Message from our Music Director...

Vicki Boeckman 

Hello dear Portlanders!

I am looking forward to seeing you all and being in your fair city again.

As we settle into Pacific Standard Time and autumn takes a serious hold with shorter and darker days we draw indoors, which means more time to gather round the fire, or heater, or community meeting room at the local Kennedy School and jam with your fellow music making buddies!  

For our November session I've chosen a variety of music and styles that will range from the early baroque to our century. We'll start with a 4 part canzona called Capriccio Chromatico by Tarquinio Merula, originally for organ, tastefully transcribed for SATB recorders. All voices have equally interesting thematic material and everyone will have the chromatic motive at some point. The motive will start on either D or A and will ascend or descend either a fifth or a full octave. No time like the present to start practicing your chromatic scales! Then we will play an absolutely splendid 5 part, 247 measure Chaconne by the French composer Jean Baptiste Lully. Lully was one of King Louis XIV's most highly regarded musicians at Versailles and his music embodies and reflects the grandeur of the palace. Playing French baroque music stylistically "correctly" requires playing certain note values unequally. The French referred to this as notes inégal, and there were all sorts of rules with dos and don'ts, but in this chaconne, I promise it will be easy and straightforward. The French baroque was in many ways similar to the way we play jazz and swing....so, after that we will segue way into some easy swing and rags! I'll bring a delightful 6 part arrangement of Nat Dyer's "Oh! You Beautiful Doll", and Phil Neumann's adaptation of Trilby Rag for SATB. It will be an evening of many moods and colors - in perfect harmony with autumn in the Pacific Northwest.

Recorder sizes from Soprano to Great bass will be needed and all sizes of viols or other stringed instruments are most welcome. Buzzies will not be needed for this session. For any of you who would like parts ahead of time, I am happy to send you pdf files. Please email me directly (vickiboeckman@comcast.net) and let me know what part you want to play. 

Thanks and see you soon!

Vicki 

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Note from the editor: In case you missed it, individual parts for this week's session are available ahead of time, emailed in PDF format.  This is optional, for those who would like a chance to practice beforehand.  Vicki is also available for private lessons or ensemble coachings on Saturday.  Please email her privately at the address given above. 

Web Link of the Month (send YOUR suggestions to newsletter@portlandrecordersociety.org) 

Early Bird Registration gets you $100 off tuition!

Register before December 1st!  There's not much time left for this great deal! 

www.portlandrecordersociety.org  

Debbie McMeel leads the Irish band at CGEMR

Membership dollars pay our conductors, the Community Room rental fee, and sheet music copying costs.  Please support our efforts to create a fun and educational non-profit organization!

Portland Recorder Society membership includes:

~monthly playing sessions (Sept-May) coached by professionals

~Discount to Columbia Gorge Early Music Retreat

~Monthly e-mail newsletters

~Networking opportunities with like-minded musicians

Yearly dues are $40, additional donations welcomed and are tax deductible.  We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization!

Click HERE for a link to our membership registration form, or pick one up at the next playing session.  Please make checks out to "Portland Recorder Society".  You may mail your check and form if you choose to our treasurer, Robin Teitzel 9385 NW Murlea Lane, Portland, OR 97229.

If you are not a member, drop-in fees are $10 per playing session; your very first visit is free to try us out!

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Oregon Renaissance Band Christmas/New Years Concerts 2011 are scheduled for Thursday Dec. 29 at 7:30pm, Friday Dec. 30 at 7:30pm, and Saturday Dec. 31 at 2pm.  All at the Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis, Portland, OR 97202.  Directed by Philip and Gayle Neuman.  Musicians: David Bryan, Sharon Cheney, Daphne Clifton, Ben Fitch, Lori Fitch, Polly Gibson, Andrew Harris, Kathy Langley, Cindy Markham, Kathryn Richer, and Hideki Yamaya.  Voices and instruments including recorders, violin, viols, lute, sackbutts, racketts, corna musen, and others.

(360) 261-3163.