Yesterday was December 1st.  It was quite an important day.

Firstly, December 1st marks the start of our summer, and by the look of the forecast for the next few days, it will prove an accurate marker.

Secondly, the eagerly anticipated December edition of Limelight Magazine was published, so now we can all have our own copy of Naomi’s wonderful article on community choirs and the Manly Warringah Choir in particular.

Thirdly, the final rehearsal for this weekend’s concerts went like a breeze, which was such a relief after the stresses and strains of Tuesday’s session in the unhelpful acoustic of the big school hall.  What happens between two such rehearsals cannot be explained.  Somehow all the loose parts which had been flailing around separately in space came together and slotted each into its own place with precision and no small degree of aplomb.  We made Stella Natalis sound like music – music with a message.  The message alternates around themes which are appropriate to the time of year and to our times in general; those of joy, wonder, peace and love.

However, it was sad that, for only the second time since Carlos took up the baton for MWC, his beloved wife Alexandra was not leading the orchestra.  Her place was ably taken by Catrina Hughes, Alexandra’s friend and colleague in a number of prestigious Australian orchestras and ensembles.  The themes of peace and love were very apparent as we presented Carlos with a DVD of the Choir and orchestra performing Lullay from Stella Natalis to take for Alexandra with our love and very best wishes.  Along with the practical assistance which members of the Choir have offered them recently we wanted to send a message reflecting the esteem in which we hold her and expressing our love for her and for all she means to us.

This weekend, Alexandra may not physically be with us, but we know that she will be with us in spirit. For our part, as we perform Jenkins’ quirky music with its profound message, we will certainly all be thinking of her and sending her our love.

Two things struck me at Choir practice last night.  I am not sure whether one is more important that the other, but they are certainly both worthy of mention.

The first is that we sang all the way through Stella Natalis  for the first time.  What an achievement!  This is not easy music: it has many sudden changes of mood and tempo, unusual harmonic shifts and occasionally d-d-d-d-d difficult words.  It requires skill and lots of concentration on everyone’s part.  That we managed to get all the way through is a testament to choristers and conductor, not to mention Angela, our accomplished accompanist, who has probably worked hardest of all during rehearsals.  It augurs well for the performances next weekend.

The second thing about last night’s rehearsal was occasioned by Naomi Roseth’s article appearing in the Limelight Magazine.  It is about Community Choirs, both the phenomenon in general and our own Manly Warringah Choir as an example.  In it Naomi describes the special relationship between the Choir and Carlos which is so much a part of our success. This prompted Carlos to say how much the Choir means to Alexandra and himself, and how working with us is very special to them both.  It is clear from the spontaneous reaction to Carlos that the feeling is very much reciprocated by everyone in the Choir.

We are extraordinarily fortunate to be members of a community bound together by a love of music and the wish to spread the enjoyment to as many people as possible.  With all the skill in the world, our performances would be nothing compared to what we make of them through commitment to the music, to Carlos and to each other.  Perhaps that determines which of last night’s two noteworthy events carries the prize.

The December issue of Limelight magazine features an article about Community Choirs written by our Secretary, Naomi Roseth.  Go and buy a copy of the magazine before they are all sold out!

We basses have a lot of “down time” at rehearsals for Stella Natalis.  We do not sing as much as the other parts, and when we do it’s in the main pretty straightforward.  So there is a lot of time for our minds to wander……………

While the Sopranos, Altos and Tenors were perfecting their parts last night, I mused on the overall message which Jenkins might be trying to convey in this intriguing piece.  Carlos joined in the musing at the interval, and we agreed that although many of the individual items are about joy and celebration, the key message is one of peace.  The deepest words are in Cantus Triquetrus, reflecting on threesomes – for example the Christian Trinity, the three main Hindu Gods, and the three Abrahamic religions.  He seems to be proposing a peace based not on passive respect between people of different backgrounds, but one based on active acknowledgement, engagement and understanding.  So it is no co-incidence that his next work after Stella Natalis is called The Peacemakers.

After the vehemence, vulgarity and violence of many political campaigns this year, of which Brexit and the US Presidential elections are perhaps the prime examples, it seems a particularly appropriate message for the end of 2016.

But that’s just my view.  I wonder what other Choir members make of this piece, and I wonder what our audiences will make of it when they hear it on December 3rd and 4th.

Choir member Pat Hughes and her husband Ken are holidaying in South America and have just met up with Carlos’ family in Bogota.

Pat writes: “Colombia is an amazing country. The diverse landscape varies from soaring Andean summits, beautiful Caribbean coastlines, cryptic archeological ruins and cobbled colonial towns. The people are so happy, friendly and helpful. We have enjoyed our holiday here so much. We started in Bogota, where we were looked after by Carlos’s brothers.  A highlight was a wonderful recital of Andean music organised for us by Manuel, a friend of Carlos’s brother. This was a most memorable evening.”