Agenda for 12/1

This is a reminder that the next two rehearsals are MANDATORY. We need everyone at each rehearsal.

With just two rehearsals to the concert, we will run the full program this week and next. To make things easiest for everyone, please look over your music once before Tuesday night.

See you then!

Agenda for 11/24

What a nice rehearsal on Tuesday! It's good to feel that everything is coming together. We are now starting to make music!

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Little Children & Huron Carol
25-40 review Kyrie
40-55 review Gloria, integrating solos
55-8pm BREAK
8-8:25 review Credo, integrating solos
25-30 In dulci (carol)
30-45 In dulci (motet)
45-9pm review Sanctus/Benedictus & Agnus Dei

I'll be on campus by 6:30 for any soloists who wish to review.

Agenda for 11/17

Reminder: the hall will be in use from 6-7pm. If you are accustomed to arriving early, you might not be able to get into the space until rehearsal begins.

Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-30 do all of Buxtehude; we really made some music this week! Now let's apply it to the entire work.
30-8:05pm Credo, with solos
5-8:10 BREAK
10-40 Gloria, with solos
40-45 Sanctus/Benedictus review
45-9pm: Mary & Doug duet, plus other small ensembles as time allows

Agenda for 11/10

In spite of me freaking out a bit about the Kyrie, we are pretty darn solid on the Gloria and Credo. We'll begin integrating the small ensembles as soon as possible.

I'll be on campus by 6:30, so I can work with any soloists/small ensembles who arrive early.

Here's the plan:

• 7-7:10 warmup
• 10-20 review In dulci (carol)
• 20-40 review In dulci (motet)
• 40-8:05 Let's take apart the Kyrie and make sure it sticks!
• 5-10 BREAK
• 10-20 review Huron Carol & Little Children
• 20-8:45 I'll devote this time to the Credo. 
• 45-9pm Small ensemble (Credo) rehearsal; all others may leave

Small ensemble practice videos

Agenda for Nov. 3

Owch! That was a rough rehearsal Tuesday. Please forgive me for my impatience, but also please take this as a sign that it's time to start preparing for each rehearsal (if you haven't done so already). Use the prep tools to the right to get yourself prepared===>>>>

Please use these blog posts to know what to prepare each week. I create the posts so that you aren't overwhelmed with reviewing the entire program each week. By following what we'll do each Tuesday, this will minimize your need to prepare in advance.

How much prep time should you expect? Honestly, if everyone went through the agenda once each week in advance of Tuesday, we'd be much better off. If you can do more, do more; but please don't do any less.

I have confirmed that we will be in our usual space from 7-9 on Tuesday. What I don't know is if we can do any work before 7pm. That said, I need to incorporate soloist work into the regular rehearsal time. This means early dismissal for most of you. This also means that I'll take the time to review all solos/small ensembles at this rehearsal. 

Here's the plan:
7-7:10 warmup
10-25 we will work the Kyrie/Christe/Kyrie in reverse order
25-45 we will work the Gloria in reverse order (no solos)
45-8:10 we will work the Credo in reverse order (no solos)
8:10 you may leave if you are not called for the following:

8:10-8:15 TENORS: Tous les bourgeois

15-23 BASSES + Mary + Doug: Gloria mm.48-83

23-29 Pat + Ed + Sam: Credo mm.263-272

29-37 Cynthia + Inessa + Sam & Jesse: Credo mm.134-155

37-47 Vanessa + Inessa + Cynthia: Credo mm.263-272

47-9pm Inessa + Vanessa: Gloria mm.115-138

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Finally, I will be on campus by 6:30pm. I can't guarantee that the room will be available, but we can try. That said, Inessa, Pat, and Vanessa: please come around 6:40 or so, and we'll see if we can go through your carols.

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Whew! If you are in a small ensemble--and this includes all tenors and basses--please be sure to prepare your parts for this week. We need to clinch all of the learning process this week so that we can begin to incorporate those excerpts into the full movements.

Agenda for 10/27

With our soloists now assigned, the program is starting to take shape. Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Sanctus/Benedictus
25-8pm A la venue (soloists take note) & entire Credo (soloists take note)
8-8:05 BREAK
5-30 Gloria and Gloria carols (soloists take note)
30-50 Kyrie and Kyrie carols
50-60 Agnus Dei

Put your music in order!

