March 15, 2006 at 4:58 PM

I'm so glad to be singing again! For the last couple of years I've pretty much exclusively concentrated on the violin. Now I'm back into the local choral society for the spring concert, and as much as breath support is a bit difficult with something wiggling around in my belly, it just feels really good to sing.

We're performing the Mozart Vespers, Regina Coeli, Schubert's Gott in Umgewitter (I think that's right!) and Brahms' Nänie. I get to sing the soprano solos in Regina Coeli and in the Laudate Dominum, both of which are just wonderful. I think that Mozart had a love-hate relationship with sopranos in general -- he obviously loved the sound, but some of it is just devilishly difficult in phrasing, breathing(!), etc.

But it's really nice, after being away from serious singing for a while, to remember all that technique I studied so assiduously. When to breathe, how to breathe, how to produce a good vowel sound on a low note, a high note; how to project through my range, how to fool the audience into thinking that I haven't breathed in five minutes! :) And, to have the chance to remember this on such lovely music is just the icing on the cake.

Before we get to that concert on April 1st & 2nd, we've got the Sage City Symphony concert on March 26th, also full to the brim with Mozart. This kid I'm hatching will certainly be a great test-case for the Mozart Effect! Our soloists, both vocalists and a young violinist, are going to be fabulous. For me, the music is so wonderfully approachable that it's just a joy to play -- no work at all!

And before that, I need to get my sets in order for St. Patrick's Day, when we're once again playing at the Madison Brewery. They're brewing a special Irish Red just for the occasion, but of course I can't drink any of it! :P Still, even without the beer, I think it'll be a good time. We've got lots of cheesy Irish sing-a-long songs as well as our reels and jigs, and it went over well last year.

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 15, 2006 at 5:37 PM

Lol....I can relate to the cheesy Irish sing along songs.... :-D

From Terez Mertes
Posted on March 15, 2006 at 5:39 PM

Wow, that is so cool about the singing - congrats to you, on both the renewed opportunity and your obvious talent. I sing twice a year with a choir I used to perform with weekly. Just couldn't cut the umbilical cord when I moved 50 miles away. It's a real joy to keep up my singing just that tiny bit. (Although I'm far from your level.)

Speaking of umbilical cords, loved the reference to the soon-to-be hatching kid. : )

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 15, 2006 at 5:42 PM

Lol...I can totally relate to the "cheesy" Irish sing-alongs...!
Congrats on your new soon to be addition !Been there, done that 3 times...It's great ! :-D

From Eileen Geriak
Posted on March 15, 2006 at 5:44 PM

(DOH!)....sorry about the double/tripple post Patty...

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March 15, 2006 at 4:58 PM

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