Final word--till 2014

Bravo! Congratulations on a really great concert last night. I don't think it could have gone much better, and it went better than it ever did in rehearsal. This is excellent work!

Congratulations, too, to our soloists. And thank you to Allie for all of her patience and skill throughout the semester.

We resume on January 21, 7-9pm in Heineman. If you're a student, please consider registering for credit. It's not required, but enrollment numbers do help our status on campus. Also, please be sure to invite others to join us. We really need more students in the chorus.

Repertoire for next semester? I'm still working on it, but get ready for some awesome gospel music!

Have a safe and wonderful vacation!

Concert week!

What a nice rehearsal last night! You are all singing the program really well, and the strings add so much to the sound of the choir. Great work!

A few reminders for next Tuesday:

• Call time is 6pm prompt! We'll warm up quickly and then start/stop everything, ending by 6:45.
• The concert starts at 7pm.
• Dress is all-black.
• For the few of you registered for credit, you are asked to complete evaluations at 6:45.

I think that's about it. Be sure to invite your friends and family. Let's fill the house!

Agenda for 12/3

Thank you all again for being at rehearsal tonight and for being so attentive. You all have such good attitudes.

Next week, we must start promptly at 7pm, so please be ready to sing by then. I'll need help moving the piano, so any strong men or women are needed around 6:45.

The plan for next week is to run the program in order, followed by any necessary triage. 

Have a great and safe Thanksgiving!

Dress Rehearsal, part one

The November 26 rehearsal is, in effect, our first dress rehearsal. That's because the following week, when we have the strings, won't allow much time to pay attention to various choral items. In other words, we need to get it right this Tuesday!

Please put your music in order:

• Cantate
• Home for the Holidays
• Still, Still
• (men) Zion
• Gloria

There will also be two audience singalong carols, one each inserted before Cantate and before the Gloria.

Please listen to the entire Gloria before this week's rehearsal. It's important not just to the performance, but also to everyone singing next to you. Click here to listen as you read this or do your homework.

For Tuesday, we will go through the program in order, including all solos. Please be ready for an intense rehearsal. The end is near, and we have to do our best in this final push!

See you Tuesday night.

Agenda for 11/19

I had my worries after last week's rehearsal, but last night's rehearsal convinced me that this program will be in top shape by the dress rehearsal.

If you haven't bothered to listen to the YouTube recording yet, this is the moment to do so! It's linked in the right column of this blog.

We have only TWO rehearsals left, not counting the dress rehearsal. Please plan on being at all remaining rehearsals.

It's not too early to make sure you have all-black to wear for the concert. If you have any questions about dress, ask now before it's too late.

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:10 warmup
10-30 Cum sancto
30-40 Home for the Holidays. (Ed and Norman: I need to make a decision this week, so please be ready to sing the solos.)
40-45 Gloria I
45-8pm Et in terra pax
8-8:05 BREAK
5-15 transition Vivaldi 3-4-5
15-25 Vivaldi 8 and transition to 9
25-30 Vivaldi 11
30-35 Cantate Domino
35-45 Still, Still
45-50 Vivaldi 7
50-9pm Men only: Zion hoert

And for those who dare to watch:

Agenda for 11/12

It was useful to go through all of Vivaldi last night, if only to see exactly where we're having trouble. Did you know that we have just four rehearsals left? In actuality, that's more like three rehearsals, since the final one is a dress rehearsal with strings.

Last night, I asked everyone to starting getting his or her head into the Vivaldi. This is the time to do it! Please listen to the complete recording, linked to the right of this blog under "choral learning files." Please don't wait to do this.

Solo audition results:

• Laudamus te: Pat & Kim
• #6 Domine Deus: TBD
• #8 Domine Deus: Pat
• #10 Qui sedes: Pat
• Home for the Holidays: TBD. (Ed & Norman: I need both of you to be more confident on this. I'll ask you each to sing this as we rehearse the piece this week.)

At this point in time, I must ask you all to be at all remaining rehearsals for the full time. There simply isn't much time left.

Here's the plan for 11/12:

6:45-7 review solos with Pat & Kim, as needed; Juliana audition

7-7:10 warmup

10-20 Cantate Domino (review)

20-35 Et in terra pax

35-50 Domine fili

50-55 finding notes from #8-9 and #3-4

55-8:10 Home for the Holidays, with solos

10-15 BREAK

15-35 Cum sancto spiritu: working on all cues and entrances, but first working on each section

35-50 Still, still

50-9pm Zion (men)

Agenda for 11/5

We're just about a month from the concert, believe it or not. Our previous two rehearsal were a bit unusual, but it's been helpful to woodshed the repertoire.

