NOTES for the Week of November 30, 2025

Dear friends,

This is the week. Hopefully you're feeling good/well and ready to bring great concerts. A few housekeeping items.

1.  Tuesday we will be rehearsing at Napa Methodist in the choir room. Again, please be there by 6:25 as the door will be locked. If you must be late, please text Joanna to let her know.
2. Thursday, our dress rehearsal will be at Napa Methodist. I would like to start at 6:30 sharp so we can warm up and run a couple of things before/while the instrumentalists are setting up to start at 7:00. We have a lot to run on Thursday and I will try to give you some breaks so that you're not standing the whole time.
3. Friday, the call time will be 6:15. We will warm-up and do any sound checks. We will have to be out of the sanctuary by 7:00.
4. Sunday, the call time will be 1:30. It will be a long day, so pace yourselves. Since we are doing two concerts please save your voice, meaning minimize visiting. Perhaps do quiet things like reading. Plan to bring snacks and/or a sack lunch. And plenty of water.

This week I want to work on performing. That means:

• Entering/Exiting with energy and confidence. Smiling with your eyes and acknowledging your audience. Let them know you're grateful they're there.
• Hold your music up, so the Audience and I can see your faces, not the top of your head. Sing expressively. Eyes bright and with energy.
• Sing with meaning. Focus on important words (verbs), observe all expression marks (even exagerate dynamics), and in the music without expression marks (Renaissance and Baroque) always 1) energize sustained notes, 2) energize 1/8th notes, 3) energize ascending pitches, 4) ease off week syllables, descending pitches, and most cadences. 
• Intonation is crucial. Sing at the top of all pitches, being mindful of repeated pitches, cadences, and descending lines. 
• Never over-sing. Make the music dance.

I want to share something with you about Frostbound. There's been some question about it's meaning. Here's a short synopsis. 

Summary of Meaning

The poem uses the imagery of a harsh, binding winter to describe a state of emotional paralysis or despair. The speaker addresses a "beloved" whose heart is "still and grey," like a "frostbound lake" that is soundless and bound by an "icy sway". 
The central message is an appeal from the speaker to this person: the speaker's own heart, which is a "furnace strong and red" with "fire" and "flame," can warm and revive the beloved's frozen spirit. The poem ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that these emotional chains of frost can "fall, and those that fettered lie / May live again". 

Key Themes

• Emotional Confinement vs. Warmth: The contrast between the cold, static imagery of frost and ice and the dynamic, warm imagery of fire and flames is central to the poem's meaning.
• The Power of Love: Love is presented as a powerful, almost miraculous force capable of reviving a person from a state of emotional deadness.
• Hope and Renewal: Despite the bleak imagery of winter and death, the poem maintains an underlying message of hope, suggesting that change and renewal are possible, much like the changing of the seasons. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

*African Noel

Jubilate Deo

The Angel's Message

Season of Light

Frostbound

*Nutcracker Medley

Iesous ahatonnia'

*30-Second Merry Christmas

* - memorized

NOTES for Week of November 23, 2025

Dear friends,

We are down to the wire. We have 2 regular rehearsals left before our dress rehearsal. It is during this time that we need to really pull things together. We will need your focus, your energy, and your commitment to make this music come alive.

Nutcracker Medley, African Noel, and 30-Second Merry Christmas:

• EVERYONE must be off-score by Tuesday. No exceptions.  We will not spend extra rehearsal time so you can memorize by repetition.
• Basses: Gregory has provided some resources to help you clean up your descending lines in Nutcracker. Practice slowly and accurately and then increase to tempo.
• Everyone memorize the dynamic. You will not always be able to see me while processing/recessing to get dynamic cues.

The Angel's Message

• We will work on this to really get a lighter, more fluid and dancelike feel. 
• Your Latin lyrics should be practiced daily until they are second-nature.

Frostbound

• Continue to work on accuracy of pitch and rhythm.
• Sing phrase to phrase with emphasis on verbs.
• Practice the last page, starting at measure 51 for intonation and contol.

Iesous ahatonnia'

• Be careful with intonation on unison melody lines. The tonic pitch (F) must always be high.

Vivaldi: Gloria (RV 588)

• Everyone, but especially Sopranos make sure of notes/intonation on descending lines of Et in terra pax. Each one is a little different and many are part of harmonic shifts so there are surprises. 
• Every in needs to be marked "een" as many are still pronouncing it like English.

Everyone needs to be conscious of their expressiveness both in singing/phrasing and in their facial features. You are singing songs of joy and wonder, and yet many look intense and overly concentrated. Some, frankly, look dour. 

• Practice singing without making a sound. Mouth the words as if you are singing to an audience and expressing the sentiments of the song. Make your eyes shine, your energy flow. You are not a studio musician. You are a performer. Sing like one.
• I will be giving feedback on Tuesday.

See you then!

Ted

NOTES for Week of November 9, 2025

Dear friends,

There are a lot of announcements with details, so please read carefully and mark your calendars and your music.

1. Regarding Rehearsals:

• Tuesday, Nov. 11 - we will rehearse at Napa Methodist Church in the Choir Room. Please plan to be there a few minutes early as the door will be locked once rehearsal has begun.
• Tuesdays, Nov. 18 and 25 will be at Harvest Middle School. 
• Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Thursday, Dec. 4 - we will rehearse at Napa Methodist Church in the Choir Room and Sanctuary respectively. 

