Music keeps coming back as a theme in my blog. This organ is at the back of Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours. I have written about this church before. It was founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys. The current church, built in 1771 over the original chapel which was destroyed by fire, it sits near the port of Montreal. By the 1800s it was dubbed the Sailor's Church as it was often visited by sailors about to go to sea.
Now, still a church, it is also the site of many concerts, especially by groups specializing in early music. The recorder orchestra in which I play was priviledged to play there as part of Museum Day, a day when Montreal museums are free and special programmes are arranged to entertain the public. Here is our group in concert - not a great photo, but a great memory.
Flutissimo's tenth anniversary concert took place at Tanna Schulich Hall at McGill University. We shared the stage with a professional viola da gamba ensemble, Les Voix Humaines. What a thrill to share a concert with these incredible musicians. My seat was next to them so I felt I had a private concert each time it was their turn to play.
I go to many concerts and know many of the early music performers in Montreal. It is interesting to play in such a professional space and feel, just a bit, some of what they face in their concerts. To live the dress rehearsal, when things go wrong, to face the nerves, to experience the feeling of the audience and then the exhilaration after the concert is to glimpse into their realities. I wouldn't want to live it on a regular basis, but it was sure fun for an evening....
....and by the way - the concert went very well.
Back to rehearsals - this time for an upcoming concert in September. It is Flutissimo's tenth season and we have a special event planned. After two hours of playing we had a break. I like the feeling of working in a group towards a goal. It is satisfying when the director's comments are put into practise and the music comes to life.
Music is a connector - bringing people from all walks of life together for a common activity.
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours - I go to so many early music concerts here, I have dubbed it Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Musique-Ancienne. Today was our turn for a concert - Flutissimo, the recorder orchestra in which I play. We have played here before, but each time I feel privileged to be part of the musical scene of this extraordinary church.
Our programme included works from Medieval times to the 21st century - a challenging repertoire. Our director, Sophie Larivière, has been with the group since its founding ten years ago. Making music with others, being a part of something larger than yourself, requires listening, collaboration, knowing when to bring out your line and knowing when to let other lines shine. This is not about the individual but about a group working for the music, to bring it to life.
It was, on the whole, a good concert for this group of amateurs. In the words of Sir Ken Robinson, we were in "The Element".
