Dear Singers,
 
Thanks to all of you for a wonderful and memorable concert on Sunday!  I assure you that this was a highlight for me, as well as a showcase for your fine talent as singers.  There have been excellent reviews from members of the audience, as we always hope there will be.
 
A few “housekeeping” items are important here:

1.  The LCS has been invited to provide a brief musical beginning to an exhibit opening at the Polk Museum of Art, Friday, April 8, 6:00 p.m. We’ll strive to create a small ensemble from the larger membership [c. 15 – 20?] to sing 2 short pieces.  We’ll discuss at rehearsal, but I might do recruiting/selecting, in order to create a workable balance of voice parts.
2. Your Beethoven rehearsals are subject to the ISO calendar, as well as providing some additional time for the choruses to meet together.  These sessions are all on Mondays or Tuesdays, but please consult the website information for particulars.
3. As you know, the scope of last Monday’s rehearsal was completely different from our first combined session, in which an overview was attempted.  On Monday, we were able to slow down and devote time to individual passages, both notes and text.  I believe that this was important: we needed to demystify the piece, to find out that those scary passages and words really are manageable.  And further, only with a little familiarity with the score can we make some informed decisions about your assignment to specific vocal lines. [Sopranos: Some of you will be altos at times.  Altos: You’ll occasionally be tenors. Etc…..]  We’ll give you some of those reassignments in advance anyway.  It’s important that your voices are used wisely.
4. Some of your Beethoven scores are already marked with measure numbers and rehearsal letters.  If they are not, you need to have them clearly indicated.  Also, there are several performance marks that Mark Thielen has already given us.  These will be provided separately from this note on the website, so please take time to mark your scores accordingly. (Should be posted within the next day.)
5. On Monday, we got halfway through.  Next rehearsal will be the rest! [But please don’t forget what we’ve accomplished.]

 
Best,

When I have sung my songs to you I’ll sing no more, T’would be a sacrilege to sing at another door.  We’ve worked so hard to hold our dreams just you and I.  I could not share them all again I’d rather die with just the thought that I had loved so well so true.   That I could never sing again, that I could never never sing again except to you!
  
Larry

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​Dear Singers,
 
It’s that exhilarating and nervous time:  Only one more Monday rehearsal remains before the March 20 concert!  We know so much of the music well, but will everything be ready to put together?  We can sing all (well, mostly all) of our pieces effectively now – but sometimes it takes the third time through to accomplish that.  Last Monday’s session reminded us dramatically that pieces that we’ve not reviewed in a few weeks can become very stale.  There are real challenges in learning a full program without losing the things we’ve learned in early weeks. You’re a fine ensemble and I know you’ll do well.  But please keep in mind the following:
 
-  On Monday, we managed to do a complete run-through of our music, until the final pieces.  These were the spirituals, and they’ll need particular attention next rehearsal.  Please look at the Moses Hogan especially.  Listen to one of the YouTube versions and emulate the accuracy/clarity/expression you hear.  There are tough rhythms there and we need to make them right.
 
-  We’re still stuck with noses in music. There’s no excuse for that. None. No singer can do the job if eyes are down.  It’s a posture thing; it’s a communication thing; it’s an energy thing.  Thanks to the many who are doing well here.
 
-  The pieces we’ve had for a shorter time are less internalized.  We’ve simply not lived with them long enough to “own” them and feel natural as we sing.  You can speed that process by looking at them before Monday, by singing though your part, by listening to other performances.  Last rehearsal taught us that many folks haven’t been reviewing the pieces we thought we knew – and we had to relearn.  Are you comfortable enough with each piece to make it come alive?  Can you make the “pop” music POP?
 
-  Men: You sounded very good on the “Ave Maria,” but there isn’t much time to polish.  We’ll sing it for the women on Monday, but we definitely need a “woodshedding” by ourselves.  We’ll possibly fit it in at the end of rehearsal, so please be able to stay 15 minutes at the end.
 
-  And, please mark your calendar for the LCS “dress” rehearsal on Saturday, March 19, from 10:00 a.m. – noon at All Saints.
 
I look forward to a wonderful Monday rehearsal. Sell tickets!
 
Best,
Larry