Check here each week for rehearsal notes and other important information concerning Bel Canto Napa.

Friday, April 5, 2024

NOTES for the Week of April 7, 2024

Dear friends,

We have 5 rehearsals until our concert. Things are coming along well, but we have a lot of work to do to make sure this concert is a success.

  1. Please put in rehearsal time during the week to review notes/rhythms/expression markings. Also, please work on things that might be technically challenging to sing. Remember the audience listens for beautiful tone and the line of expression. 
  2. Elongate tall vowels and stack consonants.
  3. Memorize. We just don't have enough time to repeat things in rehearsal in order to memorize. Use your recordings to do that.
  4. Please help find family or friends who can assist at the concert. Don't leave Larry hanging with the needed volunteers.
  5. Continue to get the word out. Your personal invitation means more than a poster. This will be a beautiful and meaningful concert for a very worth organization.
  6. I'm going to become very specific at rehearsals when I hear or see something that needs improvement. If you are singled out, please don't take it personally. I try to be as kind and tactful as I can and I hope you realize it's for the benefit of the group. 
If Music Be the Food of Love
  • Lightness of tone and clarity of diction is your constant aim.
  • Write a diminuendo in mm. 6, 12, and 16.
Can We Sing the Darkness to Light?
  • We worked parts with both women and men. There should be no further uncertainties.
  • Highlight all dynamics.
  • Sing the meaning.
Five Hebrew Love Songs
  • Sing all vowels as if they were Latin. No a-vowel should sound like uh regardless of whether it is a stressed or unstressed syllable. Match your e-vowels closer to [e] than [E].
  • Write the English translation above your text or at least at the beginning of each song and read before singing (every time).
Ubi Caritas
  • After consideration, I've decided the Men will sing the portion of the chant written in your score.
It Takes a Village
  • Lisa will be playing one of the initial percussion parts. Please take a look at the parts and determine if you want to do the shaker or the conga. 
  • Articulation is crucial. And I will indicate dynamic shifts while you're watching (memorized).
Breathing
  • The "breath motif" is crucial. Please write in that the climax of the crescendo is the down beat of the second measure with an immediate diminuendo of a beat.
Hold On!
  • Please use the Letter system to indicate sections and help memorize.
  • We will sing this every week. It needs to be bold and flawless.
Tuesday, April 9

Hold On!
The New Colossus
Alleluia
It Takes a Village
Five Hebrew Love Songs

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