I was contacted by Rev. Jared Wilson 3 weeks ago asking me if I would be willing to perform a Malcolm Dalglish piece called Christmas Lullaby with the Madison Street Methodist Church Chancel Choir on Sunday, December 6th. I received a copy of the music on Wednesday, November the 18th and was intrigued to say the least - Malcolm Dalglish is well known in the hammered dulcimer community as a wonderful dulcimer player and as a composer of really wonderful choral pieces with dulcimer. And, this was a terrific opportunity for me to play as a solo artist and with singers... which I have never really done... The music - after I got to see it - was as beautiful AND as complex as I imagined.... I proceeded to get to work memorizing the piece - since that is the nature of hammered dulcimers. Two rehearsals and a dress rehearsal later, I performed the piece with the women of the Chancel Choir on Sunday morning. This was a terrifc albeit scary experience! The performance of the piece was the next to last piece on the program - which lasted over an hour and a half (so I had plenty of time to get really nervous) - and playing with a choir is something I have no experience with and definitely took some different skills than I have acquired. (Poor David M. - He was tasked with being my practice singer countless times over the 2 1/2 weeks I had to prepare as I worked on getting more comfortable with the tempo and timing of a choir as opposed to a string band! David used to sing in church choirs years ago but his vocal skills have gotten rusty so he was consequently hoarse more than a few times after rehearsing with me!) But, when the time came on Sunday, I played the piece well and the choir was magical in their rendition. The church sanctuary is amazing and I most definitely fell in love with the incredible pipe organ that I have heard so much about over the years! The picture at the top of this post shows just how small I felt performing this piece in this amazing space!
Close-up view of me playing Christmas Lullaby with the Choir.
Before the concert; the bell choir is practicing. I'd never heard or seen a bell choir so this was fascinating to me. Note the amazing pipe organ in front. When it was played, the sound was amazing.
Setting up before the program. I am not nervous yet!
My thanks to Rev. Jared Wilson, all of the members of the Chancel Choir and the folks of the Madison Street Methodist Church for allowing me this amazing opportunity and making me feel welcome in their day of music.
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