NOTES for the Week of October 22, 2023

Dear friends,

We're a week away from our bi-yearly Bel Canto Boot Camp. For those new to the group, this is special day in which we rehearse intensely, as well as have an opportunity to spend some time socializing and getting better acquainted. It's hard work, but it's fun. And it is a required part of our rehearsal season.

Boot Camp

• When:                   Saturday, October 28, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
• Where:                  Clubhouse at Rancho de Calistoga MH Park - 2412 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga
• What to Expect:   Arrive before 9:30 and spend a little time enjoying coffee and baked treats                                     before we begin. We will break for lunch around 12:30.
• What to Bring:     Your music, stand (if desired), pencil, a water bottle, and a sack lunch. 

Solstice

• This is coming, but still needs more certainty of parts and rhythms. 
• Work mm. 27-35. That section sounds particularly insecure.
• Highlight every expression mark (dynamics, tempo, slurs, etc.)

Sussex Carol

• We worked on memorization up through page 8. Work on memorization to the end.

Spotless Rose

• Work on the Norwegian pronunciation, particularly of the 2nd verse. It needs to sound confident
• We need to speed this up, and your knowledge of the language (and parts) is crucial

The World for Christmas

• We need to secure this, so that it flows. Review all parts.

Soon We Will Be Done

• We need to work parts from p. 12 to end. 
• And memorize

FOR TUESDAY, October 24

• Solstice
• The Waiting Sky
• Cantata #191 - both movements
• Spotless Rose
• The World For Christmas
• Dixit Maria
• Still, Still, Still

NOTES for Week of October 15, 2023

Dear friends,

We had a productive rehearsal last Tuesday. Unfortunately, I came down with Covid the next day and have been kind of miserable. My head is just enough out of a fog to jot down a few notes for this next week. If I'm not cleared, by Tuesday, I will schedule sectionals. I will let you know, so check your email on Tuesday.

As we begin preparing for our Boot Camp, remember that we need to be absolutely confident on notes, rhythms, and lyrics of all pieces, and memorized on a few of them.

Cantata 191 - Gloria in excelsis Deo

• Your parts really need to be practiced independently at home. It just isn't efficient to drill individual sections at rehearsal. We need to be solidifying the piece in ensemble at rehearsal. Please spend some time this weekend getting closer to 90+ accuracy.

Dixit Maria

• This is coming. What I most want to hear is a smooth, gentle tone, and an attention to line. 
• Sing the rise and fall of phrases as we've discussed.
• Non vibrato.

Still, Still, Still

• This should sound a bit like a lullaby. Gently rocking and gentle in tone.
• Really listen to the other voices to blend and balance.
• Listen for the melody.

Solstice

• Again, you need to practice your parts independently at home so that we can put the harmonies, tone, and balance together in rehearsal.
• Shoot for 95 accuracy this week.

Alleluia! A New Work is Come on Hand

• This is coming together. Really pay mind to the dynamics. Some are sudden.
• Keep it gently detached throughout. 
• Think medieval dance.  

For TUESDAY, October 17

• Sussex Carol - memorize to m. 46
• Solstice
• Soon We Will Be Done  - memorize to m. 58
• Cantata 191 - concentrate on 1st movement Et in terra pax section - mm. 101 to end of movement 
• The World For Christmas
• Spotless Rose

Stay well,

Ted

NOTES for Week of October 8, 2023

Dear friends,

We had a productive rehearsal last week covering quite a bit of material. We have a lot of repertoire to refine and several pieces to continue memorizing, so there is still a lot of work to do. Keep up the good work. 

• Get the word out about the concert. You are our best PR. Tell you family, friends, acquaintances, church communities, etc. We want to fill both venues.
• Continually work on memorization. Sing along with the recordings and test you knowledge. 
• Continue to develop expressiveness in your tone and in your phrasing. That's what makes the music magical.

Children, Go Where I Send Thee

• Continue working on memorization. FOR TUESDAY, please secure your parts in mm. 122-End. We will work on memorization of the whole piece.
• I'm looking for a soloist for the ending, and possibly for the beginning as done on the recording. I want a warm, dynamic, soulful sound.

The Waiting Sky

• Good work on this. Please practice the harmonic change from bottom of p. 2 to top of p. 3.
• Practice singing the word puddles so it sounds significant: enunciated and warm.

Spotless Rose

• Notes and rhythms need to be more solid before mastering the language.
• Practice BOTH! FOR TUESDAY, we will be rehearsing this for uniformity and expression.

The World for Christmas

• Refine your knowledge of the notes and rhythms. It sounds uncertain and stodgy. 
• The words/phrases determine the tempo. It will be quite rubato, so it has to be confident.
• FOR TUESDAY, we will be running it all the way through.

The Work of Christmas (Encore)

• If you haven't performed this, please spend a bit of time working independently. 

Cantata 191 - Gloria in excelsis Deo

• Continue to rehearse this several times weekly, that's the only way it will become more accurate.
• Several sections are relying on a single person in your section to lead you. (SOPRANO I, I'm looking at you.) We need everyone in every section to sing entrances and lines with confidence, whether or not your section leader is present.) 
• FOR TUESDAY we will focus on the 3rd Movement.

FOR TUESDAY, October 10, 2023

1. Children, Go Where I Send Thee
2. Spotless Rose
3. Cantata 191 - Gloria in excelsis Deo - Movement #3
4. Solstice
5. Dixit Maria
6. Alleluia! A New Work is Come on Hand
7. Still, Still, Still