Tag: Oratorio

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Serenaded by high schoolers

Tonight students from Living Wisdom High School of Palo Alto blessed us with a rousing performance of a large portion of the Oratorio.

It was heartening to see and hear young people who really get Swamiji’s music. They sang with great energy, devotion, and some really beautiful voices.

There’s a part of me that feels a wee bit envious as I try to imagine what it would have been like to know about Education for Life and be singing Ananda’s music in high school!

It’s fun to think about but I know better than to really go down that rabbit hole. 😊

P.S. You might notice a few familiar — and distinctly older than high school — faces in the choir. A few key students couldn’t make the trip, so Keshava recruited a few “ringers” from the Village.

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Another beautiful Oratorio

A successful evening and another beautiful Oratorio under our proverbial belt.

Kudos to director, choir, soloists, instrumentalists, audio-video-lighting teams, refreshments crew, and all the other helpers.

And — though we’re completely at home in the Temple of Light by now (after all, it’s been close to five years!) — I have to stop for a moment of gratitude for Panduranga, the wonderful architect who designed the Temple. On nights like tonight the blessing of getting to perform regularly in this amazing building hits me all over again.

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The pieces are all in place

We just had our final run-through for tomorrow night’s Oratorio performance and all the pieces are officially in place and ready to go.

Choir, soloists, instrumentals. Sound, lights, song lists. Knowing who goes where and when — and what color they’re wearing. 😊🌈

A myriad of details, but tomorrow we’ll do our best to set them all aside and simply let the inspiration flow.

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Recovery time

Recovery: wishing I could have had another day of it.

Yesterday fit the recovery scenario: I slept late, took it easy, didn’t even leave the house all day.

Today was the exact opposite: the morning was spent on tasks at home; I ran seven(!) errands in the afternoon; then had soloist/instrumental rehearsal in the evening.

And the rest of the week just gets more intense with final preparations for Friday night’s Oratorio performance.

Jai Guru!

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A pastel sky

Tonight’s sunset was beautiful pastels that made me think of Easter…and how it’s almost upon us.

Which is reflected in the increased flurry of activity as preparations for our Good Friday Oratorio performance kick into high gear.

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Where it’s happening

This is the studio where we’ve been spending many (many!) hours over the past few weeks with Mike Georgia, our recording engineer.

The project? Putting the finishing touches on our Oratorio performance from last April.

We’re excited to be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel!

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It’s juggling time

I can tell that we are well and truly back.

How?

I’m once again feeling like a full-time juggler: SRW (kirtan, concert, classes, donor tea, banquet); Sevaka retreat; Oratorio recording; Sunday music; dental work; India plans; and more.

Sometimes I feel like this guy looks. 😂

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Coming into the homestretch

There’s still so much to do before Oratorio, Easter, and then departure for Europe!

It’s all starting to blur together…sort of like in this photo!

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Out of juice

It was a long day, full of non-stop activity, and capped off with a very productive but intense run-through rehearsal for next week’s Oratorio.

Time to relax and unwind a bit before trying to sleep.

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When it all feels slightly impossible

We’re at that stage of the process where it’s feeling like maybe we did, indeed, bite off more than we can chew.

I mean, we’re helping to launch the new Ananda music app; planning for seven weeks away; preparing our place for a guest to stay while we’re gone; recording the live performance of the Oratorio on Good Friday; then leaving for Europe three days after that.

And somewhere in the midst of all this I’m supposedly practicing flute; working on my voice; brushing up on my Italian; resting; meditating; exercising; and being balanced and mindful.

Yeah, right!

But, sure enough, the only solution is to just keep going (or chewing, that is!), in the belief that I will be able to swallow it all down….eventually!