Association of Concert Bands, 38th Annual Convention- Keynote Concert
Regina K invited me to the Three Rivers Rhapsody, the Association of Concert Bands, 38th Annual Convention's concerts. The first one for their 38th Convention was performed by the River City Brass in Soldiers and Sailors Hall Wednesday (last) night.
The two-hour concert consisted of:
Marching with Sousa
Strike up the Band
The American Patrol
Miller Magic
Summertime (with a solo by trumpeter Jeff Nicodemus)
The Big Mancini
Ruby Tuesday
The Circle of Life (Vocal Solo by Sean )
Sing, Sing, Sing
---INTERMISSION---
Gaelforce
Malaguena
When the SAints Go Marching In
[A Louis Armstrong piece]
The Eye of the Tiger
25 or 6 to 4
God Bless the USA
Macarthur Park
Encore: Stars and Stripes Forever
Their artistic director, James Gourlay, a Scotsman with a finely-tuned sense of humorous storytelling, conducted and will conduct the ACB 2016 Convention Band.
Regina greeted me during intermission, and I said a hello to Jeff N afterwards.
Happy Easter 2016!
I arrived early enough for the noon Mass to hear Don playing the recessional hymn and the Widor voluntary. The 10.00 Mass was the Bell Choir Mass. Jim B (in the congregation) and I (in the loft) spotted each other and we waved happily at each other. Lisa P taught me the (secular ASL) sign for Easter. All before a run-down of the noon Mass, which was said should be like a warm-up compared to the Vigil Mass last night, which it was...
Easter Sunday Noon Mass started off with preludes by the brass ensemble and by Ken: A Gabrieli piece by the brass ensemble, followed by a piece about an angel, Uriel, by Ken at the Beckerath console.
Fr. Kris S celebrated the Mass with Deacon Chuck R serving, among others.
Entrance hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (four verses, as compared to three late last night)
Festal Gloria (Donald Fellows)
First Reading: Acts 10: 34, 37-43
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118, This is the Day- O Filii et Filiae (French Carol), cantored by Linda O
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4
Easter Sequence: Led by Linda O, "Alleluia" response from Victinae Paschali Laudes (A. C. Dohms)
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia sequence led by Linda O, from the Good News Acclamation (J. Chepponis)
Gospel Reading: John: 20: 1-9 (read by Deacon Chuck R)
Renewal of Baptismal Promises- Sprinkling Rite- Springs of Water (Donald Fellows)
Preparation of the Gifts and the Altar- Hallelujah! from Mount of Olives (Ludwig Beethoven)
Eucharistic Acclamations from Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei (Vatican Mass XVIII)
Communion Antiphon- O Filii et Filiae (Robert Farrell)
Communion Procession- God's Right Hand and Holy Arm (K. Lee Scott)
Choral Communion Anthem- Hallelujah! from Messiah- (George F. Handel)
Blessing and Dismissal- The Mass is Ended... Thanks be to God, Alleluia
Recessional Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen today (Text: C. Wesley; Tune: Llanfair)
Postlude: Toccata from Symphony V (C. M. Widor)
During the Postlude I waved from the loft at Rock, and also went down the stairs to say hello to Maryann F and Dr. Vince and Donna D, as well as to Bob F.
After Mass, I treated Mom and Dad to Asian buffet in Monroeville. Yum-my!
Naps ensued, then preparation for class Monday. We watched, I think for the second or third week in a row, little big shots and ate See's candy from Joyce.
Easter Vigil Mass 2016
The Easter Vigil Mass was celebrated by Bishop David Zubik. It went from 8.30 till about 11.30PM on the eve before Easter. Don directed the music, which, in addition to us choristers and Ken at the organ, included Carnegie Brass and a timpanist.
THE SERVICE OF LIGHT
Blessing of the Fire and Lighting of the Candle Procession
The Cathedral starts in darkness, and the light of Christ is passed from the Bishop to the seminarians, from individual to individual in the congregation. Watching the ceiling of the nave from the loft, the darkened arches slowly become bathed in the warm glow of candlelight.
The Bishop sings the Invocation, and we respond:
Christ our Light! Thanks be to God!
The Easter Proclamation is made by Bishop Zubik: The Exsultet
LITURGY OF THE WORD
The First Reading was by Ed, Genesis 1: 1- 2:2.
