Flash-mobbed by my own choir
  • Hugh
    Posts: 198
    The 2015 Ballarat-to-Bendigo (Victoria, Australia) Christus Rex Pilgrimage final mass - a solemn pontifical, with the great emeritus Bishop Basil Meeking of Christchurch - is over. Our choir customarily sings a few choice pieces from the last three days by way of fond farewell. I propose first up the beautiful Josquin Ave Maria, which went so well on the Saturday, the day before. The start wavers, uncharacteristically. I stop proceedings. My sidekick Jessica comes forward with a rather ominous, official-looking envelope. Is this my ouster? Has my bluff finally been called? By no means. Apparently for several months this choir strung together from across Australia and beyond has, behind my back, been practising my favourite motet, the Mouton "Nesciens", all year, via facebook and meet ups so they can spring it on me at this moment. All I have to do is wave my arms to keep time. Check the result, from a choir which has just walked 90 ks over three days, singing rosaries, litanies, hymns, etc in the heat and dust on broken sleep, and just finished singing a pontifical mass including the Palestrina Papae Marcelli, etc. There's a more comprehensive facebook account here. What a blessing.
    Thanked by 15CHGiffen M. Jackson Osborn CCooze noel jones, aago ZacPB189 tomjaw canadash Salieri JulieColl eft94530 Priestboi janetgorbitz Adam Wood Jes Casavant Organist
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Fantastische!
    I can hardly think of a greater act of esteem and love than to have a choir who would have gone to such lengths to present such a surprise to their choirmaster.
    Thanked by 2Hugh musiclover88
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    That is simply amazing, Hugh. You and your choristers are to be commended. Thanks for sharing this with us, for it is indeed a blessing for all of us.

    Added note: The Mouton Nesciens Mater is also one of my favorite works, too, and I've been fortunate enough to have performed and recorded it on CD with Zephyrus.
    Thanked by 1Hugh
  • Hugh
    Posts: 198
    Thanks from MJO, Charles, and others, are high praise indeed. I will pass on to those who were chiefly responsible. God bless, and let us continue on this glorious journey.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I think that what your choir did was the equivalent of the gift of a laurel wreath. The greatest honours that we can receive in this life (or, for that matter, the next) are not the ones we seek, desire, or dream of, but those which are the uncoveted and unexpected gifts of our peers and confreres.
    Thanked by 4Hugh melofluent CHGiffen Jes
  • JesJes
    Posts: 576
    Sidekick? haha Love it!!
    Hugh, it was well deserved, can't wait to do the Lambe one this year! :P
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