CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS OCTOBER 31 25

Happy Hallowe’en! 

I. NOVEMBER 3 REHEARSAL NOTES, SOME HISTORY OF THE WORKS, AND A LINK FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR DANIEL MANLEY

"7:30 - 8:10 Four Last Songs - III, IV

8:10 - 8:30 Canada Mosaic - IV, VII and I

8:30 - 8:40 break

8:40 - 9:00 Nightmare b4 Xmas

9:00 - 9:20 March of the three kings

Four Last Songs

• Please have a look at the attached PDF from the Victoria Symphony for a translation of the texts into English

• Though composed as separate pieces by Strauss, after Strauss’ death, his publisher/friend at Boosey & Hawkes grouped them together as “Four Last Songs” (there’s a fifth

  that could be part of this series, but that’s another story).

• In the order published, and in which we’ll be performing, IMHO, they produce a retrospective on a life lived - there’s a sense of calm, acceptance, and completeness to them.

• This should come through in our interpretation. Fortes are gentle and warm. Pianossimos are sensitive and caring.

• The orchestration is thick and rich - it’s easy to get lost in the fabric and weaving, especially in the first movement. Eventually, by the fourth movement, the counterpoint is less, 

  marking a simplicity at the end of one’s life.

• As a blanket statement, which you’ve probably heard many times in your musical careers: if you have material of interest, leaps, lots of activity, a snippet of the motif for that movement, 

  soar a little. Otherwise, provide the soft cushion that supports the orchestra and the singer. I recall playing this on tuba, and the chords were so rich and rewarding - I could feel the whole orchestra vibrating.

March of the Three Kings

• The subject of the whole oratorio, Christus, is the life of Jesus Christ as told by verses from the bible. One could think of this as the romantic period’s answer to the baroque’s Messiah, by Handel.

• The oratorio is broken into three parts: Christmas Oratorio; After Epiphany; and Passion and Resurrection - we’re playing a movement from the first part - hence the three kings bearing gifts, following 

  the star of Bethlehem, looking for the manger with Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

• The march opens up with a motif heard in other parts of the oratorio: quarter, dotted 8th, 16th, quarter. Super simple, but meaningful in the overall context. Also part of this is the rising 5th, 

  prominent in the whole work.

• There’s an unease and mystery in the first section - unforgiving pizzicato and staccato both contribute to this, along with balancing between C minor and Eb major. How will they ever

  find what they’re looking for?

• But finally they spot the Star of the Bethlehem, and we fall into the super-pastoral key of Db major in cut time. It just wants to comfort you and give you hope as the path to the manger is made clear.

• This transitions to the adagio section where the three kings are up close with new born Jesus. B major is giving dreamy, thoughtful, tender and calming vibes 

• The realization of what this birth means gives way to the return of the material of the second section, but firmly in F# major - upbeat and hopeful - eventually landing in C major and 

  wrapping up the piece in feelings of joy with much fanfare from the trumpets and horns.

Nightmare Before Christmas

• This soundtrack is just a lot of campy fun!

• The movie plot - Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who, bored with his annual routine, stumbles upon Christmas Town and becomes fascinated by it. He decides to take over Christmas, 

  enlisting the residents of Halloween Town to create their own spooky version, which includes kidnapping Santa Claus and delivering frightening gifts. His plan goes awry, causing chaos, but 

  he eventually learns a lesson about embracing his own identity and the true meaning of Christmas.

• Jack Skellington’s journey mirrors many personal journeys of members of the queer community – growing up in social norms that don’t feel reflect them; going on a journey of discovery and finding 

  a community and identity that feels like home; and finally being able to be their authentic selves

• So many quotations of the first four notes of the Dies Irae - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_irae - this theme also hit the big time in Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique and is used liberally 

  by Rachmaninov in so many of his works.

• This is Hallowe’en – introducing Jack’s home world - creep factor to the max - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVuToMilP0A&list=RDZVuToMilP0A&start_radio=1

• What’s This – Jack discovers Christmas!! Excitement and joy!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o36k8upu3Ks

• Sally’s Song – Sally has feelings for Jack, but is fearful of what’s to come with his new discoveries - tender, longing, foreboding - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCd0D5Fv9SE

• Jack’s Lament - he longs for something different from all the scaring and screams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtuXbXq6QqE&list=RDTtuXbXq6QqE&start_radio=1

• Poor Jack - did he totally screw things up? Is he finally discovering who he really is? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuPZrT58vWM&list=RDHuPZrT58vWM&start_radio=1

• I found this article interesting - https://www.slashfilm.com/570153/nightmare-before-christmas-queer-reading/

That’s it for now – more next week! Dan”

II. ITEMS OF INTEREST 

(i) Performing for the 519’s Holiday Party - 

What: Winter Wonderful performance – playing winter/holiday (non religious) songs

When: Saturday, December 13^th; 12:30-12:45/1:00pm.

