Ellie Maat (Bell Choir) St. Mel Steward of the Week

When Ellie Maat was asked to be “Steward of the Week” she said, “Oh, there are others who are more deserving than I am.” Ellie has been a parishioner for over twenty years. She was married for fifty years and has two daughters, one lives here and the other lives in Northern California. Ellie is a retired nurse so she has been involved with our health fairs and blood drives. She is a Eucharistic Minister. Ellie says she is honored to be an EM, considers it a blessing and is happy to be part of that ministry. She plays the hand bells because she likes it! Ellie works at the Parish Center front desk every Wednesday and enjoys being part of the community. She is looking forward to her trip to Kenya in February.

Source: St. Mel Parish Bulletin

Give Thanks

"The promise of living

With hope and Thanksgiving

Is born of our loving

Our friends and our labor"

- The Promise of Living

Music by Aaron Copeland, words by Horace Everett

Praise and Thanksgiving

Four faith communities came together at the First Presbyterian of Encino for a service of thanksgiving on Sunday Nov. 22. The combined choirs of St. Mel, Valley Beth Shalom, St. Mary's Holy Catholic Assyrian Church and the First Presbyterian of Encino were united in singing Deo Dicamus Gratias (conducted by Francesco), Mi Sheberach (conducted by Dr. Noreen Green) and Grace (conducted by Janet Vrudyny).

A special Thanksgiving reception followed in the Fellowship Hall after the congregation sang "Shalom, Chaverim".

Buon compleanno!

Preview

Last Thursday's choir practice was not just all work.  We celebrated Francesco's birthday!  Chilled champagne, appetizers, cake, yummm! ...and we even found the perfect conductor's hat.

An Organ Concert on Oct. 25

You are invited to a concert of a brilliant young Croatian organist Edmund Andler Boric on Sunday Oct. 25th at St. Mel Church. On the program, music by J. S. Bach, G. Bovet and F. Mendelssohn.


As one of the leading Croatian organists of a younger generation, Mr. Boric developed a busy career with several hundred concerts as a soloist and chamber musician. He graduated in piano and organ from the Zagreb Academy of Music, where he also obtained a Master's Degree in organ (class of Prof. M. Penzar). He continued his studies with several prominent organists, among others Jaroslav Tuma, Pieter van Dijk and Daniel Roth.

Mr. Boric has a repertoire that spans the full range of organ literature, but he has a special affinity for the interpretation of music from the Romantic period, as well more contemporary styles.

A Send-Off Fit for a King

Rick Wilkinson, our bass-baritone, 7:15 a.m. organist and bell ringer on demand is moving on to the role of Music Ministry Director at Our Lady of the Valley. The choir honored his countless contributions to St. Mel (which included the role of King Melchior in the 2008 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors) at an impromptu lunch on Sept. 13 after the 11 a.m. mass. Despite the short notice, there was no shortage of food, chatter, laughter and good wishes.

Online Library

Hector Hizon has set up a wonderful site that you can go to to listen to recordings of our music and get copies of the scores. Francesco will be adding to the site as we go along. Thanks Hector!

www.stmelchoir.com

Choral Singing Enjoying a Boom

According to a recent survey from Chorus America, more than 32 million American adults now sing in choruses. Listen to Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network as he talks about this boom in our nation.

http://tinyurl.com/m7sof7

Rehearsals Resume

Rehearsals will begin Thursday AFTER Labor Day (Sept. 10)
6 p.m. - Bell Choir
7:30 p.m. - Parish Choir

Francesco's Notes - Choir Trip to Rome

We asked Francesco to share his overall impressions on the choir's trip to Rome.

Q: How was the trip to Rome for the ICMF?
Francesco: Laura Gantenbein, Leslie Kearns, Emily Ormond, Tyleese Potter, Claire Raft, Precy Seraspi, Audrey Vasquez, and I had an amazing trip to Rome. We sang for, and had an audience with, the Pope, a concert at the Pantheon, and our big gala concert at St. Paul Outside-the-Walls Basilica. The tours, concerts and fellowship were all truly incredible. This was the best choir tour I have ever taken!

Q: Are there plans to share the Roman experience with the St. Mel community?
Francesco: On Saturday, November 21st, at 7:30pm, we are preparing to show video clips and photos of our time there while we sing the beautiful music of Puccini. Come celebrate the Feast of St. Cecilia with us and enjoy some fabulous music.

