Hello Everyone,
Thank you for your work last night with the special treat of Sisters’ Voices joining us. It takes extra effort from everyone to combine ensembles – special thanks to Leandra and the SV singers!
We will rehearse with SV again on 12/15 and will sing through all of our combined pieces during the first half of rehearsal:
What Happens When a Woman?
Wild Embers
Girl With the Numbers
Richer for Her
Like a Mountain
Still I Rise
Rehearsal Reflection:
Richer for Her
– Beautiful singing, phrasing, dynamics, consonants! Gorgeous!
Like a Mountain
– the biggest challenge with this piece right now is TEMPO. It is marked 84 bpm and we were barely at 72 bpm – way too slow. The reference recording is a bit slow – please use the practice files for the correct tempo.
– we separated the accented notes on ‘You cant’ and that really brought energy to the phrase.
– altos, count your phrase release in m. 29. You stop singing on beat 2.
Girl With the Numbers
– intonation remains our biggest challenge on this piece but hopefully, when we put the piece together next, we will have confidence as the tonal center shifts. This is a piece that is definitely helpful to have ‘in your ear’ so that you know where you are headed. I think it’s a bit like studying the turn by turn directions on Google maps (or a paper map!) before you set out on an adventure rather than just going where the road leads. Knowing where you should arrive at each juncture (or intersection!) is really important to have in your ears.
Wild Embers
– Intonation on this one is also our biggest challenge. Our pitch drift was overall about a half step low. And, it happened very dramatically right at the beginning of the piece. I checked the recording I made last night with my tuner and heard this:
– sopranos started in tune but then in m. 6 descended a bit too far from the F to the D (-35 cents).
– Then, when the altos entered on their D it was lower even still (-45 cents). Each 1/2 step is 100 cents.
– By m. 10, we were almost a full 1/2 step flat. We were unstable (not in a tonal center) through m. 24 and then settled into consistently a 1/2 step under until we arrived at the last phrase which took us about 3/4 step flat.
– sopranos started in tune but then in m. 6 descended a bit too far from the F to the D (-35 cents).
– Then, when the altos entered on their D it was lower even still (-45 cents). Each 1/2 step is 100 cents.
– By m. 10, we were almost a full 1/2 step flat. We were unstable (not in a tonal center) through m. 24 and then settled into consistently a 1/2 step under until we arrived at the last phrase which took us about 3/4 step flat.
– If you have a tuner, please check your part with a tuning app. Or practice with your practice file at a slow speed and really listen to see if you are singing individually in tune. We will continue to work together on this.
– A2 m. 25 “they should have checked the ashes” is in unison with the S2s. (y’all were early). I’ll try to help you there.
What Happens When a Woman?
– Our biggest challenge last night was ensemble. I know it is difficult to not anticipate the stomp ahead of the beat…I have some ideas that we can try at our next rehearsal.
– No stomps m. 18
No Fairy Tale Here
– good work on this! (especially on dynamics!)
– the beginning ts t t needs separation so that it doesn’t sound like one long tssssss
– I will work on being clear transitioning from m. 12-13 but will appreciate it if everyone will also count that intro section. It’s a challenge for me to conduct while paying attention to the narration which does not have a set rhythm. I will appreciate your help with everyone observing the rests at the beginning of m. 13.
Malala
– look at the transition from m. 73-74. We missed a solid start on an octave E on beat one of m. 74. I will be more clear – I think we need a breath all together on beat 3 of m. 73. That should tighten things up here.
– we are not hitting all of the unisons in this piece so have a look at the beginning of your phrase and see if it is unison or harmony. Many of the beginnings of phrases are in unison or octave unison.
Rise Up
– much improved intonation at the beginning! Yay! Altos, keep it light and focused and we will be in tune!
– altos mind the rest on beat 4 in m. 3
Be Like Jane
– Good job, S2s and A2s with the tempo on mm. 79-99 – much improved.
– Much improved everyone mm. 125-135
Hands Upon the Plow
– Good job making the modulation at m. 106. 🙂
Looking Ahead to 12/8/25
We will have a mixed sectional beginning at 6:45pm in the regular rehearsal space. All are welcome. Please look through your music and send your section leader the measures you want us to cover and I will answer as many questions as possible up to 7:25pm.
We will sing through all of our repertoire (exciting times!).
Thanks, everyone!
Laura