Choir Music...It brings out the soul in all of us, even if we don't want to do it at first

Finally the end of a LONG week.

We had a festival of choirs today in Drumheller as a funraiser for the Passion Play.  There was some beautiful music.  I was really transported. There was some amazing acapella stuff and one piece that was 8 men.  I mean men, not university aged boys, but old men... and they sounded GREAT.  I loved all the songs groups chose, so interesting and wonderfully arranged.

 Man, choral singing takes a lot of discipline for me.  I can't get lost in it as much as I do in solos or acting.  As a performer I've learned to coast on my instincts and to seize what's happening in the moment, but singing in a choir takes a different kind of concentration: a more restrained freedom.  I find it intimidating at times.  Nonetheles, I did fine, and so did everyone else.  We combined all the choirs at the end.  Imagine: 80+ people singing in 5 part harmony, drowning out the piano and organ singing "O Come Let Us Adore Him"... pretty amazing.  Not only that, but I had a the diva soprano from Calgary standing next to me (singing in my EAR)... yes, the woman who asked Bill if she could sing the note a third above the high note the first sopranos were singing.  --And sing it she did.  My ear is still ringing.  It's not every day one hears a D above high C pummeled into their eardrum.  I thought the rest of us hanging out down there on the lowly B made the climax shimmery enough, but hey -- if you're going to have someone go over the top, I suppose for that song in that time and place --it was the best thing.  Bless their hearts... all these choirs from Calgary and Three Hills... all with older folks whose souls still long for music... all lending their voices for this amateur show in Drum that actually smacks of epic proportions and loads of heart and art: The Badlands Passion Play.

This place is strange, but so are we people.  It's a good thing to do.

Dave and the boys met me for supper in Drum.  The boys had been swimming with their Rosebuddie friends and they were so waterlogged, their eyes drooped at the restaurant.  Dave and I both knew then, the concert idea was not going to work for the men in my family.  So they went home, and by the time I finally made it home, they were all nestled, snug in their beds, --even Davey.  Poor soul, he's just wiped.  He still has so many evaluations to do.  Thankfully, mine are done.  (Except for a final read through on each.)  But Davey... I think he has about 30... ugh.  WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET TO WATCH A MOVIE?  PLEASE?!!

Well, one amazing thing about these late nights (last night I was up 'til 2am finishing my evals...) --the moon is stunning.  Full moon on white snow makes for a sparkly wonderland all through the night.  It's actually glowing outside.  It's gorgeous.

Check out the picture is of Dave reading to the guys back at Mom and Dad's.  The Last Battle is amazing.  We're almost done.  --Oh yeah and the tiny hatted person in the fishing one is Dave's sister Michelle!