2. Regarding Jan Lanterman Tribute Concert:

• Event is Sunday, November 16 at Napa Methodist Church.
• Arrive at 12:45 for rehearsal starting at 1:00 pm. We will rehearse Thank You For the Music with the other choirs and then will practice the logistics of getting on and off the stage  with the various groups and soloists. House will open at 2:30 with Concert starting at 3:00. We will be singing Witness, Sing Gently, and Thank You For the Music.
• Concert Dress.
• I know that the Kastens and Matthew will not be there. No absences are listed on the calendar. If you are not going to be there let me know now.

Jubilate Deo

• Be careful to maintain the tempo once established.
• Homophonic sections (mm. 4-6, 28-31, 35-41, 49-52, 55-58, and 61-end), really energize the longer note values (half-notes and quarter-notes tied together). 
• In the energetic sections, each choir should sing as a unified quartet passing the "musical ball" back and forth to the other choirs making sure not to drop the energy.
• Voices with melismas sing them soloistically, but not operatically.

The Angel's Message

• Sing this confidently and with a light playfulness. Think upbeat madrigal.
• Bring out the movement of beamed together 1/8th notes. 
• Keep drilling your Latin so that it becomes second nature.
• Change the f at measure 83 to mf. The only reason it's louder is because you're all singing together.

Frostbound

• Sopranos keep working to achieve a clean, but warm tone and articulation in the opening solo. Diction is important. Also, sing phrases, not words.
• Highlight and observe every dynamic marking.
• Altos make sure to practice the last three measures to keep in tune, particularly the B-double flat in the penultlimate measure.

Nutcracker Medley

• Memorize. 
• Basses unify your oo vowel and intonation at the beginning. Also the da va da va's need better intonation and accuracy. 
• Tenor and Bass start the second movement (m. 21) with more energy and more detached articulation.
• Trebles sing your dotted notes starting measure 25 with more detachment. 
• Basses you must memorize those scales now so you can look at me to keep in time.
•  Anna and Dan, continue with the clear, unified tone and try to make it a bit more detached. 

Thank You For the Music - Download it if you haven't and number your pages. Here's the breakdown:

• Soloists sing 1st Verse mm. 3-18 (1st beat)
• CHOIR sings "Chorus" page 3 mm. 18 (2nd beat) to 1st Ending on p. 6. REPEAT
• Soloists sing 2nd Verse mm. 3-18 (1st beat)
• CHOIR sings "Chorus" page 3 mm. 18 (2nd beat) to 2nd Ending on p. 6
• Soloists sing "Bridge" p. 7 mm. 35-42 REPEAT
• CHOIR sings "Chorus" page 4 mm. 19-28 then jump to CODA on p. 8 and sing to the end.

FOR TUESDAY, November 11, 2025

• We will run Thank You For the Music, Witness, and Sing Gently
• We will run the pieces that need to be memorized: Nutcracker Medley, African Noel, and 30-Second Merry Christmas
• If time, we'll hit Angel's We Have Heard and Season of Light

NOTES for Week of October 27, 2025

Friends,

We're making good progress and we need to keep it up. Pitches and rhythms should be known. Words should be solid. Our focus should be singing with attention to tone, intonation, blend, balance, and expressiveness of the text and music.

The Angel's Message

• This needs to sound effortless and we're still not there. Drill the Latin diction independent of your pitches until you can do so without feeling like you're reading something aloud for the first time. 
• Overall, sing it lighter--with energy and without force.
• It should always have lilting quality. Make it sound playful joyful.

Jubilate Deo

• It's coming. Work through measures where you have particularly challenging pitches and rhythms.
• As you get more confident, begin expressing the text, moving into strong syllables and away from weak syllables.
• Move lightly and energetically through 1/8th-notes and make half-notes (and longer) more legato.

Frostbound

• ALTOS and TENORS, the first note must be accurately approached, no scooping.
• BASSES make your entrance clean, as well.
• SOPRANOS, sing the opening measures with a warm, fuller tone. 
• Please work on knowing this enough to look up at each phrase-end breath, and at the beginning of each new phrase.  
• The poetry speaks in 1st Person: offering help, comfort, human warmth and encouragement to a loved one in the cold, gray, empty, grieving periods of life. Sing with compassion and with great warmth.

Nutcracker Medley

• BASSES, practice your descending da-va-da-va-da's in mm. 8, 12, 16-19 so they are accurate and in tune. I want them to sound robust, but they have to be accurate, first.
• TENORS and BASSES, make the fanfares (mm. 21-24, etc) strong and sparkly.
• BASSES practice the scales in mm. 25-27 and 33-36 for accuracy, intonation, and even tempo.
• Practice starting the last movement at a brisk tempo and then practice speeding up at the end. 
• MEMORIZE

Witness

• Don't oversing. Sing with energy and fullness, but don't get too brassy or too loud until the end, and even then with power rather than force.
• WOMEN sing your parts with a round mature tone rather than too pop-sounding.
• Final chord = Consonant L should be ff, and the -ord should be pp with a crescendo at my direction.

FOR Tuesday, October 29, 2025

• Gloria (all movements)
• Iesous ahatonnia'
• 30-Second Merry Christmas - memorized

NOTES for Week of October 5, 2025

Dear Friends,

 We're about halfway to our concert weekend. There is still much to do. 

1. Remember that Bel Canto Boot Camp is coming up in two weeks (Saturday, October 18 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.) Again, it will be at the Rancho de Calistoga Community Club House (2412 Foothill Boulevard, Calistoga). Please plan to bring plenty of water and a sack lunch.
2. Tickets are selling and the 3:00 performance at Mont La Salle is almost sold out. Encourage your family and friends to get tickets for the 6:30 performance as it will be lovely there in the evening.

