December/January 2003

Congratulations to all who contributed time, talent, and supervision for our "Big Three" events in December. Any group at First Parish that reaches out to young people benefits enormously from the participation of adults. Many of our music groups are inter-generational, and the staff seeks both input and assistance for our larger productions during the holiday season.

The Alliance Christmas Party on Monday, December 8, was a rousing success, with over one hundred in attendance. Wendy Covell organized the event, created the program, accompanied on piano, and directed most of the ensembles, to much acclaim. A few students participated in both vocal and instrumental groups, displaying their flexibility and diverse talents. Kudos go to the Jingle Bell Rock Klezmer Band (the biggest yet), the First Parish Strings (and flutes), the Chalice Flames, the Chalice Singers, and the Flute Ensemble, led by Mies Boet-Whitaker. A great time was has by both audience and performers, and the staff would particularly like to recognize the help of those who volunteered to help supervise and accompany at the last minute. You make our jobs a pleasure!

The Annual Music Service on Sunday, December 14 was entitled "Music for Mary, Mothers, and Births." We welcomed the Sängerchor Boston, a German choir affiliated with the Boylston Schul-Verein, and enjoyed a wide variety of music. The First Parish Symphonic Band debuted with Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride," originally commissioned for the Boston Pops. Choir favorites included the music of Morten Lauridsen (Head of Music Composition at the University of Southern California) and excerpts of Cantata no. 140 by J.S. Bach, featuring Phyllis Spence on solo violin. The Music Committee helped assure that the music for the event was drawn from diverse traditions, and provided a fabulous reception afterwards in the Vestry. Thanks again to all who performed!

The Pageant this year, directed by Anne Goodwin and written by Diane Shriver, was a spectacular and engaging show. Excellent performances were given by over forty actors, and musical selections were led by Meg Candilore and Wendy Covell. The sanctuary was transformed into a playhouse through the efforts of a devoted team of volunteers, and some found the best seats in the house to be those in the choir area (who would have suspected?). This annual tradition is one of the largest events of the year, drawing from every age group at First Parish. Please consider joining us next year as part of the production team.

UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS

January - Tolling of the Bells Service on January 4
February - Bluegrass music on February 8
March - Irish music preceding St. Patrick's Day
April - The Spring Music Service on April 4, featuring choral and instrumental music of Leonard Bernstein
June - Inter-generational contributions for Flower Communion on June 13

We welcome new members to the Seldom Singers (first rehearsal on Thursday, January 15, at 7pm), the First Parish Symphonic Band (first rehearsal on Sunday, January 18, at 11:45am) and the Intergenerational Strings Ensemble (first rehearsal on Sunday, January 8 at 11:45am). We have a lot of great new pieces, and look forward to a continuing season of fellowship, food, and good music. I have the following instruments for free loan: student-quality violin, piccolo, flute, alto flute, oboe, E-flat soprano clarinet, B-flat clarinet, tenor saxophone, trombone, assorted percussion, treble balalaika, treble domra, banjo, and guitarron (mariachi bass).

Musically yours,
Laura Prichard

October 2003

The Adult Choir is up and running with two fabulous services behind them. We welcome new members to the choir, and hope that you'll all explore the new Music section of the First Parish webpage. Check out http://firstparish.info/Music/index.html/ or http://prichard.net/fpuua/

Due the the help of Cheri Minton, we have been able to put up a schedule of Sunday service music for the Fall, a partial history of the program for the last two years, an announcement section, and a listing of ongoing rehearsals.

Exciting upcoming events for the choir include a special service of music in Hebrew (Sunday, Septmber 28), a brilliant work by Claudio Monteverdi from St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice (Sunday, November 9), excerpts from Maurice Duruflé's beautiful "Requiem" with organ and chamber orchestra (Sunday, November 16), and an Advent Music Service with music about Mary, Mothers, and births (Sunday, Dec. 14).