Psalm 33: Cantored by Linda O and Sean G, with choir
Second Reading: Exodus 14:15- 15:1
Exodus 14 Canticle: Cantored by Linda O and Sean G, with choir
Third Reading: Isaiah 55
Song Of Isaiah 12 (Robert Batastini)- You Will Draw Water: Cantored by Linda O, with choir
Festal Gloria (Donald Fellows)
Eastertime Alleluia/ Psalm 118- Good News Acclamation (James Chepponis)
Gospel: Luke 24: 1-12
Sung Refrain from Eastertime Alleluia
Homily by Bishop David Zubik
LITURGY OF BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION
Litany of the Saints- (Chant): Cantored by Sean G, with choir and congregation
Blessing of Water- Springs of Water (Donald Fellows)
Initiation Acclamations
Celebration of Each Baptism- Alleluia (Donald Fellows)
Renewal of Baptismal Promises- Springs of Water...Alleluia (Donald Fellows)
Reception into Full Communion of Baptized Non-Catholics
Confirmation, then after the prayer over the candidates, all sing- Amen (Donald Fellows)
General Intercessions
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the Gifts and the Altar- Hallelujah! from Mount of Olives (Ludwig Beethoven)
Eucharistic Acclamations from Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
COMMUNION RITE
Agnus Dei (Vatican Mass XVIII)
Communion Antiphon- O Filii et Filiae (Robert Farrell)
Communion Procession- God's Right Hand and Holy Arm (K. Lee Scott)
Choral Communion Anthem- Hallelujah! from Messiah- (George F. Handel)
Blessing and Dismissal- The Mass is Ended... Thanks be to God, Alleluia...
CONCLUDING RITE
Recessional Hymn- Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Text: Latin 14th C, Tune: Easter Hymn)
Postlude: Toccata from Symphony V for Organ (C.M. Widor)
I popped downstairs during the postlude to well-wish my former student and Jessica's student worker, Amy W a welcome to the Church! We spoke briefly of the music and she introduced me to her friend, Christian, before she joined up with the others to have a welcoming photo.
Good Friday 2016
About an hour ago I hurried with my coworker Christine from my work meeting to the Cathedral to sing the end of the Good Friday Service. I arrived to the silence of the Church, just moments before the choir and the cantors sang Crucifixus, a piece sung once a year by our choir by the resident composer, Robert Farrell. I cannot sing this piece with a dry eye.
Earlier in the day I had a physical therapy appointment and the Friday Biology sub-department work meeting. The work meeting for the museum was cancelled for the holiday.
~~~
23.20
This evening Tito Larry, Tita Tina, her mom, and Tita Tina's cousin's wife stopped in, bearing goodies from Dumaguete City. I got all but a couple handfuls of TurnItIn.com assignments graded tonight. I'm looking forward to completing those tomorrow and finishing grading the quizzes from this week.
"Je Suis Bruxellois...Ik Ben Brussels"
I was listening to the BBC news at the top of the hour and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stated,
"Je Suis Bruxellois...Ik Ben Brussels" in support of the Belge people. He stated that after 9/11/2001 that the Belgian and European people showed an outpouring of support for the United States.
see also:
http://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20160325_00801710
http://www.sudinfo.be/1522462/article/2016-03-25/je-suis-bruxellois-ik-ben-brussels-les-usa-sont-avec-la-belgique-declare-john-ke
John Kerry fait une référence au "Je suis Américain" lancé par le chef de gouvernement belge de l’époque, Guy Verhofstadt, au lendemain des attentats du 11 septembre 2001 aux Etats-Unis (de sudinfo.be)
This, after this weekend I told Mom my Bakerei story from Koeln...
Holy Thursday Mass 2016
I arrived early for the Holy Thursday warm-up, which started at 18.15, and Don, Ken, Doug, and I greeted Frs. NIck V and Brian W in the warm 60-70 Fahrenheit weather. Mass started at 19.00. We sang, with Ken accompanying us and Don directing us. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Zubik, with many priests, too, concelebrating.
Introit: Let our glory be in the cross
Entrance hymn: Lift High the Cross
Gloria: In Alternatum, Latin Mass VIII, Bernard Newell (intoned by Bishop David Zubik)
First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116- Our Blessing Cup, Michel Guimont (Christina McC cantored)
Second Reading: Corinthians 11: 23-26 (read by Owen Y)
Gospel Acclamation (before and after the Gospel)- Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ..., Richard Proulx
Gospel Reading; John 13: 1-15 (read by Deacon Chuck R)
Foot Washing: Mandatum, Peter Latona
Homily: Fr. Adam V
Preparation of the Gifts: Where Charity and Love Prevail/ transl. of Ubi Caritas (Mom and Dad were some of the people to bring up the gifts)
Sanctus: Vatican Mass XVIII
Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen: Deutsche Messe, Franz Schubert/ Richard Proulx
Agnus Dei: from Missa Brevis in E flat, Antonio Lotti
Communion Procession: Where Love and Charity Abide, Lucien Deiss
Communion Meditation: Lord, Who Hast Formed Me, Arlen Clarke
Transfer of the Eucharist: Pange Lingua Gloriosi
and
Ave Verum Corpus, William Byrd
Stripping of the Altar/ Depart in Silence: Bishop Zubik and the seminarians
Saw my former chorister friend Maria and her friend Adrienne after Mass, they were off to visit churches on Holy Thursday. Also delivered some candy! There was a very light drizzle after Mass.
