Christmas Eve (catching up #1)

I flew back from Japan with Sonos on Christmas Eve. The day started out with a 1 hour bus ride from our mountain lodge at Yatsugatake to the train station. Then a 2 hour train ride to Tokyo, then another hour by train to Narita airport. Finally, we flew from Narita to San Francisco - an 8 or 9 hour flight - and arrived at 11am.

That evening, my Sunnyvale bell choir (The Choir of Bells) played a 30 minute prelude to the 11:00 Candlelight service.

This is the service for which they were rehearsing when Stephanie Wiltse flew in to work with them. Larry Sue worked with them one week, too.

We started rehearsing at about 9:30 -- just once through everything with the organist & flutist, plus ironing out any rough spots -- and let me tell you, my smile was so wide, I thought the top of my head would fall off!

I was amazed - this was by far the best they have ever played! I am SO PROUD of them!

The church took video of the prelude; I need to take a blank DVD to church & get a copy of it. I'll post some of it to YouTube once I get it & will post a link here.

Meanwhile, here's what we played that night:

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Prelude on 'Hyfrydol')"
-- arr. by Janet Linker and Jane McFadden
-- full choir with organ & flute

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
-- by J. S. Bach, arr. by Victor Gumma
-- handbell duet with piano

"Carols of Christmas"
-- arr. by D. Linda McKechnie
-- full choir with piano

"Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella"
-- arr by Christine D. Anderson and Daniel Kramlich
-- handbell solo with piano

"Greensleeves"
-- arr. by Nancy Hascall
-- handbell solo with piano and cello

"Cradle Song"
-- by A. Ilyinski, arr by Diane L. Mayer and Margaret R. Tucker
-- full choir with piano

"Silent Night"
-- by Franz Gruber, arr. by Cathy and David Moklebust
-- full choir with organ