Hello all! Many thanks to our choir volunteers for yesterday’s wonderful “12 Days of Christmas!” Kudos to  Mary & Rich, Meg, Michelle & Zoe, Claire’s Theo & friends, Deirdre & Dave, Beth, Patti, Byron, the Derthicks . . . We continued a fun and precious tradition even during our shelter-in-place! [Thank you maestro Celia!]

As I am retiring from teaching in May, and as I teach all online again next Spring, I am tidying up and cleaning out ‘classroom stuff.’ I just found my college teaching binder (formerly to put lecture notes in,  now for sheet music! :))
I  found this slipped under the transparent cover:

“Before you speak, THINK!”
Is what you are about to say:
T  –  True?
H –  is it Helpful?
I – is it Inspiring?
N – is it Necessary?
K – is it Kind?

I don’t speak to that many folks in this pandemic, but I just put this up as a reminder for when I text, email, and snail mail. Please extend me some grace as you always have when I was less than any of these in our 5 1/2 years (!) of rehearsals and Sundays, and everything in between!

Gordon & Chris Gerwig, now with daughter Greta  et al for the holidays, sent me a sad update of a major fire at the progressive church in their nearby Long Island. Here’s the link www.middlechurch.org/choir/middle-church-choir with their choir link. You’ve heard them before in my music moments. Attached are the lyrics of that inspiring choir song.  (It’s called “Nina cried power” and the names in parentheses are my guesses at who they are referencing)

You are SO lucky! My secret elf just  sent me “the ultimate joke & pun book for teachers!” “Why did Santa’s elves major in music? They were working on their rapping skills.” “Why was the music class so chaotic? The students were all keyed up!”

Okay, I’ll save the rest for our Jan 6th zoom rehearsal! I close with a favorite song — one that we’ve done at UUSS — but with a fun and irresistible twist. It’s a college choir led by a lone trombone player, singing in a grain silo in the midwest! Enjoy “Down to the River to Pray” — start @ 1:16

Miss you

Keith

PS Here are two more choir pics!

Nina Cried Power
Song by Hozier-Bryne

It’s not the waking it’s the rising
It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising
It’s not forgoing of the lie
It’s not the opening of eyes
It’s not the waking it’s the rising

It’s not the shade we should be cast in
It’s the light and it’s the obstacle that casts it
It’s the heat that drives the light
It’s the fire it ignites
It’s not the waking it’s the rising

It’s not the song, it is the singing
It’s the heaven of the human spirit ringing
It is the bringing of the line
It is the bearing of the lie
It’s not the waking it’s the rising

And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina (Simone) cried power
Billie (Holiday) cried power
Mavis (Staples) cried power

And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis (Mayfield) cried power
Patti (LaBelle) cried power
Nina (Simone) cried power