December, Don'tcha Know?

Oh Lord it's been a while, but maybe not much has happened? Since last time...

1. Messiah concerts went pretty dang well in my opinion. I have enjoyed singing it several years in a row because each year I get to know it more and find new parts to work over and revel in. I adored the conductor - a delightful Bernard Hill-ish schnauzer of a man. Very gentle and a very clear conductor, even when playing the harpsichord and conducting with his head. We also had a lute - who knew one little lute could make such a difference?
2. Home + Christmas = Happy. Family, pets, home made tamales, rum and egg nog, Christmas goose, listening to Messiah with family while doing crossword puzzles, Shirley Jackson stories, friends I haven't seen since summer, Doctor Who, knitting store afternoons. Glory.
3. Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes and Beethoven 9 concert - so fun. The waltzes are a grand mix of lovely, darling, rousing, beautiful, eerie, peppy and lilting, most coming in at around 1 minute-ish. We sang a few of them sophomore year of college with Dr. Hodson and I still remember some of them (only now we're singing them in German - ja!). Beethoven is a blast because you just get to sing all crazy and loud and you realize how exciting and interesting it all is and how much more there is to it than just the standard melody that everyone knows. Only downside - we didn't break it down Sister Act 2, 90s style at any point. That's okay, I did it in my head. ("I'm down with G-O-D -- yeah you know me! -- I'm down with G-O-D -- EVERYBODY! Come and join the chorus, the mighty mighty chorus...)
4. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve Anacortes style. Am I ready for 2010? We shall see.