Singers and Ringers in Rome

At last!  Some photos from the International Church Music Festival.  Wish we were there.  View Ellie's Rome album here.

LAJS presents L'Chayim this Sunday

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, led by Noreen Green presents "L'Chaim!" (To Life!), a musical celebration of Easter European culture featuring guest entertainer Mike Burstyn - Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre. Also on the Program are Soloists Mark Kashper, Violin; Zinovy Goro, Clarinet; and Yevgeniy Milyavskiy, Piano.

To receive 20% OFF tickets, call the box office at 323-GO-1-FORD (323-461-3673) and mention that you are a friend of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. The Ford Box Office is open Wed-Sun from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Rome Recordings

While we await Francesco's return with videos and photos from Rome, I've been scouring the internet for any news or recordings of the International Church Music Festival and found a posting from Harry Butler who was hired to produce a souvenir DVD of the event.  Follow this link:  St. Paul's (Rome) for a first-hand account of his recording experience - although technical in some paragraphs, he was kind enough to attach a couple of files snipped from the concert track.  

Annapolis Madrigal Singers

The Annapolis Area Christian School Madrigal Singers were also in Rome for the International Church Music Festival. Photos of their stay in Rome are available on their blog aacsmadrigals.blogspot.com

Bellevue Festival Choir

Also in Rome for the International Church Music Festival is the Bellevue Festival Choir, an ensemble of 20 singers from St. James Omaha, and the St. Luke and Blair Methodist churches. The group is led by St. James' Director of Music Laura Petry.


The group will join nine other American choirs to total more than 400 singers. A similar number of ICMF alumni and international registrants are coming to the festival from England, India, Holland, Australia, and Switzerland. Choirs from Italy, Ukraine, Slovakia and Kenya are also expected.

Source: The Omaha Newstand

Celebration in Rome

Francesco and his "Roman" choir will leave for Rome this evening.  

Scheduled performances are:  

Wed. June 17: Papal Audience

Thurs. June 18:  Concert at the Pantheon

Fri. June 19:  Gala concert at St. Paul Outside-the-Walls

Nielson & Young, Piano-Duo at the ICMF

On the artistic staff of the International Church Music Festival since 1985, Ovid Nielson and Stephen Young have been active church music leaders throughout their careers. Mr. Nielson was recently named to the faculty of the Cliburn Institute at Ft. Worth’s Texas Christian University. In 2007, Mr. Young was appointed Artist-in- Residence on the School of Music faculty at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

Individually and jointly, they are widely-published composers of music for solo and multiple keyboards, choir and orchestra. Nielson & Young’s extensive discography includes many recordings from the classical repertoire as well as from the ever-expanding output of their signature hymn tune arrangements, many settings of which are for two pianos and orchestra. 

More on the piano-duo available at their website: www.nielsonandyoung.com.

Sources:  www.festcorps.com, www.nielsonandyoung.com

A Tribute to Sister Pat

The St. Mel Parish and Handbell Choirs have been rehearsing Sister Pat's favorite music as a tribute to her 60 years of religious ministry and 20 years of service to the St. Mel community.   One of the songs hand-picked for this occasion is For Good, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a piece so appropo for Sister Pat, known throughout the parish for her "personal involvement in all aspects of parish life and... her ability to bring solace, help and hope to all she serves. "*

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led to those who help us most to grow

If we let them and we help them in return...

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you...I have been changed for good."

---Wicked

A reception for Sister Pat will follow the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 7, 2009.  Instead of gifts, donations in honor of Sister Pat to The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet will be appreciated.

*Source:  www.csjla.org

Disney Concert Honorees

The St. Mel Choir will join the Interfaith Choir performance at Disney Hall this Sunday June 7.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

During the Disney Concert, the Kindred Spirits Humanitarian Award will be granted to those who have dedicated their lives to humanitarianism.  This year's honorees are Ed Asner and the Grossman Burn Centers.

In addition to his professional versatility, Ed Asner has consistently served and committed himself to the rights of the working performer in addition to advocating for human rights, world peace, environmental preservation and political freedom. Asner can be heard as the voice of Carl Fredrickson in Pixar's animated film UP (which my teen-age daughter thoroughly enjoyed).  A definite departure from the usual Disney themes, Ed plays the role of a Senior citizen action hero.  (AP photo)

More details on this year's honorees are available here.

