Belle Weather

We sure were lucky on Saturday. Rain was forecasted for the entire weekend. But it turned out to be a sunny day (finally) for our two singing gigs.

After a brief warm-up, we first enjoyed performing a selection of songs in the sanctuary at the St. Barnabas Strawberry Festival. Belle Weather is thankful for the room that St. Barnabas lets us use for rehearsals each week. We were pleased to return the favor, and to be a part of this fun, annual event.

We moved on to the Library Tent at Falmouth Arts Alive where we sang a longer set of songs to a large audience. What a challenge to perform sweet a cappella pieces sandwiched between two other performing tents – one with a very loud sound system!  But seats stayed filled with appreciative listeners who cheered us on.

It was especially rewarding performing at Heritage this evening.  After singing for folks at the assisted living home and socializing a bit, we put on our coats to leave. But wait… we smiled at each other as we heard the residents happily singing tunes they remembered with each other.

All twelve of us had a hoot of a time rehearsing this evening at Dorene’s. A lot of singing. A lot of laughs. After rehearsing, we enjoyed a scrumptious potluck (discovering our talents extend beyond singing). We enjoyed great food, talk, and wine. And more wine and talk, going around the table and learning a little more about each other. The evening ended with birthday cake and candles for Pat, and a roof raising rendition of “Shall We Gather at the River.” What a delight to share music and friendship with like souls.

We had quite an educational and enjoyable coaching session with John Yankee last month. Since then, several of our singers have been hit with various flu bugs and mishaps. But we’re back on track, nailing down programs and merrily rehearsing in preparation for spring performances. The schedule is pretty well locked in, with a few details yet to come. Clocks are set back this weekend, a true sign that SPRING is just around the corner.

As part of today’s West Falmouth Library Holiday House Tour, eight of us sang in the 18th century Blacksmith Shop, located at the rear of today’s C. H. Newton Builders building on Route 28A. What a magnificant room in which to sing, with bell-like tones reverberating off old granite block walls. Thanks, Margaret, for organizing. We may do some caroling at the hospital, and perhaps a private party, but otherwise, we’re off until after the holidays.

We’ve enjoyed performing at several venues during the past few weeks.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Pat pulled together some singers from Belle Weather and from Schola Cantorum to open up the holiday season at historic Highfield Hall. After a few joint rehearsals, we performed a light program of Christmas carols around the elegant Christmas tree in the parlor, filling the hall with sounds of the season as visitors admired the decorations. The audience, including several wide-eyed children, happily joined us on some sing-along pieces.

On the following day, at the invitation of music director John Yankee, we sang two of our favorite pieces during the 10:30 AM Sunday service at the John Wesley Methodist Church in Falmouth: “Sweet By and By” and “Shall We Gather at the River.” The positive response and appreciation we received afterwards at coffee hour was overwhelming.

Today, we performed a short Christmas program at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Christmas Fair, singing first for the luncheon crowd and then in the market area. We’re grateful to the church for the rehearsal room they invited us to use each week, and to music director Randolph James for his support.

We look forward to our final engagement before the holidays. It’s at the West Falmouth Library Holiday House Tour around noon on Sunday, December 14th. Event and ticket details are at www.westfalmouthlibrary.org.

A woman at one of our recent performances followed us out afterwards to ask where else she could hear us perform, especially since it was a tad noisy and she couldn’t hear us well. This gave us the idea of creating a simple web presence, a place where our fans could easily find out where we’d be singing next. Voila!