I'm saving my "milk money" for this one, let me tell you!
For those of you who are too young to remember, when I was in kindergarten and grade school, we needed to bring 5 cents with us to pay for a little half-pint carton of milk that was brought up to the classroom in a milk crate (remember milk crates?). We would have a carton of milk, usually lukewarm by the time we got it, some graham crackers (stale) and then we'd all get out our carpet squares and have a nap. Ah, the good ol' days when things were so very simple.
When there was something you wanted to buy (often another student had a toy or some little thing that they wanted to sell), you'd forgo your carton of milk and save up your "milk money" and then buy the item from the other student.
Some things never change. We still have to save up our "milk money" to buy things that others have that we want to buy.
I started hanging out (well... online) with CMAA in early 2010, which means I've missed two Colloquia since I knew about them. I don't think I can take it anymore.
It's great to see this excitement. No matter how great it looks online, it is 1000x better in real life: living space, rehearsal space, singing space, town and environment, everything. Really it's like the whole place was made just to make the Colloquium the most wonderful thing ever.
Whoever hasn't been to this cathedral yet is in for one of the great architectural and liturgical experiences of their lives. I can honestly say, having traveled quite a bit and seen many churches, that this one in Salt Lake is truly one of the most magnificent ecclesiastical edifices ever built in the United States of America.
I also can hardly believe my good fortune in living so (relatively) close to the next Colloquium! (Lander, Wyoming, is about 4 1/2 hours' drive, if you put the pedal to the metal.) Finally, a decent chance at participating in person!
It's also worth mentioning that the pipe organ is absolutely incredible in the Madeleine. It makes the entire structure vibrate. The reverberations seem to ripple out into the space with almost philosophic leisure. That can make fast passagework a bit muddy, but the overall effect is grand to the point of ineffable.
The interior has changed so much since I was there in the '80s, I suspect the inscription from St. Paul which I loved is gone: it read "if even an angel should preach to you another gospel, let him be anathema". :-)
1. Is there going to be musical training available for priests, as there was in Chicago and last year in Pittsburgh? That would be a major selling point in convincing my parish administrator to go with me (and as many other parish musicians as we can afford--SLC is only a two-day drive from where I live).
Fares I am seeing for May 2012 (the farthest out I can currently see in online reservations) are pretty reasonable from SC to SLC. That is a good thing. I have put a note on the calendar to deal with this at the end of July or so when the fares become available.
Splendid! Us folks out west very much appreciate a return of the Colloquium so that those of us who do the Lord's work in the Devil's land may more readily attend...
Welcome, Jacob! We are glad you're here. In time, if you are suitably impressed, I encourage you to become a member of the CMAA.
The wonderful thing about the Colloquium is that all skill levels of musicianship are welcomed. There are choirs and programs which fit where you are in your musical development. Just be ready to learn and sing. A lot.
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