Disney Concert Beneficiary

The St. Mel Choir will join the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and the Valley Beth Shalom and St. James Gospel choirs for a benefit performance at Disney Hall on Sunday June 7.  

The event is a world class humanitarian aid concert to benefit Heifer International, an organization that works with communities worldwide to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. In FY2008, Heifer had 869 active projects in 53 countries/provinces and 27 U.S. states. Heifer projects around the world help families achieve self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training. The event is produced by Kindred Spirits.

Some of Heifer International's efforts include teaching environmentally sound agricultural techniques, animal management, HIV/AIDS education, and youth-focused programs. 
More details on Heifer International are available on their website.

Ellie's Night

Ellie Kearns was honored during the St. Mel Appreciation Dinner on May 29th. Ellie was recognized for her many years of service with the Music Ministry, not just through her singing and business acumen, but also as choir librarian.    Thank you, Ellie!

                    Receiving the award from Msgr. Hefner

                    Celebrating with the Maestro
                       With proud daughter, Leslie

Roman Ringers

Ringers for the ICMF: Claire Raft, Audrey Vasquez, Precy Seraspi, Emily Ormond and Tyleese Potter have been rehearsing for the International Church Music Festival in Rome.

Paul Leddington Wright - ICMF Artistic Director and Conductor

If you google Paul Leddington Wright, your search will invariably return a series of recordings and sheet music that bear his name.  This conductor, composer, arranger and organist is internationally known for leading choral workshops and writing commissions. Since 1986, he has worked for BBC Radio and Television as a conductor and arranger.  Some of his best known performances have been the Songs of Praise series with the BBC.

At the age of 15 he was the youngest person ever to have played the organ at London’s Royal Albert Hall in public, and two years later made his first organ recital tour to the USA, Canada, and Jamaica. At 17, Paul won an organ scholarship to St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where his tutors included Peter Hurford, Peter Le Huray, and David Willcocks. After leaving university, he spent three years working in the professional theatre in London’s West End and continued to make annual organ recital tours abroad. 

In 1984, Paul was appointed Organist and Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral, a post he held for eleven years. In this capacity, he hosted the ICMF for the first time at Coventry in 1985, and six years later became Artistic Director for the ICMF.

A full biography and links are available here.

Source:  www.festcorps.com

Sir David Willcocks - Conductor at the ICMF

Sir David Willcocks has conducted the International Church Music Festival (ICMF) since 1984. He began his musical training as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, later winning scholarships to Clifton College and King’s College, Cambridge. 

Under his direction, The Bach Choir, King’s College Choir, and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir have made many recordings of great choral works with England’s leading orchestras. He was knighted by the Queen in 1977 and has received honorary degrees in the USA and Canada, as well as from the Universities of Bradford, Bristol, Exeter, Leicester, and Sussex in the United Kingdom. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious Sanford Medal from Yale University in America. Read more about Sir David Willcocks here.

Source:  www.festcorps.com

When in Rome

The choirs at the International Church Music Festival will be singing a choral repertoire that includes the MESSA DI GLORIA of Puccini and TE DEUM of Haydn.  Performances include a Papal Audience on Wednesday, June 17 to sing for the pope, a concert on Thursday at the Pantheon,
and a big gala concert on Friday night at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls accompanied by a full symphony orchestra.

International Church Music Festival, Rome

500 - 1,000 musicians and friends from as many as 10 countries on 5 continents will gather at the 25th Anniversary of the International Music Festival in Rome, June 13-20 to sing and enjoy classic sacred choral literature under the leadership of world-renowned musicians:

Co-conductors Sir David Willcocks and Paul Leddington Wright and the American duo pianists, (Stephen) Nielson & (Ovid) Young.  

Limited registration is still available. Click here for Registration Information.

Disney Concert Hall Performance

The St. Mel Parish Choir will once again collaborate with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony for a world-class humanitarian aid concert to benefit Heifer International on June 7, 2009 at the Disney Concert Hall.  

The 100 Voice Interfaith Choir will consist of singers from the St. James Sacred Nation Gospel Choir, Valley Beth Shalom Choir and the St. Mel Parish Choir.  

