Another Opening, Another Show

UPDATE :  STILL NEED FEEDBACK ON THIS!!!!

Yes, ladies, we've hardly recovered from our Solstice ritual and it's already time to think about our yearly Fundraiser in April.

I know many of you want to do more contemporary songs, so my thought is this -- a time traveling radio show.  Here's why.

1) We can set up mikes and perhaps other instruments
2) No Choreography or Costumes (well, minimal costumes)
3) We can have scripts and music onstage
4) Open to any song 

The "frame" of the show would be a radio (I think I can persuade Jay to help us create a stage set with a radio theme,) with a "dial" that tunes into various years associated with certain songs.  We can also create a skit or two (possibly recreating some classic skits, like "Who's on First" or things like that) or do a "scene" from a "soap opera". Since people don't actually "see" what's playing on a radio, we would be performing as if in a studio, without worrying too much about where we are standing or anything like that, and with our scripts or sheet music in our hands.   People could chose to wear clothes appropriate for streetwear for the period of the songs they want to perform, or just wear something nice and comfortable as one would wear in  a studio setting.   I don't want to get too elaborate with it, but that's the idea.  We could be extremely flexible.  We could even have some all instrumental pieces -- jazz, rock, country, classical, it's all open  It's a radio show.

Maybe we could get Ken Marsh to be our announcer, and Nate or other men in the congregation could show off their chops.  We are getting much more support from the congregation so we certainly can make space for members to have a little time in the spotlight with minimal fuss.  We should put out an "audition call" in January to see who else might be interested in performing. and we should reserve a date early on so people can decide their schedules.

So, how does this sound to everyone?  Please leave a "yay" or "nay" vote in the comments.

Other events?

  My friend, Paula Appling  wrote this to me and it has fired some thoughts--- see below

 Elaine,

The performance last night was beautiful.  Thank you for telling me about it.  Thank you for doing it.  I hope it is repeated each and every year because I felt . . . not as alone .. . or . . . not as dark . . . or .. . something.  I'm sure you understand.

I am trying to piece together how/what She Sings is.  Is it something like The Vagina Monologues which can be done every year because there are lots and lots of mini-vignettes to choose from?  The words Terre spoke spoke to me and I'm sure a lot of others too. I sat there thinking, if we all feel this way, why do we do the whole Christmas thing?  Celebrating the winter solstice, however, makes a ton of sense.

  So  in response to :

I am trying to piece together how/what She Sings is.  Is it something like The Vagina Monologues which can be done every year because there are lots and lots of mini-vignettes to choose from? 

I wonder what other rituals with music might be out there that are worth our time and energy.  We have to be sure it's really worth it--- I'm  not saying   "hey that was  fun, let's forget about how much work it was and sign up for 3 more"

But I am intrigued by the idea of adding to our repetoire-- My colleague who introduced  WSSR to me has another  Christmas event that she  and her choir do every other year.  I"ll look into that.  

Ladies

We rock!  Thank you for letting me sing with you.

I will now sleep until tomorrow afternoon.

After Show Get Together

I"m hosting an after show wind down  party at my house.

Don't know who has other  obligations or who needs to go home and just crash--- but I'll be eating something-- probably pizza-- and having a glass of wine.

Significant others welcome!

Warning: Joseph  is making grasshopper bars which are the worlds best mint  brownie.

But  dont  let that temptation stop you from coming!

cheat sheet for WSSR

The little symbols are meant to help: = means a reading (kind of like lines of words on a book), o means a meditation (open, nothing), and music note means song.

I'll bring the sharpie and highlighter in case anyone wants to add other little reminder notes.

A little treat

I just caught this online and had to share it.  There's music EVERYWHERE!

Good News

Doctor's appt. this morning -- nothing different, nothing new -- lead to an appt. this afternoon with the Ear/Nose/Throat specialist.  The problem isn't my vocal cords, but that I have some sort of silent acid reflux that is burning the back of my throat.  That can be dealt with -- meds are called in.  So, I imagine there will be some healing time, but in the meanwhile I should be good to go on Saturday no problem!

