NOTES for Week of October 13, 2024

Dear Friends,

Finally, the fall weather has arrived and we are almost to the half-way point in our rehearsal for our holiday concerts. We have sold out Mont La Salle already (it's getting earlier and earlier) and Friday night ticket sales are picking up. It's all exciting news.

A few reminders:

1. There seem to be quite a few absences that are not being recorded on the calendar. Please, even if it's a last minute (that day) illness or conflict, enter it on the calendar (along with letting Joanna know) so that I know how to plan rehearsal. There's no point in working diligently on a blend and balance within a section if one or two members of that section are missing.
2. Continue to work on the memorization. This is best started early.
3. Continue to get the word out for our Friday night concert. We'd love to have a full house like last year.
4. These notes are going to be more specific. Please mark and rehearse accordingly.

Festival Gloria

• Really work on rich full tone and intonation on the opening and closing sections so those crunchy chords don't sound harsh, but rich and powerful. Pronounce all Latin with very italianate style.
• Start the first chord on f and swell slightly over the two measures. Start the second chord again on f and swell. Always go somewhere on sustained pitches.
• The same goes true on sections like mm. 13-14, 25-26, etc.
• Tenors clean up rhythm with words in mm. 22-25.
• Put in a slight diminuendo in m. 67.
• Rich, warm tone in Lento section starting at m. 75 for all voices.
• Follow dynamics in mm. 81-83 so that the key change in m. 84 is powerful.
• Take a deep, low breath in m. 95 so that you have enough to systain the rit. and fermata without losing power.

Let My Love Be Heard

• I'm not hearing much dynamic shifting in the opening measures. Respond to the crescendos and diminuendos.
• Tenors, work on the melody starting in m. 9 to make it accurate, gentle, and sustained. Support the tone so the voice doesn't falter or crack.
• There are a lot of triplets scattered through various voices. Please don't be hesitant. Don't rush them, but keep them moving.
• Women, keep the triplets starting in mm. 31 fluid and gentle. Listen to the other sections and pass the movement back and forth.
• Men, again, I didn't hear much dynamic shifting on your part in mm. 32-45 until we got to the end.
• This piece is quite slow in tempo, but it should have a sense of steady movement and flow. Not plodding.

This Endris Night

• We're really struggling to keep this in tune. When practicing, always check a reference pitch of D at major cadences. Also, watch that whenever you have D, B, and either C or C#, that they're in tune.
• We will take it at a slight brisker tempo. Practice faster, but really make sure to enunciate the words. 
• The song, though lyrical, should have an energy about it. It should never feel languid.
• 16th-note and dotted rhythms should be crisp and accurate. 

My King Is Comin' Soon

• Again, make sure that the dynamics in the opening section are realized without need for a lot of conducting. Observe dynamics in the repeated sections like mm. 17-18, 25-26, 39-42, 59-60, 73-76, etc. Don't hestate to exaggerate. I'll let you know if it's too much.
• Altos sing your lines in mm. 43-46 legato. Tenors, make your melody light, but clear. Sopranos and Basses make your rhythms crisp and detached.
• HIGHLIGHT the subito piano at m. 68. 
• Everyone, work through you notes and rhythms in 83-100. This is still halting.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

• Again, observe the dynamics as indicated. The oo-ing section at the beginning sounds dull and doesn't move. 
• Get to the point where this can be sung with freedom and movement. It sounds stilted. I want it to have a sense of rubato.
• Remember, your ultimate knowledge of a song will allow you to watch the conductor 95% of the time.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

• On this and other songs, please be mindful of cut-offs. They must be precise. Make sure to count rather than simply rely on the conductor's gesture.
• Highlight and observe dynamics.
• There will be a significant slow down and pause in mm. 61-63

FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024

Let Your Heart Speak Music

Fum, Fum, Fum

Est Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen

Ain't That-A Rockin'

Caritas

Shalom!

Magnificat