EXULTATE CHOIR

Friday, 24 December 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Exultate Choir would like to wish you all

a Merry Christmas (2010)

and

a Happy New Year 2011.

May these celebrations give you all

enough strong faith

to face the future with love and hope.

Regards...

Friday, 19 November 2010

ASSIGNMENTS TILL FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY 2011

We have just got information from Mbak Linda, whose job is to prepare schedules for all choirs and TTK at Paroki BMV Katedral Bogor, that Exultate will have to sing for several occasions after Christmas and in the new year. The schedule will be as the following:

Saturday 25 December 2010 at 7.00
Friday 31 December 2010 at 18.00
Saturday 1 January 2011 at 8.00
Sunday 2 January 2011 at 9.00

Exultate will try the best to do the task. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.

Tuesday, 21 September 2010

EXULTATE VISITED ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN TULANG KUNING - PARUNG

On Sunday 19 September 2010 Exultate sang in the mass led by RD Endro (from Mardiyuwana Printing House) in St Yohanes Baptista Church at Tulang Kuning - Parung. The church itself can be called a "tent church" because it is a real tent. The local church has not got a building permit for their own church. For Exultate, it was the first time to sing there. Before it, Exultate had ever sung in a mass held at Lebak Wangi Restaurant complex... when the liturgical activities in Parung Parish were still held there.

Exultate could sing well although eight of us could not join for several reasons. The problem was the sound of the organ which was not loud... It was an old organ... However, Sheila could play it skillfully.

After the mass, we spontaneously agreed to have brunch at Lebak Wangi Restaurant... Unfortunately Mas Mian had gone home earlier so that he missed this moment. The gathering and the brunch were fun for us... We chatted, we talked, we shared stories... we enjoyed the food: friend fish, karedok, coconut ice, sambal tempe penyet, sayur asem and so on and so forth... It was great.

At about 11 we left Lebak Wangi Restaurant for Bogor...

Friday, 17 September 2010

ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA

On Sunday 29 August 2010 I attended a one-day recollection held by Seksi Liturgi Paroki Katedral BMV Bogor at Sekolah Marsudirini in Telaga Kahuripan Parung - Bogor. The recollection was held for all people who are involved in liturgy services in the Cathedral. The theme was Sacrament of the Eucharist. The speakers were Father Benyamin Sudarto and Father Yohanes Driyanto.

Father Ben reminded all participants to learn more about Eucharist and put it as the peak and the source of life. Sacrament of the Eucharist is given to us so that we can be united with God in reality.

Father Driyanto gave new perspectives on the Eucharist according to the Canon law. Liturgical activities and other things related to them are based on rules and regulations and can be accounted with the Bible, the traditions, the Church documents, and the writings of Church's fathers.

We are all sent to encourage everyone to give more attention to the Eucharist liturgy so that we can get the fruits of the presence of God.

(Thomas A. Sutadi)

Sunday, 1 August 2010

EXULTATE'S 16TH ANNIVERSARY GATHERING

Today, Sunday 1 August 2010, Exultate had a gathering to celebrate our 16th anniversary at Keboen in Jalan Pajajaran Bogor.

Before the gathering, Exultate had to serve in the Cathedral at 9.00. Led by Father Benyamin Sudarto, the mass ran well and Exultate could sing quite well too. Coincidently we had to sing gregorian ordinarium (missa de Angelis).

After the Eucharist we went to Keboen. The idea to have such gathering actually came from Bapak A.J. Radjino. He is also the one who had an idea to make new uniforms for Exultate. As everybody has known, the late Ibu A.K. Radjino was the founder of Exultate. So far Pak Radjino has supported Exultate to continue the spirit of the late Ibu Radjino to serve the Church.

During the gathering, we shared stories, feelings and ideas. It was a happy moment although not all members could attend this event.

