The Abbott Family Blog

Last week (oops, actually two months ago, as it took a while to get this posted) I sang bass in a performance of Franz Schubert’s Mass in G at First Congregational Church:

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Click play to listen. Photos and story after the jump.

This spring, I joined the Chancel Choir at First Congregational Church. I’d never sung in a choir and I wanted to try it out. We’d practice once a week and then sing in church on Sunday mornings. We’d wear robes and sing a cappella or with piano or organ, both hymns and some really nice, varied pieces, all from sheet music.

In late May we put on a show (during church, but it was mostly singing) with a string quintet and fancy digs. This was also my first time in a tux, one I borrowed from a fellow homeschool family—vintage 60’s threads, baby! Took me only a few minutes to move into the obligatory Secret Agent moves:

And here I am, looking all stoic and fancy-like:

So, how was it? In brief: Yes, I’ve liked the experience. I’d never done it before; specifically, conducted, read-from-notation music. I half sight-read (poorly), half listened to the bass singers next to me and (subconsciously) memorized the melodies. My most favorite part was the music itself; we did some great stuff over the last few months, stuff that really needs to be sheet-music-ized and planned out beforehand and such. Beautiful, gorgeous pieces. And plus, the people are really nice.

My least favorite part? Hmm… the kind(s) of music I’m used to doing are very expressive. I get to convey my uniqueness through the music. Here, I just have to follow the dots and blend in and not screw up. It’s not creative; all the creative stuff is done “up front” by the composer. Nothing wrong with that… but for me, it’s missing a huge element of what *I* like so much about singing and playing.

Plus, those tuxes get stuffy.