REHEARSAL NOTES for April 19, 2022

Dear Friends,

My mind is mush as I move into the long haul of this weekend - 5 services in the next 2 days.

1. Please be proactive in inviting your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, church choirs, everybody you know to the concert. We want to sing to full-houses. Forward the email Chuck sent and re-post the poster/blurb on social media. Get the word out. 
2. That being said, we will have someone from the Napa Register coming Tuesday to hear us and subsequently write a review. Be on your toes. A great review can help build our audience. Think of it as a preview concert. Look sharp and sing beautifully.
3. Do all you can to be and stay well. 

FOR TUESDAY

Beati quorum via

• Keep the moving quarter notes smooth and in tune. Don't let descending lines sag. Nor cadences.
• Sing molto legato.
• De-emphasis the last syllable. 

Os Justi

• Really focus on the p. 2-3. Keep a lighter "Renaissance" style in the moving 1/8th-notes.
• Be ready to change dynamics and tempi on a dime

Abendlied

• I want to hear the most beautiful tone you can muster on this.
• And I want to hear each person sing the line like it's going somewhere.

I'm Gonna Sing

• Be off-score and sing with a spirit and controlled exuberance.
• I want to see the spirit in your faces.
• Soloists practice you solos. Keep them interesting and fun. Always mindful of pitch.

Alleluia

• This went well at rehearsal. Keep up the good work paying attention to dynamics.
• Always sing toward the lu of Alleluia.
• And always get back to the pp or ppp.

Music Down in My Soul

• Again, off-score.
• Keep it under control so there's somewhere to go in volume and energy in a rather long song with lots of repeats.
• Be ready for the claps.

Modimo

• This will be a crowd-pleaser. Have fun with it.
• Here are the actions:

In m. 9, beat one shift your weight to your Right Foot rolling your hands like you're pouring something from the Left Hand into the Right Hand. 

On beat 3, shift your weight to your Left Foot while rolling your hands like you're pouring it back from your Right Hand into your Left Hand.

Repeat this on beats 1 and 3 through mm. 9 - 24, stopping on beat 3 of m. 24.

Immediately in m. 25, begin rolling your hands outward on each beat. The position has your fingers from opposing hands pointing toward each other, and you roll outward from the wrist with open palms.

Continue this to the downbeat of m. 33, when the solos start.

While the various sections are singing (mm. 33 - 40), make sounds, whistles and calls that show approval and encouragement. Turn and face the members of each part that are singing. Let your body language be relaxed and move with the music. Each member of the various sections should sing like a soloist to each other and the audience. Ham it up!

Resume hand rolls on downbeat of m. 43 until the downbeat of m. 50. 

At m. 50, resume the shift and hand-pouring starting on the RF and LH/RH. At m. 55, abruptly stop on the downbeat (staccato), and then in m. 56, resume on the same RF and LH/RH side. Sort of like a restart.

Do the same thing at m. 63, resuming RF and LH/RH until you get to measure 68 where you will stop abruptly on beat one with weight centered and  with hands slightly opened facing out. 

In mm. 69 - 70 have hands move on ka - we - na from a slightly opened position in front to shoulder height, to head height, to slightly above head as if offering a gift and hold it.

You have to have it memorized to make it natural. Practice in front of a mirror.

See you Tuesday Evening.

Ted