NOTES for Week of February 26, 2023

Friends,

I apologize that this is late. This has been a jam-packed end of the week for me.

Welcome to new singers, Aba Arredondo (Alto) and Clayton D'Angelo (Baritone). Aba joined us last Tuesday and Clayton will be joining us this Tuesday.

Evening Gale

• Last week, we really went over the first two movements of Evening Gale: Night Song and Acquainted with the Night. Please make sure you are completely familiar with the notes and rhythms on these two movements.
• Women make sure that to vocal work through p. 14, mm. 70-74. It needs to move fluidly.
• Everyone go through p. 26, mm. 36 42, and again, make sure it flows with good vocal control of the dynamic changes.

Trees

• Everyone be mindful of your vowels and intonation. There is a lot of unison at the beginning and ending of phrases. 
• Make sure p. 6, mm. 23-28 are clean and accurate with dynamic contrasts.

Due North

• Woodpecker is coming along. It's something that needs to be rehearsed weekly so that you will almost know if for more memory. It goes fast and there are LOTS of page turns.
• Highlight ever dynamic and articulation marking. That's what will make it interesting.

Now All the Woods Are Sleeping

• Men, please sing this with a rich, full tone. We will work on dynamic shading, but I want there to be a lushness, that is lacking.

FOR TUESDAY, FEB 28

We will all meet at 6:30. I have postponed the sectionals.

Away in the Woods

My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord

Due North: Trees and Mosquitos

The Birds' Lullaby

There is a Pleasure

  

NOTES for Week of February 12, 2023

Dear Friends,

Firstly, I apologize for the tardiness of these notes. 

Secondly, yes, we are having rehearsal on Tuesday, even though it's Valentine's Day.

Thirdly, I'm one copy short of Due North. If you were in the group Spring of 2020 and ended up taking another copy, please try to find your original, as I currently don't have a copy. I order an extra one in large print for conducting. 

Four Brahms Quartettes:

• Please rehearse them slowly with the words, working phrase by phrase so you become comfortable with the diction. Remember: Tall Vowels.
• Make sure you have all expression marks highlighted. Rehearse using dynamics and sing "romantically" meaning with much expression.

The Bird's Lullaby

• Highlight dynamics, tempi, and articulation marks and rehearse mindful of them. 
• If you have words (melody or harmony), make sure the diction is clear.

Evening Gale

• Review notes and rhythms on the 1st two pieces. 

FOR TUESDAY, February 14

Due North

• Please take a look at Trees and Woodpecker

Evening Gale

• We'll go through the 3rd piece, The Sundown Sea

Away in the Woods

• Please look at this one.

Thanks,

Ted

NOTES for Week of February 5, 2023

Dear Friends,

Thank you for a productive rehearsal last Tuesday. Here are a few particulars.

Brahms

1. Chuck should be making pronunciation recordings available on the Resources Site for the Brahms soon. Be sure to practice the German diction word by word, phrase by phrase in rhythm, prior to practicing it with the pitches, so that it settles into your tongue.
2. Please review the first three Brahms pieces for notes, rhythms, and diction so that they stay in your memory.
3. We talked about Romanticism in music. Dynamics and tempi are dramatic and expanded. No real subtlety here. Highlight all expression and where there are slurs, make them come alive. 
4. BASS: In Abendlied, m. 6, make the half-note B on Tag a dotted half-note followed by a quarter rest, like the sopranos.

Trees

1. Review all of this and sing through with a sense of stretch on each pitch going to the next, particularly mindful when you repeat the same pitch. Don't just keep time.
2. Be aware of (and mark) key changes.

The Willow Song

1. Mark the following breaths: m. 10 after knee, m. 11 after willow, no breath between mm. 12 and 13, m. 14 after low., m. 25 after willow, m. 26 after willow, m. 28 after willow.

My Soul's Been Anchored

1. Practice slowly and with accurate rhythm. Note when entrances are after 16th rests or 16th notes.
2. Begin memorizing as you learn and solidify you parts.

FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY  7 - All meet at 6:30 pm

Brahms: Warum

• Look at parts in regard to pitch and rhythm. Add diction if confident.

The Bird's Lullaby

• Read through this and rehearse slowly with accurate syncopations

Evening Gale (3 Movements)

• Read through this and rehearse slowly with accurate rhythms