Happy Vernal Equinox
For me, the arrival of spring coincides most notably with a new home. I have to say that everything about the house is just perfect. It's peaceful and quiet, it's the right size and layout, it's in a great neighborhood, perfect location, nice town. We're next to a little farm that has a donkey with an amazing bray (when I first heard it I was immediately reminded of something from Star Wars — perhaps the battle cry of the Sand People) and some strange screechy-squaky bird-creature whose identity I've not yet discovered. All this merely adds to the charm and rustic-ness of the place. We're still in the process of settling in. I just got a new refrigerator yesterday; the place didn't have one, and neither did we. Electrician will be coming around on Monday to install a 220 outlet so that we can hook up our dryer and actually do laundry at home. The grass is growing really long and we don't have a lawnmower; I haven't made arrangements to solve that problem yet. I love being home during the day... my own home.
Tonight I have my final rehearsal with Chorale Bel Canto. The Bach Festival concert is this Sunday at 4 PM at the Shannon Center in Whittier. Also, tomorrow night I will be attending the Meistersingers' concert, in which my brother will be singing. This concert is entitled "The Soul in Paradise", and I'm really looking foward to it. They actually have 2 performance dates, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, but I'll be performing on Sunday myself.
The Orange County Catholic Chorale has a fundraising event coming up on Saturday March 28th at 6 PM at the Fountain Valley Senior & Community Center. I've donated some artwork to sell at their silent auction. The piece I've donated is a variant of the plainchant illumination that I did. Unfortunately, I only just finished it 10 minutes before I had to leave for rehearsal last Tuesday, when I had to turn it in, so I didn't get a chance to scan it. On the new piece, I used a 5-line staff instead of the 4-line staff, and it actually has some variation in the music itself, as well as the illumination, which shows more loaves and fishes.
Speaking of which, at rehearsal last Tuesday, I got feedback from the director about my chorale: the setting of Psalm 13 that I finished recently. He had some very positive comments. He liked a lot of things about the work, and had some helpful suggestions. I've already made a few changes based on his comments, and I'm reworking one particular section. I'm very pleased with his feedback.
It's been a busy time, mostly with getting things settled with the house (still a lot to clean and organize & stuff), and with music. All in all, not a bad way to begin the Spring Season.
but a broken spirit who can bear?