Notes 4-23

Dear Singers
The program, for the most part, sounds wonderful! As usual there are some difficult spots, but so many glorious ones! Definition II and III were, unfortunately, trainwrecks, but upon thinking about it a bit, I think the problems are easily fixable.
The logistical parts of the program are simpler this time. We will not have to plan movement on and off stage. We will be using the curtain, meaning that when the 5 minute call comes from our concert manager, Cynthia you can saunter to your seat. There are no complicated choir movements except when to stand and sit. You will follow the directions of our “sit leaders”, but please look below then write “stand” and “sit” in your scores so you are not surprised. So…we will have time to spend on those spots next Tuesday.
 
Stand/Sit Moments
  • Women stand after Mark reads Definition I on Mark’s cue
  • Men stand after Def I on Mark’s cue
  • Choir sits after No Time on Sally’s cue
  • Choir stands after Tears in Heaven on Sally’s cue
  • Choir sits after Ain’a That Good News on Sally’s cue
  • Women stand after Mark reads Definition II on Mark’s cue
  • SA sit, TB stand after Definition II on Mark’s cue
  • TB sit after Pasture on Charlie’s cue
  • Choir stands after The Daisies on Sally’s cue
  • INTERMISSION
  • Women stand on Mark’s cue
  • Men stand after Definition III on Mark’s cue
  • Choir sits after Nootka on Sally’s cue
  • Choir stands after I Love a Piano on Mark’s cue
  • Choir sits after Sure On This Shining Night on Sally’s cue
  • Choir stands after Road to Freedom on Sally’s cue
Some notes now…
Notes
At the River
  • Chimes at 23 are not the melody. Softer, please.
  • m 40: Do not breath after “throne”
Bright Morning Stars
  • We will not use this recording. My mistake.
  • Difficulty with TB entrance. We will figure this out
  • Beautiful ppp at 72!
Ain’a That Good News
  • Great tempo!
  • We need to fix the ending
maggie and milly
  • Light at the beginning. Playful!
  • I messed this one up. I will be better next Tuesday.
Don’t Fence Me In
  • TB mm 26 – 33: More “cowboy-ish”
  • SA m 27 ff on “oohs” (it comes out p)
  • m 69 is pp
Cloths of Heaven
  • I started it too fast. We will be on the correct tempo.
  • “Tres – ah – fee” worked beautifully for the ST at 67
David’s Lamentation
  • We had a trainwreck at m 41! Let me reiterate that we will hold the fermata and then I will beat the down beat (‘1″) and start again. At that point you need to COUNT! This is how you do it. Please write in the quarter note beats until your entrance. Normally I would say “please”, but this time I must insist that EVERY PERSON write the count into your part as follows:
    • 1st Soprano write 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
    • 2nd Soprano write 1,2,3,4,5
    • 1st Alto write 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
    • 2nd Alto write 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
    • 1st Tenor is lucky. You don’t really have to count in the same way
    • 2nd Tenor write 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 (after your first entrance)
    • Bass write 1…21 (although basses have come in accurately every time)
  • Then, of course, SAY the counts in your head so that you come in accurately!
Boy
  • The SA birdcalls starting at 42 sounded like drudgery. Please act like you’re having fun!
  • Alto pickup to 84: You seem unsure when to come in. We need to work this out.
  • As I have said SO many times. The final cutoff is on the downbeat of m 96! But…it is a “flowy cutoff”. Do not continue to the 4th beat of 97!
Crows
  • Sounded good!
  • I liked what happened by accident last night at 96. We will put a fermata on the whole note. I will give Mikiko the 4th beat of the measure to bring us out of the fermata.
Gate
  • Sounds like the finale! It is so lively and wonderful! I thought about changing the program order, but I think we will stick with the ending as it is. We will not pause (except an applause break). I think it will work.
Mark