Happy New Year!!!

Okay, I know it’s January 16, so yes, the greeting is late.

What is a bit later, but one worth mentioning:  the video for our 2009 Christmas Concert, performed on December 12, is now linked from the Gallery page of our website:  http://stceciliachorale.org/id9.html

You can also find these clips at the following locations:

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=app_2309869772&ref=profile&id=1401596418#/group.php?gid=196392838891&ref=share

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/lmsarmiento

Finally, our photo gallery (though I don’t have any for the recent concert) can be found at

http://classic.kodakgallery.com/lmsarmiento/stceciliachorale?view=1

Anyhow, as time permits I will be updating and getting the site somewhat caught up.

Have a great day!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time during the summer break.  For those of you who were able to sing with us during any number of masses over the past several weeks of off-time:  THANKS!

As we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, once more we make our annual trek back to the music room on the second floor of Holy Family Grade School.  Rehearsals resume this week, Thursday, September 24, at 7:00pm.  Bring your rested selves, hymnals, and any music you’d like to have re-filed

As the summer (though to be truthful, I’ve been running non-stop since after Christmas) has been pretty busy for myself, unfortunately the website took the brunt of my not being able to stay on top of things.  So, http://stceciliachorale.org will be going through a long-overdue house cleaning and maintainance.  I have pdfs, jpg’s, mp3’s, and other items that have not been uploaded to it.  So, keep your eyes and ears open for changes coming in the weeks and months ahead.

Well, so much for my rant…except to say:  let’s have an awesome 2009-2010 season as we resume our parts in this wonderful liturgical ministry.

For anyone who would like to get ahead on their reading, or for those who may have missed out on an article(s), Christian was kind enough to provide us with his “Liturgy Corner” articles dating from December 28, 2009 to February 1, 2009.

Last but not least, listed at the start of each article is the music for that specific Sunday.  So, if don’t have the current music schedule on-hand, and yet you need the information to prepare for practice and/or Mass, then you’re in luck.

Head on over to the site at http://stceciliachorale.org, and click on “Liturgy Corner”.  You can also go directly to the page at http://stceciliachorale.org/id29.html

In these historic and eventful times, filled with celebrations, reflective moments, and much concern, I found myself going over a sizeable collection of compiled material since joining the group in 2004 (if you don’t count my prior, but brief, appearances at Midnight Masses in 2001 and 2003).

Over the past few weeks I uploaded just about everything not previously posted before.  Included on the list are:

• 2005 Cecilia Sings Concert Video - Italy Tour Music
• 2006 Young Artists Concert Video - Featuring Several Faces You Should All Know
• 2006 Palm Sunday Concert Video - Byrd’s “Passion”
• 2006 Christmas Concert Video - Vivaldi’s “Gloria”
• 2007 Palm Sunday Concert Video - All Seven Words from Dubois
• 2007 Messiah Sing-A-Long - All Remaining Audio Tracks
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (December 2008) - Additional Audio Tracks and Photos

Minus one remaining project (not involving any new material), and the periodic audio clip additions to the site, what audio and/or video material I have is now available with only a few clicks of a mouse.

As always, to see and/or hear any of this, just come on down to http://stceciliachorale.org and visit “The Gallery” (you can always go directly to the page at http://stceciliachorale.org/id9.html).

Enjoy and God Bless You.

As the year is fast approaching its end, I have been busy adding a few more items of interest into The Gallery page of our website…including our Amahl video.

Head on over to http://stceciliachorale.org/id9.html and see the latest additions since your last visit.

Finally, to one and all:  may each of you, and your family and friends, have wonderful, fun, and safe New Years Eve celebrations.  As we send off the old year, may God’s blessings be with us all as we enter into the new one.

Merry Christmas!

Without question, this has been another busy season for all of us in the ministry.  Between Christ the King, Amahl, the shelter visit, Advent Masses, prep for Midnight Mass and Christmas Day, etc., I’m always amazed by how well we pull it together.

