Rosedale Redux

J.S. Bach, Et Misericordia

Quite a different scene looking north by north-west from the Glen Road Bridge in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood compared with just a few short weeks ago!

After a successful CD launch here just a few days ago, I had the good fortune of playing flute this morning at Rosedale United Church’s Choral Advent Service: what a wonderful choir and warm community to get to know. This particular service was chock-a-block (sp?) with a wide assortment of seasonal favourites and choral masterpieces; I recorded the musical pieces that were presented, however most of them are just a little too long for me to post easily. (In this case, there is a 50 second delay as I set down the recorder and make my way to the front of the sanctuary to play.)

Originally scored for oboe and oboe d’amore, soprano, tenor and keyboard, Mariana and I used our richest, double-reed tone with our two flutes to best suit the ensemble. This is an exquisite piece by Bach - brought together with one short rehearsal - to lend musical accompaniment to this evocative, wintry scene.

If you like the piece enough, you might want to check out this orchestral version…never one to quibble with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, it is gratifying to hear that we pretty much nailed the ‘going’ tempo for this meditative selection!