On Tuesday, we'll do a state-of-the-union rehearsal and go through all of Vivaldi. At 8pm, we'll break for solo auditions. (There's no sign up for audition order; just be there to sing.) If you're not auditioning, you'll be free to go when auditions begin.

No more missing rehearsals, please!

I'll be there at 6:45 to go over all solos for anyone who wants to.

Audition date and agenda for next 10/29

Auditions for solos will take place on November 5 at 8pm.

• Men: please be prepared to sing all of Home for the Holidays
• Women: please be prepared to sing whatever pieces you are auditioning

I'll give more details on the audition process in rehearsal.

Last night's rehearsal wasn't a total wash. We got some good work done on our non-Vivaldi pieces. Even thought we weren't perfect, everyone was starting to listen to what's going on in the pieces. Not bad!

Here's the plan:

6:45-7 I'll meet with any women who wish to review solos.

7-15 warmup

15- 40 Vivaldi #12, working backwards

40-55 Vivaldi #9 & #4, work bridges from previous movements

55-8:00 BREAK

8-25 Vivaldi #2, mm.48-55, then 55-end, beginning to 48

25-40 Still Still, verses only

40-50 Vivaldi #5

50-9pm Vivaldi #1

agenda for 10/22

Soloist auditions will be held on 11/5 during rehearsal. More on that later...

6:45-7 I'll meet with any women who wish to review solos.

7-15 warmup

15-35 Home for the Holidays...a cappella!

35- 8pm Vivaldi #12, working backwards

8-8:05 BREAK

5-20 Vivaldi #9 & #4, work bridges from previous movements

20-35 Vivaldi #2, mm.48-55, then 55-end, beginning to 48

35- 50 Still Still, mm.23-38, bridges and ending

50-9pm men only: Zion hoert, if there are enough men!

Solo audition signup and Agenda for 10/15

I need to find out ASAP who is auditioning for solos and what solos people are auditioning for. For information on available solos--including newly linked YouTube audio--, click here. 

If you are interested in auditioning, click here to fill out the registration form. Please fill out this form before the 10/15 rehearsal. The audition itself will be in early November.

Here's the plan for next week:

6:45-7pm (for any women who come early): review solos
7-7:15 warmup
15-25 Cantate Domino: first half, possibly second
25-45 Vivaldi #2, mm.55-end; beginning to m.55
45-8:05 Vivaldi #7, mm.9-37; mm.53-end; mm.40-53
5-10 BREAK
10-25 Still, still, mm.6-17; mm.23-38
25-40 Home for the holidays, work straight through

8:40: women may leave
40-9pm: men Zion hoert

Agenda for 10/8

7-7:15 warmup

15-30 Cantate Domino

30-50 Vivaldi #12, mm. 36-54, mm.1-32

50-8:00 Vivaldi #8

8-8:05 BREAK

5-25 Vivaldi #5

25-40 Home for the Holidays pp-6-8

8:40 Men dismissed

8:40-9pm women go over Vivaldi solos

Information on Solos

Vivaldi

• #3: duet (two sopranos or soprano/alto)
• listen here
• #6: soprano solo; can be sung by an alto
• listen here
• #8: alto w/ choir; can be sung by a soprano (could be sung by a man, though not preferred)
• listen here
• #10: alto; can be sung by a soprano
• listen here

Home for the Holidays

• one solo, or the solo can be divided between two or three
• priority given to men, as the Vivaldi has female priority

There will also be other solo opportunities in the concert, such singing a solo verse of a carol that we sing with the audience. These won't be auditioned specifically, but choices of soloists will come out of those who audition for the above solos.

Agenda for 10/1/13

7-7:15 warmup

15-30 work Home for the Holidays pp.3-5

30-50 work Vivaldi #12

50-8:05 work Still, Still

5-10 BREAK

10-25 work Vivaldi #2, mm55-end

25-40 work Vivaldi #7, mm.62-end

8:40 sopranos go home

40-45 altos read Vivaldi #10

8:45 altos go home

45-9pm men read Wachet auf (new piece)

Agenda for 9/24

This was a great rehearsal! I'm so happy to have so many new members among us.

Yesterday, we worked on the following movements:

• 1
• 5
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 11

Next week, we'll continue reading through the Gloria. Hopefully, I'll have some non-Gloria music ready to read.

