Fill the mead cup...

So this morning commenced Saturday rehearsals in preparation for our Christmas concert. Not sure yet when that is, but I know I'll definitely let you know. All my friends who happen to be in Moscow through early/mid December, consider yourselves invited (and by that, your presence is expected, no questions asked. :)) The most extraordinary thing happened...if you've ever been a choir, you'll appreciate this, especially for all the underrated tenors of the world out there. There were MORE tenors than basses today. This may seem insignificant, but for me it was the first time I"d ever seen that in all the years I've been in choir. Granted, rehearsal was on a Saturday morning, so it's not entirely unsurprising, I suppose. Plus, it seems that sometimes things aren't always the most organized (we always start late, not everyone has the music, breaks are long). Anyway, I do love when Sergei gives instructions in English. Today's gem was directed at the sopranos, in the midst of a very interesting arrangment of Deck the Hall with lots of syncopation and the most amazing dynamic marking I've ever seen in my life: "coarse", "beery", "persuasive", "hysterical". With words like "fill the mead cup", "quaffing", it all reminds me of a Christmas drinking carol. But anyway, the gem: so the sopranos were having problems with two measures, and eventually Sergey said, "You need to sing in your temp. And mine. Better if it's the same temp." Gold.

So yeah, the singing of Christmas carols is making me reminisce about singing in College Choir during Lessons and Carols, and I'm already starting to feel the spirit of the holidays. I can't honestly say I will notice Halloween this year because it's not really celebrated here, although it seems to be more common in recent years. Thanksgiving is a tough one to miss. I remember it was one of the saddest times for me in St. Petersburg, not being able to celebrate Thanksgiving. And it seems, with my last day of class being on Dec. 24, I will likely not be home for Christmas for the second straight year, although I am planning to be home soon thereafter for at least a couple of weeks. The fact that I'm already talking about Christmas even though Halloween is still a week away (itself a miracle) is a testament to how quickly time goes by.

Classes are going well. I'm starting to get a hang of translating, even though all the articles are either about Iran or North Korea. It would be nice to have different topics or styles (maybe reviews, poems or excerpts from literature). I'm enjoying reading different fairy tales, but need to find more secondary materials, and know that sooner or later I'm going to need to start drafting the thesis. I'm allowing myself until the beginning of the second semester to complete preliminary research and start writing.

Most of this week I've been feeling more tired than usual and have had a damn cold that just wouldn't go away. Today though I feel better, so thanks to everyone for their well-wishes! Trying to stay healthy and active as we move closer and closer to the storogaya russkaya zima. Last winter wasn't too bad, so hopefully this coming one won't be either, though I do expect to be home (where, God bless New England, you just never know what kind of weather to expect) for a part of it.

Not much else to report on this week. I forgot to wish the College Choir a great Family Weekend Concert, I hope it was in fact splendid! It was also the first time since I graduated that I wasn't able to sing Songs of Holy Cross. :( Next year I will be back again. Also want to wish the Chapel Choir a great Family Weekend Mass, may God fill their souls with music and praise, and that we destroy whoever we're playing in football! Go SADERS! CHU CHU RAH RAH! SHOUT HOIAH FOR HOLY CROSS!!! Man, I still can't believe that a) I've been out of school for two years now and b) I wasn't able to sing with the choir. :( I miss College Choir. I miss Chapel Choir. What I really miss, if I'm honest, is playing the piano. Singing is wonderful, I'm totally glad I got into it in college and am still keeping up with it, but there's really nothing like sitting down at the piano, belting out show tunes/Josh Groban and even improvising and composing. Just being able to destress, to put all my emotion into the keys, finding a balance between piano and forte, being able to crescendo and decrescendo. Just finding time to practice, that's what I really miss about being in Russia, apart from my family and friends. Can't wait to sit down at the piano again. I could play for hours if I had the energy. There were days when I just wanted to relax and played for only a few minutes, and there were days when I skippped it altogether, but I was always most content whenever I could sit and play for an hour or two, from Being Alive to Bridge Over Troubled Water to my Russian Dance to trying out new compositions to playing Les Mis. I will always treasure the piano. It's a moot point to say that I'll never stop, I can only hope that I continue to play (and sing) with as much passion and love as I had when I first managed to continue studying piano independently. The six years of lessons were great without a doubt, but I feel the last 8 years I have really come into my own as a musician. Here's to the power of music! It is on that joyful note (no pun intended, lol) that I conclude. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Keep in touch! :)