Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!
















For the past many years the Cantilon Dessert Auction has been an annual event where our choirs have been able to showcase their talents early into the year as well as providing an opportunity for fundraising. This year is also extra special because it is the 10th Anniversary of Cantilon Choirs. The Dessert Auction is a time to sing lovely and pleasing choral repertoire; however, in my past experiences with my choir, Belle Canto, we have a very different perception of what is lovely and pleasing to sing and what is lovely and pleasing for the audience to hear.

This year we tried to satisfy both our musical taste as well as the musical palette of the audience. We will be singing Verdi's Laudi alla vergine Maria, an epic opera-like chorus piece, as well as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, made famous by the Andrew Sisters. The Verdi kills me vocally but I do have to admit that it felt a lot better at our last rehearsal. The long sustained lines require vocal stamina I lack. My diaphragm, actually all the muscles of my respiratory mechanism, feels like it has undergone a massive workout everytime we tackle that piece. I am not sure if I stated it explicitly in my previous posts but I am not a soloist. Don't get me wrong, I love singing in choir and I feel like I have worked hard to become a skilled chorister, but I have never felt that my voice works particularly well for solo settings. This is most likely due to low vocal confidence and the lack of any proper training or experience. However, I have come to the terms with the fact that I am not an opera star and that suits me just fine... as long as I still get to sing in choir of course.

The thing I really wanted to blog about though was Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy since we have decided to be ambitious early in the year and add movement to our piece! This is very exciting (and somewhat out of the ordinary) for Belle Canto since we usually don't move very much during our performance, unless it is our Broadway Gala fundraiser, but that does not arrive until February. Adding movement to our pieces usually means that our rehearsal slightly resembles a physically challenged gong-show but I am glad to say that rehearsal wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It's actually a lot of fun to rehearse since we don't mind making fun of ourselves. In the end I think everybody knows that the audience will appreciate our effort and we are guaranteed to entertain them in the process. Also, I think the new t.v. show, Glee, has bitten me with the musical theatre bug so I don't mind shamelessly showcasing myself. Furthermore, we have a whole set of snappy side-steps and oh-look-we're-so-cute poses as we make our way through Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. It should be quite a bit of fun next Friday!

If you are free in Edmonton that night you should come check out the performance! The details are as follows:

FRIDAY October 16, 2009 • 6:00 pm

Dive into decadence at our fall fundraiser. Cantilon pairs fine desserts with fine choral music for an evening sure to satisfy the connoisseur in you. Kindersingers, Primary Choir, Children’s Choir, Chamber Choir, Belle Canto

Winspear Centre for Music, Lobby • 9720-102 Avenue

Tickets • $15
Cantilon Office 780/732-1262

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a big fan of your blog! I am in Choir too (Acapella) and really enjoy it! I've been searching for a picture of you, but can't find any! :(

misssable said...

Hey Anon,

Thanks for commenting and I'm glad you like my blog :)

As for pics of me, I have choir photos posted in the sidebar and you can find me in some of those. I am usually the Asian girl in the front row.

marycame said...

Reaaly nice blog, I read it whenever I can. Good luck with your singing and everything else

Blue Dragon said...

Your blog is beautiful.