Here's the order for the program:

• In dulci (carol)
• In dulci (Buxtehude)
• Joseph chaste
• Little children
• Huron Carol
• Kyrie
• Noel des bourgeois
• Ou t'en vas-tu
• Gloria
• A la venue
• Credo
• Sanctus/Benedictus
• Agnus Dei

Solo assignments!

Here are the solo/small ensemble assignments:

Gloria

• mm.48-83: 
• T1 Mary
• T2 Doug
• Bass TUTTI
• mm.115-138
• S1 Inessa
• S2 Vanessa

Credo

• mm.134-155
• S1 Cynthia
• S2 Inessa
• B Jesse/Sam
• mm.213-243
• S1 Vanessa
• S2 Inessa
• A Cynthia
• mm.263-272
• A Pat
• T Ed
• B Sam

This leaves us with the carols:

Joseph chaste: Inessa

Tous les bourgeois: all tenors

Ou t'en vas-tu: Pat

A la venue: Vanessa & Inessa

Agenda for 10/20

We'll take some time to review the solo opportunities so that everyone knows what's what!

Even if you don't want a solo/small ensemble, everyone will sing these in this rehearsal. Tenors and Basses will be able to leave a little early this week.

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Credo mm.273-end
25-35 Credo mm.247-262
35-55 Credo mm.159-205
55-8:05 Gloria first page
5-10 BREAK
8:10-9pm we'll review all solos

• Credo mm.134-155 (SSB or SAB or TTB or STB)
• Gloria mm.48-83 (sung as SAB or TTB or STB)
• Credo mm.263-272 (ATB or AAB)
• Credo mm.213-243 (SSA or S-high A-A)
• Gloria mm.115-138 (SS or S-highA)

Agenda for 10/13

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 review In dulci (carol version)
20-45 read In dulci (motet), working in reverse order
45-8pm Credo mm.1-40
8pm-8:05 BREAK
5-15 Credo mm.49-80
15-25 Credo mm.86-133
25-40 review Little Children & Huron Carol
40-55 review all of Gloria (except solos)
55-9pm Agnus Dei

Soloist signup

Click here to see available solos and to sign up to audition!

Agenda for 10/6

If you didn't see the solo opportunities post, please look for it in the right column of this blog.

Here's the plan for Tuesday:
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 review Sanctus
20-30 Credo, mm.273-end
30-40 Credo, mm.247-262
40-50 read the three Kyrie Noëls (to be handed out)
50-8:05 review entire Kyrie
5-10 BREAK
10-15 read the two Gloria Noëls
15-20 review Gloria mm.142-end
20-30 review Gloria mm.16-37
30-45 Credo mm.159-205
45-50 Credo mm.110-128
50-9pm read In dulci (carol)

October 3 updated, including rain dress

As a reminder, we will meet this Saturday, October 3 VERY PROMPTLY at 1pm in Heineman. We will be joined by OVER 50 other choirsters. Our rehearsal (starting promptly at 1pm) will end at 1:30, after which we'll walk over to the Green.

Our performance on the Green will begin roughly at 2pm, following the Governor's citation. We will be singing in a covered area.

DRESS: Neither you nor I should have to ruin our concert clothes for this event. Therefore the dress will be rain gear. I personally will be wearing jeans & boots (think of mud) along with a raincoat. Bring an umbrella!

Click here for a map of where we'll be on the Green.

Solo opportunities

In addition to the possibility of some of the carols being sung solo (these will be handed out on 10/6), the Messe has a number of solo/duo/trio opportunities. These are as follows:

• Gloria mm.48-83 (sung as SAB or TTB or STB)
• Gloria mm.115-138 (SS or S-highA)
• Credo mm.134-155 (SSB or SAB or TTB or STB)
• Credo mm.213-243 (SSA or S-high A-A)
• Credo mm.263-272 (ATB or AAB)

We can also do these with two on a part.

If interested in solos, please look these over. I'll be scheduling soloist auditions very soon.

agenda for 9/29

We continue to read through all of the music for the winter program. We're getting there!

Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Credo pp.1-2
25-35 Credo pp. 3-4
35-55 Credo pp. 4-top of 5
55-8:05 Credo p.5
5-12 BREAK (whew!)
12-20 Battle Hymn
20-35 Kyrie #2
35-9pm read all of In dulci jubilo

October 3

As you should know, Saturday, October 3 is our combined chorus outing to the Framingham Green. Since we have some new members, I'll talk about this Tuesday night. 

Our rehearsal that day with our combined choruses (Framingham HS & Greater Framingham Community Church) will be at 1pm SHARP in Heineman. We'll walk over to the Green at 1:30. 

Click here for a map of where we'll be on the Green.

Dress for the event will be all-black with your black binder. The music is the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

rehearsal agenda for 9/22

Nice work last night. That was quite fun!

As a reminder, the Civil War event on the Green is on Saturday, October 3. We'll meet in Heineman at 1pm (sharp!) for a quick rehearsal with the other choirs, and then we'll walk to the Green for a 2pm performance. This will easily be done by 2:30. (I'm told we're done by 2:15.)

Here's the plan for Tuesday:
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Battle Hymn
20-35 read v. 2 of In dulci jubilo, then try all of it
35-45 Christe (middle of Kyrie)
45-8pm Gloria, first 3 pages
8-10 BREAK
10-20 Gloria, mm.74-110
20-45 we'll get through as much of the Credo as we can
45-9pm Sanctus

Welcome to Fall 2015!

Greetings! This is the blog for all things FSU Chorus. The right column includes links for the calendar, practice tools, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Please look here weekly (or, why not?, add your email address to the blog (right column)) for what we'll be doing each week.

For Sept. 15, we'll continue reading the music for the semester. This will include:

• Sanctus
• Credo
• Gloria
• Kyrie
• Wachet auf

I'm not sure we'll get through everything, but we'll try. See you Tuesday!

aftermath

All semester, I've had trouble sleeping on Tuesday nights due to those choruses running through my head. Last night was no exception. I hope that you've had the same wonderful affliction!

Just as the post-concert buzz makes us all quite unable to congratulation each other and, in some cases, say farewell properly, there is nothing that I can write to adequately express my gratitude and admiration for the dedication you gave to this production. It has been a really good semester--indeed my favorite since starting at FSU in 2007.

It's going to be some time before we top what we achieved last night. I know that expectations are high for what's next, but we must always keep in perspective that building a chorus is an annual, if not per-semester, project.

My thoughts for fall 2015 were to shift gears and do a lighter program, namely "A Beatles Christmas." The program would feature some a cappella arrangements of classic Beatles songs, coupled with English Renaissance Christmas music, ending, of course, with McCartney's Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time.

However, when I presented this idea to several of you last night, I saw wrinkled noses! (In 2008, a similar program was a very big deal on campus, and we grew the choir significantly because of it. But times change!)

That all said, I invite you to complete a short survey about repertoire for the fall. Please add your voice! Click here to complete the survey.

Meanwhile, best wishes to you all for a great summer and, especially, to our graduating class. You will be missed, but there will always be a place for you in the FSU Chorus!

-Paul

It's SHOWTIME!

You should all be pleased with how well things went Tuesday. Here are some general comments along with some more specific comments, courtesy of Allie:

• You may have water with you on stage.
• Concert dress is all-black.
• Soloists especially, but this applies to all: no leg-crossing while on stage. Keep your feet firmly planted!

General comment: anticipate tempos so that chorus comes in on time. Remember to keep those consonants ahead of the beat. Be very, very clear in your diction.

Specific comments to choir/soloists:

• #6 Julianna: make your consonants clear; we can't understand the words
• #11 "Let the triumphs": the "Let the" pickups aren't together. Be ready to sing in tempo!
• #20 When singing softly, keep the same poise as when singing loudly, using air and an open mouth. (The soft sections are coming out flat.)
• #26 Alto entrance "haste haste" can't be heard. Sing out!
• #27 Raymond: make your final consonants clear "heart" "forsake" "gods" "could die"
• #28 Ed: don't sing too softly in the soft sections; can't be heard
• #35 "Great" Put "gr" before the beat, not on it.
• #37 Cynthia: more closing consonants "When I am laid." Also, descending lines tend to go flat. Listen to the band!
• #38 Sopranos: breathe before your entrances

Please mark these comments in your part as they apply.

Call for Tuesday is 6pm. Please try to arrive by 5:50, since we need to start work at 6.

