Renate's Exercise Video with the song Shine

I meant to do this ages ago. I used the song Shine by Jaslyn Edgar for a warm-up song one Tuesday evening, or maybe two? I really like that song, and part of the reason I like it is that it's at the end of an exercise video that I like to do. 

Here's a link to that video:  Exercise Video

It's a YouTube video, part of a Channel called Improved Health. The instructor is a woman named Jules, and she's lovely. I highly recommend her. 

There are tons of videos on her channel. Some are short and sweet, maybe 10 minutes, and others are half an hour or more. I once did a 10,000 step video of hers which is an hour and a half long. 

I like the way each move on this video lasts for 30 seconds, and there's a little preview of the next move on the screen. I like how she doesn't talk. I did notice that she has videos with and without talking. Of course, I like the music. It makes me happy and it makes the workout fun. I like the stretching she does at the end. That's where you'll hear Shine. 

 

The Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk 2026

What a severe winter we're having!

Snow, frigid temperatues, more snow, and blizzards, and cold, cold, cold. 

On one evening every February, people across Canada walk together to raise awareness, to show compassion, and to raise funds for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the places that support them, especially at this time of year when being homeless can be deadly.

Here's this from the CNOY website: 

•       We walk through the cold and dark in February to declare our concern for people who have no home and take shelter in nooks and crannies.
•     We walk for those whose days are a battle to house and feed their families and whose nights are filled with fear and frustration. 
•     We walk for those driven from home by violence and abuse. And we walk for people overwhelmed by isolation, guilt, and despair.
•     We walk humbly, realizing that anyone can lose their footing and then lose everything else.

        Each step we take brings someone closer to safety, health and home, as together, we raise funds for organizations whose commitment and work transforms peoples’ lives.

 In Newmarket, we walk to raise money for Inn From The Cold. Follow that link to learn about them. They're such a good organization! Their services have grown so much from the time we hosted them in our church basement! It's much more than shelter that they provide. 

I proudly walk with a team of  people from my church, Trinity on Main, the United Church in Newmarket. And, I'm proud of my family for joining me as often as they do, and proud of my friends and family who donate to support me every year when they can. This includes friends from work and friends from choir.

The walk is not a distance or speed challenge, but more like a rally. We all meet at Riverwalk Commons to hear speeches, and to have a warm-up with fun music. Most people wear matching toques, which we each receive when we raise $150 or more. As we walk through the streets of Newmarket, we hope to draw attention to ourseves to raise awareness and compassion, and to let people know that they're not alone.

If you would like to make a donation to support my fundraising, it's easy to do online. Here's a link:  

 My fundraising page on the CNOY website

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review January 27th

We got a lot of work done, and had a lot of fun, but it wasn't the same without Donna. We really missed her and realize how much we depend on and appreciate her. Lauren did an excellent job of playing parts for us and we had some accompaniment recordings to use. But, it was not ideal. Can't wait to have Donna back next week!

The alto sectional was excellent, thanks to Lauren. Lauren knows what altos need, and she was able to focus on the parts that they have difficulty with. We're so lucky!

We sang along with a recording of that song Hold On, from the Minneapolis rally. I've found out who wrote it: Heidi Wilson. We sang along with the recording from Facebook, and then we sang it on our own, filling in harmonies and embellishments. It was lovely. Hold on, hold on, my dear ones, here comes the dawn. We are singing songs that give us hope and help us to feel part of a kinder world in our choir, and it's good to see people using song to combat fear and helplessness in those videos of the rallies in the US. 

1. Hallelujah: It was pretty good, considering it was a recorded accompaniment. We tried having people sing the solos who hadn't sung them before. It is always a little strange to me that we don't have a ton of people wanting to sing those solos in particular, but any solo. But, it's actually quite unusual for people to feel comfortable performing alone in front of an audience, even if it's just your choir friends. I'm grateful for those of you who are willing and able to sing solos. 

2. One Voice: We learned the ba-das. They're not bad, not too difficult, especially after you sing them 10 times (right, Sopranos?). The page turn from page 5 to 6 is tricky, and we did that quite a few times too. We also looked at the next section, from bar 39-47, and reviewed 47 to the end.  We have recordings of all the parts in our Music Library in the Members Only section of the website. It was difficult singing with the recording. The timing is unusual, and so hard to follow at times. 

