Notes for the Week of August 15, 2022

 

Dear friends,

It was great to see you all at rehearsal Tuesday evening. As we look forward to our 8^th Season, I want to make sure we’re all on board to make this our best season yet.

1.      Hopefully you will enjoy learning and performing this repertoire. If you have not yet paid the $50, you can do so by cash, check, PayPal and Venmo (check your email from Joanna).

2.      Let’s make it a habit to be punctual. Vocalizing will start close at 6:30 pm, so try to arrive a few minutes early.

3.      Please start thinking of who you’d like to invite to the concert.

4.      Also, please think about who you know who might want to place an advertisement in our program. I will have rates by next week’s rehearsal.

For rehearsal on Tuesday, August 23, please prepare:

O Magnum Mysterium

·        We have several pieces that are in Latin or contain Latin. Please be meticulous in your latinized pronunciation. No American r’s, de-emphasize the final syllable, remember the dental consonants (d, n, t, and l) and in is pronounced “een” every single time.

·        Work on precision while keeping it very rich in tone and molto legato.

·        On the 3-part men’s divisi (mm. 11-12, 26-27, 36), I would like Thom (coming from tenor), Andrew, Robert, and Larry to take the middle notes.

·        Bass/Baritones, if you can effectively sing the E1 in mm. 47-48, please do so, otherwise take the E2.

·        Highlight all dynamics.

·        Treat the chord in mm. 17 gently. Very tight harmony.

In Dulci Jubilo

·        We have several first Altos who would rather not sing Alto II, so we will mix it up. In the divisi mm. 1-57, and 74-end, Alto II will be Suzi, Michelle, Cyndi, and Toni, Alto II will be Cassi, Wendy, and Joanna.

·        When the Sopranos divide on mm. 59-73, I want Suzanne, Carissa, and Hunter on Soprano I, and Dana, Lisa, and Toni on SII.

·        Write in the English translation of the Latin above or below the Latin words. Remember that the h in trahe is silent so it’s ”trah-eh”.

·        Make sure to be precise in the rhythm such as the syncopation of Dulci opposite the even 1/8^th notes in jubilo

·        Highlight all dynamics and articulation marks (accents, etc.)

Magnificat

·        Work from mm. 1-41. Remember, we’re doing the solos in a slightly lighter volume.

·        Disregard the editor’s suggestion to sing staccato. Think detaché which is in a slightly detached manner as strings players do when they change the direction of the bow for each quick note. For slurred notes such as mm. 33-36, connect them (two notes to bow stroke). 

·        The dynamic markings are good suggestions. Observe them.

·        Mihi in m. 30 is pronounced with a hard ”h” sound, almost like German.

Sing We Now of Christmas

·        Highlight all dynamics

·        Alto divisi is Suzi, Michele, and Cyndi on Alto II, others on Alto I

We will also go through the wedding music (A Nightingale Sang, Sing Me to Heaven, and Laudate Dominum with Andrew) as well as have a cursory look at the hymn that will be sung. I will bring copies on Tuesday.

Have a great week until I see you again.

Ted  

Notes for the Week of August 8, 2022

 

Dear friends,

I’m so excited to be beginning our 8^th Season of Bel Canto Napa Valley. After a great spring season, I can’t wait to dig into our holiday repertoire. It’s going to be a great concert featuring your beautiful voices, as well as strings, piano, oboe, and even possibly accordion. 

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals begin this Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 pm at Harvest Middle School Music Room

·        We will be handing out the holiday repertoire. Please bring a check for $50 for the music made out to Bel Canto.

·        If you are planning to sing for the wedding and/or the memorial, please bring copies of the music that was sent out this summer. Please review your parts on it. I would like to spend time at the end of rehearsal reviewing and refining.

·        Andrew Seifert, a former student, and a graduate of UW with his DMA in conducting will be here August 23, to rehearse with you on the wedding repertoire, so you are comfortable following his lead.

NEW MEMBERS:

We will have a couple of new singers joining us. Please make them feel welcome.

·        Toni Chiappetta is known to many in the Valley as Owner of Sweetie Pies Bakery. Toni has sung with the NVC Chorale and Sing Napa Valley and is joining the alto section.

·        We welcome back Larry Black, a wonderful bass/baritone and founding member of Bel Canto.

SECTION LEADERS:

I plan to have section leaders again. I would like the section leaders to be someone each section chooses, so, begin thinking about who you’d like to help solidify your section.

The section leader will:

·        Make note of all directions and markings (breaths, dynamics, tempi, tonal considerations) and help each section has those marks in their music.

·        Keep their section up to date on what is covered if someone misses a rehearsal.

·        Bringing any needs or concerns to my attention, especially in sectional rehearsals.

MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:

While it would be nice if everyone could just come and enjoy singing together, Bel Canto is more than a choir. It is a non-profit entity which takes time, energy, and money to keep in operation. Therefore, it is important that each member aids in some function within the organization.

·        One of the primary ways each person can help is through marketing and ticket sales. We’re asking that each member be responsible for “selling” 10 tickets to the concert. If you personally invite you family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc., we can fill the seats with people who want to see and hear you perform. If each member brings 10 people, that will be 250 people. This holiday concert is going to be special in that it will feature our traditional a cappella music but will also feature a variety of instrumental accompanists. A concert sure to please a variety of musical tastes.

·        We also need everyone to participate in the various functions of running Bel Canto, whether it be: a) helping with advertising such as posting posters, handing out note cards, or making connections with local media; b) helping with the reception (set-up and clean-up); c) recruiting volunteers to help with ticket sales at the door, greeting and ushering; and d) organizing and helping with social activities.

·        Something new this year, is program advertisements. We want to bring in revenue to help cover the costs of concert production (venue rentals are WAY UP), as well as fund our new STaR scholarship intern program. Personal or commercial businesses can now advertise in the program. We will also be creating a sponsorship program for donors. If you or someone you know might want to put an advertisement (business card or other) in the program, get them on board.

·        We also need to be proactive in learning the music on our own. Rehearsals are for putting the music together and refining. Remember the vision for Bel Canto is that we are an advanced ensemble and that means you are serious about singing. In the weekly notes, which will go out by Thursday noon, you will have instructions for which pieces we will rehearse the following rehearsal. Please come to rehearsal knowing your part. Also, if you miss a rehearsal, you need to check with your section leader about what we covered, any specific instructions given, and be up to date when you return.

I want this to be our best year yet. It will require commitment, but I know that we will make beautiful music to grace the Napa Valley community.

I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Ted