Invite everyone and have fun! This will be a blast!

April 21 agenda

First, I was very disappointed to learn that none of you had heard of H.R. Pufnstuf and Witchiepoo. As your punishment, you must watch this: https://youtu.be/obxfuFrUTzg

I am so sorry that none of you have had the pleasure of 1970's Saturday morning TV. 

Second, thank you for a GREAT rehearsal last night. I really appreciate your professionalism and attention to the rehearsal. On April 21, we return to Heineman where we will have our final rehearsal. Please try to arrive a little before 7pm so that we can begin without delay. At the end of rehearsal, I'll need everyone's help to break down the room and return it to normal.

Three more notes:

• Please be careful when moving around the instruments. Use extra caution and keep a wide berth. Above all, don't walk through the instrumental ensemble when going on/off stage.
• Other than a few tempo issues, the one big lapse last night was the section entrances in "Haste, Haste to Town." Please review your part while also reviewing the other parts. Know what needs to happen so that you come in on time and in the right place.
• Please make sure to turn your pages quietly. Trust me, the audience will hear page turns if we're not careful.

Please spread the word about the concert. Let's pack the joint!

April 14 agenda

Thanks for a great rehearsal. All is going really well. This week's rehearsal brings us back to WL201. Please plan for the extra walking time. Click here for directions.

Please be ready to sing all choruses! 

Soloists: please come at 6:30 to move furniture and to stay a few minutes later to move things back.

Everyone else: please be promptly in WL201 at 7pm.

Keep thinking of this music!

Sit/Stand directions

Please mark/do the following with your scores before next week:

• p. 1: SIT
• p. 3: STAND
• p. 5: SIT
• p. 8: STAND
• p. 24: SIT
• p. 26: at bottom of page on "Appear!": STAND
• p. 36: SIT
• p. 39: STAND
• p. 41: SIT
• p. 44: STAND
• p. 46: SIT
• p. 49: at bottom of page on bottom of page "tho' never": STAND
• p. 52: SIT
• p. 54: at bottom of page on "night": STAND
• p. 57: SIT
• p. 61: at no. 34: STAND
• p. 63: SIT
• p. 64: at end of aria, after Dido sings "fate": STAND

Agenda for 3/31 and 4/7

We are closing in on the concert, and everything is going quite well. For these last two pre-instrumental ensemble weeks, we'll be reviewing the entire opera during each rehearsal.

We'll be back in the chapel for these two weeks.

Agenda for soloists:

• 3/31: Dido and Aeneas, please come at 6:30
• 4/7: all soloists at 6:30

See you soon!

3/24 agenda

REHEARSAL VENUE CHANGE! This Tuesday, March 21, we will be in the library, room 201. Directions are as follows:

• from the chapel front entrance, continue walking up the hill
• cross the street
• continue walking up to the building at the top of the hill (Dwight)
• enter building, go left, exit building and continue walking (this enter/exit situation is due to construction)
• the library will appear on your right
• enter and ascend to 2nd floor, looking for room 201 (towards back of building)
• IF LOST/CONFUSED, ASK QUESTIONS! You may also call me: 617-466-9042

Last night, I woke up at 3am when I realized that we have just three more rehearsals till we meet with the instrumentalists. This is less of an issue for the chorus as it is for the soloists, but whoa! We all have work to do.

This Tuesday will be the last rehearsal in which I hope to pound out any individual parts/notes. From that point onward, we need to be making sure all segments fit together with chorus/soloists. In other words, this is the last week for note-learning.

Here's the plan:
6:30-7: witches/sorceress
7-7:10 warmup
10-25 review 16 and 18, then try them with soloists from 15-18
25-35 #23
35-50 #26, then try it w/ #25 beforehand
50-8:05 #28 w/ soloist
5-10 BREAK
10-25 #30, also connecting to sorceress solo on p.54
25-30 #35
30-45 #38
45-9pm all recitatives with soloists; Chorus dismissed

March 17 rehearsal

NO REHEARSAL. SPRING BREAK!

Agenda for 3/10

A few items: Anne (tenor) provided the real Dido story from the Aeneid. You'll find it in the links list to the right.

For the performance, I'll be leading from the harpsichord. The other instruments will include baroque violins/viola, viola da gamba, and theorbo.