There are a number of soprano and alto solos in the Gloria, including a duet for soprano and alto. The specific solos are listed in the music you received last night and are also posted in the right column of this blog. In the coming weeks, I'll let you know about soloist auditions--but it's not too early to start planning for this!

Choral scores + solos & duets

These are now posted in the right column of this blog. For the Vivaldi, all solos/duets are for women's voices. If interested in a solo/duet, start looking/listening now!

There will be more repertoire this semester, but we'll be starting with the Vivaldi.

2013-2014 repertoire

Silly me, I forgot to post the repertoire for the season. In truth, I'm still working on the spring. (I don't usually decide this repertoire till I see who's on the roster for the school year.) 

For the fall, the large work will be Vivaldi's Gloria. (Potential soprano and alto soloists take note!) If all goes as planned, we'll be performing this with strings. The other part of the fall program will be some light, fun holiday music. Any requests? Post them as a comment to this blog post!

2013-2014 schedule

Happy mid-June greetings! Next season's dates are now on the Google calendar. Here's a summary of the most important stuff:

• Sept. 10: rehearsals resume
• Dec. 10: evening concert
• Jan. 21: rehearsals resume
• April 29: evening concert

Holidays, etc. are located on the Google calendar, linked to the right of this post. (I'm still awaiting word on Convocation, Investiture, and any other possible school functions.)

Have a safe and happy summer.

A love note

Our final rehearsal of the semester was really good! Thank you to all of the soloists for auditioning and preparing your solos. These are important, as they add diversity to the program.

Please take the time to mark the following in your parts:

• Above, listen to the Holst and Britten linked to the right. If you haven't do so already, what are you waiting for?!
• I Vow to Thee: 
• starting dynamic is mp.
• Make sure you've written in two notes for faithful in m.18.
• Battle Hymn: 
• starting dynamic is mp
• sopranos: learn the notes at the top of p3! (use the audio if you can't learn from a piano)
• basses: m2 on p5, remember: your first note is the soprano note; draw a circle around both notes
• To the Unknown:
• focus on starting pitch from piano rumble/drone
• New Year:
• don't forget that the first two refrains are mf (with dynamics) and that the final refrain is pp
• We slow down a lot in the final refrain. Watch! Look up!
• St. Peter:
• excellent work, Julianna!
• forte at the beginning of p7
• Mystical:
• entrances on p2 and p3 are forte throughout
• p5: SAB, match tenor dynamics
• p8: entrance should be mf, not mp
• p12: watch for cue before coming in (remember: piano has the downbeat in that measure, not you)
• p18: find your starting pitch from the piano; don't guess! Better to come in late if you're unsure, since 90% of the choir has the unison note.
• p20: turn to p22/don't follow the music
• p22-23: make sure that you are making the page turn early enough so that you come in directly at the start of 23
• p29: remember: we start this section slower

I'm looking forward to a really great concert with you! A few more reminders:

• Please be ready to warm up at 6pm, promptly on stage.
• Dress is all-black.
• If you're registered for the course, evaluations will be done at 6:45pm.
• Tell everyone what a great concert we're going to have and make sure they are coming.

See you Tuesday, on stage, at 6pm!

Next Two Weeks

Guess what?! Only two rehearsals left till the concert!

We're in good shape right now, but it's time to buckle down and make sure everything's good to go.

For the next two weeks, Mark Evans will join us for the Mystical Songs. We'll cover the entire program each week.

If you haven't already listened to the YouTube recordings (linked right), do so now. You'll enjoy it!

This week, we also have to look at the alma mater for Investiture. As a reminder, all Chorus students are expected to participate in this event: Monday, April 22, 1:30-2:20 in Dwight. Dress is all-black, just as it is for the concert. Don't know the school song? Don't worry: we'll learn it this week.

Program draft & program order

The program draft is underway. Please click here to make sure that your name/information is correct. Also, please visit the link to get the program order. (Please put your music in order!)

Agenda for 4/9 + audition results

This week we'll be in Dwight 105 for the last time. I'll send a reminder next week.

Thank you to all of you who auditioned for solos. All of the singing was very consistent and well-prepared. Bravo! Of course, this means that my decisions are difficult to make... Here are the results:

• Julianna: Hymn to St. Peter (Thank you so much for learning this, Juliana!)
• Jessuly: Jerusalem, v. 1 up to "seen?" on p.2
• Ed: Jerusalem, v. 1 from p.2 "And did" to end of v. 1
• Pat: Jerusalem, v. 2 up to "I will not" 
• Jessuly, Ed, & Pat: then v. 2 "I will not" to end
• Dana: New Year Carol, v. 1 (only)

As I wrote, this was a tough one, and as you can see, I divided Jerusalem among our three soloists...a nice compromise.

