Dear Singers
I am thrilled with our performance! We sound great (and you know I don’t just say that). This program is going to be stunning! Let everyone know. It is a shame that you can’t stand outside the choir and here what it sounds like. But if everyone did that, well…🙂
A suggestion: Maybe spend a little time thinking about what the words mean throughout this program. It will make a difference to the audience and to you.
Some notes…
Notes
O Lovely Night
- Good cutoffs at mm 8, 32, 48, 67, 71 (this one is a bit odd), and 76🙂
- cresc. at m 61 beat 3 to the downbeat of 62
Big Yellow Taxi
- Sop Alt m 10 There are still a couple people who do not do this rhythm correctly. If you are unclear, at least sing “spot” squarely on the 3rd beat.
- Stick out tongue at m 14
- the beginning of m 41 should be p. Then cresc.
- mm 68 and 69: cutoff on down beat. Basses should be the only sound on those beats
Earth Song
- Alto, Tenor, Bass mm 15 and 16: be sure to hold the note all the way to the and of 4.
- mm 26 – 33: This section sounded great this time. Altos and Tenors lead the way. Basses should be softer when they enter.
- mm 34 – 35: cresc. throughout all the way to “lu” (ia) and then stay f until the echo
- Altos mm 41 – end: Keep your tone placement very high in your forehead so that you don’t go flat!
Little Birds
- Now that this one is going well, please don’t forget good spanish diction: soft t’s (like d’s), highly placed “e” (almost like “ih”), “minutos” has an “ee” sound,
- Make sure that the dramatic cresc. at 36 is not compromised by getting louder too soon.
Sweet Suffolk Owl
- We have labored away at this one for so long that it now sounds labored.🙂 Let’s start having fun with it!
Kasar mie la gaji
- Altos m 3, etc.: Please keep the placement high. You have been coming in VERY flat.
- Tenor, Bass: Nice job at 31
Break, Break, Break
- Sopranos, mm 9 – 10: Your melody should rise out of the depths of the sea (i.e. a little louder)
- Sopranos and altos m 36: It is a 6/4 measure. Count 1,2,3,4 then sing
Home on the Range
- mm 35 – 37 lighter (breathy?)
- m 75: Recheck this rhythm! It is so dramatic–don’t blow it!
Away From the Roll of the Sea
- There are many rhythmic dirty tricks in this piece. Make sure you know at any point whether it is a quarter note or an eighth note. Don’t assume
- A bass came up to me after rehearsal and made an excellent observation: when the basses sing the rhythm at m 129 correctly they sound like they are wrong! We don’t want that!🙂 Please change the rhythm to match up with everyone else.
Mark