3. Song for Canada: We sang through with the recording, and learned the end, page 13. The ahs under the French, second, verse are not too bad, and we now have recordings of those ahs! Thanks to Tab, who was able to record them and upload them to the Music Library on the website. I have 7 people who came forward to sing the French ( Michele, Melodie, Cathy, Sharon, Robin, Yvonne, Linda S.) I think that's going to be plenty. We do need lots of people singing ahs too. 

4. Hymn to Freedom: We looked at the one section with "any hour" on page 5 which repeats on page 9, so we got two for one. We also sang it all the way through with the recorded accompaniment, and it was pretty good. We have parts recordings, and we have extra recordings just for the special ahs. You'll see. 

5. Thank you for the Music: We started at the beginning, and spent time on the chorus, which happens 3 times, so very good use of our time. It was really hard singing with the recording, but it was fun. It's such a good song. We have recordings of all the parts. 

Next week, Tuesday, February 3rd 

6:30 Tenors and Basses get to have a sectional rehearsal with Lauren. This is valuable time for you to focus on just your part, wherever it's tricky for you. 

We will probably have a second soprano sectional the week after that, and then we start with small groups. We're working on deciding what to include. I'm happy that people have made so many suggestions and we have lots of ideas. Right now, I'm looking at How Can I Keep from Singing, Song Sung Blue, My Heart Will Go On, and there's a trio forming that I'm pretty excited about. I'm going to look at the concert plan, and we'll see if we have room for another. 

Here's what I'm hoping to do next week:

• Here's to Song (if we get the sheet music)
• Hymn to Freedom
• One Voice 
• Song for Canada
• Thank You For the Music 

 

It takes just one voice, and everyone will sing. Sing!

 

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review January 20th

We had a wonderful time getting to know one another a bit better at breaktime! Lorraine set up the coffee and tea even though she couldn't stay to enjoy it (sick) and Winston, Kim (alto), and Helene brought some really yummy treats! (Thank you!) The extra-long break was well-deserved. We worked hard.

We started the evening with a warm-up to Lovely Day, by Bill Withers. It has a lovely chorus for testing your stamina. It was especially useful on a day when the tenors had several very long notes to hold. (and yes, tenors plural, there were two! Stanley and Mona came back). 

I talked about a protest song I heard being sung by a crowd of people in a demonstration in the US (Minneapolis) that was posted on Instagram. It was as a real example of "One Voice, all it takes is one voice, and everyone will sing." About 30 people were expected to come to learn a few songs to sing, but 300 people filled the church where they met. Then, in the streets, the singing crowd led by a woman with a microphone, grew to over 600 and they sang in harmony in both senses of the word. The good people of America sang, "Hold on! Hold on, my dear ones, here comes the dawn." I was moved to tears.

1. O Canada: Take a look at your sheet music. Somehow we got a couple different versions in our binders. If you have a Cypress Press copy, please hand it back to Peggy. We're using the one from Mayfair Music. We started with accompaniment, but then sang without. It's really powerful with just voices. We went over the whole song for the altos. At the end, there's a thing that we usually ignore on page 4 at the end. (see screenshot below) There's an extra note, an eighth note that isn't tied to the one before it, and it has no words. We've been interpreting that as tied. We're going to sing it this time. We're going to give the word "for" two syllables on the same note. So we get: We stand on guard fo-or thee. We're not going to have a big high note at the end. A good solid ending, not flashy.  I'm so happy and proud to be a Canadian!

2. Song for Canada: We walked/sang through what we're doing with this piece this year and we learned the ahs in verse 2. You will want to mark your music with an arrow or a star to remind you where you're singing. The first verse is simple. We're all singing the melody in unison, and that first line of music is for either a soloist or small group, or "tutti", meaning "all". In the second verse, a small group of sopranos and altos will sing the French words, in the line shown as Voice(s) 2/ Tutti, and the rest will sing the ahs in the choir bracket SATB. Several people have expressed an interest in singing the French. We do need a good number of people to sing the ahs. We'll see. There is a key change just before the last verse, and it means that the alto and bass parts will be very high and/or very low. The altos feel that it will be fine if some of them join the tenors when it's too high. They could also join the tenors and go soprano for the low parts. Bass can do the same kind of back-and forth with the melody another octave down when it's too high or join the tenors when two octaves down is too low. The last verse looks a bit busy, because a new line at the top shows up. It's got words, in case that part is sung.  But, it can also be played by a C instrument, and we happen to have one. Robyn will play that on her flute. Ignore that top line. (It's parts of O Canada, which we're all singing by itself, right?) Ignore the choir bracket from bar 89 to 112. We're all in the Voices 1 and 2 line, with the words of the third verse. Big ending: at bar 112 on the last page, we all move into the choir bracket. We sing "Land of tomorrow, your time has come, ah-ah-ah-ah!" in parts SATB. Ignore the top two lines of both systems on the last page. We will not divide the tenors nor the basses. Sopranos will divide and altos may divide. We won't have 12-part harmony on the last note, as written, but it will be big. 

