Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Announcements

Invitation to sing at ACC. Leslie Moorjani, choir director at Arlington Community Church, has invited our chorus to sing during church on Sunday, November 28. As long as we can get a couple of people to cover each part, we would like to do this. Please let Arlene know whether you can join us at the church, 52 Arlington Avenue, by 9:30 am on the Sunday after Thanksgiving to sing at the 10 am service.

Program Ads. Have a business to publicize or a message to get out? Please consider putting an ad in the Bella concert program! Ads are an inexpensive way to support Bella while spreading the word about your services. They’re also a nice place for a note of support or an "in honor of/in memory of" message to celebrate a loved one. See Cristin for advertising rates and samples from previous programs.

Dress Rehearsals. November 30, two weeks from tonight, will be our dress rehearsal for the St. Mary Magdalen concert. The following Tuesday, December 7, will be our dress rehearsal at Arlington Community Church.

Concerts. And for anyone who’s forgotten, concerts are Friday, December 10, at 8 pm at the Arlington Community Church in Kensington, and Sunday, December 12, at 4 pm here at St. Mary Magdalen. Call time for both concerts is two hours before the performance: 6 pm for Friday, and 2 pm for Sunday. Sheets with details on concert etiquette and what to wear will be forthcoming.

Sectionals! The more, the merrier! If your vocal section has not already arranged an extra practice session with Arlene, please talk to your section leader about setting one up. We’d all appreciate a little more time to practice those "divisi" bits in the Rachmaninoff.

Background: Bits of Russian Orthodox Symbolism

The Three-Barred Cross: As with most Christian tradition, this symbolizes the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, but with more detail than the "Latin" cross. The top bar indicates the sign placed over Christ’s head by the Romans, mocking him as "King of the Jews"; his arms were nailed to the middle bar, and the third bar held his feet. Legend has it that the lowest bar slants down toward the "bad thief" who, crucified alongside Jesus, refused to acknowledge his sins and went to hell, while the upward end of the slant points toward the "good thief" who repented and thus went to heaven.

Onion Domes: Many sources suggest that the fancifully pointed "onion domes" which traditionally top Russian Orthodox churches are a variation of the original, rounded Byzantine domes, redesigned for more efficient shedding of snow in the cold Russian climate. The number of domes on a church is significant: one dome usually indicates Jesus Christ, five domes indicate Christ and the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Thirteen domes would signify Christ, along with all twelve disciples, and so on.

Shameless Plugs

♫ Compost, the fertile new album by Plasmabat. Composed and performed by Bella Musica baritone Hugh Caley! "Funny, melancholy and eclectic pop and rock," available via CDBaby.com, iTunes Music Store, MusicMatch.com, Real.com, and, of course, from Hugh.

♫ Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, directed by Arlene Sagan. Saturday, December 4^th at 8 pm, Sunday, December 5^th at 4 pm, and Sunday, December 19^th at 4 pm. St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St., Berkeley. Britten Ceremony of Carols (SATB), Vivaldi Gloria, Thompson "Alleluia," Barber "Agnus Dei." With soloists Marcelle Dronkers, Terry Alvord (12/4), and Elspeth Franks (12/5 & 12/19). Call 510-964-0665 or visit www.bcco.org for details.