To one and all, thank you for the work, dedication, and time taken in making this particular season very special.  To say that this was a team effort is but an understatement.

Okay…onwards to a web publishing point:  pictures and videos.

I would like to add a page for Amahl, as well the shelter visit and ministry Christmas party, but to do so I need some material to work with - namely pictures and/or videos.  So, if you have some items that I can work with, please get them to me ASAP. 

Typical of my schedule, I will be at Holy Family this afternoon for the 4pm Mass, as well as tonight for call and Midnight Mass, plus all of our sung masses on Christmas day.  Furthermore, I’ll be around for Sunday, 12-27-08, at the 9:30am Mass  (I’m not sure if I’m scheduled to cantor for Saturday).  Of course, I will also be around for the New Years Day Mass at 9:00am.

So, there are plenty of opportunities to get me CD copies, or a temporary loan of memory cards, so I can grab what I need to get those pages eventually up and running.

Finally, Amahl DVD’s….

I’m done with the work on the DVD’s.  As many of you have already noticed, the principles already have copies of the DVD.  Once Christian gives the okay, we plan on selling regular DVD copies for $10 a piece, with much of the proceeds going back to the ministry…and a small sum to cover costs.  I will be also offering a deluxe version (a specially labeled dvd with case that is very similar to what the principles received) for $20.  We’ll keep you posted and date and costs.

So much for my rant.

Only a few more masses to go before I see the inside of my eyelids tomorrow afternoon…and a quick change of clothing before I make the trek to Glendale.

For links to the photo’s taken from the camera’s of Paul and Wally, plus the music we and the Damenchor Frohsinn sung that evening, please CLICK HERE.

The link will take you directly to the newly created page within the Gallery.

If you go directly to the Gallery, you can find the link listed in the “Photo Albums and Home Movies” section of the page.

To everyone who participated in the Damenchor Frohsinn Fall Concert at Alpine Village, Torrance, California:  well done and thank you.

Also, thanks to both the St. John’s and Wally for providing the photos that have now been posted to KodakGallery.com.  Until I find the time to edit the Gallery page of the website, you can click on the following links to view the raw images:

Photos from Wally’s Camera (24).

Photos from Paul’s Camera (108).

Over the next few weeks (and boy, it’s going to be a busy time for all of us) I will be sorting through the photos and either deleting or editing as needed.  Furthermore, I will be adding what audio clips I can gleam from the evening (once I have a chance to sit back and go over the file).  Finally, I will be posting what video material I gleamed from the used cameras as time permits.

Do enjoy.

Here’s a copy of the latest letter from Christian….

Dear Singers and Musicians,

PLEASE copy the attached schedule, highlight your responsibilities, note when you have a conflict and tell me, and post the schedule somewhere where you will see it.

We have a busy, as always, season ahead and hopefully this will keep you better informed.

Thank you for your great work, love of singing and playing, and your dedication to God and the Church.

Your musical servant in Christ,

Christian

Dr. Christian E. Marcoe, OLJ, DMA
Director of Music / Organist
Holy Family Catholic Church
Glendale, California
818-421-8858
cmtenor1@att.net

Countdown to Christmas 2008

Music Ministry

Wednesday 11/19 – Spanish Choir Rehearsal

* Thursday 11/20 – St Cecilia Choir Rehearsal

• Alpine Village Concert, Amahl, and Mass Anthems for Christ the King and Advent

Friday 11/21 – Simbayanan Choir Rehearsal

* Saturday 11/22

• 10-12pm Amahl Soloist and Blocking Rehearsal at Music Room
• 5pm St. Cecilia Choir to Meet in Church parking lot and arrange carpools for 6-9pm Alpine Village Concert.  Sing, Drink, and Eat.

Sunday 11/23 – Christus Rex Masses

* Wednesday 11/26 – 7-9pm Extra Amahl Rehearsal at Music Room.  Soloists and All Choirs.

