Tonight we hosted a concert that was part Mennonite variety night and part music history. The concert series - this was the second version of three (each named "Singing In Time") - was planned and organized by Judith Klassen (Ph.D Music), Rudy Schellenberg (CMU), and Roland Sawatzky (Curator, Menn. Heritage Vill.). Around 200 (!) people packed themselves up into the loft (standing, sitting, whatever) to hear the informative introductions followed by the musical illustrations of four groups. Things began with songs from the Southern Manitoba Choral Society Vespers choir, then the stage was overtaken by the unruly and hilarious Brommtopp mummers, followed by the "high-barn" act of the night, Mel Braun (baritone) accompanied by Laura Loewen (piano) (a simple, and marvelous, and humorous, and oh so well-played performance), and closed by Jess Reimer accompanied by Jeremy Hamm (another fantastic performance).
Then, as if all this were not sufficient, Werner and Marlene Ens led the willing in five Mennonite circle games (the closest some of us get to dancing - and you know what that might lead to ...). After all of this watermelon (rabooze) and rollkuchen were served, with the obligatory coffee. It was a great night once again.
No pictures. Sorry. We were too busy trying to make it possible to get all those people up there.
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