Rehearsal Notes for March 29, 2022

 Hello friends,

I'm sending these notes in an old school email so you have a chance to see them before rehearsal on Tuesday.

I was really thrilled with what I heard last Tuesday. You are singing so much more musically, and that can only happen when you are confident of your notes, rhythms, and diction. Keep up the good work!

A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Please do all you can to be at rehearsals going forward. We're in the final weeks and it's now when fine tuning happens. Blend improves, but it's tricky determining balance when members are missing from various parts. Also, rehearsal starts at 6:30. Please come a few minutes early so we can begin right on time. 
2. If you have to miss (and haven't put your absence on the calendar), please text me at (707) 815-1733.
3. We need to think about our appearance for concerts and photos. Plan to be as polished as possible.
4. Tell everybody you know, this is going to be our best concert ever. They won't want to miss it. 

Os Justi

• If mm. 17 - 42 give you any pause (notes, rhythms, dynamics), please review until your part is flawless. I will be rehearsing sections on this until it is uniformly clean and musical.
• Really practice the quick crescendo and f/ff sections in mm. 9 - 12 and 51 - 54 and subsequent diminuendo.
• Always sing with warm, rich vowels

Grace Before Sleep

• Sing the meaning!
• Women sing each repeated phrase in mm. 21 - 29 with a different feel and emphasis.
• At the key change mm. 34, begin to move with smooth purpose - "hymn-like"

Beati Quorum Via

• This one still hasn't gelled. Really make sure your part is flawless.
• Sing with a sense of purpose to each line keeping in mind a) strong and weak syllables; b) open, rich vowels, c) movement; and d) integra is een-TEH-grah, not ihn-tay-gruh.

Modimo

• Sing with spirit and joy
• Let it reflect in the solo sections. Practice you calls (yah man, ri boka weina), hoots, cackles, whistles, non-verbals agreements, etc. Don't be shy or sound apologetic.

A Nightingale Sang...

• Try to get this as close to memorized as possible. 
• Let it flow in a casual way rather than too metrically. That will happen when you're watching.
• Easy, light, non-vibrato tone.

Music Down in My Soul

• Also, needs to be memorized. Will probably be our concert closer.
• Practice clapping starting at m. 81 through repeat and Coda stopping at after m. 89.
• Gregory - I'm taking this a bit faster than suggested. At m. 11 lets take it about 112. At. m. 37 (a little faster) lets speed up to about 132. 

See you Tuesday.

Ted