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As registration comes to a close, I'm getting the music ready to mail individually or deliver to the Maritime Conservatory inHalifax.
Some reminders: We're planning another Silent Auction for Friday evening during the Harmony Harbour wine & cheese. This fundraiser relies on the various donations any of us are able to give. Last year there was an amazing variety from art work to a weekend get-away to jewellry and a basket made of fishing rope. If you have something to donate, please let us know ([email protected]) and try to deliver it for display by 5:00. While people register for their rooms, there will be a Sneak Peek from 5:00 to 6:30 in the adjoining Grand Lounge. Actual bidding goes on during Harmony Harbour. Also: Bring Money!! If you want a look at your accommodations, visit the website https://www.digbypines.ca/rooms/ It really is a treat to stay there. Joanne Light is hoping someone can share a room ( [email protected] ) I'd very much like to have a meeting Sunday morning for anyone available and interested in continuing the High Cs in Digby Choral Festival. The church in St. Bernard has an enthusiastic group working to keep the building open for concerts and other special events, so that remains a very possible venue. Attendance at this meeting would in no way commit anyone to do anything. We're looking for ideas and suggestions. Much of the preparation can easily be done anywhere. We have a list of what-to-do-when. Everything is mostly a matter of remaining conscious. AND there's already one Bright Light who has expressed interest, so step right up!! Meanwhile, start gathering your gear: black music folder black clothes head to toe and at least to the elbow scarf/tie in one solid colour (something bright?) layers of clothes for rehearsal - although we try to heat the hall comfortably, we don't all feel temperatures the same way - you can always take off a sweater if you're too warm - for the truly reptilian, I'd suggest gloves! Questions? Suggestions? Joanne Joanne BuckmasterSat, Apr 20, 8:34 PM (2 days ago) to As registration comes to a close, I'm getting the music ready to mail individually or deliver to the Maritime Conservatory in Halifax. Some reminders: We're planning another Silent Auction for Friday evening during the Harmony Harbour wine & cheese. This fundraiser relies on the various donations any of us are able to give. Last year there was an amazing variety from art work to a weekend get-away to jewellry and a basket made of fishing rope. If you have something to donate, please let us know ([email protected]) and try to deliver it for display by 5:00. While people register for their rooms, there will be a Sneak Peek from 5:00 to 6:30 in the adjoining Grand Lounge. Actual bidding goes on during Harmony Harbour. Also: Bring Money!! If you want a look at your accommodations, visit the website https://www.digbypines.ca/rooms/ It really is a treat to stay there. Joanne Light is hoping someone can share a room ( [email protected] ) I'd very much like to have a meeting Sunday morning for anyone available and interested in continuing the High Cs in Digby Choral Festival. The church in St. Bernard has an enthusiastic group working to keep the building open for concerts and other special events, so that remains a very possible venue. Attendance at this meeting would in no way commit anyone to do anything. We're looking for ideas and suggestions. Much of the preparation can easily be done anywhere. We have a list of what-to-do-when. Everything is mostly a matter of remaining conscious. AND there's already one Bright Light who has expressed interest, so step right up!! Meanwhile, start gathering your gear: black music folder black clothes head to toe and at least to the elbow scarf/tie in one solid colour (something bright?) layers of clothes for rehearsal - although we try to heat the hall comfortably, we don't all feel temperatures the same way - you can always take off a sweater if you're too warm - for the truly reptilian, I'd suggest gloves!
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I've sent emails to the 307 addresses that I still manged to save from the killer jaws of my computer when it was in its death throes. Since I had started with well over 400, a lot of past participants have been lost. We're definitely up and running; come join us for a wonderful weekend of song, laughter, and friendship - and yes, some silliness.I've sent emails to the 307 addresses that I still manged to save from the killer jaws of my computer when it was in its death throes. Since I had started with well over 400, a lot of past participants have been lost. We're definitely up and running; come join us for a wonderful weekend of song, laughter, and friendship - and yes, some silliness. Love Joanne After having all kinds of not-so-interesting problems with my computer, I finally had the hard-drive replaced. Although everythng is now perfect, a scary number of things have been changed, making everything in general very tricky to manouever. I'm hoping this is a completely understandable reason for a lot of you to be teetering as to whether High Cs is actually an event this year.