For discounted ticket information, download the ticket order form.

Handbells Lead The Way

It was a grand Palm Sunday procession into the church last weekend, led by the handbell choir. This video includes a little commentary on the precision with which handbells are manufactured and the incredible sound of a 7-1/2 set of bells played by the Westminster College Bell Choir.

We will be uploading audio files of our handbell choir performances very soon. Subscribe to our blog to receive our updates.

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Teen Stations - Music

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough:

We want the Teen Community to experience the power of music in enhancing the Stations of the Cross.  Choir musical selections include African American spirituals ("I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" , "Were You There"), contemporary music ("Flood", "Lean On Me", "Endless Night"), acapella ("Saw Ye My Savior") and solo instrumental music for the piano, oboe and violin. 

The teen choir at Saturday's rehearsal: 

Teen Stations - Text

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough

This year we will use the French poet and theologian Paul Claudel 1911 libretto from Marcel Dupre's "Le Chemin de la Crois" ("The Way of the Cross") organ composition.  It is a powerful, intense and dense piece which has been updated for the modern teen audience, without losing its poetry.

Paul Claudel is himself an interesting example of a man of his time (playwright, poet, diplomat) whose faith remained unwavering despite the free-thinking of his generation.  Historians place his return to the faith at the age of 18 during Christmas Eve.  More on Paul Claudel here.

In Bob's next blogpost, he will discuss the music for Teen Stations. 

Teen Stations - The 15th Station

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough:

We are often asked why we have a 15th Station for the Resurrection and I tell people that the church permits a 15th station for this purpose.   The last thing to contemplate should be the Resurrection, not the placing of Christ in the tomb.  

It takes an act of faith for modern teenagers to trust that there is power in the Stations of the Cross because most of them have not experienced it.  We want teens to experience, not just the sacrifice of Christ's passion, but also the hope that is in Christ's resurrection.  In these difficult times, trust God and make the leap of faith.  

Visit our blog again when Bob will discuss the readings for Teen Stations.

The Teen Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday, April 3rd 2009 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   

Teen Stations - Video and Digital Images

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough:

We are a sophisticated audio-visual generation and we believe that sight and sound must be used to maximum effect to create a powerful, yet prayerful experience.  The Teen Stations will begin with a short movie on the Passion created using Enya's "Pax Deorum" and 138 fine art images of the Passion.  I found these beautiful images over the last 16 years in my internet travels to the museums of the world.  This 4 minute movie places the congregation on the Via Dolorosa as witnesses to the Stations of the Cross.

We will be using digital images of our St. Mel stained glass windows for the first 14 stations. This will be the first time St. Mel will be using its stained glass windows for an evening service. The images will be computer projected 12' tall on the church's retractable screen.

Next post from Bob:  The 15th Station

Amahl Cast Party - St. Patrick's Day 2009

The cast party brought everyone together to reminisce and view the videos produced by our Multimedia Ministry.

The Cast - pre-show:

And then the party:

The traditional corned beef, cabbage and colcannon for a St. Patrick's Day celebration c/o Chef Joseph (aka The Camel).

Singing Irish Songs ...and one Italian song in honor of St. Joseph.
More photos here.

Teen Stations - Beginnings

Our guest blogger, Bob McCullough, has been involved in the Teen Stations of the Cross at St. Mel's for 16 years.  

If the Stations of the Cross is the movie, our text and music are the soundtrack.   When we were asked to create a Stations of the Cross experience which would appeal to the Teen Community, we felt that we needed a few elements to be successful:

(1) full active participation of the teen community - as musicians, singers and lectors 

(2) powerful text that will speak to relevant modern day concerns 

(3) musical selections with the emotion and meditation of each station

(4) digital images and video footage that highlight the entire experience

(5) active participation from the adults who support the teen community

While the Passion has been depicted in artwork, music, plays and movies, the ritual devotion of the Stations of the Cross is a significant and prayerful way to enter the mystery of Christ's Passion.  We have refined our Teen Stations of the Cross over the last 16 years to immerse the congregation in the experience and provide insight into Christ's suffering and sacrifice. 

