Notes from Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Hi Singers,

I'm really pleased with the progress that we've made in the last couple of weeks on refining the music. After our conversation Wednesday evening, I was aware of a greater attention to:

• Blend - Continue to be mindful of listening for your voice against you neighbors voice.
• Balance - Note who has the melody at any given time and make sure you can hear it.
• Expression - Most of this is noted by dynamics markings and tempo changes. Please highlight every single mark in your score, especially in the Poulenc and Barnum pieces. Also remember that words have meaning and they need to be sung with a tone that expresses that meaning such as love, joy, mysterium, etc. 
• Line - Make sure every phrase is going somewhere, not just marking time. Even if your part doesn't have anything novel going on, a sustained note has to have direction.

For this coming week, I would like to again go through most of the repertoire and concentrate on the things that need focus. It will be fast paced so have you music in the concert order below. And I want to see pencils writing...

Verbum caro factum est                                                                                                      

The Glory of the Father                                                                                                    

I Saw Three Ships                                                                                                                

Christ was born on Christmas Day                                                                                

Resonet in laudibus                                                                                                  

Lobet den Herrn                                                                                            

INTERMISSION

Carol of the Angels                                                                                                 

Motets pour le temps de Noël                                                                                 

              1.  O magnum mysterium

              2.  Quem vidistis pastores dicite

Here We Come A-Caroling                                                                                                The Beautiful Sing                                                                                                    

Ding, Dong! Merrily On High!  

Encore: Come and See the Newborn King

Remember that we have sectionals the following week. I would like to spend that time working on blend, uniformity and diction in any solo sections, as well as refining any questionable spots, so come with pencils and be ready to work.

Our last rehearsal at Harvest MS will be Dec. 4. We will concentrate on refinement; and then our final rehearsal will be at First Presbyterian Church on Dec. 5. We will focus on working with the string ensemble and keyboard and getting used to that acoustic.

I appreciate all your hard work. Please get the word out that this is going to be a really great concert thanks to all your efforts. Let's give them what they've come to expect.

See you Wednesday.

Ted

                                                                           

Notes from Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019

We worked through:
Lobet den Herrn (read through the last section starting mm 99 to end)
Glory of the Father
The Beautiful Sing
Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
Verbum caro factum est 
Resonet in laudibus 

For next Wednesday:

1. Lobet den Herrn: rehearse your part on the last section mm 99 to the end. I want to go through the entire piece and introduce the words, starting with Alleluia. 
2. Resonet in laudibus: Altos, Tenors and Basses go through your parts mm 49 to 79. I want to go through the entire piece. 
3. Carol of the Angels: I want to rehearse this whole piece
4. Here We Come A-Caroling: I want to rehearse this. 
5. Al Hanissim: Review all the sections without the cuts. Work slowly with the Hebrew. 
6. Christ Was Born on Christmas Day: Begin to memorize. 

Thanks,

Ted

Notes from 9/18/19 (and previous weeks in September)

Dear Singers,

My apologies for three weeks without notes. Early in the month it became apparent that several (maybe many) of you were feeling a little overwhelmed with the amount, complexity, and sophistication of the music I chose for this holiday season. Last year's concert was stellar and that was because you all worked hard to prepare the music for our recording in early November. Also, for some of you, all that music was all familiar, having been sung at our previous concerts. In light of the fact that several of you have indicated to me directly (or through Joanna) that you feel that we may not be able to maintain the same high standards nor provide something for everyone (lighter fair), I have decided to revise the concert repertoire as follows:

• We will be omitting Jubilate Deo
• We will be omitting the 3rd and 4th Poulenc (Videntes stellam and Hodie Christus natus est)
• We will be abridging Al Hanissim cutting from measure p. 13 m. 74 (with editing in mm. 73-74 which I will give you next Wednesday) to p. 20 m. 122)
• We will be adding Here We Come A-Caroling arr. Kirby Shaw - an a cappella jazz arrangement - which you will receive on Wednesday
• We will be adding Ding, Dong! Merrily on High - a simple carol arrangement with four-hand piano and chimes, which will be our concert closer - also which you will receive on Wednesday 

Therefore, we now need to concentrate on the task at hand.  I would really like, in the 4 rehearsals remaining before Boot Camp, to get through everything and have a fairly solid knowledge of notes, rhythms, and words on everything. Pieces you should know now:

• Verbum caro factum est
• O Magnum (Poulenc #1)
• The Glory of the Father
• Christ was born on Christmas Day
• Carol of the Angels (review the end)
  
• Lobet den Herrn (up to mm. 58) 
• Resonet in laudibus (up to mm 48)
• Al Hanissim (up to mm. 73) 

and a cursory knowledge of  I Saw Three Ships and Come and See the Newborn King. Please review these.

