Rehearsal Notes for August 22, 2018

Deck the Hall (one hall)

Make all fa-la-las lighter and crisp throughout
Please highlight all dynamics – there are many changes (subtle and distinct) throughout

·       Make sure all the fa-la-las in first two pages are timed perfectly (think 1/8-note pulse)

·       Bell effects in ms. 53-64 should be hit hard then go to “ng” of dong, no need to get softer

·       Slight retardando in ms. 76-77. Otherwise no real slowing down throughout

·       THIS NEEDS TO BE MEMORIZED

Stille Nacht

·       Basses connect into each low Bb stille nacht (ex. ms. 2 to 3, 28 to 29, 99 to 100) but don’t pronounce the “t” in nacht, let other voices do that.

·       Make unaccented German syllables the schwa sound

·       Sing “oh” at ms. 35-38

·       Solo sections: soprano (ms. 5-27, 75-97), baritone (ms. 31-48) are p or mp, so others need to be quite soft behind them.

·       Make piece gentle and atmospheric

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

·       First and last verse tempo is about ¼-note = 98; women’s section is slower with  ¼-note = 88

·       Breath changes: Verse one: 1^st breath after voice, next breath after born today, next breath after manger now, brief lift after first Christ is born today.

·       Verse two (women): breathe after io, after praesepio, after gremio, after 2^nd Alpha es et O.

·       Verse three: breathe after voice, lift after bliss, breathe after for this, breathe after evermore, and short fermata followed by breath for this

·       Slight regard in last two meaures

·       THIS NEEDS TO BE MEMORIZED

Magnificat (Pärt)

·       Make the flow and energy build into syllables with agogic stress (longer note durations that are on important syllables) such as Mah-NYEE-fee-kaht   AH-nee-mah MEH-ah DOH-mee-noom

·       Use a pure, non-vibrato tone. Use more air in tone to reduce vibrato

·       This piece has a very mystical quality. It should float gently, but purposefully along, NOT DRAG

·       Once you have a sense of the rhythm, use text and line to move the phrasing

E la don don and Ríu, Ríu, Chíu

·       This should be memorized.

FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29

Hodie Christus Natus Est

Coventry Carol

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I Wonder as I Wander

Ave Maria