Bob will continue to post on this subject over the next few weeks.   The Teen Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday, April 3rd 2009 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   

Francesco's Notes - Lenten Music

Q: How is Lenten liturgical music different from music for the rest of the year? 

Francesco:  Well the two obvious things are that we don’t sing the GLORY TO GOD (GLORIA) or an ALLELUIA. Since Lent is traditionally a penitential season we always sing some form of the PENITENTIAL RITE, or as it is now called the ACT OF PENITENCE. So, the choir sings KYRIE ELEISON (Greek for LORD, HAVE MERCY) set for choir by such composers as HANS LEO HASSLER (Renaissance period), W.A.MOZART (Classic period), or FLOR PEETERS (20^th century). I try to choose music that reflects our tradition and is appropriate to the current liturgical norms. We also sing some special versions of the AGNUS DEI (LAMB OF GOD). Both the KYRIE ELEISON and the AGNUS DEI are litanies of supplication, asking God for mercy and peace. I like to think of LENT as a journey toward the great mystery of the PASSION, DEATH, and RESURRECTION of Jesus. As far as the other songs, most are about our journey with Jesus’ through this paschal mystery. For example, JESUS WALKED THIS LONESOME VALLEY and I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME. Lent is also a time of taking inventory (Prayer), a time to CHANGE OUR HEARTS if we’ve lost our way. Lent is a time to remember that GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that we need to sacrifice so that other may live (Fasting and Almsgiving). It’s a good time too not to lose hope and remember that God does HOLD US IN HIS MERCY.

Teen Stations - The Big Picture

If you have a teenager at home, you know that look.  It says "I'm borrrred".  It starts with the eyes and then the entire body just becomes a lump of indifference.  St. Mel's Teen Stations of the Cross on April 3rd will use a multi-media experience to bring the Passion of Christ to a more engaging level and encourage full participation from our teen community.  

It uses the most eclectic musical resources to open the heart and mind to the spirit and emotion of each station.  Music comes from Broadway musicals, African-American spirituals, movie soundtracks and contemporary Christian music.  People have come to experience Teen Stations in Woodland Hills from as far away as Lancaster and Orange County.

Our next posting:  Guest Blogger Bob McCullough on Teen Stations - The Beginning

Amahl - Cast Party Scheduled

Some great Amahl photos through Ken Fancher's lens. Click here to view. 

All the more reason to come to the cast party on St. Patrick's Day.  I hear the video is quite good.

Ashira (I Will Sing)

How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to sit together.

The St. Peter Armenian Church Congregational Choir, the Valley Beth Shalom Congregational Choir, St. Mel's Parish and Handbell Choirs and the Mass Gospel Choir from the Central Bible Church will fill Valley Beth Shalom with music and brotherhood Friday March 13 at 8 p.m. Many voices as one.

Breathe

Anyone who has even a 1 min. exposure to yoga (even as an uninterested observer) understands the importance of breathing.  Breathing is life and it's easy to take it for granted, until shortness of breath or anxiety make us painfully aware that we are not getting enough air.  Breathe is a widely popular contemporary piece by M. Barnett that likens air to "His Holy presence, living in me".

The Parish and Handbell Choirs will perform Breathe at the Valley Beth Shalom Interfaith Service on March 13 at 8 p.m.   The music includes the hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God and remains a Bell Choir favorite.   No tickets are required for this event.

Eyes of My Heart

The Lifeteen Band’s gathering song for the 2nd Sunday of Lent “Open the Eyes of My Heart” got me thinking about the horrid workweek that I had just been through. If ever there was a time for every nasty expletive in every language, this would have been the perfect time.

I am pleased to report that I survived the week, mostly by opening my eyes to the good in the people that angered me the most.  This Sunday, we recall the Transfiguration of Christ but it is we who are transfigured by His teachings.  

Francesco's Notes: VBS Interfaith Service

Q.  For the Interfaith Service at Valley Beth Shalom, the Parish and Handbell Choirs will perform Mozart's Ave Verum and Marie Barnett's Breathe.  Why were these pieces chosen?   

Francesco:  I picked the AVE VERUM and BREATHE because they are accompanied by the handbell choir and also because Noreen wanted something in Latin that was somewhat traditional to the Catholic Church (i.e., Ave Verum) and Breathe represents a new style of music that is being sung in the Catholic Church today.

