Duruflé's Requiem for those here in PDX

[thrihyrne]

Most of you know I've recently joined a choir again, which is just so good for my spirit, I can't begin to tell you. Anyway, I'm back into the fray just in time to begin Lent, and the church where I'm singing, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, is singing the Duruflé Requiem as part of the Ash Wednesday service this Wednesday the 25th at 7 o'clock. I've sung most of the movements, but I'll definitely have a bit of an adrenaline rush singing it with only three full rehearsals! The choir is good, and actually has more men than women— that's a first for me in any semi-professional choir I've sung in. The guest organist is David Heller. We rehearsed after the service yesterday and our director, John Stege, pointed out the difficulty in the organ part, and Mr. Heller is quite accomplished. My mom is in the AGO (American Guild of Organists) and I grew up attending organ recitals, and even took organ myself for a couple of years, as well as working for an organist/choir director. I can evaluate an organist, anyway, and he's pretty good! There are parts with what must be the super-low 32' stop and the floor truly rumbles underfoot. :)

So for any of your flisters who live in the Portland area, if you observe Lent and want to experience the Requiem in the context of a service, or if you want to ignore the service part and hear the work anyway, I invite you to attend.

Hmmmm. I really do need to make a Portland or pacific northwest icon.

Comments

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

This sounds so lovely! I wish I could hear you sing again in person. I'm so glad you joined the choir and you're enjoying it. I know your service this Wednesday will be amazing. *hugs*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Maybe one day you'll get to hear me again!! The service should go well; gorgeous stuff.

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

We don't do Ash Wednesday, but we've been rehearsing our hardest piece for Easter since right after Christmas. It's a chorus from (forgive my spelling) Cavalieri Rusticana. There's no way we could be called semi-professional; strictly amateur. About the only requirement is being able to climb the steps to the choir loft. Given that, we're pretty good. But I do miss being part of a really good, big chorus--I haven't done that since I was in Hawaii with the Navy.

Well, cheers for you. And best of luck with the Requiem.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

We glanced at one of the anthems for Easter this past Thursday; must admit that Easter is my absolute least favorite service of all. Trumpets blaring, lilies (whose perfume gives me a wretched headache), loud, bombastic pieces… I much prefer the Easter Vigil service. I believe that our choir is primarily volunteer with two section leaders per section, though there may be more, not sure. Are you in a place where you could join a semi-professional group? Would you want to at this juncture in your life?

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

Our Easter music is virtually a repeat of the Easter vigil. Maybe a couple of minor hymns different, but all the major pieces the same.

I could do more. A couple of our tenors are in the chorus of some nearby opera. But I begrudge the time it would take more than I miss the singing.

[persephone100.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to see you've joined a choir. I wish I could hear you sing in person. I, too, prefer the Easter vigil and always go to it. Even though in my church (Catholic) it's quite lengthy. We have a small choir and I don't think they'd ever attempt something like Requium, which is probably a good thing. (lol) Anyway, I wish you luck, even though you probably don't need it, and hope you enjoy it!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

The Vigil service is quite long; one of the longest, liturgically, of the whole year. But I still quite enjoy it. It just makes for a rough morning the next morning when you have to get up early and do it all again! At some churches I've sung the Vigil, then two full-fledged Easter services the next day. Then it's time to collapse!! :P

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool! Glad you are singing! :D

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I am, too! The choir director has picked out repertoire I'm pretty jazzed about, which was something I looked for before deciding to join up.

[garsher-03.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're reconnecting with that part of your past. It's always good to rediscover things that made one happy in the past.

I never knew you were such an accomplished singer.