Bonjour from France! Separate information about the choir and about handbells is below, but we’re starting this column as a joint effort. Now in the final week of our month in Toulouse, we’re continuing to enjoy our newborn granddaughter, Madeleine, while also absorbing the history, culture, and nature of our September “home” in southern France. Of course, we’ve been hearing plenty of MUSIC – from street musicians of every possible variety and style of music, to the organs, church bells, and singing in centuries-old cathedrals. We’ll be bringing back some ideas – ringing, singing, & other – inspired by our time here. À bientôt – see you soon!
– Carol Strome and Theresa Witmer
Choir
The adult choir rehearses three Sundays a month at 9:00 a.m. in the choir room downstairs, and performs in church twice a month. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome to join! We sing a variety of music from many time periods, styles, and cultures, and with varying levels of difficulty, from simple unison songs, to four-part choral works. Our goal is to enrich the worship experience through the emotional power of music. Music read-ing ability is helpful, but not required. If you are interested in singing with us, contact me choir@uucantonny.org for more information, or just show up at a rehearsal and we will be glad to see you! – Carol
October Choir Schedule
October 1 rehearse at 9:00 a.m.
October 8 no rehearsal
October 15 rehearse at 9:00 a.m., sing in church
October 22 rehearse at 9:00 a.m.
October 29 rehearse at 9:00 a.m., sing in church
Handbells
The Handbell Choir will continue to play in church one Sunday each month, starting in October. Would you like to be part of this wonderful group of ringing musicians? Every week I look forward to working with this friendly, helpful, and dedicated group of people!
We rehearse on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 pm in the Social Room, starting on September 28. The ability to read music is helpful but is not a requirement. The ability to keep a steady beat is very helpful! Each person plays one or two bells, so it takes a minimum of eight ringers to perform our music.
If you’re interested in playing or have any questions, please talk to me or send me an email at hand-bells@uucantonny.org. You might also want to chat with one of our core of ringers, who would be glad to tell you about handbells: Judy DeGraaff, Bobbie Hart, Maggie Hockett, Toby Irven, Margaret Mauch, Stevie Michaelson, Natalie Panshin, Eileen Raymond, and Eden Terrell.
I’m researching music for handbells that is less strictly Christian and that uses some of the beautiful sounds from other sources and other cultures. That might require doing some of my own arranging, which will be a fun new project – Theresa
October Handbell Schedule
September 28 first rehearsal at 4:30 p.m.
October 5, 12, 19 rehearsal at 4:30 p.m.
October 22: rehearse at 9:00 a.m., play in church
October 26 rehearsal at 4:30 p.m.