[Magdalen] A great sadness

[Marion Thompson]

It may be more productive to start where you will find people who enjoy 
the same sort of 'fabulous music'. Choral music is not one size fits 
all.  The first stop may not be the right one, but can produce leads to 
other groups or small assemblies you might explore.

The Marions have been fortunate in their no-budget life.  We have always 
rehearsed in a Toronto church at no cost, not in the choir room or 
similar, but in the church proper.  Our conductor had a long musical and 
social history with that place and many of our members have sung in the 
choir there forever and been wardens, etc.  I met many of them while we 
were all singing with the Orpheus Choir in the 80's.  And I made up the 
choir for Jim's and my wedding in 1992 from them and  members of the 
then men & boys St. Simon's Choir where I attended.  It was a great 
sound and we resolved to stay together, even if we only sang once a year 
in Whitevale.  It wasn't until 1997 that we were invited to take part in 
a subscription series but needed a conductor and Tony was looking for a 
group to conduct.  The rest is history.

Marion, a pilgrim

On 2/5/2016 12:40 PM, Scott Knitter wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 11:02 AM, P. Dan Brittain
> <pdan.brittain at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Don't forget the Chicago Sacred Harp singers. Go when you want, and have a
>> great time.
> I really like this idea, especially the "go when you want" aspect!
>
> Another thing I've daydreamed about is collecting some willing
> singers, obtaining the use of a resonant church or other space weekly
> for two hours, and just gather to rehearse fabulous music for an hour
> in a smaller room and then "perform" it in the resonant space for an
> hour. Sort of a rehearsal and concert weekly. When we feel ready, we'd
> have an actual concert (just do the same as usual but open the doors
> and of course advertise ahead of time).
>
> Would be great if the resonant space could be St. Gertrude's RC Church
> two blocks away from home. :)
>
> https://irs0.4sqi.net/img/general/width960/15598685_-6pI_6d3aD5w85vmegN2bjwtPR6fl48trwkw-WKRNhk.jpg
>