Forty Days and Forty Nights

The choir will call everyone to worship on Sunday (1st Sunday in Lent) with Heinlein’s arrangement Forty Days and Forty Nights.  I’ve always been curious about the number 40, as used in the Bible.  Why not 30 days?  Was language so limited that “forty” as used in the Bible would be equivalent to “lightyears” in today’s lingo?  Consider the other references to forty in the Bible:

- In the story of Noah and the Great Flood, it rains for “forty days and forty nights”

- Moses spent “forty days and forty nights” on Mount Sinai when receiving the Ten Commandments

- Jesus spent “forty days” in the desert before beginning his public ministry

While I have just recently become a more interested student of the Bible (as opposed to the “must study the Bible to graduate attitude”), it becomes evident that the number “forty” symbolizes a “long period of time”.  Within the context of the “instant world” that we now live in, forty days seems like a really long time.

Forty days and forty nights

Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Interfaith Service

St. Mel will be joining choirs from Valley Beth Shalom, St. Peter Armenian Church and The Faithful Central Bible Church at an Interfaith Service at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino(http://www.vbs.org/) on March 13, 2009 at 8 pm.

This event is open to everyone (no tickets required) and is organized by Dr. Noreen Green.
In Noreen's words: "The service is about sharing our musical and religious traditions. The VBS choir and Cantor will lead a traditional Shabbat service, then our guest choirs will perform for each other and finally we will all sing together in the spirit of unity! The Community is invited to share in this uplifting service."

Guest choirs were asked to pick 2 songs from their traditional repertoire. St. Mel Parish Singers and Handbell Choir will be performing AVE VERUM by W.A. Mozart and BREATHE by M. Barnett.

Ensemble pieces are: WHEN YOU BELIEVE from Prince of Egypt, HALLELUYAH (Israeli), HODU AL ERETZ ( a gospel like number in unison) and HINEI MA TOV (round). A group rehearsal is scheduled at VBS on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 pm.

St Mel's Roman Holiday

This year, the St Mel music ministry will be participating in the 2009 International Church Music Festival in Rome, Italy.

One of the pieces we will be performing is the Messa di Gloria by Puccini. During rehearsal, I was struck by the beauty of this work and decided to do some research about it. Here's what I found from the Istanbul European Choir homepage:

"Puccini's Messa di Gloria
Though Giacomo Puccini is famous for his contribution to the world of opera through such works as La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly and Turandot, he actually began his musical career playing and composing church music. The son of a well known composer and organist, he followed the family tradition, becoming organist of San Martino in Lucca, Italy, at the age of 14.

As his musical studies progressed, it was clear that young Giacomo had leanings towards operatic writing and possessed the talent to become one of the world's greatest operatic composers - one need look no further than the Messa di Gloria itself for evidence of such promise!. Puccini himself wrote: "the Almighty touched me with his little finger and said, 'Write for the theatre - mind, only for the theatre!'"

It is probably due to Puccini's preoccupation with opera that the Messa di Gloria remained unperformed for a further 72 years after its first performance, in spite of its undoubted quality and the rapturous critical reception it had first received. The manuscript remained undiscovered until 1952 when Catholic priest and musicologist, Father Dante del Fiorentino unearthed it while researching in Lucca for a new biography of Puccini.

Puccini's Mass for Four Voices and Orchestra, as it was originally known - probably derives its Messa di Gloria designation from the importance this setting gives to its wonderful second movement, the Gloria, which accounts for almost half the performance time of the whole work. Written as his graduation thesis from the Institute Musicale of Lucca, Italy when he was only 22 years of age, the Messa di Gloria is an unmistakably youthful work, but shows a mature grasp of musical conventions.

It prefigures many of Puccini's operas in the lyrical freshness of its themes, its sense of drama and the range of its expression. Four years earlier, in 1876, he had demonstrated his mastery of the orchestra in his Preludio Sinfonico; in the Messa di Gloria he combined this flair for orchestration with a similar command of vocal writing in a style which opera aficionados will recognise as unmistakable Puccini."

Choral director, Francesco Alleruzzo, plans on having the choir sing the Messa di Gloria at a summer concert for the community on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at St Mel Church) in Woodland Hills.

