Dear Friends,
This is going to be a longer post because I've stored up notes from the last couple of weeks. Please read it all, mark your music, and practice with mindfulness.
PHOTO: We will be meeting on Sunday, November 1 from 3:30-4:30 pm for roughly an hour. I will put the details in an email that announces this post. Please read it carefully.
MINI-BOOT CAMP: Our mini-Boot Camp will be Saturday, November 14, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. This will be short, but intense. I really want you to be memorized on the things that must be memorized and focused on listening. John and Cyndi Kasten have graciously agreed to host.
NOTES:
Ngothando -
- You are officially off-score. Work on blend, balance, and diction.
- There should be a quiet conviction as you sing this.
- Be gently accurate with your syncopations.
- And continue to practice your clicks on sonqosa. Don't leave them up to others.
Patapan -
- You need to be off score
- Trebles come in intensely in m. 11.
- Men remember to swell and fade on all your patapans. And decrescendo in measure 14.
- Sing the chord intensely in m. 24 and immediately descrescendo so your subsequent crescendo makes sense.
- On the call and response starting in m. 30, ALL make it crisply articulated--almost detached.
- Tenors/Bass make your parts in mm. 38-46 strong and clean.
- Trebles practice you clap/stomp with hands clapping high and to the right (along side your face). Here's link but note they're clapping to the left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ7Gcsktbb0&list=RDPZ7Gcsktbb0&start_radio=1 - STARTING at 1:30.
- Practice your movement in mm. 47-down beat of 63 while you sing. Try to lead with your shoulder. DO NOT turn the body sideways like they do in the video.
- ALL clap with hands up to the right on the ending beat.
Nino Dios
- Continue to sing musically with a rise and fall of the dynamic line like you did so beautiful in last week's rehearsal.
- Remember to ease into cadences without necessarily slowing down unless I do.
- Practice transition from m. l5 to m. 16 and again m. 23 to m. 24.
- Remember the words have profound religous and theological meaning so instill the phrases with the necessary intensity. These words are particularly significant: enamorais (to fall in love), de amores llorais (heartbreak), nos mostrais bien el amar (you teach us well about love), y a penas habeis nacido (you are just a newborn).
Gabriel's Message
- It's full of mystical wonder. The arranger uses "tempo" markings like unfolding, mysteriously, tenderly, triumphantly, with optimism. The composer sees this carol as a scene: Mary sits in the dark when light gently breaks in the room as the angel Gabriel reveals himself and slowly unfolds his wing. (The opening phrase is meant to convey this.) The rest of the piece is essentially a quiet waltz of profound, inner joy betwen the angel and the maiden. Think of how each section reflects that.
- Again, transitions from section to section must be secure.
- Quartet, feel free to sing your sections as classical soloists with plenty resonance.
Awake, Arise!
- Notice the word Driving in the tempo marking at the beginning. That should flavor the whole piece.
- In the beginning, there's a quiet intensity. Sing the dynamics.
- Note the sudden shift to mp in m. 101. Sing with a sense of awe and wonder.
- Make sure mm. 110-the end are absolutely and cofidently correct pitch-wise. No second guessing.
Silent Night
- This setting is about extended, legato lines. All with an ascending motif.
- Really work at seamless staggering of breath in the phrases.
- STB listen for the alto melody in mm. 91-96. If you can't hear it, you're too loud.
Three Nativity Carols - The Holly and the Ivy
- Know where all the variations are in each verse in terms of rhythms, pitches. Again, don't guess. Know where and what they are.
- Sing the unison in mm. 42-49 very legato.
- As the arranger writes - sing with excitement and precision.
- Everytime you sing sweet singing in the choir make it especially smooth and rich.
Three Nativity Carols - This Endris Night
- Not too slowly.
- Rather than languid feeling, make it a quiet intensity, like a shared secret.
- Keep energy in the VERY long chord at the end. Don't let it sag.
Three Nativity Carols - Wonder Tidings
- Internalilze the constant 1/8th note subdivision for accurate transitions between compound meter (6/8, 3/8) and simple meter (2/4, 3/4, 4/4).
- Keep diction crisp and clear
The Darkest Midnight in December
- Sopranos be particularly mindful of lifting the pitch every time you move to the tonic (F)
- Don't delay pick-ups into phrases. Push the tempo through.
- Make sure cut-offs on weak beats (and strong beats) are accurate.
- Watch me in mm. 13, 25, 38 as I will conduct in 3/4 not 6/8. Also watch m. 44.
The Everlasting Flame
- The minor mode doesn't make it sad, it makes it emotionally intense.
- The myriad dynamic shifts are quick and crucial. Be Aware.
- SECTION F needs to be tuned carefully.
FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
A Choral Christmas Overture
The Angel Gabriel
Awake, Arise!
Silent Night
