You know when there is a band concert like at the Boston Pops 4th Celebration and they have a guest conductor? Well, Friday I found myself conducting a professional grade choir. It seems so effortless when the conductor or assistant conductor wave their arms in perfect time communicating everything the singer needs to know....well...you guessed it ! Its not easy at all.
At one point during rehearsal I found my arm in a Saturday Night Fever position clearly fully extended away from my body. Just imagine being surrounded by fresco, mosaic and carved wood with a whisper of incense left from a service with your arm all the way stretched as far as possible toward the arched ceiling of a stone church. There is no subtle way to get that thing down! So I went for the back of the head scratch and didn't fool any of the forty plus choir members....my only comfort is any one of them could be the next conductor!!!
You will be glad to know that everything turned out just fine. The Evensong service was very peaceful. Somehow all of my anxiety and late night conducting rehearsals faded away and what became important was worshiping God. Turns out God's Grace can happen anywhere- and I was working with musicians that know what they are doing.
However, I was happy to slip into my role as "first alto seated at the end of the row". Back to memorizing the French Recording music. ..and my next challenge is to sound French. This should be interesting as long as I keep my sense of humor.
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