FOR WEDNESDAY:

1. Lobet den Herrn - mm. 58 to 98 - notes and rhythms on doo - we'll work in sectionals
   
2. I Saw Three Ships - review
3. Quem vidistis pastores dicite (Poulenc #2) review
4. The Beautiful Sing - we'll sing through - parts are not difficult
5. Resonet in laudibus - we'll work mm. 80 to end in sectionals (incidentally, mm. 49 - 79 are all altos, all tenors, and all bass, sopranos tacet)
6. Come and See the Newborn King
7. Here We Come A-Caroling  

Notes from Wednesday 8/28/19

Lobet den Herrn

Review your notes and rhythms through ms. 58 again, without words. 

FOR WEDNESDAY: Will run from the beginning 

The Glory of the Father, Christ Was Born on Christmas Day, and Come and See

Notes and rhythm with words should be known - These three will be memorized

• Basses make sure you are accurate and clean on your solo portion of Come and See starting p. 5

Al Hanissim

Review notes and rhythm up to page 17. Practice pp. 11-14

• Notes/rhythms on neutral syllable

• Words in rhythm

Please note: If a word/syllable has only a consonant and apostrophe, then the missing vowel is pronounced with the unaccented schwa sound. If there is another vowel as in kad’-she-cha, no other vowel sound is added. 

FOR WEDNESDAY

• Slowly put together

The Angel’s Carol

FOR WEDNESDAY

Clean up notes and rhythm to p. 5

FOR WEDNESDAY

Poulenc - Motet II Quem vidistis 

Hassler - Verbum Caro factum (second half)

Notes from Wednesday 8/21/2019

Singers,
Again, want to welcome Eileen back. We've missed you.
Also want to welcome Daegan Rosales, our new Tenor II.

Lobet den Herrn. Please continue to work notes and rhythms on neutral syllables up to m. 23. Then add in German - slowly at first - and work up to speed.
FOR NEXT WEEK: Please work through with neutral syllables up to m. 58

• Quarter notes - lightly detached
• Eighth notes - almost staccato
• Half notes or long - legato
• Energize eighth notes, ascending notes, and tied notes. 

Poulenc: O Magnum Mysterium  Please review anything that is uncertain. Note the variations of notes in what seems repeated.

FOR NEXT WEEK: We'll do a quick review and work through II. Quem Vidistis, Pastores Dicite

• Work notes and rhythms - Soprano divisi (Suzanne, Eileen, Karen, and Hunter - Soprano II)
• Work section (numbered) by section

Al Hanissim Review the two chorus sections (up to page 10) with the words. 

FOR NEXT WEEK: We'll work up to p. 17

• Look at the sections on pp. 6-8 and 11-14. Rhythmically and lyric-wise, they're challenging
• Start slowly and speak through the lyrics (without pitch initially)
• Slow down and add the pitches

Verbum caro factus est  Please keep up to m. 31 fresh.

FOR NEXT WEEK:

Carol of the Angels - Please work through parts on this.

• Soprano I will be: Melody, Suzanne, Hunter, Karen
• Bass II will be: Matthew, John, Peter, Ben

The Glory of the Father - Review

Christ Was Born on Christmas Day - Review (we're only doing up to m. 31) - To be memorized

Come and See the Newborn King - No need to review...I want to read through initially to work on your skills.

Remember we will be rehearsing at First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third Street

Notes from Wednesday, 8/14/2019

It was great to get together and reconnect over delicious bites and beverages. Thanks to Annie for organizing and John and Cyndi for hosting.

We worked on:
Christ is Born on Christmas Day - Finish learning notes and rhythms this week (up to the bottom of m. 31 only). Begin memorizing .
Verbum caro factus est - Clean up notes and rhythms to the bottom of m.31. Continue to learn the rest of the piece. WE WILL WORK NEXT WEDNESDAY.The Glory of the Father - Review any parts you have questions about.
Lobet den Herrn - Practice your notes and rhythms on doo only up to ms. 58. Start slowly and work up speed. WE WILL WORK NEXT WEDNESDAY.

Also for next Wednesday:
Quatre Motets (Poulenc) - Go through your parts for the first one, O Magnum Mysterium. Work it without words first so you can concentrate on notes and rhythm, and then add words when you are more confident.
Al Hanissim - Work through your parts up to p. 10. Work on a neutral syllable. I will have parts recorded by Sunday evening. I will also record the Hebrew pronunciation.

• Next Week's rehearsal will be at our new site at Harvest Middle School - 2449 Old Sonoma Rd, Napa. We will be in the music (choir) room which is located at the back of the parking lot on the right as you're facing the campus from the street.

• August 28, we will be rehearsing at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Napa.