I'll have to figure the acid reflux thing out, but at least now I have a target.  I am SO relieved as I was imagining the worst.

photo record of my experiment today: how many candles in a bowl?

This will be long, but informative! Enjoy!

(and sorry my photos are mirrored, that's how my computer camera takes them. And Elaine, I put the black trays on the piano bench in the DRE/Choir Director room)

I found some ribbon labeled for "saving seats" during weddings and memorials. A nice bronzy color!

Terre and I were trying to decide if we could avoid taking off the paper wax catchers (to speed up the process). 

This was essentially a decorative cookie tray that was as deep as a pie tin. This depth is sufficient for holding candles! Even tough keeping the paper wax catchers skips a step, it seems a bit more cumbersome to try and place the candles with the paper on. 

Ooh! We found a square tray that was shallow and made of plastic. 

And a round one!

But when I filled the round one with sand it was noticeably flimsy. Scratch the round one.

But the square one was much firmer....

It holds 27 candles (with shown spacing). Note: the candles cannot go too close to the sides because (1) you want a good place to grip the edge, and (2) the tray is less deep there, so the sand is not deep enough to hold the candles.

The depth is about 1.5 - 2" 

Top view of the unlit candles in square tray

Half of them lit...

I blew them out to try and gauge how much smoke came off. There was a little puff that disappeared rather quickly.

Here's how the candles could get added... First you grab the top of the candle...

Then remove the paper wax catcher, discarding it in a basked (or some container the candles helpers have)...

Place the lit candle in the sand, next to the others... This took 1 large Foldgers can of sand.

Another thought was the shallow dish SS has.

Note: it is not very deep on the edges. It is also rather heavy.

Because it is not uniformly deep, the candles will not stay upright along the edge. We could fit 20 - 24 candles in this vessel, or something this size.

Inventory in SS hall closet:
51 candles in rectangular purple box
30+ candles in square purple box
150+ candles in white rectangular box
a bazillion paper wax catchers
3 rolls of 2.5" X 3yd bronze ribbon for roping off aisles (if we don't have anything else already)
Yellow plastic lining material (like for table cloths) - could be used to line baskets that hold candles and wax catchers
We have plenty of Sand! one Tidy Cats bucket (probably 6 large Folders cans worth)

Need for congregation candles collection:
Estimating 70 - 120 people, we would need 3 - 5 trays for holding candles (including the one black square one)
Baskets to hold wax catchers after removed (helpful if they have a large handle to look on your wrist, or have a second helper designated for just this).

Ideas
Use these pot trays (for potted plants) as shallow vessels to hold sand. They're plastic (also come in green and terracota red) and sturdy. Couldn't find them on Lowe's website, but they are at Home Depot in Seneca: Fiskars 24 in. Resin Terra Pot Tray, Model # 51624 Store SKU # 214617

Candles!!!

Just got a note that they are " in production"  Being made today, just for us!!!
Unto us a candle is born..... sorry couldn't resist

HOLIDAY BREAK

Do we want  to meet the Mon after WSSR?  Please lets vote.  I'm up for a party, myself~

I am not holding rehearsals on December 24  or 31.  Rehearsals resume Jan 7.


Also,  there is a note on the calendar re singing with Peace Church  on Christmas Eve.  As far as I know, Inge has agreed to sing, but no one else was able to be here.  So we are NOT singing with Peace Church.  Don't  worry if you see that note....

do not tilt a lit candle

here's the simple info graphic

inspiration and warmth

I know by the flood of e-mails in the last 24 hrs (seriously, > 10, we are so communicative!) that another one is too much just to pass on this little photo.

But I couldn't help but think of you all when I found this...

This is taken from a site that linked to the Secret Lantern Society in Vancouver. Doesn't it look like a chalice? Not for this year, but how special would it be to set some luminaria out in the memorial garden circle for an optional post-service reflection time? or a little bonfire?