Where: The 519

The 519 has once again asked the CCO to perform at their holiday party, a family event with lots of children attending. We have said yes - of course. The 519’s organizers have an inclusive approach to the music to be performed -  non-religious carols and other types of seasonal music. If you would like to participate, please email emitchell1727@gmail.com - for forwarding to the CCO’s organizer for this event. More information will be shared as the planning goes along. 

(I) Posters for Winter Mosaic - Printed copies of the new poster for Winter Mosaic on December 6 will be available at the November 3 rehearsal. Thank you to Robert Lau for the beautiful artwork. Please circulate the poster electronically to your friends and family. And please think of where you can hang a poster in your neighbourhood - cafes? notice boards? music store bulletin boards? Eastminster Church holds 600 people - we have room for more audience! 

(ii) Tickets for Winter Mosaic - will be available for on-line sales in a few days, using the QR code on the poster. We are bringing printed tickets to the upcoming rehearsal for distribution to members. Each member is expected to sell at least two tickets. The CCO’s revenue (from ticket sales, membership fees, and 50/50 raffle draws) does not cover the costs of the CCO season of three concerts. Ticket sale revenues make up an important part, and increasing the number of tickets you sell (or buy and distribute to friends) really helps our bottom line. 

 (iii) Volunteers for Winter Mosaic  - If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer in advance of or at the concert, please email emitchell1727@gmail.com with the volunteer’s contact information. Our Front of House Volunteer, Robert Mansell, will contact them. We always need poster distributors and others in advance of the concert; at the concert we need set up and takedown volunteers, door volunteers, cookie servers, 50/50 ticket sellers, ushers, and others. Thankfully our Stage Manager, Rowan, is returning and we are expecting Enza Anderson to host once again. New volunteers welcome. 

(iv) AGM - November 17, at the beginning of the rehearsal. If you are considering joining the Board as a Director, please let any current Director know. Three vacancies already exist, plus nominations will be received from the floor. Members in good standing will receive an email containing the documents necessary for the AGM. There will be very few hard copies of the documents at the AGM, so please come prepared either with your own printed hard copes, or with your electronic versions. 

(iv) CCO 40th Anniversary T Shirts & Used Music Stands - there will be used music stands available for purchase for $15 at the rehearsals until November 17, after which date they may be donated. If there is sufficient interest (26 orders) before November 17, we will do a new order for CCO 40th Anniversary shirts - right now we have about 9 orders, so this is unlikely to happen. Interested purchasers can sign a list kept by the Door Volunteers at rehearsals indicating the number of shirts they want. Sizing will follow later if the order goes in. 

(v) Notice from the Librarian - The music for Canada Mosaic has been loaned to the CCO from another orchestra. Only pencil markings are allowed. All copies (and most especially the original copies) must be returned to Mario on concert night. They can be left for collection on your chair at the end of the concert. 

(vi) Concert of Interest - the CCO’s former trombonist, Kenneth Luna, is now at university full-time and could not join the CCO this year. However, he is performing in an interesting concert with the North York Concert Orchestra on November 8, 8:00pm, at Eglinton St. George’s United Church:  “HORNS GALORE”, featuring four French horns. Details and Tickets at https://nyco.ca/2025-26-2/

III. IMPORTANT CCO DATES 

Musicians are expected to bring their own music stand and part to each rehearsal. Rehearsals are every Monday evening, 7:30 to 9:30 at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, unless otherwise noted here. Please let your section leader know if you cannot attend a rehearsal. Snacks are provided for the break by section in rotation: first violins, then seconds, then violas and celli, then winds, brass and piano. Concerts this season are on Saturdays December 6, March 7 and June 6, with Dress Rehearsals the Friday night before at the concert venue. All concerts this season will be at Eastminister United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue (Chester subway), 7:30 start.  

November 3 - rehearsal. Snacks: winds and brass. November 10 - leftovers - then Nov. 17 - first violins November 13 - Board meeting, by Zoom. If interested, ask to attend: emitchell1727@gmail.com

November 17 - Annual General Meeting 7:30 to 8:30 at the regular rehearsal. Election of Directors and reports on other CCO business. November 24 - This rehearsal will be at the concert venue, Eastminster Church, 310 Danforth Avenue. 7:30 to 9:30

December 5, 7:00 pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

December 6, 7:30pm -  concert, “Winter Mosaic”, Eastminster Church. Featured soloist Rebecca Gray, sopranoFollowing the concert, the next rehearsal will be in January.

January 5, 2026 - 7:30pm rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519 under our new Guest Conductor, Samuel Tam.February 16 - no rehearsal - Family DayMarch 6 - 7:00 to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster ChurchMarch 7 - 7:30pm Concerrt, Eastminster Church, featured soloist Brian Baty, double bass March 9 - No rehearsal

March 16 - 7:30pm - rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519 under our new Guest Conductor Isaac Page. April 6 - no rehearsal - Easter MondayMay 18 - no rehearsal - Victoria Day June 5 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church June 6 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster Church, featured soloist, Gemma Donn, violin