So today was the day - the first day of Byrons super-special Christmas present for Angie! I have been looking forward to this since his amazing rehersal way back when. So, after all the anticipation and anxiety (on Byron's part), all I can say is that IT DID NOT GO WELL.
I was so prepared! I downloaded and figured out how to print our music double-sided (to save paper and make following easier!). I knew that Byron would be singing bass (he has an amazingly low voice when he choses to use it), but I did not know what part I was to sing and at least one song has 6 different parts just for the women! I tend to sing 1st soprano both because I have the range to do so and because I have never learned how to sing harmony. So, I had mixed feelings when I was told I would probably be asked to sing 2nd soprano. My first instinct was to be hurt - because in instrumental orchestras that 1st part is reserved for the best musician (and I was very competitive in orchestra when I was younger). For obvious reasons, this is NOT the case in vocal groups, infact quite the reverse since it takes more effort to learn how to blend and sing something other than the melody. Still - I like to sing really really really high and I don't really get the chance to. So, I went to rehersal expecting to be asked to sing 2nd, but still looking at that really high part. Byron went just hoping that by some miracle the rehersal had been cancelled.
We arrived and checked the kids into the nursery (including the teenager who didn't want to sing and was not thrilled to learn that he would be helping in the nursery instead), then we headed to the chapel to get started. We were sort of directed to a general area - soprano way over there and bass just here somewhere. Then the director shifted everyone left in general and just got started - I mean really got started! I mean, here's your starting pitch - start at measure such and such and remember it is "piano"! Poor Byron! He was sitting all by himself and was totally lost from the first second! Then the director when over and over and over a certain section and finally gave some parts their notes, but he used all of the technical lingo - decresendo rather than just "get softer here", start at measure # whatever at the [insert note name here], etc. I was really worried about him - a friend who also sings bass took pity on the situation and went and sat next to him, but wow - no notes for parts or anything and the first song we tackled had 4 men parts and 4 women parts! I know how to read music and I got lost! My experiece got that much worse when the director said he only wanted 4 1st sopranos and there were 10 or 12 of us - I didn't even ask, I just started looking at the 2nd part. It is not a difficult part, but I can't just pick it out without hearing it - but off we went all four parts at once! I found a lady I knew who already knew the song and sang the part I was looking for, but I was still worried about Byron who was looking decidedly unhappy (or unhappier as the case may be) when fate (or heaven) intervened on his behalf -
A nursery volunteer came in to tell me that Ben had needed to go potty and they took him, but he didn't tell them he needed help with his pants, he just went into the stall and danced, by the time the poor woman figured out he needed help, it was too late. Lake Eyrie had relocated to Visalia. Rehersal was only about half over, and she didn't know what ought to be done - but I did. I went over to my long-suffering honey and asked him if he wouldn't mind taking Ben home to get cleaned up. Turns out he didn't mind at all and did I want to call him to come and get me when rehersal was over? No such luck. I told him he had to come back when he got Ben cleaned up ... He did actually make it back before the end of rehersal, but barely. However, since Ben got a nice warm bath, and his clothes got rinsed out - I really can't complain. I really didn't think Byron was going to get anything but frustration out of that rehersal anyway.
Once rehersal was over - they passed out practice cds (which are only slightly less confusing than the rehersal was since ALL of the parts are there with a voice over of the actual part being listened to). Byron has declared his intention of encouraging another accident next week ... I am hoping for some sectionals or possibly a miracle. I know that once the parts are learned, this will be really fun - but for now it is definitely more work than Byron had bargained for. He says he should have just bought me something ...
Please pray for us everyone - we need it!!!!!
