Dear Singers, Before the big weekend, a few brief notes: 1. The attached PDF provides the complete program order, almost exactly as we had used on Monday. This will help you arrange your music folder before Saturday. [Black folders, please. Inexpensive ring binder or term-paper folder can work, as long as you're comfortable with how it feels.] 2. Dress for Sunday reminder: men, black tuxes, black bow tie; women: long black dresses with long sleeves or separates that create that general effect. Ergo, black pants can work. Three-quarter sleeves can work. Simple jewelry ok, but no sparkles. And, of course, no perfumes/colognes for anybody! 3. Saturday rehearsal downbeat is 10 a.m., so please arrive c. 9:45 to get arranged and to avoid confusions. If a few folks can be present in the sanctuary at 9:30 for any remaining set-up, that will be helpful. We will need to strike the rehearsal setup at the end of practice. 4. Sunday call-time is 2 p.m. 5. Please look (even if briefly) at every one of the pieces in your folder. Take a moment to set the likely tempo in your mind, to get the sound playing in your memory, to remind yourself of the things you have to do to sing it at your best level. Try doing this in the order we'll sing them, so you'll get a sense of the program flow. If you have only 30 seconds per piece to devote to your review, that's still helpful. 6. And, of course, look at your"problem" notes, if you still have them. There is no available time on Saturday to correct these, so we have to trust that each singer has done the homework. Thanks for being a fine ensemble. I look forward to seeing and hearing you soon!! Larry
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 Dear Singers,
First, and most important: Rehearsal this coming Monday (March 29) will be at All Saints’ Episcopal Church!! We had announced that we had been bumped from our regular FSC room because of other events, but hadn’t been able to provide the new location. For those who aren’t familiar with the area, enter from the rear of the church (209 S. Iowa Ave.) where directions to the choir room will be posted. There should be ample parking in either the City Hall lot or the large parking garage on Iowa. Second, there are only three remaining Monday rehearsals before the March 20 concert! We’re in wonderful shape on much of the more difficult music but now must concentrate on these central tasks:
Third, please mark your calendar for the LCS “dress” rehearsal on Saturday, March 19, from 10:00 a.m. – noon. And, in anticipation of other great things: We got together for the first time with Beethoven and many other good folks on Monday evening. There was little question that we were becoming part of an exciting and important grand enterprise, and there was a good feeling about what we sang and heard. [No, we won’t have any other occasions to walk as far as was required that night!] Thanks for being such a strong part of that session. The students I spoke to were very pleased to be singing alongside you. Please pass the word to singers who might not remember about the location change for Monday. Thanks for your excellent work on a such a variety of music. Our upcoming concert promises to be a successful and rewarding event – and I hope you’re excited. Sell tickets! Best, Larry ********* SEE SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS MAP LINK BELOW **********
I hope you’re having a wonderful week. I’ve heard from all sources that your rehearsal with Kris Ridgley went extremely well (as I was certain that it would). I appreciate his stepping in to allow Jean and me a rare opportunity to be away for a weekend. [Our first visit to Key West, with beautiful weather!!] I know you’re much more accomplished on much of the music as a result of his/your good work. I know that you’ve all become aware of the location changes for next week’s rehearsal, but are waiting for a few important details. Here they are: 1. Rehearsal(s) will be at Southeastern University, 7:00-8:30 p.m. They will begin in the new Choral Rehearsal hall and then divide into sectionals (S and A; T and B) for about half of the time. Session will end with combined voices, Mark Thielen conducting. 2. Two pieces: Pfautsch, Consecrate, and Beethoven 9th. The Pfautsch work will be brief but provide a good warm-up. Everybody will be learning notes together in the Beethoven, so don’t panic if you’re not solid yet. We have been working on more urgent material and we’ll have April to concentrate. And, you’re good readers (and leaders). 3. At the end of rehearsal, we’ll have posters and tickets for the March concert. We all know how important it is to get the word out, so make sure you pick these up! 4. Yes, I know: Many of you have never been to the SEU campus, so do advance GPS-ing beforehand if necessary. Your arrival/parking/orientation is complicated further by the several construction projects now underway. The parking at SEU is always challenging, but evening may provide some additional space. Basic advice: Arrive early, please. 5. Please be prepared to have fun and work hard. This is our first chance to meet our sister ensembles and to have time with the other directors. Furthermore, the SEU campus is very beautiful (except for the construction sites) – and I think you’ll enjoy your visit. The recent information from Dr. Dan Gordon (of SEU) is below my Notes. It provides a link to the campus map, as well as directions to the choral hall. I look forward to a great rehearsal on Monday. Best, Larry ************************************ From Dr. Gordon: CLICK HERE FOR CAMPUS MAP Folks, this is the most recent campus map we have. Please note that the new Choral Rehearsal Hall is "9" on the legend. If you are standing near Bush Chapel and facing the "Servant Fountain" in the middle of campus, the Choral Rehearsal hall is just about straight beyond the fountain. It is at the foot of the gigantic five story bldg that is currently under construction. The new bldg is a live and learn center that will be dorms in the top three floors and classrooms and rehearsal halls underneath. This new facility will house music and some communications, as well as a few other things. The modular bldgs are not on the legend, but they are between where Spence Hall once was and the Soccer Complex. There is parking back there as well. Parking can be tough at SEU, but the best place to find spots is to the right of the soccer field on this map. There are lots of places over there in the evening. Dear Singers,
