Agenda for 11/6

I keep posting that we're having great rehearsals, and I'm doing it again. You've got to realize that I work with a lot of choral groups, but I come out of each Tuesday with a really good sense of accomplishment. So there! That was a great rehearsal.

I'm going to start doing more work in the chancel (stage) area). We'll be able to set some chairs there, so you won't be standing for the full time. (You won't be standing for the full concert anyhow.)

I think it's time to think about adding some other repertoire to the program--maybe a holiday carol sing? Let me know your thoughts on Tuesday.

I don't think that lighting is a huge issue there, but, just in case,:

• The Mighty Bright Duet Music Light is light enough to clip onto your folder (towards the center). You can position each head for each page. 

• I actually prefer having two single-headed lights. If you have two Mighty Bright XtraFlex Music Lights (one on each side of the folder), you'll have a little more flexibility. 

• Both of these have really good battery life, and they're quite bright. You might find some other options at local music stores, but, in my experience, these light clip-ons are the easiest and brightest to work with.

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

• 7-7:15 warmup
• 15-25 O thou that tellest (read/review)
• 25-45 His Yoke
• We did really good work on this, especially on stage. There's still a bit of insecurity with some of the entrances, so we'll repeat our work on this.
• 45-8pm And he shall purify
• There are a lot of exposed/unaccompanied sections in this movement. We'll work it backwards till break.
• 8-8:05 BREAK
• 5-20 And he shall purify
• Now we'll work it forwards.
• 20-35 And the glory
• We had ensemble trouble on this, especially with the new tempo. Let's see how it goes on stage.
• 35-45 Hallelujah
• Let's run the entire thing, since we just spent some time on the harder parts.
• 8:45 All dismissed--except for Norman & Allie. (Norman, we need to look at your solo a bit.)

Agenda for 10/30

First, we welcome our two (!) new tenors and congratulate our new soloists. This week, we'll look at the choruses we've been neglecting.

7-7:15 warmup
15-35 Hallelujah, all of it, but focusing on B, C, D, F
35-55 Glory to God
55-8pm BREAK
8-8:20 And the Glory
20-40 His Yoke
40-9pm For unto us: F, B, D, E

Audition Results

Thank you to those of you who auditioned last night. Here are the results:

• Juliana: There were shepherds--And lo--And the angel--And suddenly
• Ed: For behold
• Norman: The people that walked
• David: Thus saith the Lord

I'll be scheduling these during regular rehearsals. They are, for the most part, learned, but we'll be doing a few tweaks over the coming weeks. 

Congratulations!

Agenda for 10/23

Thank you for a fantastic rehearsal. We are now ready to start making some music! This week will include some time for soloist auditions. We'll also be focusing on those choral moments when there's minimal accompaniment so that you can be sure of exactly what you're singing.

AGENDA
7-7:15 warmup
15-35 And he shall purify

• beginning to B
• clarifying the bass line in B (p.40)

35-8pm For unto us

• The entire thing has minimal accompaniment, so we need to be able to sing this (more or less) a capella
• More specifically, we'll work A-C, then mid-D to E, then mid-E to F

8-8:20 His yoke is easy

• Let's face it: we need to look at all of this (except D), since there's minimal accompaniment.

8:20 Audition time! Non-auditioners may leave, although auditions are open to all listeners.

I may not hear entire audition pieces, depending on time. Auditions will be heard in order of registration: Ed, Juliana, Norman, Lenell, David

Ed Sawyer: No.11 Air For Bass No 2 Recitative For Tenor No 10 Recitative For Bass

Julianna Coughlin: There were shepherds--And lo, p.79 And the angel--And suddenly, pp.80-81

Norman Dubois: The People That Walked

Lenell Wyman: There Were Shepherds And the angel--And suddenly Rejoice greatly He shall feed his flock

David Keating: Thus Saith the Lord The People Who Walked

Agenda for 10/16

Thank you for another solid, productive rehearsal. A few business items first:

• The deadline to sign up for solo auditions is 10/16. Please see the links to the right for information on solos.
• I am Chorus Master for the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra's November concert of Messiah and Schubert's Magnificat. If you'd like to participate, I can waive rehearsals as needed. You might even want to carpool with other interested members. If you'd like to do this, please let me know by this Sunday, October 14. For information on rehearsals, dates, etc., click here and read the information in the right column. This is a great opportunity to sing with a professional orchestra in a magnificent space! Feel free to email me with any questions.

AGENDA

The basic plan is for us to focus on the more challenging choruses in this order:

• His Yoke is Easy
• And He Shall Purify
• For Unto Us

We'll then look at some of the easier ones:

• O thou that tellest
• And the glory

See you then!

Agenda for 10/9

That was another great rehearsal. Welcome to our new members!

If you haven't already, please start to use the practice files (linked to the right). You can also search for any of the choruses on YouTube just to see how they sound.

Also, we've been starting about 5' late each week. Please be ready to sing at 7pm.

This will be the week where we focus on the more difficult choruses:

7-7:15 warmup
15-40 And he shall purify: work the entire movement in reverse order
40-8:05 For unto us: we'll work the entire movement in reverse order
8:05-8:10 BREAK
10-35 His Yoke is easy
35-55 We'll review Glory to God & Hallelujah

Remember: solo audition information is linked to the right===>>