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 To all .....
1. What great fun on Monday, as we read through some of the greatest choral music in existence! We're continuing to welcome new members for "Phase #2" of the season, so please encourage additional singers to join us. We'll be getting used to Beethoven and adding other new pieces each week. 2. For your Messiah itch, this late-breaking news from Neil Sherrouse for the weekend: This is really 11th-hour, but I just got the call on this an hour ago (I think they were fishing for basses and a bass soloist!) There's a Messiah sing-along tomorrow -- Sat., Dec. 5 -- at First Presbyterian in Bartow at 4:00. They will provide scores. There's no rehearsal -- just come and let 'er rip! [Neil is obviously writing that to his fellow basses, but that's for everyone interested.] 3. As always with our LCS music, there's typically a YouTube video of somebody's performance. (Some better than others....) But they can be instructive. At this point, I leave those searches to each of you. Thanks for being a great ensemble! Larry Dear Singers,
What wonderful accomplishments you had last night!! All of us (LCS, girl's choir, orchestra, conductor) learned a lot - and the rough spots we experienced and (mostly) conquered were part of the journey to a great dress rehearsal on Saturday and final concert. Because of the late hour at rehearsal's end, there wasn't enough time to emphasize a few items; so here they are: 1. The program goes to print, but there is still time to include late-breaking ad/donor recognition. We've received about 3 generous donations, but we've generally had more. If you think you might have a friend, a business, a philanthropist who would help support our musical projects, please make the contact now! I need information by tomorrow, midday, but there's still time. 2. Talk it up!! Advance ticket sales are the best way to get people to show up. [In May, Jean and I attended an afternoon performance of Renaissance/early Baroque choral music in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. It was sold out!!! Let's do that in Lakeland too.] 'Nuff said. 3. Enormous praise to the 70+% who were looking up, out of their music last night!! I believe that you all sensed how vital it is to watch the baton, rather than depend on your neighbors for entrances and tempos. When we unified our feeling of pulse and vitality, the music came alive. Many thanks. 4. For both clarity and drama, please mark a lift (a 1/16th rest) after the word "Glory," m. 137, p. 14 of the Te Deum. 5. Plan to be quietly present by 9:45 a.m., Saturday, in order to find seating (and adjust, if necessary). Downbeat at 10:00. 6, And just in case, the schedule: Saturday Nov. 14 10 a.m.-noon Combined Choirs/orchestra Branscomb stage Sunday Nov. 14 2 p.m. Choral Call-time Choral Room 3 p.m. CONCERT! Branscomb Monday(s) Nov. 30-Dec.14 7 p.m. Rehearsals resume Choral Room This promises to be a wonderful concert. Thanks for the important role each of you plays in the music of the LCS. See you soon! Larry I received the following notes from Larry after I had posted the rehearsal/concert information -- Craig McCaa
********************************** 10/28/15 Dear singers, Excellent work, singers! It’s such great fun to hear great music coming together. We’re almost there, but please keep in mind: Only one more Monday rehearsal before we join forces with the orchestra. At that point, there will be no opportunity to check pitches, review words, or explain rhythms. With that in mind, please note the “assignments” below: Assignment 1: Please mark your calendars carefully for the coming schedule through December: Monday Nov. 2 7 p.m. Last LCS (alone) rehearsal Choral Room Monday Nov. 9 7 p.m. Combined LCS/orchestra Choral Room Saturday Nov. 14 10 a.m.-noon Combined Choirs/orchestra Branscomb stage Sunday Nov. 15 2 p.m. Choral Call-time Choral Room 3 p.m. CONCERT! Branscomb Monday(s) Nov. 30-Dec.14 7 p.m. Rehearsals resume Choral Room Assignment 2: Because we did concentrated work on several less solid sections last week, you may have found areas that were not yet comfortable for you. Please take a moment to look over last week’s rehearsal material, just to reinforce the improvements you made. Assignment 3: Second halves: We did serious study of the first parts of the Confitebor and the Beatus Vir, but had to (in the interest of time) neglect the second halves. Please review those sections before Monday: pp. 22-28 and 39-45, just to be ready. Assignment 4: Programs/Posters/Tickets/Donors: We’ll be distributing PR materials and tickets on Monday. Your help in spreading the word, soliciting advertisers and sponsors, and selling tickets is vital. Please think about ways you can help here. We want to sing for a wonderful audience! Thanks for your great work! See you on Monday, Larry 2015 Fall Concert Rehearsal Schedule:
Monday Nov. 2 - Last rehearsal without orchestra Monday Nov. 9 - Rehearsal with orchestra in our regular FSC rehearsal space Saturday Nov. 14 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM; Rehearsal with orchestra on the Branscomb stage Sunday Nov. 15 - 3:00 PM Concert with FSC Children's Choir, Girls Choir and orchestra at Branscomb Aud, FSC; Singers call at 2:00 PM Dear singers, You've done very well, but now the tough work begins: Despite our initial success in making the music sound "pretty good," we're now confronting passages in which our command of notes/words/rhythms is not as strong as we might have assumed. Monday night's rehearsal made that rather clear. Unless we all know the music securely, independently, and without encouragement from fellow singers, we don't know it well enough. It was evident that some singers were producing their parts timidly - and we have to address that issue every season. With that in mind, please note the “assignments” below: Assignment 1: For the last three years, the initial Director’s Notes have included the following paragraph, with a quote from the beloved opera star and former FSC voice professor, Beverly Wolff. It’s very applicable now, as well: Beverly Wolff: “Sing with authority!” We’ve done fine work in our recent rehearsals and I do hope you’re allowing some mid-week time to review that work and to refresh the notes and thoughts you encountered on Mondays. It’s no secret that uncertain singing doesn’t translate into good performance, ever. So please strive to solidify your skills in the passages we focused on at rehearsal; strive to be certain. Sing with authority. Assignment 2: If you have time (at this late date) to write in English translation to your score of the 4th movement of the Mozart, please do. Assignment 3: If you haven’t had opportunity to hear a good performance of the Mozart, here is a wonderful and exciting one from YouTube. It’s a little quick for us to copy tempos, perhaps, but it’s very insightful and beautifully expressed. A nice inspiration! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTiR8U2d4O0 Not an “assignment,” but a great opportunity: The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performs Saturday (tonight) at 7 p.m., 1st Presbyterian Church, Lakeland. They’re a fine and unusual group – and there will be NO “uncertain singing”!! Here is a taste of their work: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=552690261514521 Thanks for your great work! See you on Monday, Larry Dear singers,
I continue to be exceedingly pleased with the wonderful progress you're making. You've conquered so much in short time, and the musicality with which you sing is truly impressive. I trust that you're also having a great time with these pieces. Please remember that our remaining rehearsal weeks dwindle quickly, so take nothing for granted. This week's Notes are short: 1. The Translations: Because the Latin/English translations given to you last week seemed artificial at times, I'm sending one that fits the words a little better. See if this version makes more sense to you as you pencil in the English translations. Understand that any translation is a compromise, juggling the issues of idioms, word order, and connotation. Even if you're well acquainted with the particular Psalm or biblical passage being quoted, you may find that the latin version puts things in unexpected arrangements. 2. Now that you have the "improved RSV" words, please take a little time to provide your music (in pencil) with the English words for Mvt. Two. [and Mvt. 3, if you have a chance] This helps all of us understand so much about expression and meaning as we sing. Thanks for your terrific work. Have a great week! Larry |
Archives
May 2024
|