Stephanie Martin

When Janet and I decided to visit Hildegard sites in Germany we were initially pretty confused since there is more than one way to pursue her history. We felt it was most important to visit the living community of nuns who sing daily services in the Abbey of St. Hildegard. We were not disappointed.  The nuns sing Gregorian chant beautifully and the Abbey is a turn-of-the-century version of a medieval monastic building. We spoke with several of the nuns in the gift shop, and made many purchases: CDs, books, printed music and wine. If you want to visit the Abbey… Read More »In search of Hildegard

If you’re a musician you might know that feeling of getting up the morning after the show and with fear and trepidation opening the newspaper to read the review. There were a couple times in the 90’s when I couldn’t eat my breakfast (OK only once) when I did get a review I wish I had never read. This one is different. If you’ve become a blog enthusiast, you can subscribe to John Teraud’s classical music blog. He’s a Mensch! Read John Terauds blog http://thestar.blogs.com/soundmind/2010/11 Our CD and video launch party is this afternoon at SMM at 3pm.    

Though I’m hanging up my hiking boots (actually had to discard them) I think I will continue to blog you some photos and stories from my trip. I’ve really appreciated your comments, and I’ve enjoyed distilling my experiences down to a couple of photos and 250 words every other day or so. I got home late last night from Frankfurt and things are gearing up for our SMM CD and Bravo video launch at St. Mary Magdalene’s at 3pm tomorrow afternoon. It will be a great way to see everyone again, and a wonderful welcome home. The last three days… Read More »Last post?

I’ve had two very full days as guest of Janet and Harold Nahabedian who is chaplain of St. Alban’s Anglican church here in Strasbourg. Fr Harold arranged for me to meet the Maitre de Chapelle of the cathedral, Dominique Debes. After climbing several circular staircases, walking outside across the dizzying heights of the cathedral roof, we passed through two locked doors, walked through the bellows chamber and squeezed into the tiny organ loft. Dominique was kind enough to let me play this magnificently restored Silbermann organ, so I improvised on “Tantum ergo” for the tourists 100 feet below. After a short… Read More »Alsatian hospitality

The workman in the photo is cleaning the risers in front of the names of Canadians who died in WW I. Everyone here at the Menin Gate is preparing for tomorrow’s Remembrance Day events. I’m feeling I also need a good wash today, after visiting the very detailed and realistic museum in Ypres which recounts all the horrors that happened in and around this once beautiful medieval town. So many lives ruined and lost all for a few feet of mud tossed back and forth between opposing armies. Such a waste of an entire generation. However, if there is one… Read More »Wash again and ever again this soiled world

Boats in Toronto came out of the water about a month ago, but here everyone is still sailing (yes, Bruce.) I had a wonderful ten days at St. Cecilia’s abbey, but those concerned about my conversion to Roman Catholicism can just relax. (If I were to attend a horse race would you worry that I’m going to become a jockey?) The life style of the nuns was fascinating to observe from outside the cloister, but I was never allowed inside the convent grounds, and I was denied the sacrament since I am not part of that particular country club. So… Read More »Isle of Wight: Sailors' delight

    How cool was it to hear “Gaudeamus omnes” sung by the nuns at mass on All Soul’s? That was the excerpt on the Norton anthology recording that I listened to as a teenager and first got me interested in chant. The Sisters do sing very well and the Abbey chapel has a very good acoustic. I had a bit of time to explore the Island again. I took in Carisbrooke Castle which provides lovely views over the green fields from the top of the stone walls. I also visited Quarr Abbey, the modern building and the old ruins… Read More »Gaudeamus Omnes

Not the best of sailors on the calmest sea, I thought I would die on the choppy waters of the Solent, particularly when the warning announcement instructed passengers to remain seated for the duration of the voyage due to rough weather. The 30 minute crossing seemed like an eternity. It took me a day or so to adjust to the quiet life of the convent. I still had the urge to explore the Island and hopped a bus up to Osborne House, the palace with beautiful grounds where  queen Victoria lived happily with her family, mourned Albert, and died in… Read More »Ticket to Ryde

I wandered past Westminster Abbey. A small group of onlookers had gathered around barriers blocking our entry to the Abbey. Apparently a state visit from the King of Qatar required that the Abbey be secured by dozens of London police. We stood around for about half an hour and the crowd grew into quite a large bunch of curious people. 7 mounted police with perfectly matching white motorcycles, helmets and fluorescent green vests pulled up and stopped in formation. The sun broke through the clouds and lo, the royal couple and their entourage swept out of the abbey, were escorted to… Read More »Standing room only

I arrived in London to find my local Russell Square hosting a multi-cultural art, music, dance and food festival. This feels so much more like Toronto than the medieval time warp I’ve been experiencing in tidy Cambridge. Here people of every age, shape and size are all peacefully hanging out enjoying art, music and food. In a way, sublime. My Sunday adventure included Matins at the Temple church who have excellent music, and I knew someone in the choir – Giles the Magnificent from Selwyn. Then I toured Shakespeare’s restored Globe theatre – absolutely worth the ten quid since you can’t… Read More »That's more like it