3. Hymn to Freedom: We learned from the beginning to the top of page 6.  Last Tuesday, we looked at the ending. It's going to take some effort to learn this. Luckily, there are a number of us who have sung it before, even though it was quite some years ago. And, luckily, we have parts recorded! Not only do we have the parts for the whole song, but we have recordings for the tricky, jazzy ahs so you can listen to them again and again. You'll see. (see screenshot below)

4. One Voice: We learned parts from the pick-up to bar 47 to the end. It's a big ending, lots of drama. At 47, we're singing softly right after a very loud part, a big drop in volume. Then we get a little louder and louder until we're very loud at the end. The rests on the last page are very dramatic. On the last note, the first sopranos divide. Only one or two to up to the A so it's not squeaky. The other firsts take the F and the second sopranos stay on the C. Basses can do that whole phrase an octave down and end on the C or F the octave down (I want you to try the A, two octaves down too). Cathy, Stanley, and Lauren sang the solos at the beginning for us today. Let me know if you would like to try any of those three solos. I like to hear new people, or different people trying solos. 

Next week: Tuesday, January 27th

6:30 Altos' Sectional Practice, just altos getting extra practice 

• Hymn to Freedom
• One Voice
• Song for Canada
• Thank You for the Music 
• Hallelujah 

 

on our website (don't know what those numbers are)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra note in O Canada. 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review January 13th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so good to be back among my choir friends!  

The holidays were excellent, but that was almost too much time to be away from singing with you. 

We have a great theme this season: Here's to Song! 

It's about singing songs together (why we sing) and about the songs that we share (what we sing) with a focus on the songs. Songs about Canada and other things that we feel compelled to sing about, like love, equality, joy. We are trying to sing mostly songs by Canadians, but Canadians are diverse peoples, with diverse influences, so we will not restrict ourselves to only Canadian things.

Think about this theme, and the music in your binder, and see if there are songs you might like to sing in a small group or as a solo or duet. We'll set up those in the next few weeks, so please let me know soon. At the bottom of the post, I've copied the lyrics of Here's to Song, which you don't have in your binder yet. It has been ordered, and we'll get it soon.

We warmed up with a song from a fitness video I like to do. The song is called Shine, by Jaslyn Edgar, and the lyrics speak to me when I'm trying to follow the moves of the instructor and can't quite get them. It's important to remember when we're learning things to just go ahead and shine.  

Who cares if you might mess it up; You're stronger than the others think; Go ahead and shine, darling, go ahead and shine. You should know that you're perfect with those flaws. You better step into the light; just give it a try.  Go ahead and shine, darling. Go ahead and shine, my dear. 

1. Canon of Joy: We sang this recently, and I love the message and I love the two classical pieces that it's based on. "Though our hearts be tried and troubled, still our song none can destroy. Far and wide the universe resounding with a song of joy."

2. One Voice: This is another one we've done not too long ago and have sung many times. The message here is that we are not alone, and singing together helps us to face darkness, the unknown, and the things on our mind together. When one voice bravely starts to sing, soon everyone will sing. 

3.  Hymn to Freedom: This is a big one. We sang this first with the Police Male Chorus, in 2011, accompanied by our very own Donna. You'll find a picture on the website under "Time Capsule" of the whole mass choir and the directors and accompanists sitting in front. We have recordings of the accompaniment and all the parts, and separate recordings of the jazzy ahs! We started learning this song. We started at bar 59 on page 10, and sang to the end. We found little errors in the sheet music. (so good to see that others are also not perfect) In bar 66 on page 11, the first sopranos don't have a word. You can pencil in the word "free". The second sopranos in that same bar only have we'll free, so you need to add "be". We'll be free. When everyone joins in our song and together sings in harmony, that's when we'll be free.

