Comments on: If you’re in the Bay Area, you can give yourself a holiday treat http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/ She escaped from the belly of the liberal beast Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:52:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Synova http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102716 Synova Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:07:58 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102716 The thing is that when it's Christian in a different language it's just the music. I had a CD of Jewish choral music that was in the classical style (of some sort or other... old, you know) and I think it was mostly in Hebrew and Italian. I don't speak Hebrew or Italian. So the religion associated with it was incidental. Since I don't speak Latin either something like Ava Maria is simply *music*. The thing is that when it’s Christian in a different language it’s just the music.

I had a CD of Jewish choral music that was in the classical style (of some sort or other… old, you know) and I think it was mostly in Hebrew and Italian.

I don’t speak Hebrew or Italian.

So the religion associated with it was incidental. Since I don’t speak Latin either something like Ava Maria is simply *music*.

]]> By: expreacherman http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102679 expreacherman Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:34:32 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102679 Book, Christian Christmas music has a way with the emotions. But in SF? Amazing!! You said "the boys sang Ava Maria, led by a soprano and an alto doing a duet so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes and ran chills up and down my spine. " Are you quite sure you are not a closet Christian? If so, come on out and you will be welcomed, but if not -- we love you anyway. ;-) Have a great holiday and a wonderful New Year!! In Christ eternally, ExP(Jack) Book,

Christian Christmas music has a way with the emotions. But in SF? Amazing!!

You said “the boys sang Ava Maria, led by a soprano and an alto doing a duet so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes and ran chills up and down my spine. ”

Are you quite sure you are not a closet Christian? If so, come on out and you will be welcomed, but if not — we love you anyway. ;-)

Have a great holiday and a wonderful New Year!!

In Christ eternally,

ExP(Jack)

]]> By: Synova http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102596 Synova Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:06:45 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102596 I'd say go to *any* Boy's Choir performance if ever you get the chance wherever you live. There is really something unique about the instrument. Also, I'm almost disappointed they did carols because carols are not written for *choirs*. Ava Maria is trancendant and classical choir arrangements written as a Christian religious expression (or because that's what the composers were expected to do!) are meant, many of them, to be performed by human voices without accompaniment. (Trying to avoid the overtly Christian for a choir is a bit like trying to do the same for a pipe organ.) Voices are not tied to preset intervals so the harmonies can be more pure when sung without accompaniment. I’d say go to *any* Boy’s Choir performance if ever you get the chance wherever you live. There is really something unique about the instrument.

Also, I’m almost disappointed they did carols because carols are not written for *choirs*. Ava Maria is trancendant and classical choir arrangements written as a Christian religious expression (or because that’s what the composers were expected to do!) are meant, many of them, to be performed by human voices without accompaniment. (Trying to avoid the overtly Christian for a choir is a bit like trying to do the same for a pipe organ.) Voices are not tied to preset intervals so the harmonies can be more pure when sung without accompaniment.

]]> By: Bookworm http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102536 Bookworm Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:56:51 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102536 Oh, no! It's a classical chorus a la The Vienna Boys Choir. It was formed almost 60 years ago as a companion to the San Francisco Opera, and a lot of the boys are regularly used in the opera, most recently in The Magic Flute. Oh, no! It’s a classical chorus a la The Vienna Boys Choir. It was formed almost 60 years ago as a companion to the San Francisco Opera, and a lot of the boys are regularly used in the opera, most recently in The Magic Flute.

]]> By: Trimegistus http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102527 Trimegistus Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:10:23 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/if-youre-in-the-bay-area-you-can-give-yourself-a-holiday-treat/#comment-102527 I must say, when I read the name "San Francisco Boys Chorus," the image that flashed through my mind was something like a peewee Village People. I must say, when I read the name “San Francisco Boys Chorus,” the image that flashed through my mind was something like a peewee Village People.

]]>