The Angel's Message

• Many of you are still stumbling over the words. Yes, there is a lot of Latin diction and even if you're familiar with Latin, the complexity of these words and rhythms are slowing you down. Please review the words alone, in rhythm, and then practice the phrasing repeatedly with the pitches. It needs to sounds lilting and graceful.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

• Rehearse using a round, warm, energized tone. This song is all about tone.

Gloria

• Continuing reviewing the sections we've worked through: #'s 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8. We'll go through #11 this Tuesday. 
• There is a pronunciation guide now available on the resources site. 

Iesous ahatonnia'

• Chuck has added a new pronunciation guide to the resources site. It is is clearer and more accurate than mine. The principal differences are in the treatment of the consonants and the nasalized vowels. Please spend some time practicing the words with this guide so that you become more proficient.

Nutcracket Medley

• This is coming along. Please review your parts and work on getting it up to tempo. 
• Contrary to what I said in rehearsal, we will not pause significantly between sections, but instead move seamlessly from one to the next, so...
• Memorize as you practice.

For Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Jubilate Deo: 

• Now that each choir has had a chance to review their respective parts together, we will begin putting it together. 
• Rehearse your part from beginning to page 11, measure 42.

Vivaldi Gloria:

• Rehearse Movement #11 Cum Sancto Spiritu
• Also Movements #6 and 8

Season of Light

African Noel

NOTES for Week of September 28, 2025

Dear Friends,

We're moving along in rehearsals. Keep up on your weekly practice on materials we've covered. Also keep moving toward memorization. 

Vivaldi Gloria - We've spent some time on the Gloria, Et in Terra Pax, and Gratias Agimus Tibi. Review your parts on those three movements. Also, some general considerations are:

• Your Latin pronunciation needs to be italianate ALWAYS - rolled (or flipped) r's: dentalized d's, n's, t's, and l's; and in is pronounced "een"
• Work on proper syllabic stress, for example Glo' - ri - a, in - ex - cel' - sis and De' - o. In both examples, the last syllable should be decidedly softer, particularly when given equal note values.

Et in Terra Pax

• Group the descending Et in terra pax motifs in syllabic couplets (two 16th-notes per syllable).
• Really work on energizing descending chromatic phrases to avoid flatting.
• Because of the Largo tempo, make sure to energize the 1/4 and 1/2 notes.
• There are no written dynamic marks but listen to the harmonic progressions to guide you.

Angels We Have Heard

• When practicing, become aware of the subdivided beat whether in 12/8 (triplets) or 4/4 (duple).
• Textually emphasize the verbs in most cases, regardless of dynamics: m.14 heard, m.17 singing, m.22 in reply, m.25 echoing (not echo back), m.35 why this, m.37 why, m.38 why, m.42 tidings be, m.43 inspire, mm.65-66 Come & see, m.67-68 Him, birth, sing, m.71 Come, adore (articulate the two words-don't run them together), m.111-112 See Him, laid, m.118 lend.

Frostbound

• Despite the slow tempo, sing through the phrases with a sense of flow and energy. 
• Tenors make sure to sing the opening descending pitches definitively but without accent. With Altos arrive on the first pitch without scooping.
• Words to be emphasized: m.1 seems dead, m.3 no throb, give, m.5 When your cold heart, m.8 live, m.11-12 strong and red, m.13 look, m.15 see & make, m.16-17 take life & rise, m.26 sleeping, m. 32-33 turn away, m.38 meets, m.42 ends, m.45-46 breaking from, m. 48-49 run free, m.52 stretch, m. 55-57 cling.

30-Second Merry Christmas

• Sing the 1/8th-notes of the Merry's with a light detachment and make the 1/4-notes more legato.
• Memorize dynamics.

For Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

CHOIR III will meet at 6:30 to work on Jubilate Deo

All others meet at 7:00 pm.

Nutcracker Medley

The Angel's Message - review your words

Gloria (movements #6 and #8)

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Iesou ahatonnia' - review your words

NOTES for Week of September 21, 2025

Dear friends,

Here are the highlights for your focus this week.

Jubilate Deo

• CHOIR II had a good rehearsal and we got notes and rhythms with the words all the way to the end. Please review that this week to keep it fresh in your mind.
• CHOIR I will meet this week at 6:30. Please review your notes and rhythms to the end of the piece in preparation.

The Angel's Message

• This is coming, but many of you are struggling with the words. Verse by verse:

1. Practice reciting the words in rhythm. Start slowly and work up your speed. 
2. Do the same with the notes on a neutral syllable.
3. Put both together and practice at a slower speed until you can speed up to the tempo.

Season of Light

• Continue your practice incorporating the dynamics. It makes such a difference when you sing expressively.
• Make sure your diction is clear - you're storytelling.

Gloria - 1st Movement (Gloria)

• We are making cuts in this. Cut mm. 38-56, 64-74, 98-104, 113-121 (Altos will not sing in m. 112).
• Review your pitches, rhythms, and words 
• Sing with clean, Italianate Latin (accurate vowels, dentalized consonents, and rolled r's)

Gloria - 4th Movement (Gratias Agimus Tibi)

• Review your pitches, rhythms, and words

Gloria - 11th Movement (Cum Sancto Spiritu)

• We did a cursory run through of this. Much of this is similar to the "familiar" Gloria.

