Hello Everyone,
What a fun and productive rehearsal we had last night – thanks to all for your hard work and good humor. We addressed so many of the places that needed our attention and I think that puts us in an excellent position to do a bit more detailed work this coming week.
Here is the link to the recordings from last night if listening is helpful for you. There are a few more places that need our attention but these pieces came a looooooong way. I’m very happy about that and I know you are, too!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/178vph4FuJOHqgFyGxvz4f_kINr9eVOuv?usp=share_link
This week, please review your music (especially the ones we didn’t sing last night) as well as taking an extra few minutes to re-read through the texts and translations. I don’t want us so caught up in notes and rhythms that we lose the meanings of the pieces – all have something meaningful to express.
Rehearsal Reflection
My Name is Lamiya: Don’t Call Me Refugee
– we continue to tighten up on this piece and it is really coming to life.
– m. 1 – the melody goes down on beat 3…different from later.
– text at m. 23 ‘the world’ not ‘this world.’
– I still want us to have a very dramatic moment mm. 52-54 with a crescendo and a strong S on the end of ‘house.’
– we need to hear more A1 m. 75
– we need to tune the F Major chord in m. 83 (and bring out the A2L as much as possible. (happens again at m. 130)
– Remember the stomps get softer as we slow down m. 89.
– m. 93 S1s thanks for being forte – let’s decrescendo on the held note
– I think I am going to change my mind on the dynamics for this section – it’s too loud and needs to build. Stay tuned.
– m. 96 S2s are not all coming in on a Bb…the S1s are singing a Bb in m. 95 (but I know there is a lot going on. Practice this with the practice files and see if that helps.
– we need to check the A1 part on page 22 – the chords are not in tune, especially mm. 138-140
– m. 141 we are all breathing at the end of that measure – breathe with the A2s.
– please circle m. 142 – the rhythm is different and it really sticks out if someone doesn’t hold ‘call’ a dotted quarter.
Mi Lugar
– overall much improved!
– we get going a bit too fast…we started at the correct tempo..just need to keep it there. I will do my best to be clear.
– still some intonation challenges m. 59-63 if you can check your part, please.
The Harbor and the Sea
– much improved!
– when you practice this piece this week, see what you can do about making the text clear (need more consonants)
– we have improved our tempo…but without the metronome we do not maintain 66 beats per minute on the sections that begin at mm. 10, 35, and 58. The practice files will help you with this. Midi files might lack expression but they are precise!!
– m. 80 we are a bit under pitch on ‘stand.’
– just a reminder to not oversing the unison passages, especially when the dynamics are marked softer.
We Are Home
– this is really coming together – great work!
– not all S1s are getting down to the D in m. 130, 131, 136, 137, 144
– we need to be sparkly clean at mm. 139-142 (my favorite part)
– m. 149 starts on. Db for the altos (not the usual C
– connect m.m 157-158
Chamber Choir
Across the Sea and Shenandoah
– beautiful!
Looking Ahead to 4/28/25
Rehearsal begins at 7pm
Detail work
Break
Concert run-through
Detail work
Rehearsal ends at 10pm
Thanks everyone – so excited for next week and then our concert!
Hope you have a good rest of your week,
Laura
Carrot Cake Cupcake Recipe (I omitted the nuts and used candy melts to make the little carrots 🙂 – happy baking!
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/carrot-cake-cupcakes/