• I will send out a separate email (because I can't figure out how to attach a document) with the list of various committees for you to add your name to. I will provide more information about them in the email.

I'm excited about this season.
Ted

Season 5 Begins

Dear Singers,

It was great to see and hear most of you sing this week during the assessments. As I previously mentioned, this was an opportunity for me to hear some of you sing independently for the first time. It provided me with information regarding your vocal quality, your range, your ability to hear, discern, and reproduce melodic relationships, your reading skills and your knowledge and performance of the music you've sung. I'm still convinced we have the best singers in the Napa Valley. I will be using the knowledge to provide personal feedback and thus help each singer continue in his/her development as a member of the ensemble. For the record, you all did GREAT!

We begin rehearsals this Wednesday, August 14 at John and Cyndi's home. Annie will be reminding you about the time for the social which proceeds the rehearsal and what you can bring. You will be receiving published copies of the music then. In addition, there are several pieces on the Bel Canto Resources Site under "Files" which you need to print out. The last two are in the book, but the copies may be easier to insert in your folder.

• Jubilate Deo - Gabrieli
• Lobet den Herrn - Bach
• Resonet in laudibus - di Lasso
• Verbum caro factus est - Hassler
• Christ Was Born on Christmas Day - Shaw/Parker
• I Saw Three Ships - Shaw/Parker

Chuck has uploaded some of the parts so that you can begin looking at and rehearsing them. Please look at Verbum caro factus est before Wednesday.

• Soprano II - Annie, Eileen, Carissa, Joanna, and Wendy
• Tenor II/Baritone - Thom, Dana, Ovid, John  

Also, please look at Lobet den Herrn, pp. 1-3 and the Alleluia section starting on p. 11. The recording of this is one half-step lower than your music, in the key of B. Our scores (and instrumental parts) are in C. I chose this recording because of the phenomenal way it's performed. Start S-L-O-W-L-Y on "doo."

I'm really looking forward to seeing you en masse and singing together again.

T.

Vocal Assessment Sign-ups (See the bottom for Directions)

Dear Singers,

Attached is a link in Google Docs for signing up for the vocal assessment. Please click on the link and then scroll to the time you want (that's still available) and type in your name. It should record you name and show others that that time is now taken.

Also, please print out and complete the top portion of the brief Assessment Form and bring it with you to your assessment

Please be vocally warmed up and ready to sing when you arrive. Arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled time and wait outside until you are called. For your audition, I would like you:

• Sing scales to demonstrate your range
• Repeat 6 melodic figures I will play to demonstrate your pitch retention
• Perform to the best of your ability a progressively more complex sight reading exercise
• Sing your part of two pieces we did this Spring (Eileen, Robert, and Melody, I will direct you otherwise)

1. Die Nachtigall - Sopranos and Altos: measures 1 - 16/Tenors and Basses: measures 12 - 24
2. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - All: measures 4 - 21
3. Eileen and Robert: 1) The Sweetheart of the Sun measures 8 - 22; and 2) Abendlied measures 33 - end
4. Melody: Blue Skies measures 41 - 56; and The Magnificat (Sicut erat in principio) measures 1 - 15

Upon completion, I will give you the Participation Agreement. Please look it over and then bring it signed to our first rehearsal on August 14. 

This assessment is not to weed anyone out, but to give me a clear understanding what your strengths are as well as what we can continue to strengthen. I will let you know of any suggestions in a personal email following the auditions.

PLEASE NOTE: Chuck Dresel will be sending a follow-up email to give you directions where to go. The assessments will be conducted in his classroom at Redwood Middle School.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nA1S34QG_XihApGfPecI306pz6w063JHXg6nXUTdudI/edit?usp=sharing

If you have been unable to open the assessment form I am including a link below to a pdf version that all should be able to open and print:

http://www.cdresel.com/belcanto/vault/compressed-files/printable-pdf-files-of/vocal-assessment.pdf

Directions to Redwood Middle School:

The address of the school is 3600 Oxford St.  From the intersection of Redwood Rd./Trancas go west on Redwood, after a few blocks turn right on Carol Drive, follow it around and turn right on Oxford. Park in the first front parking lot on Oxford St. in front of the Library.  We are using classroom B-3. Walk straight past the right side of the library and you will run into B Hall. Go through the doors and it will be the second classroom on the left.

Parking is a bit weird with the Raiders here. If there are cones in the entrance to the parking lot just move them aside and park and put the cones back. If any Raiders people ask then tell them you are here for something in the school.

Bel Canto Notes - Please Read

Dear Singers,

I’m writing to give you an update on what his happening with Bel Canto over the course of the summer in preparation of our 5^th season.

