Make sure you come to the Schola Cantorum concerts this weekend - I am singing in them, they are really great, and how can you resist Byrd's "Though Amaryllis" when it is done well?
Friday:
8:00 pm: Schola Cantorum; "Music of the Tudors," featuring Taverner's Small Devotion Mass and works of Sheppard, Fayrfax and Byrd; St. John's, Boston.
8:00 pm: The Harvard Glee Club and the Princeton University Glee Club; "Harvard-Princeton Football Concert," featuring choral music of Josquin, Alonso, Janácek, Gustafsson, Thompson & Carter plus college fight songs; Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge.
Saturday:
4:00 pm: The Boston Conservatory Chorale and Women's Chorus; Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory, Boston.
5:00 pm: Libana (and others); "Playing for the Planet"; First Congregational Church, Cambridge.
8:00 pm: Schola Cantorum; "Music of the Tudors," featuring Taverner's Small Devotion Mass and works of Sheppard, Fayrfax and Byrd; St. Joseph's Church, Providence, RI.
8:00 pm: The Orpheus Singers; "Music of Haydn, Boykan, and Palestrina"; Lindsey Chapel, Emmanuel Church, Boston
8:00 pm: The Master Singers of Lexington; "Cello and Chorus" (with special guest Rhonda Rider); First Parish, Lexington.
Sunday:
4:00 pm: "45th Choir Festival: Service of Ecumenical Song"; Gordon College, Wenham.
5:00 pm: King's Chapel Choir Concert Series; "Happy Anniversary!", featuring works by Purcell, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Handel; King's Chapel, Boston.
6:00 pm: The Bullock Brothers; St. Paul Evangelical Church, Lexington.
7:30 pm: Belmont Open Sings; "Bach's Mass in B minor, Part 1"; Payson Park Church, Belmont.
Did I forget anything? Leave it in the comments!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday link
I am a little behind the times - my father sent me a link to this article six months ago - but have an interview with Texas-based conductor Lois Ferrari. Gotta say that I love her press photo!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday cat post!
This is the last from the set of pictures I took last August (August! How time flies.)
This reminds me very strongly of Oomi's ancestors in Greece or Egypt, sprawled out on a patio somewhere sunning themselves, perfectly self-content.
This reminds me very strongly of Oomi's ancestors in Greece or Egypt, sprawled out on a patio somewhere sunning themselves, perfectly self-content.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 10/15/09
Here it is, your weekend concert calendar! Things are beginning to heat up a bit with the performance schedule as the weather cools down...
Friday:
8:00 pm: Blue Heron; Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks; St. Paul Church, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Hosted by BEMF.
Saturday:
7:30 pm: Marsh Chapel Choir & Collegium with Boston University Chamber Chorus; "Haydn's Die Schöpfung"; Marsh Chapel, Boston University, Boston.
7:30 pm: The Vocal Section (TVS); "Raising the Roof, a program of gospel, R&B and spirituals"; Wakefield UU Church, Wakefield, MA.
Sunday:
3:00 pm: The Paul Madore Chorale; "The French Connection: An Afternoon of French Choral, Solo and Instrumental Works"; St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Danvers, MA.
3:00 pm: The Chatham Chorale; "Poulenc's Gloria and Fauré's Requiem"; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford, MA.
Friday:
8:00 pm: Blue Heron; Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks; St. Paul Church, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Hosted by BEMF.
Saturday:
7:30 pm: Marsh Chapel Choir & Collegium with Boston University Chamber Chorus; "Haydn's Die Schöpfung"; Marsh Chapel, Boston University, Boston.
7:30 pm: The Vocal Section (TVS); "Raising the Roof, a program of gospel, R&B and spirituals"; Wakefield UU Church, Wakefield, MA.
Sunday:
3:00 pm: The Paul Madore Chorale; "The French Connection: An Afternoon of French Choral, Solo and Instrumental Works"; St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Danvers, MA.
3:00 pm: The Chatham Chorale; "Poulenc's Gloria and Fauré's Requiem"; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford, MA.
Also this Sunday, Sylvia Berry will be performing at my own church, First Parish Cohasset at 4 pm. She is a renowned fortepianist, and she will be playing works of Haydn and Beethoven on a replica of a Viennese piano from circa 1795. Please help me spread the word about this concert - I'm very excited about it!
