February with its winter chill is certainly a time for “musings.” Sometimes I think about the many ways a short musical statement (or song) can be tweaked. In a compositional artform called “Theme and Variations,” the basic theme is laid out followed by a set of variations. Each variation has a change of some kind, such as timing, phrasing, dynamics, tonality, harmonies, inversions…you name it! What began as a short ditty can become a delightful set of variations, all connected to the theme in some way. Sometimes I look at our music program at UU Middleboro as a composition of theme and variations. The basic theme is excellence (NOT perfection!), camaraderie, flexibility, and communication. This is the given. The variations come with the variety of people who participate and in our repertoire.
Our November 19th “Autumn Concert in Memory of Avis Clay” concert drew more than 100 to our church for an amazing mix of music: classical, modern, contemporary, folk, traditional, Broadway, along with commentary and an overall sense of joy. Video of the concert is now available from Middleborough Community Cable Access Media (MCCAM).
At last! We are entering a slower time of the year, a time of moving inside, inside our homes, inside ourselves. Winter in New England has some real advantages. With more time available, I have a chance to look at some new “stuff”—not for performance, just for the quiet growth that comes from a fresh focus. Who knows, it may become something to share later! On January 6, we can enjoy a “Winter Festival of Song and Soup” with a show featuring music and drama in the spirit of the Renaissance, performed by the Falmouth-based Solstice Singers and members of Ensemble Passacaglia. This family-friendly show is followed by hearty soups and desserts. Check out the church website (www.uumiddleboro.org) for tickets. Don’t miss this!
UU Middleboro church musicians are still basking in the warm glo of a superb Autumn Concert (in Memory of Avis Clay), performed on November 19. It was a huge push and a huge success. Kudos to all the performers and support people who came together to make it happen! December promises to be its usual lively month, starting with two new offerings. Thursday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a special gathering called “Finding Peace at the Holidays.” The music will be instrumental, gentle and meditative, a great way to ease into the busiest month of the year.
Musicians make a lot of noise! It’s part and parcel of learning a piece to the place where you can share it with others. There’re all those wrong notes, funky rhythms, adrenalin, and repetition-repetition-repetition. I used to tell my piano students that during practicing, they should stop and correct that tricky spot until they can play it FIVE times in a row without an error. The downside is that sometimes you need to play that bar TEN times before getting five good ones. The rules change in performance: “Do not stop and correct. Carry on. Try to play in the right
Our Third Annual UU Road Rally was a success (and just a bit soggy), raising over $400 for the General Fund. On Saturday, October 21, the UU held its 3rd Annual Road Rally. While the day was somewhat wet, everyone finished and was inside the Parish Hall before the heavier rain started coming down.
This month is starting out with a chance to drum-in a new month. On October 1 at 3:00 PM, Sam Holmstock will lead about 20 fine folks in a workshop to explore the rhythms of African and AfroCuban styles. We’ve got a range of talents from beginners to advanced. I’m so looking forward to learning new techniques and enjoying the magic that happens when we make music together.
There’s excitement in the air as we start the whirling and twirling of a new church year! The Chalice Choir has already started rehearsals (August 29), the Music Committee is cranking into full gear (September 6), new music has been ordered, and plans are well underway for a great year ahead, full of variety and opportunity to make music together. This is good! For the church and larger community, we are offering a special one-hour drumming workshop on Sunday, October 1 at 3:00 p.m. The facilitator/teacher is Sam Holmstock who is well known through Cape Cod drum circles as well
On Music Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Chalice Choir took on the challenge of Requiem, a multi-movement masterwork by John Rutter. Rutter, born in London in 1945, is one of the most prolific choral composers of our time.
Many kudos to the many singers and instrumentalists who came together to present Requiem by John Rutter on Music Sunday, May 21st. This was our first in-person Music Sunday since spring 2019 – that’s four years ago! Our 2019 program was ambitious, but this year’s surpassed it! It was hard, rewarding work—and for me, pure pleasure bringing a masterwork to life for a worship experience.
