De Tal Manera Dios Te Amo

Sitting in the Brand New Life Christian Center in April 2006, I gazed upon the chairs, pulpit, and an array of pianos, drums, and trumpets. The praise and worship team was leading us in songs of worship. An excitement was building because I knew it was not just any ordinary concert; it was the day one of my favorite artists, Cleveland Laing, also known as Lieutenant. Stitchie was going to perform. I counted each song we sang and how many people performed before it was Lt. Stitchie’s turn to thrill us with heart-stopping, soul-filling reggae gospel music. Everyone stood tense as they awaited his performance. The seats were filled, with even more people crowding the back and the sides of the church.

First of all, the first performance was witnessing the praise and worship team lead us into the presence of God. The team consist of nine people. There were three singers, a drummer boy, two cornet players, one trombone player, and two bass guitarist. The service was held in a separate building with about 850 people (young and adults). The atmosphere was very spirit filled and ready to worship. The songs ranged from fun and dance like to very slow, deep words and lifting hands up high. The part I liked most was when the youth would sing out the songs and get in the mood rather than just sit and watch the performance .it was very refreshing seeing the youth just have fun with the band and that they didn’t care how people would react to

I attended the Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle choir, Orchestra at Temple Square and Bells on Temple Square. The event was held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints conference center building. The building holds approximately 21,000 people. This particular musical performance was for Christmas time. Every year they feature a special guest. Usually it is an famous American singer or story teller, but this year it was more of a cultural experience. This year their guest was Ronaldo Villazon. Mr. Villazon was born in Mexico city, and is know for one of the most unique and compelling tenor voices today. He brought a very different flare to this performance.

On Thursday, August the 17th I attended a concert at the North Park theater in San Diego, California. The name of the band is called Celso Piña y Su Ronda Bogota, (which roughly translates to Celso Piña and his round from Bogota). With Celso Piña being the leader of the band, accordionist, and lead singer of the group. In addition, this band hails from Monterrey, Mexico, but their musical style has its roots from the Caribbean region of Colombia. This band is influence by the traditional music of Colombia, such as Cumbia and Vallenato. What sets them apart is that they have taken the traditional cumbia and vallenato and added more percussion, and electric guitar and bass. For example, in this concert, the classifications of the instruments used were the aerophone using an accordion, electrophone with a bass and electric guitar, guiro, timbales, and

The concert opened with A Moorside Suite from England; it began quietly accompanied by the clarinet and saxophone. The tempo started out slowly, then shifted to fast and back again to slow, throughout the entire piece. There was an appearance of a few soloists including the oboe, clarinet, and saxophone. This movement ended with the entire orchestra leading to a final chorale that builds to a fortissimo climax.

On November 22nd I went to Brooklyn Tabernacle with my best friend and her mother. I knew prior, going to this service would count as legitimate performance so much so that I could write a review on it since firstly, I remember whilst watching Obama’s 2012 inauguration ceremony on television that this church choir performed and phenomenally at that. I also knew the gist of what to expect in view of the fact that the two that I attended the church with, regularly attend Brooklyn Tabernacle’s Sunday service.

First, on many occasions, Saint Anthony’s Catholic School would be without its only music teacher who would have to take leave several times a year. Because her daughters both attended Saint Anthony Catholic School, LaBeau was often asked to substitute, heading the music department the majority of the time. Eventually, LaBeau permanently became the music teacher for Saint Anthony Catholic School, and in her curriculum, she teaches ecclesiastical songs to the children in preparation for their weekly school mass and also directs the school’s choir. One of her former Saint Anthony Catholic School choir members remarks, “Through Mrs. LaBeau, I was able to strengthen my faith by learning new songs each week. Choir at Saint Anthony’s made me feel like a part of something, and when we sang, we sang together. There’s something about singing songs about our faith during mass in unison that is so powerful. But the choir would be all over the place, if it wasn’t for Mrs. LaBeau” (Calara). In the meantime, Father Adrian, one of the previous priests of the parish, was aware of LaBeau’s active Ronnie’s School of Music, and asked her to consider leading Saint Anthony Catholic Church’s choir, which was in desperate need of a director. Because of her experience and passion for choir, LaBeau excitedly accepted. LaBeau then built the choir, standing in front of the masses of people during

