Success at Assisi!

In our last entry, we learned that the Market Square Singers had arrived in Rome and set off for Perugia for some sightseeing. In the evening, they went to Assisi to sing in the world-famous Basilica of St. Francis. Why so famous? St. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. The building was begun in honor of this local saint immediately after his canonization in 1228. Last night, it saw the European debut of the Market Square Singers.

Let's see what our correspondent has to say in words and pictures about the experience of singing there.

Lee Gayman writes:

"Overall, I think the  first concert in Assisi went well. It followed a good two hours of rehearsal in the basilica, where I think the greatest (and most rewarding) surprise to the choir members was the reverberation. When a piece ended, the sound continued for several seconds after the cutoff. Can be either scary or pleasantly rewarding -- all the "rewards" of such a large space. I actually love the way we sounded as a group!

"Attendance was marginal --  probably about 100 in attendance -- but the audience was enthusiastic. Interestingly, two ladies walked up to us in another cathedral today and reiterated their appreciation of our music.

"Today we returned to Assisi just to tour the city proper. I am totally blown away by the number of photo ops that we encountered! Every few steps present another view one wants to add to one's photo library. I've taken hundreds of photos and we're only on day three! In the afternoon we drove to Spoleto, home of the famous annual Spoleto Festival. Though another lovely medieval town, I found it a bit less interesting than Assisi. Not knowing the language, I ordered the lunch special and enjoyed a generous pork shank complete with bone, served with fried potatoes.  (Sorry, Lois, but I did take a picture of it!). The gelato is to die for!

"We're doing lots and lots of walking, mostly on very 'sloped' narrow streets, and I anticipate that our walking abilities (and our weights) will benefit from it enormously.

Time to go to dinner. Stay tuned."

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.

"We exited these doors [Basilica of St. Francis] in the dark last evening after singing our concert."

"The choir milling about at the lower basilica of St. Francis."

"Loretta is all ready to sing in the basilica."

"Lana and Beth awaiting the start of the concert."

"A motley crew at the Assisi Castle. What is not visible are a lot of tired walking feet!"

"Taken from the castle window, a typical view. Note the thin, vertical cypress trees."

 Editor's note: To me, Lee, those trees say "Italy."

"It looks like Ken, Bob, and Alice Anne were getting tickets to the Spoleto Festival."

"After a long walk, Sandy welcomes a cool splash in the public water fountain."

I don't know about the rest of our readers, but I certainly wish I were in Italy with this spirited crew. Thanks, Lee, for the narrative and pictures. Buon appetito.

Tomorrow, the Market Square Singers go to Siena for a visit in the morning, then an evening concert in Pistoia.