only accomplish our goal with everyone's involvement! Please mark your calendar with these rehearsal and recording dates if you haven't already. See you this weekend.

Music for March Recording

This might be a failed attempted at sharing all the music for the recording, but for better or worse here we go. Hopefully the link below will give you access to all the music that we'll potentially record in March. All of the music is in pdf format and is in no particular order.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OgXju0dYDYZqFSyPA9eIXBmrIM6Cgp_E

Please remember that our recording dates are the following:

Saturday, March 2 at 1 PM
Wednesday, March 6 at 7 PM
Saturday, March 9 at 9 AM

Happy New Year

I wish all of you a very happy new year. It sounds trite to say, but it really was a pleasure leading all of you in liturgical worship and concerts throughout 2018. I hope that 2019 brings many new and wonderful things for St. Mary's Cathedral Choir.

Thank you to all for your very hard and devoted work through the month of December. It's not necessary to recount all what happened, but it was an extremely busy month with services, concerts, caroling, and a visit from Bishop Paul. Everything went very well, exceeding all my expectations. Thank you!

At the end of 2017, the choir voted to do a recording project sometime the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019. This past September, I surveyed the choir to see when would be the best time to record and what singers would like to record. Out of all those who responded to the survey (only about 65 percent or so) the overwhelming majority wanted to record music and special melodies for our cathedral's feast day on October 1, the Protection on the Theotokos. Recording dates have been reserved with the recording engineer from our 2016 recording, Doug Geston. We are scheduled to record on the following days:

Saturday, March 2 at 1 pm
Wednesday, March 6 at 7 pm
Saturday, March 9 at 9 am

Beginning with tomorrow's rehearsal (January 2), we have nine rehearsals till our first recording session on March 2. We'll have to use these rehearsal times wisely. Many things that I hope to record we've already learned or have rehearsed in the passed (our feast day's kontakion arranged by Resa, canon heirmoi for the Theotokos composed by Kurt Sander, many pieces composed/arranged by then Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, etc.). But, there are things (time permitting) that I'd like to include which we still haven't learned such as: various arrangements of our cathedral's troparion and kontakion, magnification, and magnificat. The possible selections seem almost endless.

I think I should remind you that the choir voted to make this recording. Please make it a priority and arranged your schedule accordingly so that we can have the best result possible.

Look forward to seeing you all at tomorrow evenings rehearsal.