Saturday, 31 July 2010

TODAY'S NEWS (31/7/2010)

Today Exultate had to sing in the holy matrimony mass led by RD Benyamin Sudarto at the Cathedral from 9.00 to 10.30. Seventeen (17) members took part in the task. Luckily Sheila could play the organ well so that the small group could sing confidently. The assignment could be done without any incidents.

Tonight there'll be a choir practice as usual.

Sunday, 18 July 2010

EXULTATE NEWS JUNE-JULY 2010

Today, Sunday 18 July 2010, Exultate sang for the third mass at 9.00 which was led by Father Yohanes Driyanto. Conducted by Thomas A. Sutadi, Exultate choir sang liturgical songs such as "Hai Dunia Buka Pintumu", "Ambillah, Tuhan", "Adoro Te", "Tuhan Yesus Kau Hadir Kini", and "Kudapatkan di Hatiku". From about 35 active members, only 21 members could join the task this morning. Mbak Mira helped Exultate with her organ performances.

For the last few months Exultate has lost some members because they moved to other places or become busy with their new jobs and activities. Mbak Ika moved to North Sumatra; Parnamian Johanes moved to Jambi; Sheila has been busy with her new job; some others have been on their holidays or other activities.

In August 2010, Exultate will celebrate the sixteenth anniversary... There will be a gathering. In this opportunity, Pak Radjino would like to invite all Exultate members and ex-members to gather to celebrate. We are now preparing for it.

Thanks for some people who have joined and want to join.

HISTORY OF EXULTATE CHOIR

The idea of establishing Exultate Choir came from two church music activists: the late Mrs. A.K. Radjino and Mrs. Maria Djafar. In August 1994 they formed Exultate. At first the idea was making a singing group or vocal group for the family. They used the choir as a medium for meeting, sharing, gathering relatives and families. Later some people outside the family joined Exultate. After several months, Exultate was recognized as one of choirs in the Cathedral that could serve in liturgical ceremonies such as the Eucharist and other sacrament services.

EXULTATE'S ACTIVITIES

1. Regular practices: Since 1996 Exultate has practiced regularly, which is on Saturdays at 19.00-21.00 at the Cathedral. Since July 2008 the practice is conducted every Saturday at 18.30-20.00.

2. Singing at church: Every month Seksi Liturgi Paroki Katedral asks Exultate to serve in church services according to the schedule. So far Exultate has tried to do its best. Sometimes Exultate sings more than once in one month. Even during Christmas weeks or Holy Weeks, Exultate sometimes sings three or four times at the Cathedral. Besides, Exultate also sings in other churches such as St Fransiskus Sukasari, which puts Exultate on their schedule every other months and at St. Yakobus Rasul Church in Megamendung.

3. Anniversary: Exultate celebrates its anniversary on 15 August.

4. Christmas and Easter celebrations: On these days Exultate usually organises gatherings. We usually use Ibu Wanty's house in Jalan Merak Bogor to get together.

5. Visiting its members : Exultate is a big family whose members want to pay attention to and help others. If there is a member who suffers from diseases, other members will feel the pain... so we visit the sick members or the members who need our help.

6. Ambulare : Ambulare means "to walk". We go out together (to Puncak, Lembang, Megamendung, Rancamaya, etc.)

COMMITMENTS

EXULTATE MEMBERS 2012

CHAIRPERSON:
Simon Supratman (Pak Simon)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON:
Albertus Magnus Suryatmanto (Tingtung)

CONDUCTORS / CHOIR MASTERS:
Thomas A. Sutadi (Thomas)
Chatarina Yuli Indrayati (Rina)
Josep S. Bintoro

Thomas Hargono

ORGANIST :
Marsella Sheila Gunawan (Sheila)

SOPRANO:

Maria Gracia Maxi (Maxi)
Fransisca Elias, drg. (dr Cisca)
Laurentia Wanty Th. (Wanty)
Bernadette Widya (Widya)
Trisnawati M.T. (Tris)
Margaretha Sinclair Julianti (Yanti)
Yustina Sulastuti (Bu Ludo)
Cicilia E. Atmintarsih (Sisil)
Natalia W. (Nat)

