Hello Everyone,
Thank you for a beautiful rehearsal last night and for your additional 11 minutes at the end.
I just finished listening to our rehearsal recording and it was a very solid run through of our repertoire – congratulations all for the work we have accomplished together on our music.
I noticed a big improvement in people looking up from their music. When I looked at you, you were almost always looking back at me. 🙂
We have areas of improvement (won’t we always!?!) and we will address these at our next rehearsal.
Moon Goddess
– dynamic contrasts are wonderful – especially the crescendos throughout.
– m. 86 check the alto part
– m. 74 is unison (some trying to sing harmony here!)
– lots of confident singing – brava!
- Summer
– remember to group the 8th notes in the humming sections with a lift between each of the groups. Almost everyone is consistently doing this.
– let’s see if we can sing the a cappella sections softer (but still in tune). These sections are much improved. These sections should also have a feeling of forward motion so be sure to not drag.
– the ending was really together when we went back to fix it. Thanks!
Bright Morning Stars
– Nice solo work, Brystana and Jasmine! Your singing is in tune, expressive and overall lovely to hear.
– Some A2s had trouble finding the correct starting pitch (started too low) so let’s please work on that.
– m. 22 A2 part softer as you repeat ‘mothers’
– Overall, this piece sounds really nice.
The Dawn is Not Distant
– I will do a better job communicating tempo. It was a bit too fast until we settled in mid-way. So let’s all watch for tempo so that the ensemble is better.
– Lovely solo Jennifer
– The pp at the chorus entrance was outstanding. Really great job with dynamics throughout.
Izar Edderak
– Two big challenges remain with this piece – ensemble precision and intonation. The alto (Part 6) entrance is flat on the A (which is our home tone in the key of A) and then moving to the B is really under pitch so that we dropped an entire half step by the time we got to the second page of music. We’ll work on that at rehearsal, but if you have time to sing with a tuner or the practice files before next Monday, it would be really helpful so that you can see how you are doing individually.
– For ensemble precision, we need to subdivide the beat…we should all feel a steady eighth note pulse throughout.
My Lord, What a Morning
– Same two challenges…intonation and subdivision of the beat.
– It’s tough for Kinley to sing her solo without a solid sense of the key from the chorus…we’ll work on this together…but any work you can do individually with a tuner on this piece this week would also help. Singing with the practice files or YouTube recordings won our website would definitely help because those are in tune.
Song to the Moon
– very expressive singing. The accents and dynamic contrasts are really wonderful.
– bringing out the consonants will really help bring the text and story to life.
– again, subdividing the beat will help us to have a stronger sense of ensemble and rhythmic precision.
Par’o Era Estrellero
– this was overall much improved from last week
– intonation issues at the alto entrance continue to be a challenge, also out of tune on the last page.
– dynamic contrasts would help give the verses added interest as well as give shape to the phrases throughout
– the faster tempo is helpful
Lakutshon ‘Illanga
– we did not sing this as beautifully tuned as we have at other rehearsals…hopefully it was just that we were rushed toward the end of rehearsal. If you have time, sing it with the recording I made – it is in tune! Hopefully, that will help you sing in tune, too, and feel in your voice where the pitch should lie.
– phrase shaping with dynamics was nice.
– the alto and soprano melodies were heard – nice balance!
Menestinis Naki Brauca
– please work on this if you need to learn your part. There is a really helpful pronunciation guide on our website and the YouTube recording of Latvian Voices singing this piece is divine.
– the last chorus we sang was beautiful!
I Got the Sun in the Morning
– great solo work from Rah!
– everyone fixed the wrong rhythm in m. 28 – hooray!
– please sing a rounder vowel for ‘moon’
– overall this piece is super fun and I love it when we sing it! It has great energy and style.
When You Wish Upon a Star
– this piece is so lovely. I enjoy hearing you sing it beyond what I can express. I am sure we will touch hearts with this one.
– there are a few times we are not together – please notice that in m. 5 I give Deb a gesture to move on beat 4 before the chorus moves on the and of 4 – I know that might look confusing so we will go over it together next week.
– be sure to watch in mm. 34-35 so that we all release at the caesura and come back in together.
I have attached the program notes so that you can read up on our repertoire if you have time this week. Hopefully, if you have not already discovered a personal connection with these pieces you will discover something that captures your heart or mind (or both!).
Wishing everyone a good (and COVID-free) week ahead. I am looking forward to seeing you on Monday!
Laura