Congratulations on your great work on our current music packet. The majority of the notes are nearly in hand, a wonderful accomplishment at midpoint in our preparation. You’ve read well, started to tune well, and much of our sound is beautiful and expressive. Now (as most of you experienced singers know) much of the hard work really begins, if we’re to be truly ready for public appearance. We’ll concentrate on many things Monday night, but here’s a short list of things to plan for: 1. Lose the dependence on the printed page. Even if you think you’re looking up a lot, there’s a bunch of folks who aren’t holding music high and/or have eyes mostly down. The last photos (from November’s concert) were almost useless for PR because we looked like amateur, insecure singers in nearly every one. Where your eyes point, that’s where you’re aiming your sound. And your audience will never connect with you if you’re lost in the printed page. 2. Vowel color. We need to avoid the “grinny” and flat vowels that seem more related to normal speech sounds than to lovely singing. We talk a lot about vertical space in the sound and you achieve that so beautifully in warm-up and also when reminded during pieces. It seems that the difficulty lies in each singer’s commitment to this issue when not reminded. This is especially tough when our reflexes produce that “other” vowel sound automatically – and when shaping the progress of a diphthong in natural speech ways seems so logical. However, we know from hearing so many choirs in the past that good, accurate, pure vowels are requirements of any decent ensemble. 3. Consonant clarity. This is partly a matter of consonant production – but, more specifically, accurate rhythmic placement of consonants. We worked hard on a few passages last rehearsal, striving to unify the beginning and ending sounds of words. It made an enormous difference when every voice produced “d” or “k” or “s” together, and the texts came alive. 4. Linearity, dynamics, expression. Nobody needs to be told that we’re only barely there. As an example from last Monday, the first entrances of the “Cantique” (our final, “good-bye” song) were syllabic and mechanical, certainly not the way we know the piece needs to be expressed. This didn’t happen because people weren’t trying hard – or didn’t know the notes. When we remembered how an artistic and elegant line was absolutely necessary to the feeling of the music and then started over, our singing rose to the occasion! It was breathtaking and moving, and I know we all felt part of an important experience. Please take extra care to write helpful expressive/dynamic notes in your music during rehearsals and in your private study so this will happen every time. Monday’s rehearsal will include work on the above, more attention to the Beethoven, as well as some sectional work. [Gentlemen: Ave Maria!!] Also, please check the website for important dates in the LCS calendar, as they unfold. Some good links to YouTube performances are provided below. They’re all interesting and I hope they’re helpful. Best, Larry Many thanks to Lucia Solomon [LCS alto section] for compiling this terrific set of YouTube links to almost all of our current pieces(!!!). Some of these are concert performances, while others provide study tracks which are useful for studying individual parts. You should be able to use those links to switch to other voice parts, as you need. The least satisfactory performance (to my ears) is the “Cry Out and Shout,” but the one here is perhaps better than most. I checked dozens of other performances on the net and there doesn’t seem to be even one without serious issues. (This gives us something to aim for.) Listen and enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DimA-83o1uU&list=PLSeWs55N4S3s-GSbXn0bkkj5uZx2iid1e And some other links: Moses Hogan, Anchored in the Lord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvQyfr31ams [Actual Hogan performance] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYWvenCO5CA [Reunion choir concert] Biebel, Ave Maria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVyCJlPiHFg [Chanticleer] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb_gYaOPsJQ [Matthew Curtis on all parts!!] Dorsey/Sevier, Precious Lord [another good one] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI9wv6ADF-8 [Doane College Alumni Choir] arr. Undine Moore, Daniel, Daniel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-JeVLFx71E [Sunday Night Singers] Berger, The Eyes of All https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evSEumnYZTs [Mormon Tabernacle] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV1TuSvWiIU [Nat’l Taiwan Univ. Chorus] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33I-MOnO_uQ&list=PLeA3BiJp7CD9_FWbCuWb0y8UYk3GkoLz&index=2 [Indiv. Parts] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOwYw1jlZE [more indiv. parts…] Current Information on Rehearsal and Concert Dates ......
Feb 22 - 7-8:30pm Combined Choruses Rehearsal @Southeastern University Feb 29 - 7-9 pm LCS rehearsal not at FSC [Location TBA] Mar 19 (Sat) - 10am - noon LCS dress rehearsal @ All Saints Episcopal Mar 20 1:45pm LCS call-time, @ All Saints Episcopal 3:00 pm CONCERT, @ All Saints Episcopal Apr 4 (Monday): Combined Choruses Rehearsal - 7-8:30pm @FSC M208 Apr 12 (Tuesday): Full rehearsal with orchestra - 7:30-9:30pm @ Youkey Apr 18 (Monday): Dress rehearsal with orchestra - 7:30pm @ Youkey April 19 (Tuesday): Concert in Youkey 7:30pm Just a few words of greeting, and hopes that you’re looking forward to the next installment of Monday rehearsals. As I’m sure you agree, these new pieces that we touched on during last week’s rehearsal already promise great experiences.