Membership in the choir is open to any adult member of First Parish AND to high school and college students. We rehearse on Thursdays from 8-9:30pm in the sanctuary. We will be making rehearsal-study tapes for the Fall music, and free musicianship classes will be offered (beginning in October) for those who would like to learn to read music, or polish the skills they already have. All are welcome! Our goal is to have a group of forty (40!) singers by the Spring. Stay tuned in future spires to find out why...

Calling all instrumental musicians!

On Thursday, September 18, several musicians met for an fall organizational meeting. By the beginning of October, we hope to construct a schedule for a few instrumental groups at First Parish, including the wonderful Strings group.

If you or someone you know is interested in contributing the the Sunday Services through the gift of instrumental music, please contact Laura Prichard, Music Director, or Wendy Covell, organist. Opportunities include: solo performance during the Offering or Prelude, small group performances as part of the service or in our new "forum concert series" (which could precede the service or follow it), and ensemble work.

New ensembles that have been proposed include a bluegrass group, a jazz ensemble (ages 13 and up), a bell choir, and an orchestra for special occasions. Let us know which of these interest you. Folk and tradiational musicians are welcome. We will post all rehearsals on the church webpage at http://firstparish.info/, so look for ideas and updates. So far, Laura has 24 names, and we want to add YOU!

September 2003

Just a note from Laura Prichard

I'm excited to be beginning a new at First Parish as your Music Director. The First Parish membership has been very welcoming, and the adult choir is full of congenial, positive energy. I have led the Music Program at the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, California for the last five years, and am excited to be back East! My husband Michael will be joining me soon (he has to drive across the country one more time), and we are settling in at our new home in "downtown" Carlisle. Please visit my webpage if you're curious about my background and would like to contact me with ideas for the future at http://prichard.net/laura/.

Our Music Committee and staff have been working hard to provide more structure for the Music Program, and I welcome your suggestions for improvements and musical suggestions. The adult choir will be singing music from many traditions this year, including pieces in Hebrew, Russian, Latin, German, and Arabic. October will contrast austere traditional works for Yom Kippur with lighter fare such as "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" and an original "doo-wop" piece by Billy Joel.

A few First Parish members have mentioned that they are too busy to fit the choir into their life as a regular Thursday-night activity, so I will designate specific Sundays as "larger group" events for which a person could attend a smaller number of rehearsals, and still participate. This option may appeal to those of you who perform elsewhere, but want to contribute to the First Parish services in a smaller, more manageable way. The two fall services that qualify as "bigger music" fall on Sunday, November 16 (excerpts from Maurice Duruflé's beautiful "Requiem" with organ and chamber orchestra), and an Advent Music Service with music about Mary, Mothers, and births (Sunday, December 14). To participate in the adult choir for these two fall services, just attend the two Thursday rehearsals PRECEDING the Sunday from 7:30-9:30pm. The regular adult choir rehearsal is 8-9:30 on Thursdays.

Other members have mentioned that they love to make music, but don't read notes, or can't sight-read well. I will be teaching a series of free classes at First Parish on musicianship, sight-reading, and music theory, starting in October. I will schedule seven evening classes, and interested members should try to attend at least four. We will cover musical notation, basic piano skills, musical expression marks, sight-singing tips, and some music theory. Anyone aged 13 and over is welcome to attend. The complete dates will be announced in the orders of service, but will begin with the following: Thursday, October 9, 6:45-7:30pm, and Thursday, October 16, 6:45-7:30pm. Suggestions for times and topics are welcome.

Lastly, if you do not sing, do not play an instrument, and are not interested in joining a performing group at First Parish, but DO have strong opinions about the music you hear on Sunday mornings, WE NEED YOU for the Music Committee. This group meets once a month and supports the Music Program at First Parish. They seek out music that reflects the diversity of our congregation and appeals to a wide variety of tastes and ages. Many planning decisions about upcoming events and special music services are made by this group, and we would love to broaden our membership. You need not be a current choir member to join. Please speak to Andrew Leonard, Jean Renard Ward, or Laura Prichard if interested.

We incorporate chamber musicians into our services at least once per month, and use orchestral groups in November, December, March, April, and June. Solos are often presented during the Offering Music, and may be contributed by any member of the congregation. Thanks!