The last two days have been lovely – an evening event at Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine allowed me to wander through the 18th century on my harp. “Permanent residents” of the historic cemetery include Irish priests and workers, English and Scottish, Menorcans and Spanish. So there was room for Carolan, Handel, Robert Burns, The Grenedier and the Lady, Green Bushes, Avon Water, the Arran Boat Song, and She Moved Through the Fair, to name a few. Also my advantageous position near a citronella torch kept most gnats at bay.
This morning I taught a workshop on Singing the Psalms at the new Villa Flora-Brown Hall Renewal Center, run by my dear Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine. We had about 14 in attendance. After the brief history of the psalms and chant, they put their feet on the floor, took a deep breath and began to sing. From a single-note recto tono, they worked their way up to a nice chant on Tone 8g (antiphon stayed on straight tone) in two choirs. What a delight!
After enjoying some musket fire at the Battle of Bloody Mose, I have started the final preparations for my Colloquium trek. And so looking forward to it!