Here's the plan for 4/9: 

7-7:10 warmup

10-20 New Year Carol/I Vow to Thee/Jerusalem

20-30 Rigveda #2

30-45 Mystical #1

45-8pm Mystical #2, #3

8-8:05 BREAK

5-15 Mystical #5

15-40 St. Peter

40-55 Rigveda #1

Warmup video

Please use this video to practice your warmups:

Agenda for 4/2

First: we will meet in Dwight 105 this week. Rather than enter up and then down through the main stairs, I suggest you enter the building through the left side lower entrance. It makes life easier. If you don't know where Dwight is, please access the map linked to the right. You can always call me if lost on campus: 617-466-9042.

Last night's rehearsal was really good! It was great to have Mark with us, and I think that the concert will be at a very high level. Thank you all for working to make this happen.

Now is a great time to listen to the repertoire, namely the two videos linked to the right. This will give you a much better idea of how the Holst and Britten works in full context.

Here's the plan for rehearsal:

7-7:10 warmup
10-15 tutti sing final chant in St. Peter
15-20 sing St. Peter final section in parts
20-40 work through Mystical #5
40-55 Rigveda #2
55-8pm BREAK
8-8:20 Rigveda #1
20-40 St. Peter
40-9pm SOLOIST AUDITIONS

• Ed
• Juliana
• Pat
• Jessuly

Agenda for 3/26

First, a reminder: no rehearsal next week in honor of my favorite holiday, Spring Break!

Second, we were small in numbers last night, but it was a very productive rehearsal! Everything is starting to gel.

As a reminder, the deadline to sign up for solo auditions is 3/26. Click the link to the right for more information.

This week, Mark Evans with join us to sing the solos in Five Mystical Songs. This will help us hear our entrances and help to determine the real trouble spots.

Here's the plan:

We'll rehearse on stage.
7-7:10 warmup
10-15 we will continue the warmup with everyone singing the chant on pp11-14 of the Hymn to St. Peter
15-8pm we'll work the Mystical Songs with Mark
8-8:05 break
5-25 Rigveda #1, pp.2-4; and then 4-6
25-35 Rigveda #2, review
35-9pm Hymn to St. Peter

Have a safe and happy week off!

Agenda for 3/12

I'm so sorry about the double-booking that resulted in the cancellation of last night's rehearsal. I have no idea how this happened. Next time we're asked to move to a different rehearsal space I'll triple-check. (I double-checked this one, but that doesn't seem to do the trick.)

We'll follow the same rehearsal agenda that was scheduled for yesterday (see below). As a reminder, we have no rehearsal the following week (3/19)--Spring Break!

Agenda for 3/5

This week's rehearsal is in the library, room 201. Click the map link (bottom right) to find building 6 on the campus. Once in the library, ask for directions to room 201! The library is about a 5' walk from our usual rehearsal space.

After last night's rehearsal, Chuck asked me if I felt we were on schedule. Indeed we are! I've been spending a lot of time on several sections of pieces simply because of the difficulty of those sections. But we're through the reading part of our semester, and it's time to start bringing everything together.

After talking to Norman, I realized that people haven't signed up for solos because we haven't looked at some of those pieces since the first rehearsal. I'll review the solos this week. (Signup information is linked to the right===>>>)

Here's the plan:
7-7:10 warmup
10-25 review the three unison hymns:

• I vow to thee
• New Year Carol
• Jerusalem

25-30 Mystical #3

30-40 Mystical #2

40-8:05 Mystical #5

5-10 BREAK

5-20 Rigveda #1

20-30 Rigveda #2 (only the sections in parts)

30-45 St. Peter 

8:45 ATB may leave

45-9pm sopranos: St. Peter solo

Agenda for 2/26

Nice work last night. We got a lot done with the Hymn to St. Peter--probably our most difficult piece. I'm going to be intensive with this for one more week.

As a reminder, soloist audition information is linked to the right===>>>>

Here's the plan:

7-7:15 warmup
15-25 St. Peter pp.1-3
25-35 St. Peter pp. 9-11
35-45 St. Peter pp.12-14
45-8pm Rigveda #1 bottom of 4-6
8-8:05 break
5-20 Mystical #1
20-40 review Rigveda #2
40-50 St. Peter pp.4-8
8:50 SAT may leave
50-9pm Bass sectional on St. Peter pp.4-8

Agenda for 2/19

Thanks for a great rehearsal last night. We're making some really good progress!

