Dear Singers
Another excellent rehearsal! It is fun to be getting close to running pieces through. We can then make REAL music! BTW, I guess I did have announcements to make last night.🙂 I’ll make them now.
Sectionals
Most of the sectionals are now scheduled. Your section leader will communicate with you with all the details. Sectionals are the most helpful to everyone if you plan ahead. Keep track of the parts of the pieces that you are having trouble with and we will deal with that specifically. I usually have things to talk about, but prefer to have you “run the rehearsal.”
- Altos: March 2, 9:30 AM – noon at Sally’s house
- Sopranos: March 9, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Katharine’s house
- Tenors: March 17, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM at Priscilla’s house
- Special Solos/Ensembles
I have had quite a few people approach me about doing their own solos or ensembles for the concert. I am looking forward to hearing the finished product at auditions on March 26 and April 2 starting at 6:15. When you are ready, let me know. We can set you up with an audition time. Mikiko and I are available to help!
Musical Tower of Babel
Here is an example of the wonderful music we made at the Workshop last Saturday. (wink)
Some notes…
Notes
Gate Gate
- “Gah-teh”. Also, please flip the “r’s”.
- Be sure to put big circles around the repeat marks at mm 52, 59, and 67
Crows and Clusters
- Dello Joio definitely overestimated the dynamic levels. Take all the dynamics down one notch (including p)
- Cutoffs and ending consonants are crucial in this piece! They are the core to communicating the text to the audience. Please count carefully and treat consonant at the end of a phrase as a separate note.
- AB, mm 54, 55 – please review these notes.
maggie and milly
- While you are pondering “as small as a world and as large as alone” also ponder “it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.” I’d love to hear comments!
Boy Who Picked Up His Feet
- Please end the note at m 23 somewhere in 24
- Soloists, please apply the same type of “cutoff” to your solos at 36. The note should end somewhere in 38.
- mm 38 – 50 should be “piano-like”. Basses close immediately to the “m”. Everyone else concentrate on the main beat and let the rest float away.
- Minimalist? Here is the quintessential minimalist piece, “In C” by Terry Riley
https://youtu.be/tbTn79x-mrI
So, Joshua Shank has modified this approach.🙂
At the River
- Sops and Basses, m 33: notice that your last note in this measure is an eighth, not a sixteenth. And…it makes a difference! Really make a deal out of it.
- m 39, good solid “d” on the 3rd beat.
Ain’a That Good News
- Tenors m 16, reinforce for yourself the different rhythm
- Altos and basses m 24, lead the way at mf
- Basses m 32, be the stars (I know you don’t have a problem with that)
- Sopranos mm 13, 29, 46, 62. Notice that the phrase is not “home to my Jesus” instead it is “home-a to my Jesus” The “a” is a different note in some cases. Please work this out for yourself and we will look at it as well. (especially in the sectional)
- Everyone check out the last few bars
Mark