Losing My Religion

Today was my last day at my church job. Though I gave notice a few weeks back, it still hasn't quite sunk in that I'm finally releasing my grip on the udder of the cash cow that is the Catholic Church. I haven't been without a regular church gig since sometime last millennium, so this is Big News. There was a time early on when I actually learned something from doing this sort of work: it gave me a chance to practice technique, or to gain some solo experience, or to do some fun sight-reading (I friggin' love sight-reading btw; did you know I'm a total loser?). Then at some point I stopped getting anything out of it, and that's when I became a ho. I guess some people don't mind being a ho, but I'm officially tired of it. So it's time to move on.

This coincides with the start of a couple big projects that have come my way, so even though my Sundays are suddenly free, I actually have less time than before. I'm going to retire from the blogosphere temporarily to tend to those matters. I expect to be back on June 1, just in time for the SF Opera summer season! Till then, I hope you'll focus your bloggy eyes on the writings of my many wise and wonderful Internet Friends and the TSR Archives. I do plan to keep updating the del.icio.us feed and the In Rotation list, if that's of any interest to you.

I'll leave you with a quick glimpse at some of the posts I never got around to:

Gospel music in Hebrew is completely mind-blowing—did you know the first Black Jewish congregation in the US was formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in the late 1800s? ... It is not acceptable to pay $45 dollars to watch DJ Spooky hit play on his Quicktime player on a laptop, remixing something that was much stronger in its original form ... When will I find time to watch all the Eurovision videos?!? ... So Percussion rocked the house playing John Luther Adams and Evan Ziporyn at Other Minds; I totally heart percussionists ... Evelyn Glennie's coming back to town! A must-hear ... Kurt Elling gives good show, compelling and uncontrived ... Ethel certainly can play, but please, please! tone down the showmanship; way too much face-squunching and stomping for my tastes ... Watch Robbie Williams do a big-band show at Royal Albert Hall if you want to see a real showman at work ... It's been years since I last heard Todd Rundgren's A Cappella, a welcome surprise for Ethel's pre-show music ... The more I hear by Phil Kline, the more into him I get ... Did I mention Nathan Gunn's singing Guglielmo in Cosi? How will they get him to disrobe in this production, I wonder ... And finally, is this not the most teutonic headshot you've ever seen? Now is the time on Sprockets when we design opera costumes.

I'll be back ... ttyl

Comments

[sfmike]

Hey, I'll miss you, petroleum hog. And congratulations on "moving on" from your religious work duties. I hope your new projects are wonderful.

[Heather]

Who loves sight reading even more?!?! The parallel lives continue. I envy you; how satisfying to bow out the same week the new pope took charge. If only you were a soprano, I'd try to recruit you to Mission Dolores now and again. Haha. And I've got an ol' percussionist for you to heart. If you can, check out one of the VOCI concerts (we're playing in SF Sunday May 15; at the Lutheran church across the street from Mission D; 3pm). Happy time off. Go learn some Ives. :)

[Rich]

Hi. I've had some church choir gig for over 25 years (ouch) and I've just taken a leave of absence that, depending how certain possibilities in my life turn out, will most likely become permanent. I still like a lot of aspects of it (including, and I never thought I'd say this) sight reading. But time goes on and it may just be time for new challenges. I guess if a really interesting new job presented itself, I might take it, but more likely I'll get used to sleeping in on Sundays.

Have a good break from blogging, but hurry back :) And thanks for the link.

[Champ]

Too bad you never had and encounter with Christ in all those wasted years.