ALTO
Yosephina Sri Andewi (Bu Husodo)
Florentina Evelina Sinaulan (Evie)
Antonia Lia Yunita (Lia)
Tri Nugrahaningsih (Bu Heri)
Yustina Sianturi (Bu Sianturi)
Dominika Ariana Ambarwati (Ambar)
Yosepha Respati (Eva)

TENOR
Josep Susilo Bintoro (Josep)
Ludovicus Hanjam (Ludo)
Suyitno
Raymundus Genty Laras (Raymund)

BASS
Simon Supratman (Simon)
Thomas Hargono Soewondo (Gago)
Nicholaus J. Thai Gogi (Nicho)
Parnamian Johanes (Mian)
Handoko

GREAT PEOPLE & CONTRIBUTORS

1. Ibu A.K. Radjino : She was the co-founder of Exultate. With the support from Bapak Dr. Radjino, she dedicated most of her rest of her life for Exultate. I do not know much about her as I joined Exultate about a year after her demise. But I still remember when she organized a choir festival at Regina Pacis Hall in 1997. The festival was called Festival Lagu-lagu Perjuangan. I was the new conductor of St. Andreas Bogor Barat Choir at that time. I also joined a seminar that Ibu Radjino organized, in which Mr Petrus Purba was invited. Ibu A.K. Radjino passed away in peace because of brain tumor in 1997. In heaven, I believe, she always prays for Exultate that she has ever established and taken care of.

2. Ibu Maria Djafar : Together with Ibu Radjino, Ibu Maria Djafar was an ardent founder of Exultate. She was the organist. I lost her when she decided to quit from Exultate in 2003. She is an expert of ethnical music arrangement. She can not sing but her music taste is very strong. She has got abundant ideas about liturgical and ethnic music. I learned a lot from her.

3. Bapak Agustinus Untoro Wisnu: After Ibu Radjino’s demise, Bapak Untoro took over her position as the trainer and chairman of Exultate. Bapak Untoro tried his best for Exultate. His brilliant ideas sometimes jump beyond everybody’s thought. His mobile job and his intention to be more active in his neighbourhood forced him to leave Exultate.

4. Bapak Josep Susilo Bintoro : He is still active at Exultate. He learned music mostly when he was in the Seminari Menengah Mertoyudan in Magelang-Central Java. He later improved his musical knowledge and skills when he studied at Sanatha Dharma University in Yogyakarta. He continued what Bapak Untoro had started. He is still active in Exultate now and he also leads and trains SMP Budi Mulia Student Choir.

5. Bapak Ignatius Yosep Soewondo: I cried when he told me that he wanted to move to Ganjuran-Yogyakarta in December 2007. He has done great things to me since I met him in St. Andreas Bogor Barat Choir. It was Pak Wondo and Ibu Wondo who first motivated me to join Exultate. When I started to take over Pak Josep Susilo Bintoro as conductor, Pak Wondo often came to my dormitory to discuss many things about choir and many things. He gave me support; he encouraged me to be brave as a conductor; he helped me to select the right songs for church masses. He himself is an artist… he is a sculptor. He loves singing… especially church songs and Javanese songs. He now lives in Ganjuran with Ibu Wondo. He is happy there because he is among a lot of people that he knows best. I always miss them and I always pray for them.

QUI BENE CANTAT BIS ORAT

"Qui bene cantat bis orat" means "the one who sings well prays twice". If you want to pray more seriously, you must sing, but sing the songs well. If you sing badly, you even will not pray... you will make your "words of prayers" useless. Since "singing well" means "praying twice", you must always try to sing well. How to sing well when our voice cannot produce good melody? Hmmm... "singing well" actually means "singing with your heart... singing with your soul". When we sing with our whole heart, Heaven will be decorated with beautiful flowers of joy... and God smiles at us. So, let's sing well... with our sincere heart. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.