Dia de Guadalupe

Last night Cantantes sang at the Festival of Lights in Chapala, on the Day of Guadalupe. After a 3 hours rehearsal, a light dinner and bus ride to Chapala, we arrived at 7:30 for a concert time at 8. We stood around on the cathedral steps for an hour watching the totally inept sound people trying to get microphones set up for us. They managed to get the keyboard plugged in correctly but the sound system was so bad that I'm sure we sounded like cows stuck in a mud puddle. But the crowd seemed to enjoy the music and we certainly enjoyed singing for the Mexican crowd. One song in French, a couple in English and the rest in Spanish. The crowd really lit up when we sang Mexican Christmas songs with which they are so familiar. It was really a joy to bring their cherished carols to them on such a holiday as Dia de Guadalupe. Guadalupe is the most revered saint in Mexico so her day is very special.

What was sort of disconcerting was the noise level while we were singing. There were kids running around playing and making noise between the church steps where we were singing, and the entrance to the church. It's probably 40-50 feet of space with screeching little kids running all over. You'd think I'd be used to noisy gatherings, being LDS and all. The crowd in general were somewhat noisy too so it was difficult to concentrate on singing. It seems Mexicans are less unruly indoors than an outside setting. However, this evening was a big deal for them so it's to be expected.

The temperature Thursday night got down into the high 30s-low 40s so we were forwarned and didn't wear our tradition concert dress. Instead we wore long johns, hats, thick socks and heavy coats. Thank heavens the cold snap started the night before our concert, otherwise we would have been caught "cold" with no warning and been dressed for 60 degrees.

Immediately after our concert the fireworks started. This night the venue was the cathedral itself. With lots of flare-type fireworks going off along the front and up the two bell towers, throwing out eerie light and lots of smoke. The sound system was working well when the lovely music was playing in accompaniment to the fireworks. The song changed and so did the fireworks. It was quite spectacular with music swelling as huge rockets of white sparkles were shot from the roof of the cathedral. The whole crowd was very quiet as we stood there in awe of such beauty. And, as if God himself had planned the event, the largest full moon in 15 years had risen just to the left of the largest bell tower of the church. Click here for a video that was taken that night. I think there were a few tears in the crowd; I know us gringos were certainly moved. CLICK HERE for short info on the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Golden Strings Concert

The concert was a great success with the house of 385 seats almost full by intermission (Mexicans count time differently than Americans). We sang a mini concert then the kids did their part. The last third of the concert was Strings and Cantantes together. Strings conductor, Senor Medeles, is a great director and easy to follow. Despite we only had about an hour to rehearse with him and the Strings, things went well. The music was much slower than normal for us, but the younger kids just couldn't play some pieces any faster! We had long, sustained phrasing but fortunately we know how to stagger breathe so no one fell off the risers! At the conclusion of the concert the audience wanted more. Evidently Strings didn't have a encore planned so we sang the last song of the concert again, Silent Night (in English and Spanish). Even our director, Tim, joined the tenors and sang the encore. Kinda strange to sing a song twice, but the mostly Mexican audience loved it!

Every concert we have with Golden Strings, we donate our time. The Strings keep the door receipts; it's our way of supporting them with revenue and lending our name to their concert. We've performed enough with them over the years, that we recognize most of the teenage students and I've picked my favorite grade school kids to watch in the future. They are so honored to perform with us (as if we are a big deal) because we're gringos, whom they admire.

I didn't get home til a little after 10 and the dogs were nuts. I have been keeping a friend's Bedlington Terriers for the week. The male wants to mark the territory (being the only male with five, count 'em, five girls! Can you blame him?) so I keep a Man Band on him--a cloth fastened with velcro that goes around his loins and covers his pee pee. For extra protection I stick a "masculine" hygiene product (can't let him know it's a feminine product) to absorb better. My dogs and the Bedlingtons don't argue exactly, they just don't play and mostly avoid each other. Maybe another week and they would be rolling around together, but I don't think I could take 4 dogs for that long.

Anyway, got the dogs fed and my heavy makeup removed and hit the hay. I was tired but more than anything my feet hurt. I'm thinking perhaps I'll wear my black rafting sandals for Friday's concert. I wore them once before several years ago with resounding success; at least my feet thought so even if they aren't particularly feminine with a long, black gown with sparkly trim at the neck and wrists. Friday we will be standing on the concrete steps of the Chapala church, which is a killer for old feet. And sexy I don't care about--most of the eligible men here want a "purse" or a "nurse". The others are divorced for a darn good reason.

Los Cantantes del Lago

I belong to a community choir called Los Cantantes del Lago (The Singers of the Lake). There are members from all over the world, who live here at Lakeside, as well as Mexican singers. Our director is a professional director and is quite a task master; it's good for us because he gets quality from us we didn't know we had. Our music is 16th Century sacred music to "White Christmas" with songs in French, Latin, Spanish and English. This afternoon will be our last rehearsal before our first Christmas concert on Dec. 10. We will sing with the Golden Strings, which is composed of Mexican students who otherwise would have no chance to learn to play music. They are directed by a local composer and musician; he has created a really wonderful group of musicians out of children of all ages. Some of them will no doubt go on to play with the Guadalajara Symphony.

Our next concert is Dec. 12 on the steps of the church in Chapala. Chapala is having it's first annual Festival of Lights with a fireworks barge on the lake. This is will be opening night and should be spectacular. I only hope we don't freeze singing at 8 pm as it gets quite chilly this time of year; maybe down to 60 degrees F. Our dresses are long but have chiffon sleeves; the men will be OK in their tuxs. Then three concerts throughout the weekend and next week in our own venue.
All this, not counting mini concerts around Lakeside--whew!

Our choir is getting better and better as our director presents more challenging music for us to sing each year. We generally have a Christmas concert series and a Spring concert series. Last summer we were invited by the government of Ecuador to represent Mexico in a music festival in Quito. It was a wonderful experience for me as I've never been to South America before. And quite gratifying to see an LDS chapel a short distance from our hotel. Next summer we are going to tour our own country. Visiting Patzcuaro, Morelia (for their annual music festival), San Miguel de Allende and Zamora. We may have other venues as time goes by, but this is what's scheduled so far.

LATER: Returned from our rehearsal tired but jubilant. The choir is prepared for concert! That hasn't always been the case; in years past we have had trouble with balance within the choir as well as knowing the music just before a concert. As I said, we are getting better and better. We now have 62 voices and the newest singers have good quality to add to our mix.