December 2002 Newsletter

December, 2002 Volume 15 Number 2

Letter from the President

Vázení prátelé J.S. Bacha

Well, our season has started with a bang: on October 16 and 17 many volunteers helped out at the casino.Then, two days later, our Marathon took place.Both these events are crucial to our organization: the casino because without the funds it gives us we would not be able to operate on the level we do now, and the marathon because it is such an integral part of the Bach Society. As a fundraiser the 6 hours of music does not come close to what we obtain from the casino, but, as a musical experience it is so very satisfying.Our most sincere thanks to all those who made these two events possible.: those behind the glass in the casino and those who walked the floor. Those backstage and those who appeared on stage and those who came to listen on the day of our marathon. I hope you will forgive me if I mention only two names: Christine Azad , because without her the marathon would not happen, and Bill Zdep who does all the organization in order for our turn at the casino to run smoothly.The next event of our season is the Advent concert on the 15th. of December again at 3 pm. Choir and orchestra are pleased to present you with a programme of music by, of course, J.S.Bach but also Vivaldi and Handel. The locale will be St Matthew‚s United church, 2039-26a St. SW.I am going to take advantage of this spot to put a question to you all, in the hope that we will receive a positive reply: We are looking for a social convenor, someone who will prepare, serve and cleanup refreshments for orchestra and choir on rehearsal days and for the party after our concert in March, our celebration of Bach‚s birthday.If you feel you would like to take on this job, or if you want to volunteer a friend, ( Isn‚t that what friends are for?) please call me at 283-0231 or e-mail at mvanwijk@telusplanet.net

Marijke van Wijk.

Calendar of Events

The Bach Children’s Concert Saturday, February 1, 2003 - 2 p.m. Leacock Theatre - Mount Royal College Bach’s music performed by children and adults Come early to play! From 1:00 on with instruments for all to try!

Bach Birthday Celebration Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 3 p.m. St. Matthew’s United Church - 2039-26a Street SW

Other Events

Christmastide - Voicescapes Sunday, December 7, 2002 - 3PM and 8PM Rosza Centre - University of Calgary

Sing-a-Long Messiah - Spiritus and Voicescapes Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 2:30 PM Knox United Church - 506 4th Street SW

Mysteries and Miracles - Early Music Voices Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 8:00 PM Christ Church Elbow Park

Spiritus Sunday February 16, 2003 - 8:00 PM St. David United Church

Profile -Diane Antoniuk

by Anna Carnell

Diane Antoniuk is the new stage manager and assistant publicity director for the Calgary Bach Festival Society because she would rather be ‘doing’ than ‘watching’! She began her backstage career with the old Citadel Theatre as stage manager for volunteer productions. With the Allied Arts Centre in Calgary and Stratford in Ontario, Diane worked in the props department and developed a drama program for young people. She involved the students from start to finish, building the play from scratch with improvisation, mime, movement and music.Diane grew up in the remote Athabasca country, and music was limited to occasional fun with a wind-up 78 record player. “I remember listening over and over to Hank William’s and Hank Snow’s country classics.” The local piano teacher introduced classical music with piano lessons, but Diane’s real dance with music started in Junior High with a grade 7 Welsh band teacher. Mr. Long grabbed his student’s interest with nothing short of a virtuoso performance of a clarinet polka at dazzling speed. He maintained a strong band program and Diane continued to play the French horn through University.Diane earned her first BA from the University of Alberta in drama with an English secondary. Her next degree, a BEd with a diploma in library science, primed her second career as teacher and teacher librarian for Edmonton Public. She quietly and efficiently gets every job done, which may explain why her responsibilities continued to expand to the point where she maintained a High School and Elementary library program simultaneously.Diane is rarely without a book in hand and though they have only recently moved to Bragg Creek, has already organized the Bragg Creek library in the Snowbird’s Community Centre. She may be busy, but after years of school bells, is determined to live free of a rigid schedule. This leaves her free to climb mountains, train for yearly Birkebiener cross country races in Canada and the U.S., work in the garden, or practice music; piano, clarinet, recorder duets or bluegrass guitar... just for fun.

Profile - Les Antoniuk

by Anna Carnell

Les Antoniuk, who has recently joined the baritone voices of the Calgary Bach Festival Choir has always played at music. As well as the CBFS, he sings with the Ukranian Male Chorus of Edmonton, recently returned from a tour of Poland and the Ukraine, and the Artisan Singers of Bragg Creek. His stint with the Edmonton Opera Chorus for five productions was a defining musical experience, a complete package of music, drama and show biz.With no formal training he picked up several bluegrass instruments, including the guitar and banjo, and is now playing the Dobro guitar. He’s even mastered the digeridoo, and the accompanying skill of circular breathing, where the player continues to make sound and draw breath simultaneously. “It’s always made more sense to make rather than consume music,” he says.He finds Bach an enjoyable challenge, albeit somewhat intimidating. “It’s consumately mathematical...something only a genius could produce.” Les’ first exposure to Bach came through the book Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstader. Godel uses Bach and Escher as illustrations of the concept that math is not cut and dried, too flawed with reality to be a complete, closed system, but the product of human genius that changes with the act of discovery.Les’ eclectic interests have led to the study and practice of several sidelines, including photography, a pilot’s license, computers and hiking. His studies in science and psychology at the University of Alberta seemed a good combination for making teaching his main career with Edmonton Public. Recently retired, he misses the contact with his students but has no problem filling the time. He hopes to further his music studies and quotes ‘Beyond the Fringe’ the famous comedy sketch where Peter Cook and Dudley Moore discuss the finer points of piano technique... “the black keys, you know, are louder than the white ones”! Les fills his days with music rehearsals, a new business creating web-sites, more creative and diversified studies, hiking and ... watching the fire.

Editor's Website Picks

Interested in contacting other choral groups in Calgary? You will find the Calgary Region Arts Foundation client list at http://www.craf.org/clients4.htmlThe Academy of Ancient Music at http://www.aam.co.uk/ has program notes on works and shows pictures of artists, such as Bach. To find these, click on News and Features.A little embarrassed that you don’t know some musical term like appoggiatura? You won’t be if you check out the Glossary page of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem at http://www.bach.org/bach101/suites/glossary.htmlThe Denton Bach Socety revisits Bach’s first Leipzig Christmas at http://www.dentonbach.com/archive/magnificat9.htm where you can find program notes, commentaries, pictures and the full texts of the Magnificat in Latin and English.Don’t forget our own http://www.bachcalgary.org with newsletters back to September 2000, pictures of the choir and orchestra and profiles of our conductors.

Membership Information

The Calgary Bach Festival Society has a large library of cantatas which can be rented. If interested, please contact us at 282-8525 or e-mail Bill Zdep tcprint@telus.net

Volunteers are welcome and needed for several positions and projects. If interested, please contact us at 282-8525 or e-mail Bill Zdep tcprint@telus.net