My Liturgical Birthday
is now...at rush hour/ dinner time!
WED- Bible Study for Easter Sunday
We read the Easter Resurrection Gospel readings according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Peter. OF the 21+ people (plus Fr. Drew) who attended Bible Study today, some of us read part of the concurrent/ synoptic Gospels. I took a turn reading Matthew 28: 5-10. The readings we studied are below.
Matthew 28: 1-10
Mark 16: 1-8
Luke 24: 1-12
John 20: 1-9
Peter 8: 28-33; 12: 50-54; 13: 55-57
Bruxelles, apres...
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-story-behind-the-brussels-photo-you-saw-everywhere-i-was-not-able-to-help-them/ar-BBqNro3?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=TSHDHP
Je porte un bracelet Belge qui a l'inscription: "Elle Vit /B[elge]/ Leeft"
et
Le necklace/ collier que j'ai fait avec les charmes du Mannikin Pis et les autres charmes.
J'ai ecrit a Caro, qui a prend le Metro a un autre direction.
La vie est delicate.
Je Suis Bruxelles
I awoke today to the BBC News announcing attacks this morning at the Brussels airport and metro by extremists:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/police-hunt-suspect-after-islamic-state-kills-30-in-brussels-suicide-attacks/ar-BBqLxXn?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=TSHDHP
I sent Caro an email asking her in French if she is okay. Fortuitously, she had an appointment which had her taking the Metro in the opposite direction.
Je Suis Bruxelles.
~~~~~
Today I started my day with my physical therapy (PT) appointment. My PT said I can go off the cane, and wean off the brace!!! Yay!
I stopped at a café to pick up breakfast before going to hear Albert Koller present a talk to us docents. Then it was time for lunch, a quick nap, and teaching this afternoon. (It's Ecology, week 1 at work!)
The Who at the Consol Energy Center
This evening Debbie and I started the birthday celebrations at the Consol Energy Center with the Who. ("Who? With whom?"). We enjoyed burgers and shakes from the Burgatory.
Tal Wilkenfeld and her band opened for the Who tonight, with a sound reminiscent of Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane. Many of the pieces they performed sounded much like "White Rabbit." They definitely had a signature sound.
Terry and Doug L sat diagonally in front of us, and apparently Karen G was there, too.
The Who opened with "Who Are You?" before a backdrop-sized screen, and two large screens to stage left and right. Early in the program Pete Townshend described a love story around "You Better," then they sang it. They played such oldies such as "My Generation," I Can See for Miles and Miles," and some songs from Quadrophenia and the old chestnut from Tommy, "Pinball Wizard."
A couple of songs from the 1980s were performed, including "Eminence Front," and "Teenage Wasteland," and they rounded up the two-hour-long single set with songs such as "Won't Get Fooled Again." After dancing around on stage for the full two hours, singing and windmill-arm-guitar strumming seventy-plus-year old Daltrey and Pete Townshend introduced the band, including Pete's brother and Ringo Starr's son. Roger Daltrey sent us off with some words of farewell and "Be Lucky!"
Thursday- Tuesday: PT, Izzie's Senior Concert, Spring Forward Clocks, Choir, Training at the Carnegie Museum!
Physical Therapy-- Twice a week at the facility and also at home.
Friday afternoon, Stacy and I went for a walk together and ran into a mutual friend. We prayed for a while in Church.
Saturday--Mom, Dad, and I sat in the front row for Izzie's violin concert. She opened with Bach. She performed pieces solo or accompanied by piano.
Her program consisted of:
Siciliano from Sonata No. 1 (J.S. Bach)
Fugue in A Major (Giuseppe Tartini)
Liebesfreud (Love's Joy) (Fritz Kreisler)
Finale, Scottish Fantasy (Max Bruch)
The color of the Kreisler piece was wonderful.
The Bruch piece at the end was played so emotionally and vigorously that several times during the performance Izzie was seen pulling stray shredded catgut/ horsehair from her bow.
We joined her friends and family for a post-concert repast of a whole lechon, side dishes, and never-ending desserts. How delicious! (And I mean the conversation...the food was over-the-top!)
Sunday---Brought the Springing Forward of Clocks, Choir practice, and Mass.
Twice weekly training at the Carnegie Museum!
WED- Very Busy day: Rude Teenage Girl on commute home...
