The Proof is in the Purcell

Since I spend most of my days composing and singing children's songs, many people find it really hard to believe that I have a background in classical music. My classical training began in the 6th grade, and I even remember my first song: "Caro Mio Ben" from the ever popular 24 Italian Songs & Arias. My college days were spent in practice rooms, trying to convince myself that I was an opera singer...and the truth is, I wasn't very successful in doing so. I know I wasn't meant to sing that kind of music forever, but hey, it's cool to think back to the days when I could pull it off!

So a few weeks ago I dusted off the recording of my college senior recital, and I thought it would be fun to share a song or two from it. Tonight's feature is Henry Purcell's "Music for a While". The song is super creepy, at least in my opinion...especially the words. But Purcell is one of my favorite composers, and I remember loving the fact that his songs were in English :)



Music for a while
Shall all your cares beguile:

Wond'ring how your pains were eas'd
And disdaining to be pleas'd

Till Alecto free the dead
From their eternal bands.

Till the snakes drop from her head,
And the whip from out her hands.

Talk about imagery. I had fun singing this back in the day, but I think it was even more fun to listen to my younger soprano self now that my musical inspiration comes from Laurie Berkner and Raffi! Oh how the times have changed.

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Missing Mardi Gras

Zach is feeling a little Mardi Gras withdrawal this weekend. For the past eight years, he has braved the freezing cold and the crowds of thousands in order to collect dollar-store beads and drink $8.00 hurricanes - the St. Louis version of Fat Tuesday. I've been with him for two of those years (the picture was taken last year) and I'd have to say that my first Mardi Gras was one I'll never forget:

Rewind to February 2006. Zach, his sister, father, some friends, and I ventured into Soulard (the neighborhood in STL where the craziness goes down) with a plan. We had a designated meeting spot just in case we somehow were separated, which was a necessity because cell phones DO NOT WORK there. Too many people, too few signals. Zach made me repeat the spot back to him several times, which of course I did. So we enjoyed the parade for a bit, and then my friend Erin suggested we go find a bathroom. This is where the trouble began.

Erin and I decided to enter one of the buildings in search of a bathroom, which happened to be a house party. The house was huge, and a little confusing between the three stories and seemingly hundreds of people. Eventually I lost sight of Erin, though I did find a bathroom. I went back outside in the hopes that she was waiting for me there, but she was nowhere to be found. I had long forgotten about the designated meeting spot, and panic set in. Erin had my cell phone, so I couldn't even try calling anyone..so I just walked. And walked, and walked. Finally, I ended up standing outside of a church on the outskirts of the mayhem, borrowing random people's cell phones to call Zach. I did get a hold of him after awhile, and told him that I was standing outside a church. One of probably 25 in Soulard. It took about 45 minutes, but finally Zach's dad's car pulled up and the door opened. I jumped in and never looked back.

That year for Christmas, Zach's family gave me a Mardi Gras Survival Kit, complete with snacks, phone numbers, and a map of Soulard. Luckily I didn't need to use it since I wasn't able to attend the following year. But we did go last year, with (almost) no getting lost. All in all, a success.

This year we decided to bypass Mardi Gras. The forecast called for 20-degree temps, and we are taking it pretty easy these days with the big move coming. Needless to say, I'm not too disappointed ;)

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February Funk

I'm not in one, but this blog sure is. I guess my life hasn't been very blog-worthy lately...but hopefully that will change soon. Honestly, I am counting down the days until February is over and March begins, because with the new month come some exciting happenings. First of all, we will own our new house on the 12th (!!!!) and then that weekend, we're heading up to Chicago for some time with friends and Zach's AAA Awards Banquet at the Peninsula Hotel. After we return to Springfield, we'll be busy moving in and unpacking our things, and then the blessed day will come when WINTER ends and SPRING arrives!

Oh, spring. A reminder that bulky winter coats are not a year-round fashion statement, that flowers and leaves really do exist. There are so many things I can't wait to do once warmer weather is here, like go for walks and bike rides in my new neighborhood, open the windows, and get in my car without scraping the windshield first. Spring is a beautiful thing.

There is not much else to say, except that it is Friday! I don't have any plans for the weekend, except to enjoy an obligation-free two days and maybe even do some recording. I have been slacking on that front lately, as I've sort of been glued (or stapled...see previous post) to my couch. I promise, I'll break free sooner or later :)

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I have a serious problem...

...and it's these four little letters. Seemingly harmless, they catch your eye one day as you're flipping channels, and then they suck you in with their endless line-up of home improvement and design drama. They take advantage of the fact that you are in the middle of this process, that it's practically all you can think about. They blind you with their shiny stainless appliances, and then they use an industrial staple gun to bind you to your couch, where I just happen to be blogging from tonight.

Seriously, it's a sickness. And it isn't just me; in fact, it was Zach who turned me to the dark side in the first place. Now we spend our evenings watching marathons of "Divine Design", "Curb Appeal", "House Hunters", and countless others. I want to say that I'm trying to escape this madness, but I would be lying. I have home-buying fever, and the only cure will be closing on our new house next month. Then maybe I can put my HGTVirus to good use.

So that is my life in a nutshell. Don't worry, I'm still all about the music :) I'll get back to that right after this episode of "Buy Me" is over...

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