Soloist auditions have been announced. Click the link to the right for information on audition dates, signup, signup deadline, and specific solos.

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:15 warmup

15-35 St. Peter pp.1-3

35-55 St. Peter pp.6-8

55-8pm BREAK

8-20 St. Peter pp.9-11

15-30 St. Peter pp. 12-14

30-50 Mystical #1

50-55 New Year Carol

Information for solo auditions

It's time to start thinking about solos! If you would like to audition for a solo or solos, please read on:

Audition date: Tuesday, April 2 during scheduled rehearsal

Solos available:

• Jerusalem: verse 1 (section marked "solo"); any voice type
• A New Year Carol: verse 1 and/or verse 2; any voice type
• Hymn to St. Peter: pp.11-14; soprano or alto (may be too high for some altos)
• I Vow to Thee: verse 1; any voice type

If you are auditioning, it is expected that you know the part before your audition. Parts will not be taught during rehearsals. If you need help getting to know the solo, look for audio on YouTube (some is already linked to the right on this blog).

Priority will be given to students over community members, but community members are strongly encouraged to try out. 

Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 26. Fill out this form to register:

Agenda for 2/12

Great rehearsal last night! I think we've now identified what's truly difficult in this program. Those spots (like the end of RigVeda #1) are quite tricky, but they're short, and we've got plenty of time to get the program together.

With that in mind, I'm dropping the 3rd movement of the RigVeda set. (We haven't even worked on it yet.) It has too many divisi (unlike the scattered divisi in Vaughan Williams), and I don't think it would be successful without 80 singers!

Down the road, there will be auditions for some solos, so, if you're interested, keep an eye out for an announcement.

Here's the plan for next week:

7-7:15 warmup
15-25 review Mystical #2
25-35 St. Peter, pp.4-5
35-45 St. Peter, p.6, then tying in 4-6
45-8pm St. Peter pp.7-8
8-8:05 BREAK
5-10 Rigveda #1, p. 6
10-25 Rigveda #1, pp.2-4
25-35 Rigveda #1, p.5
35-8:55 review Mystical #5

Agenda for 2/5

Since there were some questions last night, please take a moment to look over this blog, namely the right column. 

By the way, I did check the Five Mystical Songs practice site, and I didn't find any problems with the audio. Just make sure that you're following along with the score, since the choir doesn't sing throughout. (This will probably become easier to do as you get to know the piece in rehearsals.)

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:15 warmup
15-25 continuing warmup, sing St. Peter pp.4-6 (rounds)
25-45 Mystical #5: learn pp32-33 and then review 30-33
45-8pm RigVeda #1: pp5-6
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 RigVeda #3: pp.14-16
20-30 read Jerusalem (will be handed out)
30-45 review RigVeda #2, non-unison sections
45-9pm Mystical #1: review the good work we did this week

Agenda for 1/29

Last night was a good start on some of the great repertoire we'll be singing this semester. If you're new to this blog, please look to the right for links to the calendar, practice files, and other things. You can also sign up for the "follow by email" function at the bottom of the right column.

Don't forget to bring a binder and all of your music.

Take a moment to listen to some of the music linked at this blog. Better yet, try to follow along with your music!

Our roster is always in flux at the start of a semester. If you know of anyone who might like to sing, please bring them along next week!

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:15 warmup
15-30 Mystical Songs: #1 (we'll go through all of the choral parts)
35-40 Mystical Songs #3 (we'll go through this super-easy choral part)
40-8pm St. Peter: pp.4-6 (and possibly 7-8)

• we'll speak the rhythms of individual parts and then work on pitches

8-8:05 BREAK

5-15 Rig Veda #2, pp10-11

15-30 Rig Veda #2, pp.7-11

30-45 Rig Veda #1, pp.2-top of 5

45-8:55 Mystical Songs #5, pp.30-32

Spring 2013

This is a reminder that we resume on Tuesday, January 22 from 7-9pm in Heineman. 

The spring repertoire is made up of three of the greatest early 20th-century composers: Vaughan Williams, Britten, and Holst. It's great music, and I think you'll really enjoy it.

We always need to build the Chorus, so please invite your friends!

Community members: I'll have parking passes to you before then.