From where I come from in the Dominican Republic, music plays a big role in the lives of the people. The cultures of music in the country have grown and redefined its African and European roots from into modern eras with more social, and cultural celebrations that vary throughout the different cities and small towns of the island. I grew up in a household made out of three artists that express and display their artistic skills through music and carnaval costumes and masks that they wear every year during the month of February. Before the month comes my uncles will start getting ready drawing their new designs for their costumes for the upcoming carnaval parades, at the same time, they are making music, creating unique sounds with just three instruments. The instruments they love to make their music with are güira, tambora and conga.

The fifth song was hand drummer used sand rattler instead of hand drum. The drum solo in this song was very powerful and brought the exhilaration of this concert to the climax. The change of unpredictable rhythm and tempo made audience excited. Many audiences were clapping with rhythm.

The first song played by the orchestra was Obertura para el “Fausto” Criollo written by Alberto Ginestera. They did a great job playing this piece. It was a great song to begin with. It set the mood for the evening, getting me excited for what was to come next. The musical was wonderfully fast-paced and was getting me ready for the next piece which was full of many different emotions.

The music took up a good amount of time of the service and it really kept me engaged, mainly because I really enjoy music. The lyrics were projected onto the screen. I really enjoyed the lyrics being projected, it was very convenient and nice that I was able to follow along even though I am not an active member of the church, being able to follow along with the lyrics made me feel more comfortable. I wasn’t expecting there to be a live band and lyrics projected as an easier way to follow along. I really enjoyed that experience though because it kept me engaged. I used to attend St Paul's Lutheran in Kankakee and I remembered a choir so ultimately that is what I was

Dr. Carol Williams’s organ plays were just fantastic. Despite the fact that seeing the instrument called, “organ” was my first time, it was pretty impressive how that instrument worked. All the pedals and the three layers of keyboards were just as complicated as a calculus math problem. The concert was played at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park. The surrounding was not too bad. Although the concert day was Sunday, it was quite crowded. Besides the crowdedness, the surroundings were not too rough. All ages were welcome to seat and enjoy the sounds of organ. I saw mostly old aged audiences and I saw a little amount of college aged audiences with the music report information on their hands.

Opening of the celebration was by Dr. Shane Anderson, chair, department of music, Nicholls state university. The celebration started with an opening prayer from Pastor Revered David Rhodes, Sr. followed by Nicholls choir “A celebration of the Negro Spirituals” concert series. It was dedicated to the life, Memory and legacy of the late Dr. Thomas DeVore Carey (1931-2002) the celebration was a sing on, the instrument that was being played in every participant singing was the piano. My favorite act of the whole celebration was by Dr. Wilfred Delphin it was just him playing the piano with no singing involved, I thought it was very peaceful just hearing his fine musical talent and observing around.

Sweet Spirit concert was held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Madisonville. As I entered the church’s vestibule, coats hung in open closets on the left and right of the area. Very loud drum sounds were clearly echoed in the chamber. A hostess, who I knew, greeted the public. The sounds caused us to sway in unison from side to side. Moving forward, I saw that the auditorium had people sitting on wooden benches, standing in rows facing an altar and choir stand. The altar was decorated with various plants and colorful African cloth while there were three drums and drummers on the right of the stage. In the back of the stage was the choir

Poems are very special. It is capable to let the reader to interpret the poem in different ways, and give the author the freedom to express themselves. I chose two poems that are very unique, the fist poem is Me Gusta Cuando Callas (I like you when you are quiet it) by Pablo Neruda and the second one is Si el hombre Pudiera Decir lo que Ama ( If a Man could Say what he Loves) by Luis Cernuda. I prefer the second poem because after evaluating the theme, the language, and the feelings that the poems evoke. I was able to connect and understand the meaning of the second poem better.