However, before I do, I want to again tell you how pleased and proud I was of the excellent work you did last season. I am thrilled with the holiday CD we recorded. I think it is a terrific first effort and I’ve heard many exclamations in praise of your singing on it. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the holiday concerts, Our Heart’s Delight were our highest attended so far.

The spring benefit concert I Hear Music Overhead brought in $1,000 dollars for Napa Wildlife Rescue and also received rave reviews. Many thought it was the best concert yet, and we drew many new Bel Canto fans. I was pleased with the musical growth exhibited in that concert and was thrilled to be able to work with some of Napa Valley College’s finest young students. I want to continue giving developing performers more opportunities to exhibit their talents to discriminating audiences.

The Bel Canto board met on June 24, and here are a couple of things of which you will want to be aware.

REHEARSL SPACE: Since we are no longer partnered with NVC, we need to find another venue for rehearsals. I have looked into possibly rehearsing at:

• Harvest Middle School Choir Room. We won’t know if we can use this space until after school starts and they get all their school related requests worked out; and
• Napa Methodist Church.

CONCERT DATES and VENUES:

Fall Semester 2019

Assessments*                 Week of August 5           actual dates and times TBD

First Rehearsal:               August 14                       6:30 – 8:30 pm (location TBD)

Boot Camp:                     October 19                      9:30 am – 3:00 pm (location TBD)

Holiday Concert: The Beautiful Sing (tentative title based on title of one of our songs – rough translation of bel canto.)

Dress Rehearsal:             December 4                     6:30 – 9:00 pm (location TBD**)

Performances:                 December 6                     7:30 pm (location TBD**)

                                        December 8                     3:00 pm – Mont La Salle

** We are looking into both First Presbyterian and Jarvis Conservatory

Spring Semester 2020

First Rehearsal:               January 15                        6:30 – 8:30 pm (location TBD)

Spring Concert: Title and Repertoire (TBD)

Boot Camp:                     March 21                          9:30 am – 3:00 pm (location TBD)

Dress Rehearsal:             April 29                             6:30 – 9:00 pm  (location TBD)

Performances:                 May 1                                7:30 pm (location TBD)

                                        May 3                                3:00 pm – Mont La Salle

ASSESSMENTS:

Since it has been some time since I have heard some of you sing individually, I would like to conduct a brief assessment of each member in Bel Canto. This will aid me in working with individuals, sections, and the group as a whole. This is not meant to put anyone on the spot, but will provide me a chance to encourage each singer’s growth as a member of the ensemble. As noted above, I would like to conduct the assessments the first week of August. As soon as I have determined where they will occur, I (or someone with computer skills) will create a tool for scheduling and each of you can sign up for a 12 minute time. Please plan to sing:

• ·       16 bars of anything that best shows your voice. 
•       I will provide music which will demonstrate various vocal qualities (soloistic, choral (some vibrato) and choral (non-vibrato).
•       Ear training (interval retention)
•       Sight-singing

AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE

During our second season, singers signed an Agreement to Participate form. Since many of you have entered since then, I would like you to look at it and bring it signed to your assessment. Please note, that in addition to the regular requirements of attending rehearsals and performances, learning music both cooperatively and independently, and encouraging attendance at our performances, we would like each person to participate in one of our organizational committees. The following is a list of the committees and the name of the member who currently heads it:

Board:                 Ted von Pohle – President/Artistic Director and Conductor

                             Joanna Mittman – Secretary/Project Manager

                             Lisa van Stuijvenberg – Treasurer/Bookkeeper

Non-board         Website/IT Coordinator – Chuck Dresel

                             Design/Brand Development/Marketing Coordinator – Hunter Hollingsworth

                             Publicity Coodinator – Suzi Gilbert

                             Volunteer Coordinator – Wendy Valle

                             Stage Manager – Dan Bunnell

                             Social Coordinator – Annie Budash

                            Reception Coordinator – open

                           

THIS and THAT

I have chosen the holiday repertoire, the music is ordered (some has already arrived) and I’m beginning to make rehearsal recordings. The music is going to be challenging this semester. We are doing two complex Renaissance motets (Hassler, di Lasso), two expansive Baroque pieces (G. Gabrieli, J.S. Bach), a couple of Shaw/Parker carol arrangements, a simple, but beautiful new-Renaissance piece by Norwegian composer, Egil Hovland, more Poulenc (four pieces in Latin, not French), Al Hanissim (for sure this time), two Eric William Barnum pieces, and an encore by contemporary composer Victor Johnson in the style of a traditional Spiritual. My plan is to do the Gabrieli in the style of the day with the baritone and bass lines doubled by trombones, as well as the Bach doubled by string quartet with continuo (hopefully harpsichord and double bass). Since some of the music has been printed from public domain sources, I will scan it, send it, and you can print it out and begin working on it as soon as possible.