Anyway, as stressed and worried and overwhelmed as we might all feel, take a breath, enjoy the energy of a lit flame, and the circle that holds us all together. We are in the crunch time, but less is more, like Andi said, it's about the feeling and expression, not so much the words and the finishing touches. It will be an amazing night!

Have a great week, She Sings!

found candles!!  the bestcandles.com

Previous Orders 12/04/2012 #5841 Elaine Fredendall, USA Received $56.78

My Account

Notes/reminders for the nitty-gritty music finetuning rehearsal/s

I took the liberty of making this list. Everyone please add as you like - anything you're concerned about or don't want us to forget to keep in mind, etc.

Don't worry if someone has put something you don't feel is crucial or is a problem - we can weed out that stuff/help assure each other at the rehearsal/s.

Here's the doodle poll link again too in case you haven't had a chance to respond:

http://www.doodle.com/g3snpy52rdb6trm9


Music/song-finetuning To Do List

• making sure we have all the understudies set up that we need/doublechecking who and when - still need to set some of the ones for the verse solos (Imani etc)
• entrances - clear/sharp - not tentative (like when Jay helped us at Elaine's with "When we are gone")
• cutoffs!!!
• enunciation!! (see from volunteers/incidental attendees whether/where there are problems)
• couple of places where we need to stagger breathe (eliminate gasps)
• couple of places we discussed at Elaine's last time we rehearsed there re notes where everyone kind of jumps onto it abruptly (I can't remem. songs off the top of my head but I have it noted in my book)
• everyone please try to identify and work on any places where you keep getting the words wrong or where we need to cement them better
• couple of places where everyone is one or two single notes - make it clear not muddled tone
• On the song "Let the Spirit Come to You", we need to sing
  "Let the Peace....settle in you" pronouncing the word Peace carefully
  so as not to sound like "Let the pee settle in you...."
  ((::  From Paula

If you can't seem to edit this post please feel free to send your suggestions to Susan the Slightly Younger - I'll add them here for you.

And one to grow on...

https://www.facebook.com/events/405239006213318/

Can you tell I am really really really not wanting to grade any more?

Publicity

OK!  I just submitted a PSA to greenville news.  20 posters have been distributed!  We are on our way!

The interview in the Anderson Independent will be in teh Dec 8 Faith and Values section.

our beauteous stole fabric

I finally remembered to upload the photos I took of the stole fabric. The blue in the first one is the most true but in the subsequent closeup ones the other colors are pretty accurate even tho the blue turned grey.

Just met with Sandra Sanderson who says she will sew ALL the blue robes!!

She will have them by Dec 1.  I'd like them earlier, but I TOTALLY  trust she will get them done and having them all in one person's hands is easier than dividing up the fabric.  She says we  don't  need to prewash anything.   The days of fabric needing prewashing are long gone.

The fabric for the rest of the robes is here!!
I will contact Sandra re sewing and see how to proceed.  IT's beautiful.

Deep inky night blue

We have stole fabric!! and lots of plans...

Accidental/serendipitous fabric search happened on Monday when Elaine and I found ourselves in my car together with a couple of hours free after I dropped the kits at the vet and picked her up from her oil change place which is right next door... so we decided to go see what fabrics we could find for the stoles. (Read: anyone who was anxious to be in on this outing we are heartily sorry, but hope that the incredible beauteousness of the fabrics we found will help soothe your disappointment!)

Anyway - long story short, we found (and She Sings members attending Monday night agreed) what we think is The Perfect Fabric for the common side of the stoles at the quilt store in Central - will look great for multiple occasions, not just WSSR, will look good next to everyone's faces, evokes many nature ideas including the sky and water, leaves and flowers, and has lots of other colors here and there making the choice of our shiny fabrics for the other side of the stole much easier than it might have been.

Elaine and I are heading back to Hobby Lobby this Friday afternoon (yell if you'd like to come!) to go ahead and purchase various colors of the shiny cotton/poly fabric for the back sides of the stoles. Some people put in their dibs on certain colors Monday at rehearsal. We will buy a variety and are confident everyone will be happy with what they end up with as their reverse color for WSSR. We'll go ahead and buy for 10 stoles' worth, as many colors as possible, both for WSSR use and beyond.