4. Song for Canada: Big! And, there are ahs and French and a flute part! You might have a ton of pencil marking on your copy. We've sung this before in different ways. This time, we'll have everyone (tutti) sing the first verse. It ends at the bottom of page 3. Notice that bars 41-44 are applicable, because we sang this as tutti. Now, at 45, we'll have a small group of sopranos and altos sing the French part on the top (Voices 2/tutti) line. Everyone else (SATB) sings ah. This second verse ends at the top of page 77. The third verse, we'll sing together (tutti) on the top line, ignoring the SATB ahs. On page 9, we move down a line, because the top line goes to a flute (Solo instrument in C, not Sop voices, no lyrics because I want the main lyrics to be clear) Ignore the SATB ah part, and ignore the SATB parts when there are words too (to-row-row!) until bar 112. At bar 112 on page 13, we will use the SATB parts to sing "Your time has come ah-ah-ah-ah!" If you have messy pencil marks here, you might want to erase them with a good eraser that doesn't smear. We will take notes out of that, but we won't divide into 9 parts! Your notes are TBD. "Rich harmonies of races and creeds join in the chorus with... whales...wind... all our voice come together singing Land of tomorrow, your time has come."

5. Thank You for the Music: This is a good one! Obviously, we are grateful for music, thankful for all the songs people write for us to sing. Not just so we can be in a choir, but in our daily lives, and through all our seasons, the music that we have as our personal soundtracks is important to us. There is some flipping of pages that happens here. And, one tricky one is from the bottom of page 7 back to page 4. We talked about this and you might have notes in your music. We'll figure out what's best to get us to the chorus together here. Last time, we all sang "So I say" at the bottom of 7. Let's try it as written, but we'll be prepared to change it if necessary. 

6. Hallelujah: Love this! We sang it from memory one year, because we had sung it so often. Don't worry, I won't do that this year. We have a bunch of new people. There are potential solos. Let me know if you feel compelled to sing one (T/B or S/A). Here, we have a holy and a broken Hallelujah, and "it all went wrong, I'll stand before the Lord of Song with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah". More imperfection but courageous blazes of light in every word. We sing. And, it is good. Even imperfect. Even when we don't really understand the words, but love the music. Canadian content, too.

7. Why We Sing: It really fits so perfectly. I think we can do this again, even though we've sung it so often lately. Maybe we'll bring back solos at the beginning? And, I'm thinking of having the descant done by flute here too. What do you think?  

Next week: Tuesday, January 20th 

We're going to have a coffee/tea and social time at break with treats. Plan to cross over to the other side to meet people in the other sections. 

• O Canada
• Hallelujah 
• Hymn to Freedom
• One Voice
• Song for Canada

 Here’s to Song,  by Allister MacGillivray

The candle flickers towards its last,
Our time together’s ended;
The evening spent so swiftly passed,
No richer way to spend it.
Before we head our separate ways,
I’d like in truthfulness to say:
You’ve made this day a special day,
With songs and kindness splendid.

Here’s to song, here’s to time;
Here’s to both with friends of mine;
Here’s to friends who raise their voices high.
Kings have riches widely lain,
Lords have land, but then again,
We have friends and song no wealth can buy.

We each a different road must go,
To mountains, sea and city;
The hour has come to say adieus,
And all the more’s the pity.
But first unite in hand and heart,
And sing a chorus ere we part;
For every end leads to a start,
We need not break so sadly.

Here’s to song, here’s to time;
Here’s to both with friends of mine;
Here’s to friends who raise their voices high.
Kings have riches widely lain,
Lords have land, but then again,
We have friends and song no wealth can buy.

And till our paths in future cross,
May blessings kindly greet you;
Until that time, I must, alas,
Only in memory meet you.
Often I will sit and stare,
And think upon this moment rare;
The company beyond compare,
For now, farewell and thank you.

Here’s to song, here’s to time,
Here’s to both with friends of mine,
Here’s to friends who raise their voices high;
Kings have riches widely lain,
Lords have land, but then again,
We have friends and song no wealth can buy.

Kings have riches widely lain,
Lords have land, but then again,
We have friends and song no wealth can buy.