Trinity Newmarket Singers

Our songs about celestial events theme turned into "celestial events and other changes".  So, days changing with sunrises and sunsets, the equinox marking the seasons changes, and the motions of the moon and planets turned into the seasons of our lives, and then, trying to change the world, because "that's just the way it is" doesn't make sense when everything changes, always.  We enjoyed lots of excellent old songs, even when we couldn't think of how they fit into the theme (Red wine changes me, is how). We talked about how some melodies seem to have come from an eternal source, divine inspiration, or from somewhere in our DNA, they're so good and comfortable and singable right away, as if they've been there always, or alternatively from outer space (David Bowie). We  talked about how a song can make you cry or move you so much that you need to stop the car, pull over and stop to listen. Then there are songs that seem sad, feel melancholy, but a...

Despite barometric pressure headaches and weather-, work-, and world- fatigue (Weltschmertz) , we rallied our forces to get out of the house and make it to Trinity, and it was so worth it! Singing is therapeutic, not just fun. And, not only do we sing, but we also pay attention to the beauty of the music and the messages, so we are reminded that there is so much to be grateful for, and we are not alone, but in good company. Our theme was Celestial Events, inspired by the vernal equinox, the celestial change of seasons last week. So, we looked up to the sun, the moon, the stars, and planets, and even a supermassive black hole, along with artists inspired by the heavens.  Something I like to do is listen to different versions of songs, and we often find that covers of songs provide a wonderful new perspective. We had this experience with a couple of our songs tonight. I do have a thing for diversity, an appreciation for different ways of looking at things. It was also noted that I ha...

Happy New Year! Sale Now Mobarak. Nowruz Pirooz. At 5:01:30, winter ended and spring began at the moment of the vernal equinox, the moment that the sun crossed the equator. That is the moment when people celebrate Persian New Year, people all over the world, and my family, the Naghavi side of my family too. I shared a picture of my haft seen spread, and we talked about the symbolism of the items, and the traditions practised over the weeks before and after the equinox. They are some of the very same things that many other cultures do and think about at the turning of the year or at spring celebrations. We are more alike than different, all of us on this planet. We talked a little bit about religion and politics, and Iranian women. We listened to a couple of Iranian songs from my Persian Party playlist. We couldn’t sing along because we can’t read Perso-Arabic script.  And then, we switched to Irish music, in honour of St. Patrick’s Day, which was Monday. This playlist had lots of s...

This year, I missed the opportunity to serve pie at my singing night. In fact, I brought store-bought cookies because I had been baking "cheese and onion pies"(quiches) for my PIE Day/Affirming Day event happening this evening (honestly, I was a little disorganized/distracted and forgot to bake for this too). We did have a PIE/Affirming theme, a Pride theme, for our songs. It was interesting and inspired quite a lot of good conversation.  We meet in a church, and the Pride theme is clouded by some misconceptions about the Bible, so we talked about that a bit, and I'm encouraged again to try to have a screening of the film 1946: The Mistranslation that shifted culture.  Robin and Thain have started exchanging books, so now it's low-key a book club and singing club. It's such a wonderful thing, to meet and sing and talk in a safe and comfortable setting that we end up sharing so much more. I had a book to recommend too: Fayne by Anne-Marie MacDonald. I love learning...

March 6th. We're not in Black History Month anymore, but we're still on that theme. At church, my Affirming and Inclusivity Team has chosen to focus on anti-racism for 2025, in addition to our main role of affirming the Pride community.  My Black History Month playlist is huge, and there's so much to talk about and so much good music to listen to. This time, we were talking about the big influence Black people have had and continue to have on other music, the rhythms and techniques of ragtime, jazz, the blues, R&B, gospel, funk, reggae, and afrobeats are not only used by Black artists.  Last week, Don sent me some interesting information about a Canadian tenor, Edward Johnson, that he was instrumental in including Black singers in opera at the Met in New York. I didn't find that, when I looked him up, but quite the opposite, that he is known for excluding Black singers. I found reports that it was the next General Manager of the Met that introduced Marian Anderson f...

It was so good to be back together! We sang and listened and talked and nibbled and sipped happily in good company again. There were heavy moments, but we were mostly very positive and hopeful. Our theme was Black History Month. We first talked about Sunday’s Affirming and Inclusivity Service. We all agreed that it was uplifting and fun. I pointed out that although I did aim for uplifting and hopeful, I also wanted it to be powerful, and I was proud of my team and Celena for making it strong and meaningful too. We watched a bit of the video and listened to Celena’s poem. We were all impressed by her powerful words and effective delivery, and we were all touched and heavy-hearted. We listened to the choir and praise team sing God Weeps and Put a Little Love in Your Heart. Thank God for uplifting music that reminds us that there are good people, and music that inspires us to be better as individuals and in our communities! I’m proud of my church that is a place where I feel that we can m...