Hich Cs is happening!! May 17 - 19 (20, if you stay for Afterglo) Please spread the word. My first computer crash in September - and this is an Apple (!?!) - lost more than half my emails for High Cs. So I need all the publicity you can give me. (Otherwise, I might be fired?) If you haven't already registered, forms are available on our website: www.highcs.org Information about The Digby Pines is also there. Make sure you mention that you're part of High Cs. The planning and organization of High Cs this year fell victim to surgery, illness, iffy driving conditions, and other general symptoms of an aging committee. But we didn't succumb!! As mentioned, the committee is (like everyone else still breathing) getting older. Someof us are even getting cranky.
Others refuse to remember important stuff (like where are my keys?). I believe that if High Cs is to continue in some form, the committee needs an infusion of youth. (keeping in mind that "young" is anyone under 70 - and we do have two of those "kids" already on the committee) Most of the organizing can be done without getting together frequently, as long as you communicate. A detailed "workbook" has been produced, just waiting for some New People to use it. Suggestions will be entertained. Go to our website for any other information you might need. https://www.highcs.org Wait with baited breath for the next email. Meanwhile, if you no longer want to hear from me, please let me know (gently). Also, since I lost a lot of email addresses when my computer took a bad turn, please pass this information along. Hello all you great singers!! I can’t wait to see all of you again this year. I know we will make great music together. Try to learn as much as you can before the weekend. Get together in little groups and have a sing song! Try to listen to the YouTube recordings that I am sending or any other good ones that you find. I’m quoting Mark from last year “Speaking the text in rhythm counts as practice”. He is right, it helps a lot! I’m sure we will have lots of fun. See you soon! Paula Canada We will sing in unison: O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. Car ton bras sait porter l’épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Ave Maris Stella is a plainsong hymn (un “cantique”) to the Virgin Mary, from a group of hymns called Marian hymns; its origin is unknown but it can be dated back to at least the eighth century. It became very popular during the Middle Ages and was used by many composers as the basis of other compositions. The Latin hymn Ave Maris Stella was chosen as the Acadian national anthem at the 1884 second National Acadian Convention held at Miscouche, Prince Edward Island. It was proposed by Pascal Poirier and enthusiastically adopted by the assembly, most likely due to the high degree of devotion the Acadians have to the Virgin Mary, Patron Saint of the Acadians. Translation
Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Nabucco based on the Biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar, was Verdi’s first successful opera (1842). The chorus Va, pensiero, sung by the Jews in their Babylonian captivity lamenting the loss of their homeland, became for the Italian people a symbol of their own longing for political freedom. Very good interpretation of Va pensiero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F4G5H_ TTvU Translation
À la claire fontaine
Of the “Three French Canadian Folksongs”, we’re doing only “A la Claire Fontaine” Quit your jobs, housework, and hobbies; you have 12 days to be perfect! (for New People, that’s a joke, okay?) Some of you might not have received music yet. There were very few people from the Halifax area, so delivery didn’t seem an option. Mailing becomes expensive. We need to talk about increasing the cost or somehow paying the postage. $$$$ On the optimistic side, maybe we’ll make buckets of money on our Silent Auction Friday evening. We have some super items & deals to offer, but always have room for more — especially if you can provide something unique to your area. Everything will be on display for bids during Harmony Harbour Wine, Cheese, and Music. So another thing you should pack would be money! (I imagine cheques or cute children held for ransom would also be acceptable.) When you register for your room, that’s a good time to prepay for your Saturday lunch ($17.50). Even if you’re not staying at the Pines, if you want the buffet lunch, you can pre-pay at the registration desk. Friday supper is up to you; rehearsal starts at 7:00 — you’ll want to be early to find your assigned chair. (It’s special and just for you.) At the risk of sounding like a “Personal” ad, we