Farewell Concert

Thanks to everyone who came to our farewell concert this evening at Mission Concepción and for packing the house.  We had a blast and really appreciate your support.  What a beautiful place to make music in; the sound waves are still echoing in my head hours later.  We are ready now!  Munich here we come! 

At Mission Concepcion

Today was the last time we would be singing in the States before we head up into our tour in Bavaria, Austria and sing all the pieces composed my composers who walked the steps we will soon be taking in the next few days. Our pre - concert which was at the historic Mission Concepcion in the downtown San Antonio area helped the Choral Society with its beautiful acoustics and reverent space for us to perform in. Thank you to all who have been with us this far and still to follow us on our tour. It is going to be a wonderful and exciting experience which will change our musical perspective once we sing in the actual spaces where the composers resided. Have a great day and be back soon,

-Christian

Counting my Blessings as we Countdown the Days

Today is June 25, 2014

I just received the program order for tonight’s warm up concert at Mission Concepcion and am feeling so very blessed that (1) we received a good soaking rain in San Antonio this morning and (2) that the rain cleared in time for tonight’s rehearsal.  I've organized my music folder and am ready to go.  Wish I could say as much for my suitcase.  It is neither organized nor ready to go!

While I am looking forward to our Bavarian adventure, I am experiencing some trepidation at the thought of eating German and Austrian food as I’m not a fan of bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerbraten, fermented shredded cabbage also known as sauerkraut, vinegar potatoes, or even those little Vienna sausages that come in a can.  Those are from Vienna, right?  I actually looked it up.  They're not.  But, in the course of exploration, I ran across a nice site about Vienna.

What a dietary dilemma.  I may have to live on Apfelstrudel and Kipferl. Speaking of Kipferl, did you know the croissant as we think of it today, all French and flaky, originated in Vienna, Austria? The Kipferl, ancestor of the croissant, has been documented in Austria going back at least as far as the 13th century, in various shapes not limited to the crescent shape with which we are most

familiar.

“Blest are the eyes that have not seen you” has become one of my favorite pieces to sing from the tour repertoire.  I am so excited at the thought of sharing this beautiful text through song during the offertory of the Mass for the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, Austria.

On your mark, get set, countdown to Vienna 7 = days.  We perform two concerts in Vienna, the first is July 2.

Countdown to departure = 3 days.

Karen

Mission Concepción and St. Stephens

Today is June 23, 2014: Ave Verum Corpus

I'm excited at the opportunity to sing at one of the oldest unrestored stone churches in America, Mission Concepción. The acoustics are likely to be amazing. Learn more about the mission, built in 1755, by visiting this webpage: http://www.nps.gov/saan/historyculture/conc_history1.htm.

Near the end of Ave Verum Corpus, we say, "Esto nobis praegustatum ... in mortis examine." The English translation of the Latin text is "Be for us a foretaste in the test of death."  The word foretaste is referencing the sacrament as a foretaste of heaven to come.  In these words, I'm thinking how lovely it is that the concert at Mission Concepción is a foretaste of the heavenly gift our group is given to sing at St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna.

For a quick two minute informative video about St. Stephens, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZJJjSUz08U.

Countdown to departure: 5 days

Karen

Pre-Tour Concert

Join us this Thursday to hear the Choral Society perform their European tour program one last time before they depart San Antonio!  We'll be in the lovely acoustic of Mission Concepción at 7:00 pm.  Wir hoffen, euch dort zu sehen!!

Rehearsing for choir tour

Rehearsals for our choir tour are in full swing.  What a fun group of people!  This tour is going to be a blast!