And finally! :)
D.w.Q.M.: Jo: "So that was some sort of spell you said?"
The Third Doctor: "He thought it was. That's why he ran away. Actually it was the first line of a Venusian lullaby. Roughly translated, it goes, "Close your eyes, my darling; well, three of them at least."
Ah, the last day of the Feast, but before we get to Little Italy, come with me to the West si-ide, to a little place called St. Rocco's :) During the Feast, St. Roccos celebrates St. Nicola with a small procession around the church (while processing, they pray the Rosary...in Italian....with us playing Itlalian marches the entire time) followed by a lucheon. We are told that if we stop playing, they stop moving. We process around the church and then into their dining hall, and after the food is blessed, we play some of the more popular Italian music while they eat. After everyone is served, they offer us lunch as well (they always make sure there is enough for the band!!) Once everyone is done eating, we play Roxie's theme over and over again for them. What usually happens is that several people grab pots and pans and start banging them in time to the music, and they start to parade around the dining hall-others join in, and they are laughing and dancing in a line! It's alot of fun to participate in that. Also, since almost everyone has Roxie's theme memorized (almost a requirement for Italian band!), we are able to watch them, rather than our music. :) It's a nice little break from the Feast. Next year they are planning to have the procession a week earlier, because it will conflict with the procession in Little Italy, which will be on a Sunday next year.
Now travel back east with me to Little Italy! The last day of the Feast we don't have a sit down concert, but we do play standing in the streets for a while, and then visit the neighborhood. We had a few more shut-ins to visit-one of them had a family party while we were there, and they offered us homemade wine! (look out! It's usually pretty strong! ;) ) After that, we went to Angie's-we always have a good time there-there is usually someone at her party who has a birthday and an anniversary, so we play 'Happy Birthday' and 'That's Amore' for them, and they feed us well. ;) Usually we have a break between 8-9pm (they have Mass then) and after Mass is over, we start lining up for the evening procession, as they take Mary from the Shrine outside of the church, and process her back into the sanctuary. Usually we are placed in front of the statue, but this year, Father Racco (yikes-I have been mispelling his name-I hope he can forgive me) wanted us behind the statue, so he and those singing in the procession could hear us play. If you think the street is crowded during the Feast, you should be there on the last day! The crowd usually has to step back a few paces just to make room for us, and it's nearly impossible to walk anywhere without bumping into someone. We play Immaculate Mary the most-I think the record has been 30 times! We start at the church, walk up to the street donut shop formerly known as Prestis and then back down to the front of the church. Father Racco then says a few prayers, then a couple of readings are read, and then some hymns are sung (like Ave Maria). After that, they have an awesome fireworks display! (I love fireworks at night-not too fond of them when they are in the middle of a procession. ;) ) lol. After the fireworks we play the 2 national anthems, and that's it! The Feast is over for another year!
I'm always both relieved and sad when the Feast is over-relieved that I survived another Feast of the Assumption, but sad that it is over, because it means that the summer is almost over. But I had a great time, so it's all good! :) (stay tuned for St. Rocco's agenda this weekend-our last gig of the summer!)
The Third Doctor: "He thought it was. That's why he ran away. Actually it was the first line of a Venusian lullaby. Roughly translated, it goes, "Close your eyes, my darling; well, three of them at least."
Ah, the last day of the Feast, but before we get to Little Italy, come with me to the West si-ide, to a little place called St. Rocco's :) During the Feast, St. Roccos celebrates St. Nicola with a small procession around the church (while processing, they pray the Rosary...in Italian....with us playing Itlalian marches the entire time) followed by a lucheon. We are told that if we stop playing, they stop moving. We process around the church and then into their dining hall, and after the food is blessed, we play some of the more popular Italian music while they eat. After everyone is served, they offer us lunch as well (they always make sure there is enough for the band!!) Once everyone is done eating, we play Roxie's theme over and over again for them. What usually happens is that several people grab pots and pans and start banging them in time to the music, and they start to parade around the dining hall-others join in, and they are laughing and dancing in a line! It's alot of fun to participate in that. Also, since almost everyone has Roxie's theme memorized (almost a requirement for Italian band!), we are able to watch them, rather than our music. :) It's a nice little break from the Feast. Next year they are planning to have the procession a week earlier, because it will conflict with the procession in Little Italy, which will be on a Sunday next year.
Now travel back east with me to Little Italy! The last day of the Feast we don't have a sit down concert, but we do play standing in the streets for a while, and then visit the neighborhood. We had a few more shut-ins to visit-one of them had a family party while we were there, and they offered us homemade wine! (look out! It's usually pretty strong! ;) ) After that, we went to Angie's-we always have a good time there-there is usually someone at her party who has a birthday and an anniversary, so we play 'Happy Birthday' and 'That's Amore' for them, and they feed us well. ;) Usually we have a break between 8-9pm (they have Mass then) and after Mass is over, we start lining up for the evening procession, as they take Mary from the Shrine outside of the church, and process her back into the sanctuary. Usually we are placed in front of the statue, but this year, Father Racco (yikes-I have been mispelling his name-I hope he can forgive me) wanted us behind the statue, so he and those singing in the procession could hear us play. If you think the street is crowded during the Feast, you should be there on the last day! The crowd usually has to step back a few paces just to make room for us, and it's nearly impossible to walk anywhere without bumping into someone. We play Immaculate Mary the most-I think the record has been 30 times! We start at the church, walk up to the street donut shop formerly known as Prestis and then back down to the front of the church. Father Racco then says a few prayers, then a couple of readings are read, and then some hymns are sung (like Ave Maria). After that, they have an awesome fireworks display! (I love fireworks at night-not too fond of them when they are in the middle of a procession. ;) ) lol. After the fireworks we play the 2 national anthems, and that's it! The Feast is over for another year!
I'm always both relieved and sad when the Feast is over-relieved that I survived another Feast of the Assumption, but sad that it is over, because it means that the summer is almost over. But I had a great time, so it's all good! :) (stay tuned for St. Rocco's agenda this weekend-our last gig of the summer!)
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