Feest Isolation Days – 18 November
When I was a freshman in High School I joined the choir. I was already a member of the Band and loved music. I can hardly ever remember a time when there wasn’t music of one sort or another playing at me through a speaker. Choir was different. Singing together with other people became a total joy, and something I returned to once again later in life.
Choir did have its drawbacks…the Senior girls…those girls you look up to when you are a Freshmen, taught their fellow young sopranos something I really wish they hadn’t. They got us all into smoking! It’s quite hard to believe now. Before Choir, I hadn’t even thought of smoking. The glam Senior girls made it seem like an important rite of passage. The antithesis of Choir! We rehearsed for our concerts during school, but also in the evenings. The stage was right across from the Women’s Faculty common room which we were allowed to use, and there is where their indoctrination was carried out. Shame on them.
When I was a senior, I never tried to get anyone else to smoke. And I’d just like to say I totally stopped smoking when I was twenty-six. It had become a filthy and nasty habit.
Other than that, Choir was great! We had an amazing student teacher when I was in my Senior year who adored music and taught us a great deal. We learned how to make music together without accompaniment with just our speech and voices. The Geographical Fugue. Two and a half minutes to “sing” and a whole year to learn.
I joined the music appreciation club in High School as well as choir, and learned how to really appreciate everything from Choral Music to the latest pop and rock.
Several years ago, when I retired, I took up my love of singing once more and still belong to a choir today. I spent a few years as the Chair of a Choir and that was enough to make me realise I don’t want to do that side of things anymore.
I just want to sing! Zoom is not the same as being together, but it beats nothing I suppose. I sang one of my favourites during lockdown on Zoom which I share with you here…not our Zoom choir I quickly add.
I decided I could choose two pieces of music today because I only have five picks and the Desert Island folks get eight. Also, The Geographical Fugue is SO different!
So herewith one of my favourite Choral pieces of music. Mozart’s Gloria in Excelsis Deo – a nod to those Catholic roots!
Enjoy!
With love
Kathy x