New Year's Music Notes

MUSIC PAST 

Here's noting the music making that we accomplished at BUF in 2020! Music helped our community keep body, mind and soul together throughout the upheaval of the year. A big thumbs up to the seventy or so who participated in a variety of ways. 

MUSIC FUTURE 

The next BUF choir rehearsal will be at 7pm, Wednesday, January 6, at 7pm via our regular choir Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/8419446253  

We will not be holding Outdoor Singing Pods in January or February. During the winter months we hope to create some musical support for the Interfaith Coalition, as well as music for our regular BUF services. 

The coming musical year is currently a blank slate. Please email me or any member of the choir committee your offerings, requests or suggestions for BUF music in 2021. The current committee members are Elie Friedlob, Carol Smith, Cindy Pfeiffer-Hoyt and Carl Nyblade. I and sometimes Melanie Rieck also attend committee meetings. 

May we all experience the happiness of making and enjoying music together in person as soon as possible, and via Zoom in the meantime. 

LOVE

Kevin Allen-Schmid, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Music kevin@buf.org

Preparing for Holiday Music Service

Hi BUF Choir! We have two more Wednesday evening Zoom rehearsals in the year 2020 - let's sing! This Wednesday, December 9, we'll master our parts for the Hallelujah Chorus, and next Wednesday, December 16, we'll make a Zoom video recording of ourselves singing it along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Our video will be the grand finale for the Holiday Music Service on Sunday morning, December 20. There will be no Zoom choir on Wednesdays, December 23 or 30. We will resume on Wednesday, January 6. PODS - we're back and we will meet in the big shelter at Whatcom Falls Park, no matter the weather. Please consult the choir blog schedule and confirm with your Pod leader that you will come. We are aiming to practice our holiday songs this week and video record them next week. See you Wednesday! Kevin

First week in December

Hi BUF singers, The BUF choir will meet VIA ZOOM as usual Wednesday, December 2. We will try again to break into sections to rehearse the Hallelujah Chorus. Section Leaders are: Soprano: Melanie Alto: RuthAnn Tenor: Karen F Bass: Kevin Due to the current virus surge and uncertainties, there will again be NO Outdoor Singing Pods this week, either Wednesday or Friday. Let's talk things over during choir Wednesday night. Thanks, Kevin

Thanksgiving Week, 2020

Hi BUF singers, The BUF choir will meet via Zoom as usual on Wednesday, November 25. Melanie will lead the group thru Sunday's hymns and a vocal warmup, then everybody will break into sections to rehearse the Hallelujah Chorus. Section Leaders are : Soprano: Melanie, Alto: RuthAnn, Tenor: Karen F, Bass: Lawrence. There will be no Outdoor Singing Pods this week unless your Pod leader specifically arranges it with you. Otherwise, please assume your pod is NOT meeting. Happy Thanksgiving! Kevin

Plans for Wednesday, Nov 18

Hi BUF Choir. I looking forward to our full meeting via Zoom this Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm. Please have a copy of the Hallelujah Chorus for the rehearsal. I emailed the score to everyone last week, and you can also download it from this site and get it printed at Fed Ex or Copy Source for curbside pickup. With rain in the forecast, the Outdoor Pods will meet in the shelter at Whatcom Falls Park this week. Please check the schedule to confirm your times. Carl's pod: I've moved you again, to 1pm now. Mark-no video recording this week. Please nots: there will be NO PODS NEXT WEEK, the week of Thanksgiving, unless your leader arranges it with you. If you don't hear from your leader, you may assume you're not meeting. Love, Kevin

Wednesday, Nov 11 Choir Pods and Evening Rehearsal

Hi BUF Choir, We are getting a nice collection of video recordings for service music and group sing-alongs. Thanks to those who have joined the Outdoor Singing Pods so far. We are welcoming newcomers. Please let me know if you're interested and I will help you find a pod. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing. At Wednesday evening's full choir rehearsal we will be preparing Indian music for the Diwali service this Sunday, November 15, to be led by our own Debu majumdar. See you Wednesday, Kevin

BUF Choir plans for Wednesday, Nov 4

Hi BUFsters, Full Choir - This Wednesday, Nov 4, from 7-8pm, we are inviting the world to join us for a community building sing-along. I will be host together with Rena Ziegler from Congregation Beth Isrtael and Christopher Giffen from First Congregational. We are not using our regular choir Zoom link. Please go in advance to this address to register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUoc--pqj0rH9C7S5mBg1IkQDGaUAdJO4nz and you will immediately be sent a new link. Also, this Wednesday, the Outdoor Singing Pods will meet at their regular afternoon times, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE YET. Since it will probably be raining, we need to take cover. Perhaps we'll be in the covered play area at Silverbeach Elementary. I will email y'all with the final decision. Friday's OSPs need to regroup or confirm their desires and get back to me. I love singing with y'all, Kevin