It's getting very blue-and-white around here as Quebec's National Day approaches: tomorrow, June 23, the feast day of Quebec's patron saint, John the Baptist.
The 23rd hasn't fallen on a Sunday for a while, but tomorrow we Anglicans are celebrating with special music all day long to commemorate John the Baptist. If you'd like to listen to Evensong, it will be broadcast live at 4:00 pm, eastern daylight savings time. Here's the program, which includes the magnificent Second Service (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis) by Orlando Gibbons and his verse anthem, "This is the Record of John" in which the verses are sung by our alto/counter-tenor soloist, Simon Honeyman, and the refrains by the entire choir. Sadly, it will be Simon's last time with us; he's moving -- and we'll miss him and his wonderful voice very much.
It's also our last choir date for the season -- now we've got two months of "pick-up" choir with half our soloists each week, until we return in September. It's been a very good year for me but as much as I love to sing, I'll be grateful to have some time off, and some free Sundays.
I can only try and imagine the atmosphere. It must be riveting.
Posted by: Anil | June 24, 2012 at 02:00 AM
You mean June 24 when you say 23, I hope. If not I'm all wrong. Enjoy reading you.
Posted by: Ellena | June 24, 2012 at 11:22 AM
I always like that John the Baptist's feast day is his birthday, rather than his deathday. Seems appropriate.
Posted by: Dale Favier | June 24, 2012 at 11:59 AM
(Ellena, maybe they celebrate the Eve rather than the day? El Noche de San Juan, Puerto Rico's big day, they celebrate that on the 23rd.)
Posted by: Dale Favier | June 24, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Yes, of course, Ellena! Thanks for catching my mistake!
Dale, yes, and aren't all Catholic saints'-days on their birthdays? Or supposed birthdays? Not sure but I think so. St-Jean-Baptiste is always celebrated "on the day" - like July 4th, and Christmas. In fact, I can hear drums from the défilé right now.
Posted by: Beth | June 24, 2012 at 01:13 PM
No, most saints days are their death days. (We don't know most of their birthdays!)
Posted by: Dale Favier | June 24, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Birthday, deathday, nameday???and if nameday why on a particular day? Started to read up on it. To much - I need to get ready for
celebrations in Ste.Adele.
Posted by: Ellena | June 24, 2012 at 03:08 PM
Perhaps this is somewhat crass, given the occasion, but I take it counter-tenors are rare enough to expect pay for what they do. That they are professionals. Hence the fact that Simon is "moving on".
As to the bony fish, may I recommend the daurade (sea bream) I recently consumed. It has bones but its chubby contours mean that even I - so grubby and mal-managed round the table - am able easily to separate the edible from the non-edible parts.
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Posted by: true religion brand | June 25, 2012 at 03:09 AM
Hope you had a good time, Ellena!
Lorenzo, Simon was already being paid; he's one of eight paid soloists in our choir. He's moving to Toronto with his girlfriend who's pursing graduate studies. Counter-tenors are indeed rare but I suppose their remuneration depends, as for all professional musicians, on where they're living, how good they are, and the opportunities at hand. Back in Vermont I knew a very fine counter-tenor who was rarely paid for anything. But here in the city, with its rather European flavor, there's quite a lot of early music and liturgical music, so it must be somewhat easier to find work. Most of the pros in our choir still have to have other jobs, though - teaching or translating or whatever - even though they sing with the symphony or opera and with other groups.
Posted by: Beth | June 25, 2012 at 08:35 AM
Thanks for the head's up. I listened to the music and also to a familiar voice (yours) reading the first lesson.
Posted by: Vivian | June 25, 2012 at 08:41 PM