A few days ago, me and four others went up to Auckland.
     We were all from my A Cappella singing group, which is a type of choir only more fun. Ours is run by a really nice woman called Annie and we're really lucky to have her because she's very good.  We were Tee, whose car we were all squashed into, and who is a lovely lady who sings alto (medium-voice) for my A Capella group and always surprises me by being interested in things like clarinets and classical music. Also Gee, Annie's husband and the best (and only) tenor in A Capella , Me, My lovely friend Bee and Eryl, who is an elderly woman who loves music... and she's very good at it. We did a musical together a few years ago.
     Anywho, this talented bunch, and where were we going? Well, we were going to Town Hall to see the Messiah.
Yes... THAT Messiah. Handel's Messiah. You know, the one with the Hallelujah chorus in it? That one? Anyway, the Auckland Choral were putting it on and Annie, who sings for them, had got us tickets.
     So we did... and I am so, so glad that I went, because I almost didn't.  But how could I have missed this... this phenomenal music. It was marvellous. We were sitting at the very end of the circle, just above the musicians (first and second violins, violas, cellos, a bass, bassoon, two oboes, two trumpets,a timpani, a harpischord and a full-blown pipe organ... sighhh...) and with terriffic views of the choir. And we sat there, the five of us, for two and a half hours with our mouths open. * The four soloists were good, the orchestra was good, but the choir... the choir, all hudred-odd of them, made the most glorious sound I've ever heard. I just can't describe the impact of all those voices in perfect harmony, ducking and diving over and under each other but doing it all so gracefully... it made me want to sit there and listen forever.
     My favourite bit would have to be the Hallelujah chorus. Even if it is used 90% of the time as a farcical steriotype for shurch music. It was Brilliant. The best attempt at putting emotion into music I have ever heard. And the harmonies were sooo  good.
Sigh... and there is a tradition dating back to the very first showing of the Messiah, at which King George of England was so impressed by the Hallelujah chorus that he stood up. So of course everyone else in the building copied him - you cannot be seated when the king is not. And since then it has become a tradition to stand for the hallulujah chorus. And we did. It was such a cool bit, because it was like taking part - if a very small part - in that music.
     Also, I am very glad of the Auckland Choral's very own tradition of performing the Messiah every Christmas. Isn't that cool? Dating back to when thre choir was first formed, way back in the 1800s. Put this is perspective - we're a young country. The first European pioneers were fresh off, the boat, and what did they do? They got together and formed a choir. Brilliant.
     Next year? I'll be there.

*Well, mine was... i'd never heard live Classical music before.

There are eight people in my family. Today, Dad is in Nelson. Mum is in Rotorua with Jethro and Pascal. Letitia is in Puriri with the Merzs. Connor is at tennis and Arden and I are at home, supposedly looking after each other.

Well, sometimes I wish my parents wouldn't leave me in charge when they go away. Or that the child laws in NZ made more sense. This morning I went out to Tararu with my friend Camilla. But I wasn't allowed to leave Arden here alone while I was out, so I shooed her outside and she went to play in the tree down the road while Camilla and I went off on our walk. Now any sensible government would surely see that there's far more danger of her being hurt falling out of a tree on our quiet street than at home. But nooooo.

Tonight is the Te Puru gala - this is a huge town event and it's the Te Puru School's main fundraiser for the year. The whole town goes down to the school and they put on this massive event with millions of stalls and live entertainment and donkey rides and stuff.

Anyway. This year, *gulp* me and my A Capella group are going to be part of the live entertainment. Arrrrgh! I always forget about the performance side of groups when I join up and now it's caught up with me. We are singing four songs and I have to open the show with the calling for "Oj Savice" (which, by the way, is pronounced "oy saveetsay") *is nervous* And I hate it! I hate using microphones and I hate singing for other people! Especially as, after a year of practice, I still can't do the verses right. You'd think, wouldn't you...

Okay, deeeeep breaths. Raise arms over head, puff mightily. Imagine calm, sunny beach.

Nope, it's not working. I AM NOT CALM!!!
Wish me luck.