Pre-Cantata Jitters

I don't know whether I am more nervous or excited.   This year's Cantata will be a really big event in my life. Paulette, my collaborator, says it is  'on the way to being her best Christmas ever.'  (There is just something thrilling about that creative process,  and watching it come alive.)  Her brother is even traveling from New Hampshire to share the experience.

Together, we have created a modern Cantata, which will be presented on the 21st.  Over a year ago,  I started with narration and words to songs---the bones. Paulette wrote the score,  the music--perhaps the muscle and blood and organs.  The choir director and the choir are bringing this new creature to life--putting skin on the bones and giving it breath and voice and movement!

 There are numerous instrumentalists involved, and soloists and duets.  I can't wait to actually experience it all happening. Paulette, who is the organist, gets to see the progress on a weekly basis,  but it will all be a surprise for me.  Oh, she played some of the songs to me along the way as she was creating them,  but I don't really remember what they sound like.  And I certainly have no concept of the cantata in its entirety.

Our Cantata is called 'O, Lord, What's Happened to Christmas?"  
Composed by Paulette Fry with Lyrics and Narration by Nancy Rehkugler.

After a couple of contemporary pieces, it moves into the traditional Christmas characters, and we hear a dramatic duet by Zechariah and Elizabeth,  solos by Joseph and Mary,  reflections by Mary.  The men from the east come in with a percussion section.

There will be approximately 39 Choir members,  8 original songs,  various narrators, assorted instruments and hopefully a really good congregation to hear it!

I plan to later add some post-Cantata reflections, after I have had time to process the whole experience.