Did I forget anything? Leave it in the comments!Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday link
Today I bring you two goofy videos!
The first, which I picked up from numerous sources, as it's making the rounds, is Sebastien the Cyber-Conductor. I liked the last bit best, with the options of "Bad Conductor" and "Mean Conductor," but it's all quite funny; made me laugh out loud!
The second is Maestro Cirque du Soleil, via my friend EKR. This one takes a bit of time to warm up, but once he starts actually conducting it gets good. Although I also have to confess that the beginning is not much of an exaggeration of the difficulties of dealing with scores.
The first, which I picked up from numerous sources, as it's making the rounds, is Sebastien the Cyber-Conductor. I liked the last bit best, with the options of "Bad Conductor" and "Mean Conductor," but it's all quite funny; made me laugh out loud!
The second is Maestro Cirque du Soleil, via my friend EKR. This one takes a bit of time to warm up, but once he starts actually conducting it gets good. Although I also have to confess that the beginning is not much of an exaggeration of the difficulties of dealing with scores.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Friday cat post!
One of Oomi's rather striking characteristics that doesn't always come across in photos is that she has an incredibly shiny coat. Shiny!
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 10/8/09
Well, it's Columbus Day weekend, so choral pickin's are slim. In fact, I have only one event to pass on, but it's gigantic!
Sunday, 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Gigantic Gospel Extravaganza and Anniversary Celebration for The Blue Hill Gospel MC's of Boston. Special guests to include The Joy Boyz, Little Sammy and the New Flying Clouds of Philadelphia, and others. Victory Chapel, 301 Columbia Rd, Dorchester.
Also, in other special events, please note that on Friday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm, the Handel & Haydn Society will open its season with Andreas Scholl in a program called "Viva La Voce!" at Symphony Hall in Boston.
Sunday, 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Gigantic Gospel Extravaganza and Anniversary Celebration for The Blue Hill Gospel MC's of Boston. Special guests to include The Joy Boyz, Little Sammy and the New Flying Clouds of Philadelphia, and others. Victory Chapel, 301 Columbia Rd, Dorchester.
Also, in other special events, please note that on Friday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm, the Handel & Haydn Society will open its season with Andreas Scholl in a program called "Viva La Voce!" at Symphony Hall in Boston.
Life update
I realize I haven't quite outlined everything I'm doing this fall. I had an e-mail exchange yesterday that I found rather amusing, and that goes straight to the heart of how busy I am.
---------------------
From:Person
To:Allegra
Hi there!
I was just curious if people are still joining chorus/if you guys are still accepting new members?
Thank you,
Person
---------------------
From:Allegra
To:Person
Yes! We are! Would you like to come to rehearsal tonight? It's TIME to TIME in PLACE. I would love to accept you as a new member.
-Allegra Martin
---------------------
From:Allegra
To:Person
Oh, wait. It occurs to me that I'm not sure which chorus you are talking about. Are you a Lasell student? Or are you interested in Cantilena or The Notables or First Parish Cohasset?
All the best,
Allegra Martin
---------------------
From:Person
To:Allegra
Hi there!
I was just curious if people are still joining chorus/if you guys are still accepting new members?
Thank you,
Person
---------------------
From:Allegra
To:Person
Yes! We are! Would you like to come to rehearsal tonight? It's TIME to TIME in PLACE. I would love to accept you as a new member.
-Allegra Martin
---------------------
From:Allegra
To:Person
Oh, wait. It occurs to me that I'm not sure which chorus you are talking about. Are you a Lasell student? Or are you interested in Cantilena or The Notables or First Parish Cohasset?
All the best,
Allegra Martin
------------------------------------------------------------
Yes indeedy. I am currently an adjunct faculty member at Lasell College, where I am directing the chorus; I am the music director for Cantilena; I am the music director for the Notables; I am the music director at First Parish Cohasset; and I am teaching at Mission Hill Elementary School in Roxbury. And that's just the conducting/directing; I'm also singing in Anthology and Schola Cantorum.
I finally have everything I ever wanted, and I am going insane because I don't know if I can handle it. Isn't that always the way? At any rate, it will be a very tough year, so good vibes, free food, and people coming over to do my laundry for me will be gratefully accepted.
I finally have everything I ever wanted, and I am going insane because I don't know if I can handle it. Isn't that always the way? At any rate, it will be a very tough year, so good vibes, free food, and people coming over to do my laundry for me will be gratefully accepted.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Monday link
It's orchestra-conductors-day today!
