Let's see if I can tell this right:
1.) My DH is a classically trained vocal musician, a counter-tenor. He prefers baroque and early Church music. He is a giant snob, musically. He sometimes sings with a group of immensely talented, mostly professional musicians, in the St. David's, Austin Compline Choir.
2.) One of the members of that choir went to a workshop and sent the following message (in part) back to her colleagues:
"Greetings, all, from (City) where I just completed "Chant Intensive"
with (Important Chant Person).... We learned how to sing Gregorian chant
like the monks at Solesmes. ...
We learned about the modes, 8 plus tonus peregrinus, how to mark the
ictus, thus grouping the sounds into groups of 2s and 3s, the names of
all the neums and how to read them, and then the nuances of dynamic and
length of sound that they imply. We also did some chironomy, with the
guidelines on applying rising and falling gestures in conducting the
chants. It's fascinating. The interplay of the accents and cadences of
text with the musical line provide a wealth of variety and complexity to
enjoy as singer, conductor, and listener..."
3.) DH forwarded this e-mail to a friend of ours who has a music PhD and a similar love for early church music, for his interest.
4.) Except he mistakenly, acually, forwarded it to a work colleague named Buford (I am not making this up). Remember that in his professional life, my DH is a contractor: a parking lot striper. He's the only one of those we've met who sings counter-tenor. Buford is more your regular type of fellow who does striping.
5.) Buford wrote back thusly:
"I guess you are up to three or 4 times a day now on this.
- Buford"
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This exchange caused me to laugh so hard, when it was read to me, that I had to run shrieking from the room.
Just thought I'd share.
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