Nutcracker Medley (Trepak p. 9)

• Anna and Dan will sing the melody as noted before (top line in mm. 37-52, 77-87)
• Basses will omit low E-flats and D's in mm. 69-76
• Larry will sing the upper G in mm. 97-103.

For TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

CHOIR I will meet at 6:30 to go through Jubilate Deo. Review your parts to the end.
All others will meet at 7:00

• Gloria (movements 1 and 2)
• Frostbound
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
• 30-Second Merry Christmas

NOTES for Week of September 14, 2025

Dear Friends,

My apologies for the delay in getting these notes to you. This has been an intense week.  A couple of things. 

1. The Vivaldi scores have arrived so I will be passing them out on Tuesday evening. Give the performance recording a listen so that you have a concept of the work. There are several solos and duets, but listen particularly to the choruses. 
2. Tickets are on sale, so let your family and friends know.
3. We're having an unusally high level of absenteeism this semester, both planned and last minute. Please make sure you are staying up to date with the music we're working on if you miss rehearsals. 
4. There's been some expressed apprehension about Jubilate Deo and whether or not it's too complicated for us right now. It is complex, but not undoable. It will take some measured attention. You MUST learn your part independently - drill with the recordings that I spent hours making. I will be working with each choir individually at the beginning of each rehearsal for the next three weeks. If you're not in the scheduled choir, please arrive at 7:00 pm. The schedule is as follows:

• September 16 - Choir II - 6:30
• September 23 - Choir I - 6:30
• September 30 - Choir III - 6:30

Witness and Sing Gently

• If these pieces are new to you, please spend time learning them independently. We will review them periodically until Nov. 16th, but won't be able to spend much time learning notes.

Iesous ahatonnia'

• Review your parts on this and drill the pronunciation of the Wendat words. It might help to write the phonetic pronunciation in your scores so you become familiar when you see the word. Because the music is not complicated, I don't want to be tripping over the foreign pronunciations.

Nutcracker Medley

• Review your parts on this up to page. 8.
• Bass please make sure all your 16th-notes and moving lines are accurate and in tune.
• Highlight and obverse all expression marks (tempo, dynamic, and articulation)

African Noel

• Keep working on parts and try to memorize as you go. Memorization should accompany learning.
• Sing the Sing we all Noel lines - ex. mm. 15-26 more detached.

FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 2025 - CHOIR II Arrive at 6:30 pm. All others at 7:00 pm

Jubilate Deo

• Choir II arrive by 6:30, and be warmed up. Don't be late! Work on your parts for the whole piece this week.
• All others work your parts independently at home.

Season of Light

Nutcracker Medley

• I would like Anna and Dan to sing the solo line in mm. 37-52, and 77-88. 
• Melody, if you can carry the D6 in mm. 84-88, and top pitch mm. 97-to end, please do. Omit the G6.
• Work on last section.

Vivaldi

The Angel's Message

NOTES for Week of September 7, 2025

Friends,

Make sure to pull out your copies of (or print) Witness and Sing Gently. I would like to run through them for those of you who haven't sung them and review for those who have.

The Angel's Message

• Work slowly and accurately on the notes, rhythms, and Latin text until confident, then increase the tempo. Precision is paramount.

Nutcracker Medley

• Review the first section (up to measure 20) and note all articulation marks (staccato, tenuto, etc.)
• Make sure that 1/8 notes in T/B go to the rest, not detached.

Frostbound

• Sing phrases observing a certain rubato to express the poetry.
• A/T/B be gently precise on pitch changes in beginning oo-ing section so Sopranos can play off your beats.

Jubilate Deo

• Please work independently on your notes and rhythms. We can't rehearse each voice part in rehearsals. It takes to much rehearsal time. 
• Work slowly with Latin until confident and then gradually speed up.

FOR TUESDAY, September 9, 2025

Iesous ahatonia'

Nutcracker Medly (up to page 8)

Jubilate Deo (up to page 13, measure 52)

African Noel

Witness

Sing Gently

NOTES for the Week of August 31, 2025

Hello friends,

A couple of things:

1. Tickets are now available on the website. Let you friends and acquaintances know.
2. The songs we will be singing for Jan Lanterman's tribute concert in November are Witness and Sing Gently. For those who haven't sung them, we will have the scores on the resources site soon so you can download them.

The Angel's Message

• Please mark the verses into your score. Verse 1 starts measure 9, Verse 2 starts measure 32, Verse 3 starts measure 55, Verse 4 starts measure 83.
• I will prepare an audio recording this weekend with all the Latin for those who need some help on pronuncation. 
• Finish working through parts from page 12 to the end.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

• Practice singing the lines in the slow tempo with easy, but energetic flow to the end of the lines.  
• Pronounce the words Emmanuel as Eh-mahn'-yoo-ehl and Israel as Ees-rah-ehl. 

Jubilate Deo

• We worked through parts to the top of page 8 measure 25. Look at mm. 26 through 52.
• Work with a neutral syllable like too or tah until you're secure with your part.
• I will prepare an audio recording of this text pronunciation as well. NOTE: cythara will be pronounced Chee'-tah-rah.

Frostbound

• For now, sopranos will be singing the part at the beginning - mm. 1-8.
• NO BREATH m. 7 (S), in m. 10 (All), m. 19 (All).
• Please note where the breaths are marked in the score.

Angels We Have Heard on High

• Any time there are three parts, the designated SII/A1 will sing the middle part. 
• Feel the subdivision of 3 in the 12/8 meter and 2 in the 4/4 meter. 