No Prior Experience Necessary

The Handbell Choir consists of musicians looking for an invigorating and challenging musical experience. No prior bell ringing experience is necessary. Anyone interested in joining the St. Mel Handbell Choir may contact Francesco alleRuzzo at falleruzzo@stmel.org. The choir is currently practicing for Lent and Easter. Practices are:
Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays 3:15 p.m. (Children's Bell Choir)
Thursdays 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Saturdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

More Reasons to Ring

"I enjoy the bell choir for many reasons: the camaraderie among the players, the challenges presented with many of the pieces, our dear choir director who is so very patient with us, the mental stimulation I receive, the beautiful music we help create."
- Elli

"I like the bell choir, because I can't really sing (though I like to) and this allows me to be musical and be a participating member of the mass. I also LOVE the friendships that have grown over many, many hours of practice. "
- Claire
"...because I am a part of something that is for the church. I love the sounds the bells make. I enjoy our camaraderie. ... I don't think about anything else but what I am doing. I get to block out reality and the world for a while and play music with other people and for God."
- Audrey

Reasons to Ring

In the Bell Choir, you don't just read the notes and wait until your bell shows up. You have to stay alert and ready to do whatever the symbols require: you thumb damp it, ring touch it, swing it, shake it, plunk it on the table, hit it with a mallet and then you have to watch the dynamics, make sure you pick up the C sharp and not the C natural, all the while wishing you had three hands.

Bridget enjoys the bell choir because it gives her a chance to learn something new. When she joined the choir, she had no prior music experience and didn't read music. "Francesco has helped me so much. I feel I can just relax and let someone else be in charge for a change. All I need to do is follow instuctions...it's a relief. I also enjoy how accepting the other members of the choir have been even though I was a true beginner. Everyone has been patient. This past year in bell choir has helped me to escape the stress and pressures of work. I love it."

Carol of the Bells wasn't originally a Christmas Song

The song was originally a Ukrainian folk song composed by Mykola Leontovich in 1916. It tells the story of a swallow flying into a household proclaiming the bountiful year that they will have. (we need a bountiful year!) It was traditionally sang to celebrate the New Year.

The Carol of the Bells lyrics were added to the original folk music from the Ukraine by Peter Wilhousky almost a decade later in 1936.

When performed by the Bell Choir and the Parish Choir, "Carol of the Bells" usually begins quietly, and grows louder and louder as each voice is added, and at the end fades to a pianissimo.

Bell Choir Picks

"One of the pieces I like best is Carol of the Bells. It's a fun piece to play and great listening. Many friends have remarked how much they enjoy listening to the music. My son came from San Diego to hear the music, and thoroughly enjoyed the bell's pieces."
- Lili

"The bell choir piece I enjoyed the best was Jesus, Jesus, Rest your Head. It symbolized the Christmas season for me, quiet and spiritual."
- Ellie

"My favorite piece was Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head. It was so peaceful in it's rhythm that it put me in a peaceful and relaxed mood. "
- Bridget

"How Great Our Joy is my favorite. I love the changes in tempo and key, the accidentals, the crescendos and that fermata. It's just like Christmas - sometimes hectic and crazy, sometimes quiet and reflective and sometimes, you just want to pause."
- Cecille

"I like the first song we played before mass, that I made Francesco let us play again at the end of mass, because it was challenging, having a variety of rhythms, tempo changes, and key changes. It was also a very exciting piece."
- Claire

"...the piece that had my solo entry, that was the one I liked most."
- Audrey


Our next blog posting...why join the handbell choir. Stay tuned.

Bell Choir Christmas Performances

Last Christmas, the Intermediate Handbell Choir lifted spirits with ringing -- from the gentle sounds of Carol of the Bells to the grand Joy to the World.
- One parishioner was overheard thanking the choir for the beautiful music.
- A non-parishioner said they'd come to Mass more often just to hear the bells
- Monsignor personally visited the choir loft and thanked the choir for bringing a new dimension to the Christmas Mass.














Performances were at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and again at 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Day.

Members of the handbell choir: CATHY CYGAN, DOROTHY COLLINS, ELLIE MAAT, LILI GLEESON, EMILY ORMOND, MARGOT HIRD, BRIDGET TIMBERLAKE, CLAIRE RAFT, CECILLE WAGGNER, AUDREY VASQUEZ, PRECY SERASPI, TYLEESE POTTER