Additional titles will be added to your packets at next practice, which is certainly exciting. However, our time for study of individual pieces will necessarily become more limited and require us to work efficiently and to retain the accomplishments of each week’s rehearsal. I encourage you to (a) make generous and accurate markings (in pencil) during every rehearsal, and (b) to review the music sometime during each week between Mondays. These weekly Director’s Notes may help you focus on certain areas of concern – but you’ll find others on your own, I’m sure. (Your excellent markings will certainly help here!) In light of the above, please take time to look at and to listen to the two Finzi pieces. They’re both very exuberant but quite different in other ways. You’re nearly in control of the notes for “My Spirit Sang All Day,” but the “God Is Gone Up” is more challenging (and also we’ve spent less time on it). Please commit to learning your notes for both pieces before Monday night. It will be wonderful to put these together without wood-shedding your parts at rehearsal. God is Gone Up: (Georgia Boy Choir) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8XP1eGTWzM God Is Gone Up: (Stanford Univ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84mrFdSJZi0 God Is Gone Up: (Ruach Vocaal Jeugd Ensemble ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rAjBlYxaDc And, to learn notes: Soprano 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVr4J6iqXZo Soprano2 at http://youtu.be/Q1TLjqidsKY?hd=1 Alto1 at http://youtu.be/Z8ug_Iug72U?hd=1 Alto2 at http://youtu.be/42LfJIXIMok?hd=1 Tenor1 at http://youtu.be/RrZ4CciJg6E?hd=1 Tenor2 at http://youtu.be/oKUnYq0SUco?hd=1 Bass1 at http://youtu.be/267836-lmns?hd=1 Bass2 at http://youtu.be/rSO5_3H-9u8?hd=1 SATB at http://youtu.be/gf5hnPFRis0?hd=1 My Spirit Sang All Day: (Chanticleer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ-fhmWQLIQ And this last note: We’re sorry to learn that Sue Mayo has experienced germ difficulties the last few days and has been in the hospital. She hopes to be home by Friday and we wish her much improved health! Thanks to you all for fine singing. See you again soon. Larry Happy New Year to you all!! May your coming year be filled with rewarding experiences, good health, and great music.
With those earnest wishes in mind, we look forward to the return of our Monday night rehearsal schedule, beginning this coming week, January 4, at 7:00 p.m. During our December rehearsals, we were looking only at selected pieces from our spring packet, but now we’ll work on them all! The March 20 (3 p.m.at All Sts’) concert is billed as “The Great Singing Variety Show,” with the idea that some of choral music’s most representative genres would make an appearance. (Something for everyone, in other words. In this case, there’s traditional literature, musical theatre, popular, and spirituals.) There will be an additional two or three for our spring concert, but for the most part, here’s the music we have ahead: Gabriel Faure Cantique de Jean Racine Gerald Finzi God Is Gone Up With a Shout Gerald Finzi My Spirit Sang All Day Franz Biebl Ave Maria (men) Knut Nystedt Cry Out and Shout Jean Berger The Eyes of All arr. Moses Hogan My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord arr. Undine Moore Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord arr. Sevier Precious Lord, Take My Hand arr. Mark Hayes All the Things You Are arr. Mark Hayes Ain’t Misbehavin’ arr. Zegree It’s a Most Unusual Day arr. Zegree More I Cannot Wish You Z. Randall Stroupe When I Have Sung My Songs to You And of course: Beethoven!! Symphony 9 Wow!! Some of these are among the most challenging music we’ve ever done (the Moses Hogan and Undine Moore, for example), but all are rewarding to sing. We’ll have a good time. During this part of the season, there will a few “wrinkles” in the normal schedule, as we prepare for a Beethoven 9th performance on April 19. You will receive most of the details at Monday’s rehearsal, and we’ll also post them on the website as they become solidified. These changes will be minor (involving a couple of Monday night location changes and also two Tuesday nights when we rehearse with the ISO later in the spring). As we’ve already done (a little), we’ll some modest study of the Beethoven score, to get us up to speed for combined rehearsals with FSC and SEU singers in February and March. But we’ll save the concentrated work on that for later March and April. And now, a “gift” to you: If you’ve not already seen Eric Whitacre’s TED talk about his virtual choir, you should. I’ve watched it several times – and always finish the experience a little happier. It speaks to each of us as singers, about the joy of singing, about the urge to join our singing energies with those of others – to create something larger and more magical than anything we could do alone. There are other links to the complete pieces, but here is the first installment, which provides the best introduction: http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong We’ll be joined a few new voices next week, but you may know of other good singers who also should join us. Please pass the word! Thanks for fine singing. Larry |
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