Parties, singing

[sonia]

Last night I went to a Christmas party at a professional Balkan singer's house, and the singing turned out to be Christmas carols. I suppose it's obvious in retrospect. I've done some caroling around a piano in the past, but these were professional singers completely out of my league. Fun to listen to!

This evening I went to a Hanukkah party, and there was an unexpected confluence of folk dancers and Balkan singers, so I got to do a little Balkan singing there. So fun! We also sang Maos Tzur, because that's part of my childhood tradition.

I wore a mask at both parties. My personal compromise between, "there's a surge, I should stay home" and, "this is life now." I was the only one at tonight's party, and one of a handful at the other. I will say, no one gave me a hard time or even asked me about it.

Comments

[the_future_modernes]

The singing sounds awesome and I am so glad you were able to wear a mask and not be harassed!

[sonia]

I feel very lucky!

Singing is always magic

[jesse_the_k]

and it's particularly magic when you can feel the music through your bones.

My aggressively secular upbringing excluded Hanukkah music (but lots of Gilbert & Sullivan). I went spelunking for samples. Maos Tzur is available in a wide range of styles:

Substantial alto stylings with piano from Hadassah Berne

Jazzy Acapella from the Maccabeats

Leslie Odom Jr & Nicolette Robinson in heartfelt lounge music style

Re: Singing is always magic

[sonia]

Thank you for the links! The Maccabeats are wonderful! I still like their Candlelight video the best. Here's another nice rendition of Maos Tzur, a compilation cantors across Canada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFY--az4z3w