Concert weekend

This coming weekend is the climax of weeks of rehearsal of the Poulenc Gloria, and the Mozart Vespers. We are performing at Persons Auditorium at Marlboro College, my favorite venue. We had our dress rehearsal last night, and it went well. I think it will be a fine concert. I am sitting on a stool, rather than standing throughout, and that works well. It is a special concert because our director,  Susan Dedell, is stepping down as director after this concert. She is much loved and we are all feeling the emotion  of this "last concert." Our "resident Rapper," Laura, delivered this rap last night:

Brattleboro Concert Choir Rap, Spring 2018

This is it, my Friends, you know it’s true

Most likely the crowning rap for me and for you

A joyous concert on tap up here

Sure to please even the finest musical ear

Poulenc, Mozart, what a pair!

Filling Person’s with music in the Marlboro, Vermont air

Lucky us to have had so many eves with Susan, right?

Melodious and intelligent instruction each and every night!

And a chance to sing her out with an incredible send off

The orchestra so sonorous, no one will be even tempted to cough

Basses, percolate, percolate, percolate, you know what to do!

The altos, tenors and sopranos will provide you with the glue.

Phrasing my friends, deep arches abound.

Lift your voices high with a joyous lovely flowing sound.

Open your hearts wide, this is your chance, NOW!

The moment is fleeting from the start to the final bow. 

Give it your all to honor our dear Susan with your best

For she has given us all a veritable treasure chest 

Of her time and talent these 28 years

If I think of it too much it will bring me to tears

So let’s do it up right! Be brave strong and bold

Embody the music!  There’s a story to be told.

And thank you, Susan, for your work with us all

We are each better for it.  In our eyes you are ten feet tall!

You are the best as we send you off for adventures unknown. 

Always singing and playing and striking the right tone! 

Thank you, Susan, thank you, I say it with glee 

Since we’ve already made our checks to the BMC!

Our local weekly, The Commons, ran a special article this week about Susan's departure:

But that is not all. Tomorrow morning we will be singing in a choir for the funeral of our friend, Nancy Miller. Ellen prepared two wonderful meals for Nancy's family this week.

Sunday morning, I will be presenting the annual Shirley Harris Crockett Award to a young woman in our church which will make it possible for her to attend Green Mountain Camp. More on that after Sunday.

And speaking of Green Mountain Camp, they just agreed to take my upright piano as a gift. I'm thrilled because I couldn't stand the idea of junking it. I'm paying for it to be moved and tuned, but it will have a good home! More on that later too.

And to round things off, I just ran across this wonderful photo of Shirley's mother, Florence Langley, and her twin sister, Grace, when they were young women (c. 1915). I think it just is so evocative of an era. Their dresses were probably made by their mother, Kate Townsend Langley, whose home in Harrisville, NH we visited last Saturday.

Grace and Florence Langley