Congratulations to Shi-Yeon Sung, who as assistant conductor of the BSO stepped in at the last minute to conduct last Tuesday's performance with commendable poise. (James Levine had to have some unexpected surgery for a herniated disc.) Jeremy Eichler gave her the thumbs-up.
I also recommend this article in Variety about the progress women orchestral conductors are making. It's nice to finally see an article whose sole thesis is not "where are all the women" but instead "hey, here are some women (although they're not yet at the top)." I must admit, however, that using the adjective "female" in these sorts of articles always seems strange to me.
One thing I learned from the article was that Marin Alsop is a MacArthur fellow. How did I miss that? I love the MacArthur awards; one of my favorite daydreams is someday winning one, although I can never quite figure out what it is going to be for.
Congratulations to Shi-Yeon Sung, who as assistant conductor of the BSO stepped in at the last minute to conduct last Tuesday's performance with commendable poise. (James Levine had to have some unexpected surgery for a herniated disc.) Jeremy Eichler gave her the thumbs-up.
I also recommend this article in Variety about the progress women orchestral conductors are making. It's nice to finally see an article whose sole thesis is not "where are all the women" but instead "hey, here are some women (although they're not yet at the top)." I must admit, however, that using the adjective "female" in these sorts of articles always seems strange to me.
One thing I learned from the article was that Marin Alsop is a MacArthur fellow. How did I miss that? I love the MacArthur awards; one of my favorite daydreams is someday winning one, although I can never quite figure out what it is going to be for.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Two audition opportunities
Two quick audition hits.
The North Cambridge Family Opera Company is holding auditions for adults and children for their spring production of Springtime for Haman.
Vox Lucens, a small and snazzy Renaissance choir, is looking for low altos. Or they were; I promised to post this notice a couple of weeks ago and forgot. (Oops.)
The North Cambridge Family Opera Company is holding auditions for adults and children for their spring production of Springtime for Haman.
Vox Lucens, a small and snazzy Renaissance choir, is looking for low altos. Or they were; I promised to post this notice a couple of weeks ago and forgot. (Oops.)
Friday, October 02, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 10/1/09
Weekly Concert Calendar time!
Friday:
7:30 pm: Boston University Choral Ensembles; "Fauré's Requiem"; CFA Concert Hall, BU, Boston
Saturday:
3:30 pm: Liberty Belle Chorus; "Can't Stop the Beat"; Westford Academy Performing Arts Center, Westford, MA
8:00 pm: Boston Singers' Relief Fund; "The Singer's Voice: A Gala Benefit Concert"; Church of the Covenant, Boston
Sunday:
3:00 pm: "Music to Cure MS: The 7th annual concert to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis"; Park Avenue Congregational Church, Arlington, MA
If I missed anything, leave it in the comments!
Friday:
7:30 pm: Boston University Choral Ensembles; "Fauré's Requiem"; CFA Concert Hall, BU, Boston
Saturday:
3:30 pm: Liberty Belle Chorus; "Can't Stop the Beat"; Westford Academy Performing Arts Center, Westford, MA
8:00 pm: Boston Singers' Relief Fund; "The Singer's Voice: A Gala Benefit Concert"; Church of the Covenant, Boston
Sunday:
3:00 pm: "Music to Cure MS: The 7th annual concert to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis"; Park Avenue Congregational Church, Arlington, MA
If I missed anything, leave it in the comments!
overheard in FPC
Overheard at choir practice tonight:
(Note: we got onto the topic below via a discussion about the hymn "We Are A Gentle, Angry People" about whether we were, in fact, an angry people. This is, of course, an extremely UU sort of discussion to have. Most of the choir came down on the side of not angry, but I balanced them out with definitely angry. Chalk it up to reading political blogs.)
A certain tenor psychologist: There are only five basic emotions. Mad, sad, glad, fearful and guilty.
A certain bass: What about lust?
(Note: we got onto the topic below via a discussion about the hymn "We Are A Gentle, Angry People" about whether we were, in fact, an angry people. This is, of course, an extremely UU sort of discussion to have. Most of the choir came down on the side of not angry, but I balanced them out with definitely angry. Chalk it up to reading political blogs.)
A certain tenor psychologist: There are only five basic emotions. Mad, sad, glad, fearful and guilty.
