[Magdalen] Homing Pigeons.

[Joseph Cirou]

-----Original Message-----
>From: Cantor03--- via Magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
>Sent: Dec 25, 2016 4:29 PM
>To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
>Cc: Cantor03 at aol.com
>Subject: [Magdalen] Homing Pigeons.
>
>
>Good friends of ours in the MN Twin Cities moved to the Greenwich, CT
>area in June of 1956.  The couple was native to MN, but "took" to the  NE
>USA, and sang in a couple of the excellent Episcopal church choirs in
>Stamford and Greenwich for decades.  To my surprise, they  announced
>a year ago that they were moving "home" to the Twin Cities after 50  (FIFTY)
>years in CT.  I should add that neither of their children live in the  
>Midwest 
>USA.
> 
>Their Christmas card arrived yesterday, and they sound contented in  their
>condominium overlooking a small lake and wildlife area.  They  searched
>about for a suburban Episcopal church with a choir of the caliber they  were
>used to in the East, and discovered there was only one each in the
>respective downtowns of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul.  They are in  their
>mid-eighties now, and did not want to get started driving into the  
>downtowns
>in the winter.
> 
>They decided to try a neighborhood ELCA (Lutheran) parish, and though
>the choir isn't great in their words, "Boy, can those Lutherans  sing!"
>All I can say is that if this choral-seasoned couple can be happy  singing
>with this Lutheran congregation, Martin Luther has done his job well.
> 
> 
> 
>David S.
That's the truth   David. If the congregation sings I can be happpy. Now when there's a magnificent choir and a singing congregation that's heaven on earth1

So last night I went the middle of the road service (incense free) wonderful music, enough Noels to satisify this French Canadian and glorious anthems and a wonderful Anglican chant with great accompaniment for the psalm. The later service would have been Missa s JOannis de Deo by Haydn with stinrgs with Haydn English trios as a prelude, too late for my friends, Shannon received my congratulations with grace but was embarrassed by the "Low Church" servie at 7:30. I'd say the "Low Church" service was National Cathedral quality (sans encens)

They sang the Lord's Prayer (a plus for many Episcopalian churches) and did an adaptation of la Venue de Noel for the Fraction Anthem (The more French you get, the more you attract me)

This was the first year in a while that I had no gigs during the Christmas Season, but when I do it is primarily POlish or Slavic and french with a little Appalachian trown in.

I was thinking of  you up in the Poconos. HOw far are you from McAdoo I had a same sex engagement there about 20 years ago that gave me plenty to think about. Fortunately I have thought about it, and have upgraded my pastoral policies. McAdoo has a gorgeous Byzantine Catholic Church, their ladies make fine pirohi, they still had holy water fonts in the 90;s but everything else was right (full icooastasis etc. etc.)

Joe

Joe