So far I’ve focused on blog posts relating to my book and to my career coaching.\u00a0 Today’s a great day for launching into a totally different area of my life, sacred music.<\/p>\n
For the last 3+ years, I’ve been leading the Gregorian Chant Schola (choir) at St Elizabeth Ann Seton parish.\u00a0 I have to admit that this is a tremendous journey of discovery and learning.<\/p>\n
Realize that I have minimal qualifications for this job.\u00a0 I had lots of musical training up through high school, but didn’t really do much with that until I joined our church choir in about 1998.\u00a0 But in 2005 there was a need for someone to jump in and act as leader for the Gregorian Chant, so I volunteered.<\/p>\n
It seemed like it might be fun.<\/p>\n
Well, fun, yes, and incredibly challenging.\u00a0 Here’s this music which has been around for nearly 2000 years, and indeed has roots back into ancient civilizations.\u00a0 The body of knowledge, both what we know about and what’s been lost, is truly astounding.\u00a0 And these are people who are MUCH smarter than I, and MUCH more spiritual.\u00a0 It’s truly humbling.<\/p>\n
And I know nothing of Latin, upon which Gregorian Chant is based.\u00a0 So that’s another journey of exploration in addition to the music itself.<\/p>\n
I thought it might be nice to have a little clue about this – after all, I was supposed to be the leader – so I attended a workshop at the local Abbey of St Walburga<\/a> back in 2006.\u00a0 In 2007 I went to a wonderful workshop at St Meinrad Archabbey<\/a> in Indiana – an absolutely wonderful experience which helped me appreciate how little I knew.<\/p>\n