Here's the plan for Tuesday:

6:30-7 Witches & Second Woman, can you come early? Please email me if not, otherwise I'll expect you.
7-7:10 warmup
10-30 #38
30-40 #35
40-55 #6
55-8:05 #7 & #8
5-10 BREAK
10-20 review #11
20-35 review 14; 16; 18
35-9pm run 13-20

Agenda for 3/3

Awesome, awesome, AWESOME rehearsal last night. The choruses all sounded...well...awesome.

Here's an important video to watch:



Here's the plan for Tuesday:

6:30-7pm Dido/Belinda/Aeneas, please come early as you can. (I promise I won't get annoyed if late.) We'll look at all of your recitatives.

We'll focus on acts 2 & 3.
7-7:10 warmup
10-25 #23 w/ Belinda
25-40 #25 w/ Belinda
40-55 #28 w/ Sailor
55-8:05 #31
5-10 BREAK
10-20 #35
20-40 #36
40-9pm chorus dismissed for rehearsal of witches 

Agenda for 2/24

6:30-7pm
Pat, Daniela, Sadie: please come at 6:30 to cover the following:
#13, #15, #17, #19, #27, #30 (basically, anything that involves you!)

We will be focusing on the Act I choruses this week.
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 #1 chorus only
20-30 #4
30-45 #6 w/Belinda/2nd Woman
45-8pm #8
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 #11
20-30 #14
30-45 #16 & #18
45-9pm #20

Agenda for 2/17

This week, we will focus on the choruses in Acts II & III. Here's the plan:

6:30-7pm: Dido & Aeneas (& Belinda, if possible) come early for recitative work

• we will do #5, #7, #9, #25, #27, #33

7-7:10 warmup

10-20 #23 w/ Belinda

20-35 #26 w/ Belinda

35-50 #28 w/ Sailor (Ed, please prepare this)

50-8:05 #31

5-10 BREAK

10-20 #35

20-35 #36

35-9pm We will run all of Act II. Soloists: know what's on your plate!

Revised agenda for 2/10

Due to some anticipated absences, this is a revised schedule for 2/10:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 p. 4 chorus
20-30 review No. 23 (w/ Belinda)
30-40 No. 4
40-55 No. 6 (including Belinda/2nd Woman duet)

• Belinda/2nd woman: also prepare S1/S2 part at bottom of p. 14 and middle of p. 15; alto section will sing lowest part with you

55-8pm BREAK

8-8:10 No. 8

10-30 No. 11

30-40 review No. 20

40-55 Nos. 25-26 (Dido & Aeneas: you're on!)

8:55 Dismissed, except for Spirit (#27)

Here's a review of roles:

Dido: Cynthia 
Aeneas: Raymond 
Belinda: Julianna
Sailer: Ed Sawyer
Second Women: Vanessa
Sorceress: Pat
First Witch: Daniela
Second Witch: Sadie
Spirit: Sadie

Agenda for 2/10

We were low in numbers, but we had a solid rehearsal nonetheless! Here's the plan for Tuesday:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 p. 4 chorus
20-30 No. 4
30-50 No. 6 (including Belinda/2nd Woman duet)

• Belinda/2nd woman: also prepare S1/S2 part at bottom of p. 14 and middle of p. 15; alto section will sing lowest part with you

50-8pm No. 8

8-8:05 BREAK

5-25 No. 11

25-30 review No. 20

30-40 review No. 23 (w/ Belinda)

40-9pm We'll try to put together Nos. 15-18 w/ soloists (Sorceress & witches)

Here's a review of roles:

Dido: Cynthia 
Aeneas: Raymond 
Belinda: Julianna
Sailer: Ed Sawyer
Second Women: Vanessa
Sorceress: Pat
First Witch: Daniela
Second Witch: Sadie
Spirit: Sadie

1/27 rehearsal agenda

Belinda & Sailor: please have your solos (below) ready.

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Nos 16 & 18 (Ho Ho choruses)
25-40 No. 20
40-55 No. 23 Belinda solo w/ chorus
55-8:05 BREAK
5-20 No. 26 Belinda solo w/ chorus
20-35 No. 28 Sailor solo w/ chorus
35-50 No. 31
50-9pm meeting with soloists