SPRING 2022 - Rehearsal Notes for Tuesday, February 8

Hello friends,

Well, I ended up with Covid-19. I feel fine, but I'm annoyed that I'm on lock-down for the next week. Consequently, there will be no in-person sectional this week. You will have homework, nonetheless.

This will be a general assignment for all parts:

Sing Me to Heaven

• Work through the unison and two part solo/verse section (ms. 1-14, 35-38) concentrating on diction (long vowels and brief, sharp consonants). The poetry needs to be understood. 
• Practice tonal control on sustained (fermata) cadences. Sing with clear, in-tune, non-vibrato tone both forte (ms. 33-34) and mezzo-piano (55-end).
• Begin to memorize (this will be a standard in our repertoire)

Beati Quorum Via

• Number the measures

Os Justi

• Make sure all dynamics are highlighted
• Practice going from crescendos and diminuendos so they feel like a natural product of the musical line (such as the p in ms. 1 going to mf in ms. 5 and back to p in ms. 7)
• Sing the forte section in ms. 10 -14 smoothly and beautifully. Avoid over-singing.
• Work out all eighth-note pitches and rhythms in ms. 16-42. This should sound effortlessly accurate. Also, do so with the dynamic shifts.
• Work on staggered breathing so it feels in control

The Cuckoo

• Work on memorization
• Practice singing musically. Think - I'm singing this as a solo. How do I approach the words in the phrase and what do I do dynamically to make in expressive

Grace Before Sleep

• Sing through musically/soloistically. 
• Emphasize words or strong syllables in words as if reading the poem out loud. Avoid singing monotone because of even note values.

Alleluia

• Sing through at least 2 times being mindful of dynamic shifts and breath control

      Thank you. I'll look forward to seeing the basses with the tenors next week.