I will baste and launder the fabrics, then Saturday, October 27, we will have a fabric pressing and cutting party at Elaine's. It is tentatively set for 7pm - I will let Elaine fill us in on final time and what we should bring (wine/appetizer to share?).

We will need for sure:

• a few sets of good fabric scissors, and/or sharp rotary cutters and mats
• couple or three extra irons and ironing boards
• some extra sets of straight (sewing) pins

We can plan more for this at rehearsal next Monday night (10/22). I think it would be good to make it as assembly-line-ish as possible, which would necessitate only a couple of people on each task.

If the remaining robe fabric has arrived and is ready we can press/pin/cut it as well. Elaine and I got the pattern for that as well. (Sandra Sanderson has kindly offered to sew the remaining robes and we felt she would be more comfortable working from a pattern.)

We tentatively discussed doing the actual sewing of the stoles that night as well. Let's confirm this closer to time. (SUSAN DISCLAIMER: The sewing of the stoles was supposed to be my job so please everyone know I am perfectly happy for it to remain that way but others brought up the idea of starting the sewing that night - me being me, I want to make it clear I'm not shirking my stole task! :)

So, we might need, too, depending on how we end up orchestrating things:

•  2-3 sewing machines 

I will make a muslin prototype of the stole between now and then and make/bring paper pattern pieces for us to use as we pin/cut.

Please toss in any ideas you have as we prep for this. We realize there were a handful of people unable to come Monday to rehearsal and that you all might not be free 10/27; please do not worry. I think we could have a very successful evening with just 4-5 of us there, tho of course the more the merrier and quicker (so more time to sip wine, sing, snack...)

We will do some more brainstorming about it at rehearsal 10/22.

Here's what  UU in Penn.   has on their website.  Perhaps we should get something similiar.  I like their language.  Highlighting is mine.

A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual

A Celebration of
the Darkness and the Light

with Songs and Stories

A Gift to UUG and the Community from 

a circle of women

Saturday Dec.22, 2012

7 pm (doors open at 6:30)

Tonight's Rehearsal Oct 1

Wow,  we really got the feeling for Deep Peace!  Thanks for your input, Inge!

Susan Clay:  get better- we missed you!!

Flute alert:  Tiffany and I stayed after and read through some flute / piano duets.  Her tone is amazing!   I wonder how we can incorporate it into th WSSR>   Anyone got any ideas?

LOTS OF IDEAS !!!

Just received this another UU director.  I don't have time to dig into it right now.  There's a TON of ideas  at the link below.  Marg Herder 1:30pm Sep 27 Hi Elaine, There's some reasonably extensive notes about how we do the ritual in Indianapolis on my website. Also, I've written several little transition synthesizer pieces that we use (these are free to download and use in your own ritual but I do appreciate it if you credit my work in any printed materials and provide a link to my website). Just download the tracks, load them up in your iPod and play them back during the ritual. They provide a way for the singers to get the notes, and lend a cool feel to the whole thing. http://www.margherder.com/musicRitual.htm#solstice

What we want from a director: Please add to the list

Impromptu list of  we want from a director  Please Add

Overall Theatrical Aspects

1.     where to stand, where to move to how to move during and between songs

2.     input on chair placement

3.     input on decorating room and or hall way

4.     ways to make even more interesting to  audience

5.     lighting choices-  shadows on ceiling?

6.     Feedback on the music 

7.     Ideas for use of drums or other?

8.     Input on advertising  interview with news papers, posters   other??

9.     General  Oversight;;Help scheduling—and then communicating with volunteers 

Overall Production Aspects

;Help scheduling—and then communicating with volunteers 

WSSR THOUGHTS how to use the money -- and outreach

from the facebook page for wssr
http://www.facebook.com/groups/AWSSR/

theUU of Indianapolis wrote :

While there is no admission for this event there is a donation basket by the door and an offering is taken during the service. This year’s offering is to benefit the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund and will help local families in our church and in our community. On Sunday, we took the event into the Indianapolis Women’s Prison and ministered to roughly 200 inmates.

