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