Hello Everyone,
Hooray! What a marvelous rehearsal tonight. I loved it! I hope that you did, too. Our detailed work is coming together in a very musically powerful way.
Optional homework: I would love to know a particular place in our music to which you feel deeply connected. You can also tell me why it is meaningful to you, but it is fine if you prefer to keep that private. I would like to note your name in my score so that I can feel that connection during our performance. If you want to share this with me, please email. I have attached my program notes that I shared with you in rehearsal.
Thank you, Laura D., for playing your drum and for organizing the solo auditions. After I hear the recordings I will make a decision as quickly as possible and Laura D. and I will notify those auditioning with the results.
Thanks to everyone working on all of the very important details as we approach our performance. I am looking forward to sharing our music with our friends, family, and community.
The Tree of Peace – Gwyneth Walker
Beautiful! This piece is really coming together. As much as is possible, look up so that we can move through the tempo shifts together. The articulations (accents, tenutos, etc. ) are very expressive.
- If you are singing one of the upper parts in mm. 64-76, those parts could be a bit louder.
- The soprano AHs in mm. 77-80 are a bit loud. Remember to give each AH phrase dynamic contour.
- Be sure to watch in mm. 85-87 so that we move at our new tempo together.
- Remember m. 83 has the rhythm that is so EASY it is hard – circle those 4 quarter notes.
- We need to check the A1 and A2 parts mm. 101-104.
My People Are Rising – Carol Barnett
Good work! We will continue on to the final section next week and then put it all together. We have some work yet to do on ensemble and dynamic contrasts but it has tightened up a great deal. We have worked hard on this piece and it shows.
1941 – Andrea Tamsey
I heard very powerful and emotional singing. It was very moving tonight.
The Peace of Wild Things – Sean Ivory
WOW!!! Honestly, this piece has kept me up at night with pondering the intonation challenges…but as soon as I finish this email I am going to sleep soundly. Thank you for your attention to mm. 13-25. Wow – stunning singing on this very, very challenging piece of music. When I hear you sing this piece, I hear peace and it is a lovely sound indeed.
- Definitely remember that we have to have both b minor and D Major in our tonal awareness as we sing the opening section. We begin in b minor but then cadence in D Major when Deb joins us in. m. 25.
- We will want to bring out our connecting consonants such as the D at the end of world followed by the G of grows.
- I don’t think we could ever oversing the F of fear or the CH of children’s.
- If you have a chance, review mm. 51-74, pitches and rhythms. We are close.
Swing Low – Rosphanye Powell
Beautifully tender singing! We will breathe on the rests and where there are breath marks in the score. Otherwise, we will carry these phrases through with staggered breathing.
Faith is the Bird – Elizabeth Alexander
Again, our intonation is much improved. This piece has a great feeling.
- Let’s make our crescendo in m. 39 more dramatic by starting that measure at mp as we grow to f in m. 40.
- The crescendo in mm. 61-63 is VERY dramatic!
- Sopranos, please compare your highest notes in mm. 27 and 40. M. 27 is a half step lower.
Now Let Me Fly – Stacey V. Gibbs
Definitely, keep singing this in between rehearsals so that we keep our momentum going!
The Valley – arr. Beth Hanson
Gorgeous! Altos, you bring such beautiful warmth and expression to your melodic lines, complemented by the soprano’s beautiful harmony. Great job memorizing, everyone!
- We have a few measures that we need to sing much softer. Those measures are: mm. 24, 56, 68, 86-89.
- When we sing the refrain, “You will walk” “We will walk” we need to begin each phrase softer and then build.
- We have a few intonation issues. The particularly problematic instance is as we move from the a cappella section of mm. 77-80 into mm. 81-85 – we are under pitch in mm. 81-85.
- We need to work on rounder vowels – they are a bit spread, especially on the word “you.” This piece has a more relaxed, pop feel…BUT, if we let our vowels get away from us we will never sing in tune.
- Moving through the tricky rhythms as an ensemble will always be a challenge. This is one piece that I will definitely mouth the words! I know that you are watching since you have this memorized – we will have to get used to moving through this together.
Looking Ahead to 12-16-19
My People Are Rising – Carole Barnett mm. 121-174 then all. Note the dynamic contrasts throughout and listen to the performance recording so that you are used to the violin and doumbek parts.
I Sing That My Voice May be Heard – Gwen McLeod Hall phrasing mm. 9 and 33.
The Peace of Wild Things – Sean Ivory mm. 44-74 review.
Now Let Me Fly – Stacey V. Gibbs review transitions in between sections.
The Valley – arr. Beth Hanson review as noted above.
I am hopeful that we can accomplish the above in the first hour of our rehearsal and then sing through all of our pieces in concert order for the second hour of our rehearsal. That would be a lovely way to celebrate the close of 2019. Below is our concert order so that you can organize your folder.
A Path to Each Other with Carrboro High School Women’s Ensemble
My People Are Rising
I Sing That My Voice May Be Heard
Shule Agra (Chamber Choir)
Nada te Turbe (Chamber Choir)
1941
The Peace of Wild Things
Swing Low: A Spiritual Medley with Carrboro High School Women’s Ensemble
Carrboro High School will sing Lineage (it will be fun to hear them sing this, since WVC knows it so well!)
Faith is the Bird that Feels the Light
The Tree of Peace
Now Let Me Fly
The Valley
Let me know if I can be of help in any way and I will be glad to do what I can. Thanks to all!
Cheers!
Laura