Or, As Kathy Tells Us, "Egg Shell Sheets"

Sanctus meets Microsoft.

HT: My sister Mary; Phyllis also found it.

The Golden Rules For Ensemble Singing

If you're unable to read the words on the image:

1. Everyone should sing the same piece.
2. Take your time turning pages.
3. Do not worry if you do not have perfect pitch – you may find singing less stressful without it!
4. The right note at the wrong time is the wrong note.
5. The wrong note at the right time is still a wrong note.
6. A wrong note sung timidly is still a wrong note.
7. A wrong note sung with authority is an interpretation.
8. A true interpretation is realized when not one note of the original remains.
9. If you happen to sing a wrong note, give a nasty look to one of your neighbors.
10. If everyone gets lost except you, follow those who get lost.
11. If you are completely lost, stop everyone and start an argument about repeat marks.
12. Strive to achieve the maximum notes per second – that way you at least gain the admiration of the totally incompetent.
13. If a passage is difficult, slow it down. If it is easy, speed it up. Everything will work itself out in the end.
14. Markings for slurs, dynamics, ornaments and breathing should be ignored. They are only there to embellish the score.
15. When everyone else has finished singing, you should not sing any notes you may still have left.

HT: Tim Rhodes, who brought this to a recent rehearsal.

Prayers Please

Phyllis Young's husband Ray, who is in the hospital for undisclosed reasons. I'll post any updates here. You can also pray for the health of the rest of the choir.

UPDATE 12/30: Ray came home today. Thank you, Jesus!

And A Continued Merry Christmas

The Nativity scene from the Cathedral. Our next Mass is at St. Peter Canisius on Sunday, January 10 for the Baptism of the Lord, generally considered the end of the Christmas season. I suppose it will be a little less surprising if it snows this time when we're there, considering how our prayers for snow are being answered. May it continue!

We'll also be singing the following three Sundays, so January will be a busy month, unlike last year.

Enjoy the week off from rehearsal this Tuesday. For rehearsal on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, each of you must bring at least one new bass singer, whether he wants to be there or not.

Merry Christmas, Hon!

Like me, my sisters Anne and Mary were born and raised in Baltimore (or, as the natives call it, "Bawlamer"). For fun, they sing a "Bawlamerese" version of "O Holy Night" which I post here as an example of just about everything Kathy tells us not to do pronunciation-wise when singing either chant or polyphony.

For comparison's sake, here's my very talented niece Abby (Mary's daughter) singing the same carol. 

I sang this in my church choir when I was a soprano. No, that wasn't last year.

Rehearsal Wasn't That Bad, Was It?

Less than two hours after we finished our final rehearsal before our 11:30 AM Christmas Mass at the Cathedral, a swarm of earthquakes struck just a mile or so from where we rehearse. Hope that's not God judging our effort!

Sandy and I felt the biggest tremor, a 4.4, all the way in northern Sparks. Did you feel it?

(Photo credit: Alice 96.5)

Kathy Is A Mother, Just Not Yours

Please be sure to take a moment to look around and take ALL your stuff with you following rehearsal or Mass. Kathy says she couldn't carry all the detritus that was left behind following Sunday's Mass, ranging from water bottles to used tissues. Oh, and by the way, she was still sick herself.

You know the old saying, of which the image above is a derivative: "Your mother does not work here. Please clean up your own mess." I don't know about you, but that wouldn't work with my mother; she'd gladly make me clean it up!

I Think We Just Found A New Bass

Baltimore Ravens placekicker Justin Tucker is a devout Catholic. He and the Ravens have been having a difficult season on the field, but at Baltimore's Basilica of the Assumption, he nails "Ave Maria" in a benefit performance for Catholic Charities. He says singing this was more nerve-wracking than kicking any game-winning field goal.

Now we just need to get him out here. Maybe Reno native and former Raven Chris Carr could talk him into it? Then there's that little problem with his availability on Sundays from August to January.

Just A Reminder

Remember that Tuesday's rehearsal is at a different place and at a different time. The time is 7:15. I shouldn't name the place here, but it rhymes with "Flour Shady of the Nose."

See you NOT at the Usual Place.

Dec. 25: Christmas

10:45 AM at the Cathedral. Prelude carols not included.

Introit: Puer natus est

Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei: Missa Lauda Sion (Palestrina)

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Tui sunt coeli, Angelus Ad Pastores Ait (Gabrieli)

Sanctus: Mass VIII

Communio: Viderunt onmes, Silent Night

Recessional: Adeste Fideles/O Come All Ye Faithful

Dec. 13: Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

4 PM at the Cathedral.

Introit: Gaudete in Domino

Kyrie (no Gloria), Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass XVII

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Benedixisti, On Jordan's Bank

Communio: Dicite, Veni O Sapientia

Recessional: Veni, Veni Emmanuel/O Come, O Come Emmanuel

The Regina Pacis Sanitarium

We continue to succumb to the "bug" that has been ravaging the choir this season. Our latest victim has been Kathy, who gave her best the other night in rehearsal despite having the crud herself; she doesn't get sick days. She wore gloves when passing out the music and St. Michael's Hymnals as if she were exploring a storage locker on Storage Wars. All I can say is keep taking your zinc and vitamin C, get your rest, and stay home if you're sick (once you've told Kathy).