Hello Everyone,
Please remember that audition recordings are due to me by Saturday, December 10th (send them via email). I look forward to hearing you sing!
I thought that our rehearsal last night was lovely. I hope our music sounded as beautiful from where you were sitting as it did to me up front. We have made great progress on our repertoire and continue to sing more musically each week. Thank you for your attention to detail, for your concentrated efforts, and for your positive spirits. It is a joy to make music with you all. I look forward to digging deeper in the coming weeks.
What a thrill it was to hear Deb and Amy play the accompaniment for Song to the Moon – beyond gorgeous!
Thanks, once again, to all who were able to sing in Hillsborough this past Friday evening. It was wonderful to have an extra performance – festive and fun!
Thanks again to Kay and Deb who have helped lead sectionals this semester. We do not have any more sectionals scheduled for this semester but I am usually at rehearsal by 6:45pm so feel free to come early with any questions you may have. I am happy to help in any way.
I liked our seating arrangement but would like to tweak it further and so have arranged you focused more on our 3/6 part divisi so we can see what that sounds like this coming week. I have attached an updated seating chart. I will have cards in the chairs with your names/voice parts and I will also have the seating chart printed out and up front for reference so that you won’t feel like you are on an Easter egg hunt looking for your card. Please let me know if I did not catch all of my misspellings or part mislabeling from this past week (cutting and pasting challenges!). I think I made all of the necessary corrections but please let me know if I missed something.
Rehearsal Reflection
My Lord, What a Morning
– With a little help from Deb playing parts, this was our most successful run through of this piece. If you have time, please listen to the performance recording this week. The more everyone hears the harmonic progression, the better off we will be. We need to know where we are going in order to get there!
– soften the T at the end of ‘what’ so that it is more like, whadah mornin’
– good watching! The tempo changes were much more together.
– we will continue to work on phrasing in this piece and also work toward singing it a cappella (in tune!)
Izar ederrak
– if you have not already, please write the translation of the Basque in your score so that you have it for reference as you sing. It is such a sweet story!
– this piece has definitely come a long way…but there are still some mystery notes in some voices. If you have time this week, please sing with the practice files and check to make sure you have your pitches.
– check your part at the page turn from page 5 to page 6.
– m. 24 has a difficult minor 2nd interval for parts 3 and 4. With the seating chart we are using this coming week, 3s and 4s are not standing next to each other and I am hopeful this will help you tune.
Mēnestinis Naki Brauca
– This piece has come such a long way! Hooray! Your intonation was much improved!
– we need to work on dynamic contrasts
– we need to work on balance, blend, and texture
Song to the Moon
– note in your music at the beginning of the phases if you have a pick up or if you come in on the downbeat (especially mm. 13, 17, 25, 32, 58, 66, 70)
– we still have note mysteries mm. 55-57 if you would please check your part and try singing with the practice files so that you can hear how it fits in with all of the other parts.
– we will work on the aleatoric section mm. 81-end
– syllabic stress is important in this piece (as in all pieces!). It would be helpful for you to read the text aloud to help us sing meaningful phrases.
– dynamic contrasts are necessary to bring this piece to life – we will keep working!
The Dawn is Not Distant
– we will continue to work on balance – not only between the voice parts but with Deb, as well.
– nice work with the phrasing – the dynamic contrasts are lovely!
I Got the Sun in the Morning
– Love the enthusiasm! Now I also love the dynamics and am getting closer to loving the vowels!
Bright Morning Stars
– Deb gave good suggestions on phrasing – we will work on a more legato phrase.
Lakutshon ‘Illanga
– we will continue to work on balance so that we clearly hear the melody
– check your pitches on page 3…still a few mystery notes.
Looking Ahead to 12/12/22
My Lord, What a Morning
Izar Ederrak
Menestinis Naki Brauca
Song to the Moon
Moon Goddess
Two Eastern Pictures II. Summer
Par’O Era Estrellero
When You Wish Upon a Star
Looking Ahead to 12/19/22
Sing through our concert! Woohoo!
Holiday social – bring a treat to share
Hope you have a great rest of your week – see you Monday!
Laura