Wow. It's been a looooong time. So here are seven highlights of the past couple of months.
1.
From October 15-17 Angelus Press hosted a series of conferences in Kansas City to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Society of St. Pius X. I went, and so did Edward and the Devil's Advocate. We found many familiar faces, and every time I looked at the ocean of cassocks, habits and veils I felt ready to explode with happiness. The speakers were Mr. John Vennari, Dr. Andrew Childs, His Excellency Bishop Fellay, Father Cyprian OSB, Father McMahon, Father Novak, Father Gardner, Father Rostand (District Superior), and Father Iscara. The conferences were amazing. I took copious notes and I wish I remembered every word they said, but if I did it would take me months to type it all out! The conferences were recorded, however, and Angelus Press has them for sale. Of course I couldn't let the occasion pass without writing a poem. I'll post it at the end, along with the link to the setting that a fellow-musician made of it, recorded by the St. Melchior Schola of LaSalette.
2.
The Music Department faculty chose me as this year's recipient of one of our named scholarships, the Sister Alice Eugene Tighe Scholarship. It isn't huge but it's a scholarship, and a great honor! I was surprised but delighted when the letter came to tell me about it. Deo gratias.
3.
Last Saturday I went to hear the regional round of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. It was pretty awesome. I enjoyed hearing a variety of beautiful arias, and I was right about one of the three winners. Not bad - I had a one-in-eight chance, since I didn't hear the first half!
4.
This afternoon is the Aria Competition at Webster. Four of our wonderful senior voice majors are competing - two sopranos, a mezzo and a baritone - and I don't even know which one I want to win; they are all good friends of mine and they all have glorious voices!
5.
Yesterday I went to St. Charles, to the opening of my friend's art studio. She does pastel portraits, and they looked beautiful on her walls. She was a piano major with me here at Webster, but she was always a fine painter as well and so I am not surprised that she was chosen to fill the open studio at the Foundry Arts Center.
6.
Sunday is going to be a musical day. I'm playing Dussek's Piano Quintet Op. 41 with an excellent quartet from the Community Music School at three; then at seven, Mr. Schene is playing (for the first time, as he told me last night), Chopin's Piano Concerto in F Minor. Oh the awesomeness...
7.
I have to talk to Mr. Schene next Wednesday about recital repertoire, grad school applications and auditions, and other such things. I can't believe I'm a senior already...
****
Here are the words to the song I wrote, and here is the St. Melchior Schola's performance of Billy's music. Enjoy:
A Trad Anthem
in honor of the SSPX's Fortieth Anniversary
Behold us here, true trads and bold,
All gathered at the Hilton
To show Tradition's flame-red rose
Is very far from wiltin'.
In cassock, veil and habit see
Our Fathers, Sisters, Brothers,
And our beloved Bishop too,
The head of all the others,
To celebrate the fortieth year
Of our Society,
Founded that fair November first
Of nineteen-seventy
By our Archbishop brave and bold,
Our dear Marcel Lefebvre,
The holy founder whom we all
Must love and thank forever!
We fight as one for truth and faith
And for the holy Mass,
And valiantly we face the storm -
We know this, too, shall pass.
Led by our founder's spirit,
We carry on the flame,
For God's eternal glory
And the honor of His name.
Our faith be clear, unmoving,
Set down in deathless stone,
For many souls' salvation,
For God - for Him alone!
Until the foe is conquered
We hold our flag on high,
The Holy Mass our banner,
"The Mass!" our battle-cry.
So shall we fight as soldiers
Of a Captain sacrificed
Until, the battle ended,
All is restored in Christ.