Today was busy: Bible Study for this Sunday (Fifth Cycle of Lent, Cycle C). I read the Gospel reading for our little group--John 8:1-11, the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery.
I had two meetings with friends, and an appointment (I brought Mom along to the second).
Today was the day of rude people...first, the manager(?) at Lulu's Noodles/ Yum Wok ignored me for a full four plus minutes while I said "Hello," to various people behind the counter. One of them indicated that if I were to order, I should talk to her (but she ignored me). I went outside and told Mom and Dad that I would go to another restaurant for our cool beverages, which I did. They lost our business today. Secondly, after hearing a student's presentation at work, and visiting a computer lab, I walked home. Jean greeted me, we chatted briefly about the weather, and when the light was in my favor to cross Dithridge, I waved and smiled at the driver of the car turning right (north) from Fifth Avenue to Dithridge. With my condition, I did not cross quickly (enough for the angry, impatient, rude A.I.R. teenager in the passenger seat), as the teen girl in the passenger seat yelled, "RIDE the BUS!"
MON, TUE- New Employee Orientation; PT and Docent/ Education Meeting, Dinner with Christina, etc.
Yesterday (Monday) was New Employee Orientation at the Museums, returning books to the library, grading, and administrative work issues.
Today, I had physical therapy early followed by a docent and education department meeting, which wrapped up as a brainstorming session for programming! I took care of posting Midterm Grades for first-year students. I rode the bus to IHOP, and Christina and I had dinner there for National Pancake Day. We walked from the Carnegie Library to Phipps Conservatory and back, then I checked out a book at the Carnegie Library. Ran into Gail and Richard there. What a wonderful, full day. It was in the high 60's to low 70's in Pittsburgh today.
All the Light We Cannot See- Finished Reading
Just finished reading All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. Great detail--if one were to learn and do all the research for the book, it would take years. Quite the story. In addition to the underlying theme of Christianity that I discussed in the post just prior to this one, there is a theme about electromagnetic waves drawing people together or separating them. Very interesting book. I'll have to talk to Kirsten about it.
All the Light We Cannot See- Reading 2
Right before choir practice, I got to right before chapter twelve (1974) of the Anthony Doerr novel, All the Light We Cannot See. Over lunch after Mass I told Mom (who is reading it concurrently) and Dad that many of the symbolism in the book is Church/ Christian-oriented: The community in St. Malo, environs, and beyond; the reading of the personal news/ petitions over the waves; her being saved/ rescued; etc. has overtones of the Mass and the early Church.
After Mass we went up the street towards Carnegie Mellon to a little Chinese restaurant on the part of the street that is closed since last Saturday due to a water main break. We had some delicious food.
All the Light We Cannot See- REading
Last I spoke with Kirsten (last month), she recommended a pair of books :
All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)
and
Stroke of Insight (Jill Bolte Taylor)
I am on p. 376/~ 530 of the novel. Mom is reading the book whilst I read a different copy, as well.
It is Spring Break. I am taking time to finish this book (it is due on Monday, with no renewal possibility), and am enjoying reading. This afternoon I read after helping Mom with Internet searching of items, after eating half a peanut butter and banana sandwich for lunch. I read through the afternoon, up until dinner time. This action reminded me of my reading books like Harriet the Spy as an elementary school student up until the dinner hour, on my bed and sans glasses.
More PT; First Training; Fish Fry and St. John's Passion of Christ at Heinz Hall;
THis week there was more physical therapy (two times per week), my first paid training meeting on Friday morning, and a fish fry with Debbie near her home (Michelle and Sean joined us), and a version of the St. John version of the Passion of CHrist at Heinz Hall. The orchestra was joined by the Mendelssohn Choir (spotted Dave B!) and two upstage stagings. The one on stage left stayed close to the text, the staging on the right showed various secular, daily scenes. We stayed after for the Question and Answer with the conductor (Manfred Honeck), the director, and the lighting designer. We walked toward the stage to sit with Stacy and Gail for the Q & A.
According to the director, the two stagings were not connected. However, there was a dramatic moment in the score in which the right stage staging showed the woman of a couple carrying a large suitcase to leave. The second major "scene" in the right staging was a sports bar, whilst the left-stage staging showed the questioning of Christ by Pilatus. The third main scene in the right staging was a Starbucks coffee house, with the red holiday cups and individuals gathering around a computer notebook to gawk at the screen whilst the left-stage staging showed the execution of plainclothes singers/ protectors of Christ one by one, leaving only the Christ to be executed by the automatic weapon-toting executioners.
The dichotomy between the faith-immersed left side of the stage's staging and the right-stage staging of secular scenes drove home for me and for some at the post-production Q & A the removal of the sacred from secular life, thereby profaning it to a degree.