A certain bass: What about lust?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday link
Sometimes you find not just one interesting thing on the internet, but a vein of beautiful or useful or interesting stuff. Today I found that the ACDA has a lot of great choral videos on Youtube! Here is the early music group Armonia singing Salve Regina by César Carillo.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday cat post!
These are some more pictures I took on my August visit to meet Oomi.
Preparation for pounce...
Success!
Preparation for pounce...
Success!
Yum!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 9/24/09
First off, it is not too late to join a chorus this year! For one thing, Cantilena is still looking for some high sopranos, and we will be holding our last set of auditions on Monday. You can find more audition info here.
On to the concerts! First of all, BMOP is presenting a sort of festival this weekend called Voices of America, which will include the complete songs of Samuel Barber. There are concerts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Other than that, I only have one concert to report. There are a lot of great concerts this weekend...just not choral ones. We are not yet at that point in the cycle!
Sunday:
5:30 pm: Exsultemus; "Hamburg: Bernhard, Weckmann, and Telemann"; First Lutheran Church, Boston
Did I miss anything? Leave it in the comments.
On to the concerts! First of all, BMOP is presenting a sort of festival this weekend called Voices of America, which will include the complete songs of Samuel Barber. There are concerts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Other than that, I only have one concert to report. There are a lot of great concerts this weekend...just not choral ones. We are not yet at that point in the cycle!
Sunday:
5:30 pm: Exsultemus; "Hamburg: Bernhard, Weckmann, and Telemann"; First Lutheran Church, Boston
Did I miss anything? Leave it in the comments.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 9/17/09
It's time for the Weekend Concert Calendar!
Friday:
7:30 pm: Choir of King's College, London; Music of Rogier, Clemens non Papa, Byrd, Tippett, Bach, and others; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Wellesley.
Sunday:
Riversing is today! Revels hosts Riversing every autumn on the Charles River to celebrate the beginning of fall. Festivities will start in Harvard Square at 5:00 pm followed by a parade down to the Charles River where the singing will start at 6:00 pm sharp. Area choruses, featured soloists, saxophonist Stan Strickland and the New Orleans-inspired Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band will be performing. More information is here.
Also, many choruses are still holding open rehearsals and auditions. In particular, both of my new groups, the Notables and Cantilena, are looking for a few good high sopranos. Please get in touch with me if you are interested in auditioning for either group!
Friday:
7:30 pm: Choir of King's College, London; Music of Rogier, Clemens non Papa, Byrd, Tippett, Bach, and others; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Wellesley.
Sunday:
Riversing is today! Revels hosts Riversing every autumn on the Charles River to celebrate the beginning of fall. Festivities will start in Harvard Square at 5:00 pm followed by a parade down to the Charles River where the singing will start at 6:00 pm sharp. Area choruses, featured soloists, saxophonist Stan Strickland and the New Orleans-inspired Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band will be performing. More information is here.
Also, many choruses are still holding open rehearsals and auditions. In particular, both of my new groups, the Notables and Cantilena, are looking for a few good high sopranos. Please get in touch with me if you are interested in auditioning for either group!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday cat post!
This is a special edition of Friday cat post.
You see, in August I visited my brother and sister-in-law...and I got to meet Oomi for the first time! She is indeed as hyper as advertised. And I got to take pictures of her myself! So this series of pictures are all taken by yours truly.
You see, in August I visited my brother and sister-in-law...and I got to meet Oomi for the first time! She is indeed as hyper as advertised. And I got to take pictures of her myself! So this series of pictures are all taken by yours truly.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Weekend Concert Calendar, 9/11/09
Well, it's September, so I'm going to start up the Weekend Concert Calendar posts again.
Choral music has not really gotten rolling; many choruses will still be auditioning members through the end of the month. (Including Cantilena!)
But this weekend you have the Boston Arts Festival to keep you busy. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus will be performing tonight at 6:15 pm!
Choral music has not really gotten rolling; many choruses will still be auditioning members through the end of the month. (Including Cantilena!)
But this weekend you have the Boston Arts Festival to keep you busy. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus will be performing tonight at 6:15 pm!
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Caturday cat post!
Gosh, it's September already? No more summer slacking-off? I guess that means it's time to start up some regular blogging again. Have a cat-in-a-box! (Some of you may appreciate the box more than the cat.)
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