Seraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra

Gloryland

Patrick — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:00:38 +0000

There are some songs that affect you more than others, and then there are some songs that are life-changers. “Gloryland” is one of the latter. Sung by the last of the old-guard Mountain songsters Ralph Stanley, “Gloryland” is one of those hauntingly simple melodies which are married perfectly to the text (included below the video).

Gloryland

If you have friends in Gloryland
Who left because of pain,
Thank God up there, they’ll die no more
They’ll suffer not again

Then weep not friends,
I‘m going home
Up there we’ll die no more
No coffins will be made up there
No graves on that bright shore

The lame will walk in Gloryland
The blind up there will see
The deaf in Gloryland will hear
The dumb will talk to me

The doctor will not have to call
The undertaker – no
There’ll be no pain up there to bear
Just walk the streets of gold

We’ll need no sun in Gloryland
The moon and stars won’t shine
For Christ himself is light up there
He reigns of love divine

Then weep not friends,
I’m going home
Up there we’ll die no more
No coffins will be made up there
No graves on that bright shore

Standing Room Only!

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:02:34 +0000

Last night’s premiere of The Musical Da Vinci Code was completely sold out! In fact, we had to turn people away at the door. Inside it was standing room only as the musicians of Seraphic Fire cracked The Musical Da Vinci Code. Check out a little of it for yourself and be sure to purchase your tickets for our remaining concerts before they sell-0ut. Click here for tickets and more information.

The Musical Da Vinci Code Rehearsals

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:16:30 +0000

Rehearsals are underway and without giving too much away here’s a teaser of what you can expect from this intrigue-filled program…. Rehearsal 9/29/2009

Purchase tickets here

Alban Berg and Loving Life

Patrick — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:30:20 +0000

I was driving getting some errands done yesterday listening to the MetOpera channel on XM (satelite radio is but one of the perks of the new car) and the last scene of Wozzeck comes on (I think the ‘84 version at the Met).

Dork that I am, I nearly stroke out while driving I’m so excited. Really, how many times does a Berg opera come on the radio? I was smiling and humming along (to serial music…heee) and then thought to myself, “How many people are changing the channel right now?” It was a ammusing thought to picture tens of thousands of opera fans simultaneously changing the station.

Anyway, if this doesn’t give me serious dork cred, I don’t know what does. I was so happy and excited, I even took a picture of the radio console.

Rant: (Handel’s — used loosely here) Messiah Rocks

Patrick — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:54:39 +0000

OK.

This was passed on to me by a friend with the title “Satan Has Called in His Favor With Keith Lockhart.”

http://messiahrocks.com/

To say that I am appalled really does not do my emotions justice right now. Honestly, I’m not that square when it comes to playing around with the Monuments of Classical Music. Even “Messiah” is fair game in my opinion.

Example: In 1992, Quincy Jones (as a benefit for the United Negro College Fund) got together a bunch of the top African-American soul, funk and r&b artists in the business to do a take on Messiah (titled: A Soulful Celebration). The disc was genius — if you haven’t heard Take 6’s version of “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion,” you are missing out. The arrangements were intelligent, the artists paid TRIBUTE to the original work, and each and every track was produced to perfection.

And then we come to this tripe: http://messiahrocks.com/

The fact that the Boston Pops is touring this as their Xmas show this year makes me cringe — who THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? Please feel free to click on the “Watch Video” on the opening page. The amount of depress larnyx singing is appalling (worse than American Idol, if that’s even possible) and the arrangements are simplistic, bordering on insulting.

Oh why why why why why???

When Plagues Go Right

Patrick — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:34:46 +0000

I enjoy my job most days, but it is a special day when Mr. Handel is involved. Currently marking up my score for Israel in Egypt.

Don’t we all love hailstones for rain sometimes? Notice the trademarked Seraphic Fire delayed final consonant…

Nathan & Julie Gunn

Patrick — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:51:46 +0000

I had the pleasure of seeing Nathan & Julie Gunn in recital this past Friday at the Debartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame. GREAT program based on diferent concepts of screwed-up love.

This is, aside from the Met’s HD production of Magic Flute, the first time I’ve seen Nathan sing in person. It is quite the voice, and his stage presence is compelling. The big surprise of the evening, though, was just how dynamic a collaborator (on piano) his wife Julie is.

Wow. How often does an accompanist steal the show on the first half of a vocal recital??

Plowing through Palestrina

Patrick — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:05:02 +0000

I’m knee-deep in music of the Sistine Chapel (with a few add-ons), and realizing that I’m ever in awe of this music.

Caffeine and Renaissance

PROGRAM FOR “A MUSICAL DA VINCI CODE”

Palestrina, Tu Es Petrus

Palestrina, Kyrie & Gloria from Missa Papae Marcelli

DuFay, Nuper Rosarum Flores

Josquin, Ave Maria, Virgo Serena

Palestrina, Sanctus from Missa Papae Marcelli

Festa, Pater Noster / Ave Maria

Palestrina, Agnus Dei I from Missa Papae Marcelli

Allegri, Miserere

Palestrina, Agnus Dei II from Missa Papae Marcelli

Hiya.

Patrick — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:33:27 +0000

So I’m gonna try and see if this works. Here it goes…

We Need Your Help: Support the Arts

lorenzo — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:26:04 +0000

If you believe that the arts play an integral role in your community then we need your help today.

As you may have heard, the proposed County budget eliminates all support for the grants programs of the Department of Cultural Affairs – if enacted, this would “zero out” grants to approximately 400 cultural organizations, Seraphic Fire included.

I urge you to help us save the County’s cultural arts budget – and the many organizations like Seraphic Fire who rely on this funding – by taking the following steps:

Personalize and send e-mails, faxes and letters to your County Commissioner, the Mayor and the County Manager. Click here for a Sample Arts Support Message
Call key County officials and emphasize specifically how important County arts support is to you and to our community.Click here for a list of key county personnel and contact info
Attend and register to speak at the two upcoming County Commission Budget Hearings where the County’s budget will be discussed and finalized for the coming year. Click here for a cultural fact sheet

It is essential to keep your message positive. Tell your story about the impact of the arts on your life, the economy (about $1 billion in annual local impact), jobs (some 22,000 local jobs) and our community’s families and children.

We will post updates here so check back in periodically for the latest.

Together, we can make a difference in fully restoring County support for the arts.