So , do we want to split any profit with another part of UUFC?  I like the idea of Minister's Discretionary Fund.  
Other ideas?  It would be cool if SS could support UU not  just with our gift of music,  but with a little money as well.  


I wonder about  taking it to a woman's' prison--- true ministry---  Just fantasying..  BUT ..NOT THIS YEAR  ( I can  just imagine Susan Chandler   saying this.)

and I LOVE this image perhaps for our poster?    OOops ,  couldn't get it to print here so I just emailed it to you all.

Production Rehearsals

Forgot to mention that we agreed the best time to meet for a production rehearsal is Sunday after church.  Dates not set yet.  Watch for upcoming poll

Last night's rehearsal and She SIngs Covenant

 Hi

Last night I left  feeling totally high.  We are sounding SO  GOOD.  Can't wait till next week.  

Here's what we decided

We like Sherrie's prototype robe 

Robes will be completed by OCT 30  ( just in time for Halloween!!) 

Sherrie  will look at amount of fabric has left and let us know  (by next week please ) how many more yards we need.

Susan Clay will let us know dates for  informal rehearsals at her house.  Can work on WSSR  and also brainstorm for Broadway and work on Soiree songs

Rehearsals  will go till 6: 45.   Those that want to stay till 7 can.  No shame or judgement if you can not stay beyond 6: 45

Soiree date is Nov  3

There is lots of interest in a Broadway Review again. To  feature songs from 60's 70's and 80's. No date set yet.

NEXT REHEARSAL Sept 24

Next week we will have our full group!  So I'm putting on our agenda  a discussion of the covenant.   Not sure it's needed-- but I wanted to make an opportunity for discussion so that  we are comfortable doing so.  Covenant is at end of this post.

Agenda

1. Covenant                                                               10 min
2.  Benedicta Es   ( Chandler, Clay,  Sara)              10 min
3. Solstice Chant ( 2nd of 3 rehearsals)                    15
4. Deep Peace  we are performing it Sun 10 /  7      20 min
5. When  We are Gone   including the walking        5     min
6. Kore     /     Keep the Fire   / Though My Soul        15 or more

UUFC She Sings Covenant

The power and worth of beautiful music guides She Sings in serving UUFC. She Sings has the potential for excellence, and that means taking risks and sharing our talents. This covenant is formed in effort to create a space of openness and safety so She Sings may fully explore our gifts.  Excellence also requires dedication.

In entering this covenant I am expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to She Sings, and I will strive to be compassionate toward myself and other members. I covenant to…

Attendance and Etiquette
Be present and on time for all rehearsals and performances. I will let the director know when I will be absent.

Listen to the instructor and other members when they share ideas, and be flexible when we have different perspectives.

Limit socializing and distractions during rehearsal time. I will turn my cell phone off or notify the director if I expect a call.

Be honest about my outside responsibilities, and release myself from the group if I cannot be committed.

Clearly communicate to other members.

Music
Be honest about my musical abilities.

Strive for musical excellence (e.g., identify and work on my weaknesses, set new challenges for myself).

Practice on my own so I am prepared for rehearsal and performances.

Contribute kind, honest, constructive feedback to other members and be open to their feedback for me.

Be open and welcoming to new members, and to support break-out groups or smaller ensembles.

Attitude
Bring a good attitude and give my best effort, especially in areas that challenge me.

Be patient and accepting of other members and their needs.

Accept my own faults and flaws, and those of other members.

Support and encourage other members with praise and constructive suggestions.

Support other members on a personal level beyond SS-related points.

Not be scared to speak up or make mistakes, be “strong and wrong,” share my feelings, and speak up when appropriate.

Let it go when the group consensus is satisfied with an outcome (i.e. not take things so seriously/be so picky).

Have fun!

This covenant will be reviewed once a year.

 Approved by current Shes Sings members on:       5/14/2012