NOTES for the Week of November 17, 2024

Friends,

We had a productive rehearsal with Brian Shaw, our pianist for the concert. We will not work with Brian again until the dress rehearsal. Please continue to rehearse these pieces.

Festival Gloria

• Make the syllables in Gloria (especially -a) rich and full.
• Crescendo each time whether in the introduction or when singing the full phrase ex. mm. 1-3, 4-6, 13-14, 25-26. Don't wait for me to indicate.
• Altos use a rich chest voice in the et in terra pax section. Sound like "mother earth."
• Tenors clean up mm. 21-24 in terms of accuracy and fluidity.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

• Vs. 1 emphasize Bethlehem, still, deep, dreamless, silent, Light, hopes, fears, met, thee, tonight. Some are softly intense emphases like still and silent. Make sure the sibulant s is there on those words.
• Vs. 2 emphasize Christ, Mary, gathered, angels, sleep, angels, keep, watch,  love, morning claim, birth, sing, God, King, peace, all, earth.
• Note the molto rit. a m. 61 and fermata in m. 63, with an immediate return to a tempo.
• Vs. 3 emphasize silently, giv'n, imparts, blessings, in world sin. receive Him still, enters.
• Vs. 4 emphasize Holy, Child, Bethlehem, descend, pray, Cast out, enter, today, hear, angels, great, tidings tell, come, abide.

Magnificat

• Feel the driving, often syncopated rhythm throughout. Don't lag.
• Swell on Mag- into ni, and again into Dominum in first measures.
• Sopranos/Altos activate 1/2-notes on soul and Lord.
• Crescendo at top of p. 6.
• Make the anima mea on pp. 8-9 strong and then fade for the soloist
• Sing agitato on pp. 10-11, also in mm. 58-62. Very deliberate.
• Watch me in the a cappella section mm. 66-77. Keep it free and don't lag.
• Crescendo/diminuendo on Amens in mm. 97-98.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

• Be prepared to sing each verse very freely, not overly steady like a congregational hymn.
• Be especially mindful of changes in tempo in transitions between verses.
• The scoring on this peace is lush and lovely, don't let it become predictable and boring. Make it come alive.

Fum, Fum, Fum

• Remember we are using traditional Spanish pronunciation. Double ll's are pronounced like a j, not a y.
• On page 6 and top of 7 (for women), make the 16th-notes detached and articulated.

For TUESDAY, November 19, 2024

AS MANY OF THE UNACCOMPANIED PIECES AS WE CAN GET THROUGH