Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas Madrigal Concert at the Episcopal Church - December 14, 2008

On Sunday the 14th, the Civic Chorus presented a Christmas madrigal concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  This concert was very different from our Christmas performance last year because we sang everything a cappella, with a little bit of recorder by Sara and Holly.  It was a treat for me to get to sing, and I worked really hard to be able to play some alto recorder.  Suzanne wove some readings throughout the program between songs.  Nelle played a harpsichord medley of "Coventry Carol" and "Sussex Carol."  The acoustics were great, and the church was the perfect size for our group.  The Chorus sang these songs:
  • Here We Come a Wassailing
  • The Boar’s Head Carol
  • The Holly and the Ivy
  • What Child is This?
  • Masters in This Hall
  • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Most of the songs were pretty traditional arrangements, but "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was a very modern, cool arrangement.  I suspect we will probably sing it again another year.

It really was a neat experience to sing in the church.  I hope we do it again.  Thanks to the Evanston Study Club for providing refreshments in the parish hall.

by Sara

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

ECC Sings at Dedication of Uinta County Museum - July 5, 2008

On July 5th the Civic Chorus participated in the Dedication and Grand Opening of the Uinta County Museum. It seemed appropriate that we sing songs with historical significance. They just happen to be some of our favorites, too:
  • Hard Times
  • Cool Water
  • God Bless America
The ceremony started at 11:30 a.m., which was a little early for some of us who were up late with fireworks. But it felt good to be a part of this civic event. And the refreshments were tasty.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Fresh Air, Freedom, and Fun - July 4, 2008

Today we sang at the city's Fresh Air, Freedom, and Fun festival in celebration of Independence Day.  This performance and the one tomorrow at the museum dedication are our only summer gigs, as Kirk is working out of town for most of the summer.  Since he was planning to be back in town for the holiday, he lined us up again this year.  The chorus members wanted to learn some new songs, so I volunteered to run some rehearsals in his absence.  We met in the rectory at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for a few weeks and prepared this program:
Rectory - St. Paul's Episcopal Church

  • Star-Spangled Banner
  • When Johnny Comes Marching Home
  • Tenting Tonight
  • Cool Water
  • Hard Times
  • Shenandoah
  • Wyoming
  • God Bless America
To celebrate our hard work and preparation, I invited the chorus to my house for our dress rehearsal last night.  We rehearsed our set and then enjoyed homemade ice cream in homemade waffle cones out on the front lawn.  Thanks go to my husband Glen for the yummy treat!

by Sara

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

ECC Sings at the Memorial Day and Clock Tower Dedication 2008

The Civic Chorus recently participated in the Memorial Day and Clock Tower Dedication held at the Uinta County Courthouse.  The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place outside in the plaza near the clock tower.  They even had risers set up for us.  But weather forced us inside, and we ended up spending a very long time sitting on the floor in the balcony.  I found myself preoccupied with an ant who was enjoying the warm, dry indoor climate as well.  I teased him for quite a while, and I'm not sure he ever made it to where he was originally headed.

It was a pretty neat thing to be involved in this community memorial event.  Even though our singing accommodations were not what we expected, it went pretty well and the organizers really appreciated our participation.  These are the songs we sang:
  • The Star-Spangled Banner
  • Salute to the Armed Forces
  • God Bless America

by Sara

Saturday, May 3, 2008

May Concert - "Songs for Spring"

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The ECC presented a concert titled "Songs for Spring" last Thursday, May 1st, at the Beeman-Cashin building on Front St. While the evening grew colder outside and the snow flurried, indoors the choir was optimistic that spring would eventually come. We sang songs of love and nymphs, green grass, and flowers. View Video

The choir put in a lot of time and hard work to prepare the music for this concert. We opened with three difficult madrigals. As Kirk put it to the audience during the concert, "Those were three songs that a community choir has no business trying to sing." "Memories" and "Roses I Send To You" are just plain beautiful, and I suspect they will become favorites of the chorus. "Hard Times, Come Again No More" is sure to be a favorite a cappella song. The audience seemed very enthusiastic when we sang "Unchained Melody" and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart."

by Sara

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Friends and Family Valentine's Concert - February 13, 2008

A week ago on February 13th the Evanston Civic Chorus shared their first performance of the year with family and friends at the Bear Town Restaurant.  Everyone took care of ordering their own meals and then enjoyed a short musical presentation in honor of Valentine's Day.  The Chorus sang four songs of love:
  • Fair Phyllis I Saw
  • Memories
  • Roses I Send to You
  • Unchained Melody
by Sara