A Night at the Opera

Okay, actually, it was an afternoon at the opera.

But, it was at the Metropolitan Opera. Okay, but not in New York. At a movie theater.

Did you know they did this? You can watch live broadcasts of the Met Opera.

Brian took me to one of our local movie theaters this weekend to watch The Enchanted Island, a newly commissioned Baroque pastiche (fun word, eh?).

Basically, it's in English, with storylines taken from some Shakespeare plays, with music taken from a variety of operas (Handel, Vivaldi, and some lesser-known composers).

It was a lot of fun, and exceptionally well done (well, it is the Met, eh?), and it featured Placido Domingo in the role of Neptune (my mom LOVES him).

We can still say that opera's not really our thing, but that's okay, we can still appreciate it. ^_^

Although, I do have to say, some of the music was a little catchy.

My favorite was used in this trailer for the opera:

It was a fun and different thing to do, although, I must say, I think we were the youngest in the theater by like 40 years. *LOL* (Okay, maybe not, as there was a younger gay couple next to us, but, close enough!)

A Mostly Typical Sunday

Sundays around here are usually pretty typical.

As most of you know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon), and we observe Sundays as the Sabbath day, and try to make it a day for rest and worship. We also try not to do things that are normal for the rest of the week. So, in other words, we don't shop on Sundays, or do things like go to the movies, or say, an amusement park. We try not to do chores. And, in my family personally, we listen to only classical or church music.We focus on attending church service, and also on other "quiet" and meaningful activities, like reading scriptures, or other books, visiting family and the sick, journaling, doing family history, and yes, even naps. It IS the day of rest, isn't it?

So, with that said, here's how the day went for us today. I said it was mostly typical, because it varied a little in its normality.

8:30 am -- Woke up and showered
9:00 am -- Ate breakfast while checking email/FB/news/practice music (you'll see why)
10:00 am -- Got ready for church (did hair, got dressed, put on makeup)
10:30 am -- Left for church
10:45 am -- Arrived at church, settled into pew, then checked on mic (yes, it's coming)
11:00 am -- Church begins
11 am - 2 pm -- Block of meetings at church (will explain later)
2:30 pm -- Arrive home, change clothes, eat lunch while checking email/FB/etc.

Then in the afternoon we usually watch some TV together. We cook dinner for the coming week, and just have some quality time, including calling family.

So, that's usually our Sundays. But, I know what you're thinking: 3 hours for church?! *LOL* Yep.

Our first hour (usually a teensy longer) is what we call Sacrament Meeting, because during that time we take the sacrament (aka communion). We also sing hymn and have speakers (instead of just one preacher), etc. The the second hour is Sunday School, and the third hour is when the youth, men, and women split up into separate classes. During both second and third hours, the children gather together in what we call Primary. Part of their time is spent in age-divided classes, and part of the time they are together learning about the scriptures and also singing and learning songs. [I am currently a teacher in the Primary -- my class is the 3-year-olds that turned/are turning 4 this year.] So, that's about it in a nutshell. (Please feel free to ask questions, if you want.)

However, today was a little atypical because instead of having speakers, the Primary (children) put on a program during most of the time. It usually involves them speaking parts (which they sometimes come up with) and singing songs revolving around a specific theme. (Every year they have a new theme to focus on during that year.) This year it was about the scriptures. So, remember me mentioning practicing music and checking on a mic? Well, that's because, during one of the songs, I was asked to sing the descant that is available for it. (Descant: a superimposed counterpoint to a simple melody sung typically by some or all of the sopranos.) So, yes, I can sing, but I get quite nervous singing in front of people by myself. However, as long as I know the song/part well, I'm usually okay at controlling the nerves. Luckily, this is a part I sing often when they sing this song normally, because it's just such a pretty descant.


And THAT was my slightly atypical, typical Sunday.

A Little Night Music

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt asks if you listen to music while you write, and I say, yes! But I take it even further than that. I listen to specific music while I create (whether on the computer, including digital scrapbooking, writing, or other craftiness),and while I work. I don't like anything too poppy (while I love the '80s and dance music, I feel that this can get me too hyped up) -- best to leave that for chores around the house, working out, or zooming down the highway. ^_^  I also don't want anything too, too mellow, as I don't want to fall asleep (again, I love classical music, but usually reserve it for Sundays).

But, to feel inspired, sometimes letting my mood elevate, sometimes letting it come down some, I listen to what people would classify as "New Age" music. However, I like to also throw in "Electronic(a)" because I think that more closely resembles my favorite genre of music to work by. Think of artists like Enya, Engima or Loreena McKennit (a little closer to the New Age), then throw in Secret Garden and Amethystium, then toss in Deep Forest, Delerium (yep, that's how it's spelled), and Sleepthief, to garner more of the electronic sound.

To me, this music inspires me, whether with the magical quality of the sounds, or with the story being told, it just makes me want to create! ^_^ (And it doesn't hurt that most of the time I feel transported to another world, but yet still can retain myself grounded in this one.)

And so, I leave you with a song I first heard on my Pandora New Age station, and it immediately brought a scene to my mind that I HAD to write a story around. (Hmm, is that a hint? ^_-)

This is Sleepthief's "Just Say It"



Love, love, love it!

And, if you're interested in any other of Sleepthief's music, check out their YouTube channel -- he does some AWESOME music videos (a little strange, but they totally fit the songs).

And, if you want me to share my New Age station with you, let me know! ^_^

Day 25 - Put iPod on Shuffle, First 10 Songs

I'm having to use my iPod Shuffle, because I don't have that many songs on my iPhone yet. ^_^

1. "Hope Has a Place" by Enya
2. "World Gone Crazy" by SLEEPTHIEF*
3. "Sublunar (Sweet Angel)" by SLEEPTHIEF
4. "Catch You Catch Me" by Gumi (on the Cardcaptor Sakura soundtrack)
5. "The Tide Is High" by Blondie
6. "Love Fool" by The Cardigans
7. "Rainy World" by SLEEPTHIEF
8. "Smell of Desire" by ENIGMA
9. "Playstation (My Console)" by Eiffel 65
10. "Penelope's Song" by Loreena McKennitt

* Out of this set, this is probably one of my favorite songs right now. The music video is a little strange, but I love SLEEPTHIEF's music (as you can see, it came up often, even though I only have two albums and some remixes).


As you can see, my taste in music varies, although a lot of "New Age" music came up in the shuffle, which is interesting. I would say that's probably my favorite genre of music, but it's sort of a catch all that does contain the artists some would consider New Age, as well as Celtic music, and Electronica, as well as others.

Did you listen to any of these, and what did you think?
 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lu-jah!

At our church (and many other LDS ones around the country), the first weekend of December is usually devoted to a creche or nativity exhibit, where members are asked to volunteer their nativity sets so that they can be shared with the community. Usually, as part of these, there is music performed while people peruse the exhibit.

I am in the choir this year, performing on Saturday evening, and one of the pieces we are singing is the "Hallelujah" Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Now you'd think that since I've been in church choirs since my late teens, that I might have, at one point, sung the this piece. However, that would be incorrect. It's true! I have never actually sung this piece. And some people in our choir were horrified (okay, not really) to learn of how some people, including me, had never sung it before. Well, what can I say? I'm learning it now, though.

And boy, is that puppy hard! Because, you think you know what it sounds like, but then again, each part is different than you think to contribute to the whole. And, the Soprano line is no different. There's even some tricky timing with one section of the hallelujahs.

But, thank goodness for the Internet. On YouTube I have pulled up the Soprano part only and been able to practice at home and not felt so inept at singing this. Now I feel a lot more confident.

Fun times!