Thursday 11/27 – 9am Thanksgiving Day Mass.  Brass and Choirs

Friday 11/28 – Simbayanan’ Choir Rehearsal

Saturday/Sunday 11/29-30 – Tom has all Masses

• ADVENT I  - Anointing of the sick NO CLOSING HYMN for Sta. Margarita Choir

* Wednesday 12/3 – Amahl Rehearsal

• 3-4pm CHILDREN’S CHOIRS
• 7-9pm SOLOISTS/ DANCERS/ ADULT CHOIRS at CHURCH

* Thursday 12/4 – Amahl Rehearsal

• 7-9pm CHILDREN’S / CONCERT CHOIRS at  CHURCH
• 7-7:30pm SOLOISTS AND ADULT CHOIRS at MUSIC ROOM (Sunday Music)
• 7:30pm-9pm SOLOISTS / DANCERS / ADULT CHOIRS at CHURCH

* Friday 12/5 – Amahl Rehearsal

• 7PM ORCHESTRA IN CHURCH
• 7PM SIMBAYANAN’ CHOIR IN MUSIC ROOM (Sunday Music)
• 8PM DRESS REHEARSAL AT CHURCH.  ENTIRE CAST / ORCHESTRA / CHORUSES

Saturday 12/6

• 9-11am Advent/Christmas Rehearsal
  • Advent Anthems, Midnight Mass, Schubert Mass
• NO Sta. Margarita Choir Rehearsal.  Meet in Loft at 5pm

* Sunday 12/7 – ADVENT II Sunday Masses

• 6:30pm Amahl Call Time, in costume, at Music Room
• 7:15pm Amahl Start Time

Thursday 12/11 – Guadalupe Triduum.  NO REHEARSAL

Friday 12/12 – 7pm Guadalupe  Mass at Church

• Simbayanan Choir Rehearsal

Saturday 12/13 – Sta. Margarita Choir Rehearsal

Sunday 12/14 – Advent III Sunday Masses

Monday 12/15 – 7pm Parish Penance Service at Church

Wednesday 12/17 – Spanish Choir Rehearsal at Music Room

Thursday 12/18 – ALL ADULT CHOIRS – PROJECT ACHIEVE PARTY

• Meet at Shelter at 6pm or as close as you can get with presents.  Sing carols and share dinner with residents.  NO CHOIR REHEARSAL AFTERWARD

Friday 12/19 – Simbayanan Choir Rehearsal

Saturday 12/20 – MIDNIGHT MASS REHEARSAL

• 10-12pm – Midnight Mass Rehearsal at Music Room
• Sta. Margarita Choir Rehearsal

Sunday 12/21 – Advent IV Sunday Masses

• 4pm – MINISTRY CHRISTMAS PARTY AT DR. MARCOE’S.  BRING YOUR FAVORITE APPETIZER.  DRINKS / HAM / MUNCHIES PROVIDED

Wednesday 12/24 – Christmas Eve Masses

• 4pm Children’s Mass.  Children’s Choirs, Brass, Organ, Cantor
• 6pm Family Mass.  Brass, Organ, Cantor
• 10pm Orchestra / Choir rehearsal
• 11:40pm Carols / Anthems begin
• Midnight Mass

Thursday 12/25 – Christmas Masses

• 6:30am A Capella
• 8am Schola, Organ, Flute, Cantor
• 9:30am St. Cecilia Choir, Organ, Flute, Cantor
• 11am Simbayanan’ Choir, Organ, Flute, Cantor
• 12:30pm Spanish Choir, Organ, Cantor
• NO 5:30PM MASS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

NO ST. CECILIA, ARCHANGELS, CHERUBIM CHOIR REHEARSALS TIL JANUARY 2009.  HAVE A NICE VACATION.

( We will sing Saturday / Sunday Masses however.)