have an “older man” looking for a roommate. Any takers? Remember, all black, neck to toes and below the elbow. Scarf or tie in all one colour, preferably bright. Black folder. No flashy jewelry (except for my tiara). There’s no secure lock-up for purses or other valuables during the concert. I leave all my treasures in the car and attach the car key to one of the rings in my music folder. Some people, I’ve heard, have pockets. There’s also no convenient place to change clothes. Please wear your Concert Costume to the Sunday rehearsal. Water will be available to refill your bottles — oops! Bring a refillable water bottle. However, if you think you’ll get peckish before the concert, bring whatever non-messy snack you might enjoy. Quite a few people stay Sunday night, too, to be part of the AfterGlow unplanned party. So talk to your friends — some of the best fun happens in the Lounge after supper Sunday. Questions? email me and I’ll find the answer. https://www.highcs.org/ Joanne A note from our director - Paula Le choeur des aboiteaux has a Google web site and I have downloaded the music for Digby High C’s. Anybody can go on our web site “Le Choeur des aboiteaux” and listen to the songs as long as they download “Notepad”. All they do is click on “répétitions” and scroll down to find their voice either in “midi” or “karaoke” files. https://sites.google.com/site/aboiteaux/ A little reminder, maybe more of a nudge. It is April 25th, and in less than 4 weeks it will be High Cs weekend. Registration has been unusually slow this year, and there’s still room for more choristers. Maybe the too-long Winter and totally strange Spring fooled some singers into thinking there was loads of time left. But I heard the peepers last weekend, so it really-really is Spring.
If you know anyone who would like to sing at High Cs, please encourage them. This year's program looks really good! Last year we moved the concert to 4 pm, and we are doing the same this year because the audience loved it and filled the church. Registration has fallen off from the Halifax area, one of the places that High Cs supports financially. If you are from Halifax and are coming to our weekend, thank you. If you haven't registered yet, we would encourage you to do so. If you don't plan on registering, we ask you to reconsider. Thanks for your help. In case you were wondering, the costs for this year are the same as last year. So while you get to eat at the Pines, we eat the inflation. Thanks for reconsidering the High Cs weekend. Actual information about the weekend will follow shortly. Meanwhile, music is being hand-delivered and mailed all during this week. I’d be interested in knowing whether people practice with their regular choir, in separate groups of High Cs participants, all alone, or maybe not at all. Is having the music ahead of time truly helpful? Keep looking for those all-one-colour scarves or ties (to wear for the concert, remember?)  The registration deadline has come and gone, and as is our tradition, we extended it! The deadline is now Saturday, April 21st — if you hope to receive music before the actual event. After that time, until May 5th, the registration fee will be $105 to cover the five dollar cost of mailing your music. That all sounds pretty reasonable, right?
Paula Hebert is looking forward to working on this program with us and is bringing along at least 8 of her own choir. Summerside of PEI will arrive in full force to once again be a Side Choir, but under their new director, Margot Rejskind. The children of Digby Elementary have formed a choir to sing the Canadian and Acadian anthems with us to open the concert. This will be their first time ever in public!! We want to encourage these young people to make music for the rest of their lives. I’m saving the other Side Choir for the next email; Watch For It. Just a reminder: Prepaying for lunch when you register for the hotel will make Saturday noon a lot easier on you. For $15.75 (all in), you will have a buffet, meaning no waiting to order, no desperation & despair before being served, and no discretely anxious waving for the bill. Highly recommended. Wine can also be pre-purchased at the bar in the Lounge. (I have no idea how that will arrive at the right tables!) Silent Auction While we already have some excellent donations from local artists, craftspeople, and merchants, it would be a special bonus if some of you were able to supply items specific to your towns. Any ideas? Mind you, we’re aiming at good value — or at least some “classy” good taste! Please give it some thought. Any problems? Questions? It’s time to get all geared up for another High Cs weekend!!