FOR TUESDAY, September 2

Nutcracker Medley - up to m. 20 

• Thom and Larry sing the lowest note in the tenor chord mm. 1-16. BII omit the low E in mm. 13-16. 
• Tenors divide into two parts in m. 20 omiting the F# and G (which is sung by the altos).

African Noel

The Angels Song

Jubilate Deo

Frostbound

NOTES for Week of August 24, 2025

Dear friends,

It was great to see you all and to welcome Jean, to welcome back Larry, Matthew, and Joanna, and to say bon voyage to Robert. Robert, you will be missed. 

1. We will be performing in a tribute concert for Jan Lanterman on Sunday, November 16th at 3:00 at Napa Methodist Church. I'm finalizing on the music and will let you know at next week's rehearsal.
2. The Vivaldi Gloria scores are anticipated by mid-September. There are 6 chorus of various lengths. We will start rehearsing when all have scores.
3. Please make sure to put all absences on the calendar. This is important for my rehearsal planning.
4. Chorus assignments for Jubilate Deo are as follows. Please note that some of you will be alone on your part.

Chorus I: (S) Suzanne, Carissa, (A) Susan, Cassi, (T) Chuck, (B) Larry, and John

Chorus II: (S) Melody, Lisa, Vania, (A) Cyndi, Joanna, (T) Dana, Jean, (B) Thom, and Gregory

Chorus III: (S) Anna, Brittany, (A) Yuko, Michele, (T) Dan, and (B) Matthew

African Noel

• As you learn your part, please highlight expression marks (dynamics, articulation, etc.) and observe them in your singing. 
• Detached Articulation on Sing we all Noel, in mm. 15-26 (altos each time).
• Memorize - we will be singing while walking and clapping

Season of Light

• Always sing dynamic shifts when rehearsing. 
• Sing lyrics clearly and with expression in a legato fasion.
• Note where breaths are sustained - mm. 27-28, 49, 67.

Angels We Have Heard on High

• Feel the sub-pulse divisions in the contrasting 4/4 and 12/8 meters. 
• Dana sing the middle pitches in mm. 25, 65-67, 109, 115-116, and 121-122
• Women assigned as SII should sing middle in 3-part harmonies and on the designated SII section mm. 51-63

30-Second Merry Christmas

• We will repeat mm. 1-12. The first time make beat 4 of m. 12 a quarter rest.
• Memorize - this will be our Encore and we will be exiting while singing.

The Angel's Message

• Sing Eia as Eh-ah, not Eh-yah. Sing with power, but sans vibrato
• Careful of recurring rhythmic patern as in mm. 22, 27, 45, 51, etc.
• Observe the repeat on pp. 12-14

FOR TUESDAY, August 26, 2025

Jubilate Deo - rehearse using "too" up to measure 25.

Frostbound

O Come, O Come Emanuel

Angels We Have Heard on High

The Angel's Message

NOTES for Week of April 13, 2025

Dear friends,

Here is the 

Program Order

• Now is the Month of Maying
• Rise, My Soul
• Sicut Cervus
• Bring Me Little Water, Silvy 
• Inkosi Namandla
• Nella Fantasia 
• Witness

    Intermission

• Set Me as a Seal
• All of Me 
• Sacred Heart
• Time
• I Love You/What a Wonderful World
• Music Down in My Soul

NOTES:

Sing Gently

• Stretch the vowel sans any diphthong as long as possible on each syllable.
• Lean into suspensions and ease off of the resolutions
• Control dynamics. pp must be very soft!

Nella Fantasia

• Susan Quinlan will sing the solo on the 1st verse. Sopranos gently join the altos mm. 11-21, dividing on the divisi in mm. 15-17.
• Trebles and Men clean up the rhythms in the melody in your respective sections on verses 2 and 3.

I Love You/What a Wonderful World

• Though slow, keep energy in the long lines and move to important words. Contrast dynamically bright blessed day and dark sacred night, for example
• Wonderful should sound wonderful each time you sing it.
• Chorus/Ensemble dim starting in mm. 74 and Chorus be at piano in m. 78. Ensemble come in gently at m. 78 and build to mf.

All of Me

• Michele sing in a more focused pop style. 
• All really enunciate. Turn up the voices of truth in mm. 81-82, for example. 
• All make the arrival at see in m. 89 a quiet, intense moment (of realization).

Music Down in My Soul

• Don't over sing. Conserve your energy...it's a long song.
• Once the uptempo begins, become physically animated.
• At the modulations, begin to push the tempo just a bit so the last time through is more energetic.  

MEMORIZE, MEMORIZE, MEMORIZE 

NOTES for Week of March 16, 2025

Dear friends,

A few reminders:

1. Bel Canto Boot Camp is this next weekend, Saturday, March 22, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. John and Cyndi Kasten have graciously offered to host us again. Please plan to bring a lunch and plenty of water. This will be an opportunity to go through all the repertoire and begin to really refine it. Please make sure you have no questions about pitches or rhythms. Cyndi will be providing information regarding address and parking.
2. Tickets are on sale. Please let your friends know. 
3. We will be working on our list of volunteers who can help with the front of the house (check-in, ushering, parking at Mont La Salle, etc.)

Set Me As a Seal

• You need to keep your eyes up so that the changes in tempi and breaths are uniformly executed. This means mm. 3, 5, 9, 14, 26, 29, 31 and 34 to the end.
• Women remember to treat the w of waters in m. 18 as a consonant (briefly) so you don't scoop on that syllable. Move that section a bit more.
• All parts keep the tempo moving on neither can the floods. There is no ritardando until the end of m. 25.

