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Christmas Revels
I went to the Christmas Revels last night. Whatever the theological or spiritual significance of winter solstice time celebrations, I have to think that they were also (inadvertent?) cures for seasonal affective disorder. There's a lot to be said for people getting together and either celebrating or demanding the return of warmer and longer days. (Are there southern hemisphere cultures which have these sorts of celebrations in June?)
Each year, the Christmas Revels recreates the solstice time celebrations of some culture. This year was predominantly German. However, the Christmas Revels, at heart, regardless of the cultural trappings, is a traditional Christmas concert. That means cute kids singing and audience participation. (I have to say that being in the audience of the Revels was much more fun than the Christmas concert I sang two weeks ago. The over the top arrangement of "Joy to the World" we did was pretty cool though, especially the harmonic changes in the last verse.) The Revels has traditions of its own to uphold. This makes me wonder if they're limited to exploring cultures which have dragon stories and sword dances. This year, since they were doing Germany, obviously, they did Fafnir and Siegfried, complete with Wagnerian leitmotifs.
Anyways, lots of fun. The comedy misfired as much as it fired. I'm general allergic to cute kids singing. But the whole thing was pretty terrific. There was lots of singing on stage as well as by the audience. I've never understood why the song leader waits until intermission to teach the audience the tunes they're supposed to sing. There's audience singing in the first act. The tunes are all in the program, not even remotely difficult, and I sight sing. I wonder what everyone else does. (Actually, I have to think that either these traditional German tunes are really well known or most of the audience sight sings. Either would be too cool for words.)
I did think it was weird that, at the end, the woman sitting next to me told me that she enjoyed my singing. I guess it beats being a distraction that detracted from her enjoyment of the Revels.
On other fronts, the story I mentioned with five characters and interlinked relationships (yes, I'm bad with titles) continues to spiral out of control. I'll get the hang of it... eventually... I hope. I've resorted to outlining, which I never do.
I don't know how to link to it but![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
matociquala's 12/27/06 3:44pm entry on exposition is dead on. She has described exactly how I feel about exposition. (Well, except for any of the bits that involve actually selling.) I seriously envy Viable Paradise XI students, who will get to work with her for a week. (I, obviously, will not be one of them since I went to Viable Paradise X. It was terrific but I think once was enough.)
We've just passed the 30 day mark on my Analog submission. My rejection should arrive any day now...
Each year, the Christmas Revels recreates the solstice time celebrations of some culture. This year was predominantly German. However, the Christmas Revels, at heart, regardless of the cultural trappings, is a traditional Christmas concert. That means cute kids singing and audience participation. (I have to say that being in the audience of the Revels was much more fun than the Christmas concert I sang two weeks ago. The over the top arrangement of "Joy to the World" we did was pretty cool though, especially the harmonic changes in the last verse.) The Revels has traditions of its own to uphold. This makes me wonder if they're limited to exploring cultures which have dragon stories and sword dances. This year, since they were doing Germany, obviously, they did Fafnir and Siegfried, complete with Wagnerian leitmotifs.
Anyways, lots of fun. The comedy misfired as much as it fired. I'm general allergic to cute kids singing. But the whole thing was pretty terrific. There was lots of singing on stage as well as by the audience. I've never understood why the song leader waits until intermission to teach the audience the tunes they're supposed to sing. There's audience singing in the first act. The tunes are all in the program, not even remotely difficult, and I sight sing. I wonder what everyone else does. (Actually, I have to think that either these traditional German tunes are really well known or most of the audience sight sings. Either would be too cool for words.)
I did think it was weird that, at the end, the woman sitting next to me told me that she enjoyed my singing. I guess it beats being a distraction that detracted from her enjoyment of the Revels.
On other fronts, the story I mentioned with five characters and interlinked relationships (yes, I'm bad with titles) continues to spiral out of control. I'll get the hang of it... eventually... I hope. I've resorted to outlining, which I never do.
I don't know how to link to it but
matociquala's 12/27/06 3:44pm entry on exposition is dead on. She has described exactly how I feel about exposition. (Well, except for any of the bits that involve actually selling.) I seriously envy Viable Paradise XI students, who will get to work with her for a week. (I, obviously, will not be one of them since I went to Viable Paradise X. It was terrific but I think once was enough.)We've just passed the 30 day mark on my Analog submission. My rejection should arrive any day now...
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I was bummed to miss it this year; I'd been going every year straight since 2000. :)
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When you're in England, you'll have the opportunity to check out a Christmas panto!
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That is a good post-- and linking is easy: [a href="http://matociquala.livejournal.com/992634.html"] your link text here [/a], only with < > instead of [ ].
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