As always: Victoria Day Weekend, May 18-20 (or the 21st if you want to stay for the Afterglow Party). The registration form will be available shortly on our website www.highcs.org Please note that it’s “.org” Reservations at The Pines may be made now; that info is also on the website. Make sure to say it’s for High Cs to get our special rate. By the way, for those of us who will stay Sunday night, the same low rate applies as will the 15% breakfast discount. Some of you might still remember the kafuffle of Saturday lunch (& wake up screaming). We hope that problem has been solved by providing a buffet. $15.75 includes the HST and our 15% discount — for everything from soup to dessert! To enable us to be even more time saving, we can buy a ticket beforehand at the main Reception Desk. No waiting for a bill! Paula Hebert will be our conductor. Most of you will recall her from being the director for the women’s Sectionals last year. She also was the conductor of the enthusiastic side choir from Moncton. If you know of a choir who has copies of “Singin’ in the Rain” arranged by Mark Hayes, please leap to your feet and send me the contact info!! Also, if you have friends (or enemies) in choirs that have never participated, please forward all the information. We need to cast our net a bit wider. Stand by; more to come. Questions & suggestions are encouraged. After a huge, long silence, now you get a huge, long email. A week from right now, I’ll wish I’d started packing earlier.
What to pack: an all-black outfit that you can rehearse in as well as wear for the concert there’ll be no time or convenient place to change between rehearsal and concert black from neck to toes, including socks if you wear them no sleeves shorter than 3/4 length (to elbow or to wrist) men do not need jackets and may wear black turtlenecks or shirts (turtlenecks could be a bit tricky for ties) for our Tenth Anniversary, we’re asking the women to wear a solid-colour scarf (check www.highcs.org for style) (if you absolutely can’t round one up, I’ll have some there) men will need a bright tie, preferably a solid colour, but they're hard to find (I’ll also have a few of those) any jewelry should be modest and not eye-catching a dressy outfit for the Conductor’s Banquet not a competitive event! Casual comfortable clothes for Friday evening and Saturday Bathing suit in case it’s warm enough for the pool Yoga mat if you’d like to join us in the sunroom off the Lounge at 7:30 a.m. Saturday & Sunday Water bottle - clearly labelled (unless you never misplace yours), spring water will be available for refills, we’re trying to avoid using individual, disposable plastic bottles Rain gear, in case Ps, underwear - you’re own your own! Flashlight if you’re in a cottage Black folder for music and your music This isn’t a complete list, just a start on filling that suitcase. There are at least 40 people staying Sunday night, so we can plan on an Afterglow Party in the Lounge. The concert should be finished well before 6:00. Anyone who can stay 10 or 15 minutes to help with clean-up and tear-down would assuredly achieve a special spot in Heaven. The Pines dining room will be open for supper Sunday evening. Afterglow could be scheduled for 7:30 or 8:00 and could therefore perhaps maybe begin to subside in terms of enthusiastic volume shortly after 10:00 pm. We have on tap the Fabulous Players of the Ukulele - with copies of lyrics for all! Bring along any instruments to join the jubilation. Epi-pens: If you ever might need one, bring it. Without an epi-pen, if you get stung or have other reason to approach death too closely, first aide will be administered while the ambulance is on its way. Just a friendly reminder. Money - well, not buckets of it. There will be a Silent Auction Friday at Harmony Harbour (Wine & Cheese & Welcome). Linda Demone has been gathering treasures of all kinds to be offered. The Banquet won’t have a Roast & Boast this year. (this is a repeat, so you probably have not started preparing something incredibly clever.) Carpooling from the Pines to the church will save on those really scarce parking spaces, so if you have no friends, now might be a great time to make some! Questions or comments or suggestions? See you all next Friday! |
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