Time

• Sing this with a greater sense of quiet intensity.  
• Accuracy in the sections with omissions of text and rests is a must!
• Never lose the detached articulation and make the staccato in mm. 4 and 16 sharp.
• The transition into and out of the na-na's in mm. 11-13, and 32-33 need to be clean and unstressed.

Inkosi Namandla

• This song is about how it's performed - fervently. You'll need to really know what you're doing so start memorizing NOW. Memorize to p. 8 for Tuesday.
• Remember that mm. 67-77 are repeated three (3) times: 1st time with Sopranos and Tenors, 2nd time add Basses, 3rd time add Altos. Those not singing can add interjections appropriate to the style like we did with Modimo. Ex. ululation, calls, hoots, etc.

Sacred Heart 

• Those on ostinato, make it sound like fluid chant with rise and fall of line, always softening at cadences.
• Melodic sections in Bass, and later in Soprano and Tenor needs to be fluid, heartfelt, and unified.
• Observe the gradual dynmaic shifts.

Bring Me Little Water, Silvy

• The body percussion will not be performed by everyone. Some Sopranos will carry the load with other members who desire and feel comfortable joining them. 
• This should sound easy despite the canons and rhythms. 

For TUESDAY, March 18, 2025

• Witness
• All of Me (if you're interested in one of the two short solos at the beginning be ready)
• Sing Gently
• Rise, My Soul
• Nella Fantasia
• Music Down in My Soul

NOTES for Week of March 9, 2025

Friends,

• Keep up the good work with your practice. Remember to do so musically/expressively.
• Work on memorizaiton. Songs to be memorized: Now Is the Month of Maying, Music Down in My Soul, Inkosi Namandla, and Bring Me Little Water, Silvy.
• Practice your body percussion for Bring Me Little Water, Silvy daily so it becomes second nature. New videos available soon.

Now is the Month of Maying

• Push the tempo and don't slow down at cadences.
• Again, sing the fa-la-la's detached and the verses more legato
• Overall, use a light tone, especially in the complex mm. 28-31.

I Love You/What a Wonderful World

• Keep energy in the chorus' slow, extended phrases. Make them have "line."
• Also, sing with rich, warm tone.

All of Me

• I want two different singers to sing the short solos in mm. 12-16, and 17-22. Let me know if you're interested.

Bring Me Little Water, Silvy

• Work on your memorization so we can begin putting the song together with the body percussion.

Music Down in My Soul

• Clean up any notes and rhythms with which you are unsure. Be precise.
• Watch cut-off's

For TUESDAY, March 11, 2025

Sicut Cervus

Time

Bring Me Little Water, Silvy

Inkosi Namandla

Set Me As a Seal

Sacred Heart

NOTES for Week of March 2, 2025

Friends,

Just a reminder that Bel Canto Boot Camp is coming up on March 22. For those of you who are new, it’s a most-of-the-day rehearsal (9:30 am -3:00 pm) to go through everything and see where we are as well as begin refining things. Cindy and John have graciously offered to host us again at their place. 

Time

• Work on pp 8-15 to clean up rhythm in gaps
• Sing with a detached articulation except in the sustained sections. 
• Synchronize your tick-tocks

Rise, My Soul 

• Highlight all dynamic markings and slurs
• Most phrases are 4 measures. Don’t breathe in obvious places when staggering
• Sing Rise with a messa di voce technique (Google it)
• Be aware of melody moving from part to part

Witness

• Clean up parts and rhythms
• It should have a sense of power especially in the divisi sections, but should never sound heavy or ponderous. 
• Make the story telling exciting

Sacred Heart

• Keep the ostinato sections light and moving with a slight detached feeling 
• Sing the melodic sections lyrically and with freedom of movement, but be careful not to over sing. 

Inkosi Namandla

• Practice p 9 to the end focusing on pronunciation, rhythmic accuracy and correct pitches 
• Begin to speed up and memorize. 

For TUESDAY, March 4

Now Is the Month of Maying

Sicut Cervus

Bring Me Little Water, Silvy 

I Love You/What a Wonderful World

All of Me

Music Down In My Soul

NOTES for Week of February 23, 2025

Dear friends,

Please continue to mark your music and rehearse anything for which you are unsure on the pieces we worked these past weeks. If you're absent from a rehearsal, you need to check with your section leader for any directions that you missed. 

If you have not done so, please send your music payment to Lisa Skinner at Venmo @LisaSkinner16 ($40)

Inkosi Namandla

• As previous stated, write the correct pronunciation in you score, that way you'll see it as you sing.
• Most of this is phonetic vowels are like Latin, and consonants are in somecase just more intense.
• The exceptions are Namandla which is pronounced nah-mahn-zha (like Zsa Zsa Gabor). The hl combination is pronounce sh, as in Wenhliziyo (wehn-shee-zee-yoh), Mawuhlakaniphe (mah-woo-shah-kah-nee-peh), Ungalahli (oong-ah-lah-shee)
• The click consonants need to be practiced. They are produced by creating suction with the tongue pressed to the roof of the mouth and then released quickly. We are not differentiating the placement of the tongue (roof vs. aveolor ridge). Do whatever works for you. Practice clicking first, then when comfortable, do it with the accompanying vowel. The clicks are in Zikuhaq'i (zee-koo-hah-*click/ee), uzoqeda (oo-zoh-*click/eh-dah), Cela (*click/eh-lah)
• As you practice begin memorization.

