Dear friends,
A few reminders:
- 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.
- Tickets are on sale. Please let your friends know.
- 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