All of Me

• Practice the rhythms so that your unison is precise. In the phrases Look at my or look who I, the rhythm last note of that beat is the longest so think of stressing the words my/I. 
• NOTE the combinations of 1/4-note followed by 1/8 note patterns and vice versa. 
• Circle the breaths in the ascending and loudening passage in mm. 66-70. Get of the 1/8-note in m. 70.
• Hold the dotted-half-note on skin in m. 71 to the downbeat of m. 72, with a forte nuh release.
• Sopranos and Altos work on your oo's starting in mm. 89 and going to 97.

Seat Me As a Seal

• Number your measures.
• I've changed my mind. There will be no luftpauses in mm. 3, 12 but there is in m. 29.
• Breathe at all marked breaths.
• Watch carefull in mm. 9-10, 14-15, 26-27, 29, 34-36.
• Women sing mm. 18-25 with more movement and a full, rich tone. Men sing more gently.  Keep energy in the sustained notes, but sing lightly unless you have neither can the floods. Neither is pronounced nigh-ther.

Time

• Sing the whole song in a detached manner, with the exception of the tenuto (-) marks. Don't accent them, stretch them. 
• Work pages 8-15 which has the omitted words with rests to clean this up rhythmically.
• Begin speeding up the tempo when you're more comfortable. 
• Sopranos clean up the phrases in mm. 12 and 16 with the 7th leap. It's a bit ragged. 

Sing Gently

• This isn't a complicated song, but because is so languid, it needs to be song with rich, full, vowel tones and delayed and brief consonants. 
• Please highlight all dynamics and observe while practicing.

Music Down in My Soul

• If you're unsure of the divisi, check with your section leader - the three part sections for men and women is evenly divided. 
• Melody, please sing the I've got joy parts by yourself.
• Women please note the back and forth from B-flat to B-natural starting mm. 38-62. Be very accurate. 
• Basses be very accurate in your ascending line starting mm. 47-48 and repeating.
• This will need to be memorized.

For TUESDAY, February 25, 2029

• Nella Fantasia
• Inkosa Namandla (particularly the section starting on p. 9)
• Sacred Heart
• Rise, My Soul
• Witness
• Time (particularly pp. 8-15)  

NOTES for Week of February 16, 2025

Friends,

• Per request, and because I think we might need one more upbeat piece to round out the program, I have decided to add one of our favorites from the past (plus it's thematically appropriate). It is Music Down in My Soul arranged by Moses Hogan. Quite a few of you have sung it and so dig out your copies. For the rest of you, Chuck will add a pdf to the resources site that you can print out. (We've purchased almost 3 dozen copies over the years, so I think we have enough originals to avoid copyright infringement). 
• Tickets will be going on sale soon, so let your family and friends know, especially those who want to attend at Mont La Salle, we've sold out there for the last few years.

Now is the Month of Maying

• We worked through the fa-la-la's in mm. 28-32 and 36-39. Please review and remember to keep the fa-la-la's consistently light and detached throughout. 
• Continue to rehearse towards memorization.

I Love You/What a Wonderful World

• The ensemble parts will be sung by Suzanne (SI), Brittany (SII/A1), Susan (AII), James (T), and Ronnie (B). Mm. 59-62 will be James and Ronnie on the solo section, then Ronnie will drop to the ensemble part in m. 63. Then sing ensemble from mm. 78 to the end.
• Chorus needs to be sustained, but have a sense of movement so it doesn't sound lifeless.

Sacred Heart

• Keep the 1/8-note ubi caritas et amor chanting gentle, but rhythmic. It should have a light pulsing, chanting feel. 
• When the various voices have the more elongated melodic lines, make sure they are very legato and not over sung.

Rise, My Soul

• Sing with a lilting, upbeat movement. 
• Enunciate the words, making sure vowel sounds are warm and rich.
• Any time Rise is song on dotted-whole note, make sure there is a crescendo into beat 2 then a diminuendo to the end of the measure (EX. mm. 17-19 for ATB)

Nella Fantasia

• Work on the notes and rhythms (securing the multiple triplets) before adding the words. 
• Practice saying the words in rhythm before combining with the pitches.

For TUESDAY, February 18, 2025

Inkosi Namandla - practice the isiZulo words. Write in the phonetic pronunciation of the unique consonants in your score.

Set Me As a Seal

Sing Gently

Music Down In My Soul

All of Me

Time

NOTES for Week of February 9, 2024

Hello friends,

A few things:

• We had several people absent last Tuesday who neither posted their absences on the calendar nor communicated with me to let me know that they were going to be absent. Remember: If you have a planned absence, you need to post it on the website. If it is last minute, please text me at (707) 815-1733 and let me know. It helps me plan for rehearsals.
• Continue to review the music in advance of the rehearsal. It makes our time together more productice.

Sacred Heart

• Because there is little in the way of dynamics noted, please use the language to help with phrasing. expand to the strong syllables: U-bi CAR-ri-tas et a-MOR and DE-us I-bi est, regardless of the beat. 
• At B, note the crescendo, being aware of who as the melody. 
• Work through the cadence harmonically in mm. 30 to 33.

Bring Me Little Water, Silvy

• Chuck will putting up videos of me demonstrating the body percussion - both from the back and mirrored from the front. Continue to practice and begin to speed it up.
• Women sing mm. 13-38 lightly. Men join in lightly at m. 22. 
• Basses sing lightly starting m. 49 and move to harmony part in m 55. 

All of Me

• The trickiest thing about this song is the pop-styled melodic rhythms. We'll need to work these together to make them sound relaxed and natural. Listen to the performance recording as a guide.
• Women, please note that the 32nd-note ornaments in mm. 29 and 33, need to be gentle. 

Inkosi Namandla

• Transfer the IPA (or at least your transliteration) into the score through out. This will help you become consistent the pronunciation.
• I have recorded the pronunciation so you can practice slowly until you become comfortable with it.

Time

• Write in the beats starting on p. 8 so that it helps determine counting the rests and re-entrances.
• Practice your clicking for the tic-tocking of the clock.

Witness

• Be aware that most of this is written in even 1/8th note. Only mm. 45 - 52 are swung. 
• Be careful with the syncopation on Lord in beginning and in various places throughout.

For TUESDAY, February 11, 2025

I Love You/What a Wonderful World (Suzanne, Brittany, Susan, James, and Ronnie sing the ensemble part starting on p. 7)

Nella Fantasia

Now is the Month of Maying 

Rise, Rise My Soul

Sacred Heart

NOTES for the Week of February 2, 2025

Friends,

Again, I want to compliment you and thank you for your improved musicality. Please keep it up! It makes a tremendous difference. Look for every opportunity to sing musically and expressively, even when you're learning pitches and rhythms.

Now is the Month of Maying

• Sing the fa-la-la's lightly and detached so they don't sound muddy, particularly mm. 28-32.
• Work through second verse lyrics.

Set Me As a Seal

• Insert luftpauses in mm. 3, 12, 29.
• Use punctuation to mark additional luftpauses for sections, such as Tenors in m. 31 and 34.
• Women, sing legato in m. 18 but don't slide up the progression.

Time

• Sing the tenutos (-) as stretched notes, not as accented ones.
• It is helpful to write in the beats in measures with added rests.
• Don't overly concern yourselves with the bended pitches in the tick-tock sections

Sing Gently

• Practice singing with elongated vowels
• Though slow, keep sustained tones energized and in tune

Witness

• Basses make sure moving lines are clean and acurate. Ex. mm. 17-24, 27-29, 65-68.
• Make sure of pitches (intonation) on all for my Lord cadences

For TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2025

• Sacred Heart (Sections A-C)
• Inkosi Namandla (through m. 66) - don't wory about language
• All of Me (we'll work through this together)
• Time
• Witness
• Bring Me Little Water, Silvy

Here's the body percussion pattern. It is a two-measure pattern that repeats in the designated measures. At tempo, it goes quite fast! Practice it for a couple of minutes daily so it becomes automatic. It needs to be fully in your motor memory before we put it together with singing. NOTE: I have actually left off an additional foot stomp that occurs in the repeat (beat 2 of the repeating 1st measure) because I find it awkward and it might be too much stomping on risers.

 

NOTES for Week of January 19, 2025

Friends,

It was great to see most of you at our first rehearsal. We welcomed new tenor, James Ball, and look forward to welcoming new baritone, Ronnie Zanella soon. 

If you have not yet done so, those of you paying for your music via Venmo, please forward your payments to our Treasurer, Lisa Skinner @LisaSkinner16 (7901).

I talked about expectations for this next semester. I will be focusing on our singing with great knowledge and understanding of the music we perform. That means each member needs to be at the top of their game in terms of accuracy, intonation, and expressiveness. In the most sensitive way possible, I will be giving directions to specific people when necessary rather than making generalized comments towards sections. I feel this will be more productive in solving issues of blend, balance, intonation and group accuracy. Our success will be based on creating synergy as each person contributes to the greater success of the ensemble. 

This week I will be working on creating the remaining part recordings so Chuck can add them to the ones already available.

NOTES:

Sicut cervus

• If you don't have a copy, please download the pdf on the resources site. We will be singing up to the end of the 3rd system, second page (m. 58).
• Practice using doo until you can sing the line musically. Remember that sustained notes, strong syllables in text, upward movement, and moving pitches are energized (think crescendo).
• When moving to words - elongate the vowel and delay consonant to the next syllable.
• Use plenty of breath so tone is light and pure with minimal to no vibrato.
• Please write the English translation into your text. Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum (Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks), ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus (so longeth my soul after thee, O God.) 

Witness

• Review the parts we did (up to p. 5 m. 36). 
• Practice the parts to the end.
• The t in witness should be neither emphasized nor diminished. Sing it like you'd say it.
• Highlight all expression markings (dynamics, changes from straight rhythm to swing, etc)
• Note the syncopation the phrase for my Lord. Lord comes ahead of the beat.
• Basses be diligent in accurately learning and singing the ascending and descending chromatic lines.

Set Me As a Seal

• Practice singing this gently with sustained pure vowels. Move consonants to next syllable, expecially l's, n's, m's, ng's and r's.
• Highlight all expression markings (dynamics, tempi, and breaths.)
• Number your measures.
• Work on the rest of the piece.
• Brittany, please move from Alto to SII in mm. 18-19, and back to Alto in mm. 21-22.

Now is the Month of Maying

• Practice slowly until confidently singing the syncopated rhythms on the fa-la-las. Sing them lightly and somewhat detached. Sing the verses in a slightly more legato fasion. 
• This needs to be memorized for performance.

For Tuesday, February 28:

Witness (parts to the end)

Set Me As a Seal (parts to the end)

Sicut Cervus

Now Is the Month of Maying

Time (at least to bottom of p. 7)

Sing Gently (look over)