Agenda for 11/29

This is a reminder that we will not meet on Nov. 22 due to low critical mass for a rehearsal.

This is also a reminder for students to register now for the spring. I can provide a course load waiver, if needed.

Please note that the program order has changed. Click here for the new program order and put your music in order!

Also, please note that I Know This Rose & Siyahamba will be sung from memory. Be sure to review these before rehearsal!

We have TWO more rehearsals, and they are both mandatory. I don't know why several people missed this week, especially as we are so close to performance date. Whatever the case, you need to be at all remaining rehearsals!

The program is quite ready! This is most unusual, and I am absolutely delighted. Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
7:10 onward, we will review the following:

• Dona nobis: pitch issues
• Gaudeamus: altos need to sing the right notes!
• Alleluia: needs review
• Asperges: in great shape, needs review
• Down in the River: needs review with piano
• 23rd Psalm: can always use review
• Il est né: needs review
• Lully lulla: in good shape, needs review
• There is no rose: in good shape, needs review

We will also rehearse the walk-in for I Know This Rose and the walk-out for Siyahamba--both from memory. 

Any remaining time will be quick review of all remaining pieces.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

11/15 agenda

Four rehearsals left. That's right: four!

If you missed last night, please mark your scores:

• I know this rose: 
• 1x unision
• then starting round in this order: S-A-T-B, sung twice
• after 2x, sustain hum
• Dona nobis pacem
• TB begin--then S--then A
• stop on my cue
• Gaudeaumus
• A starts--then S--then T/B
• stop on my cue
• balance ensemble to those singing part 1
• Hine ma hov
• ATB sing part 1 5x
• S sing part 1 2x; then part 2 2x; then part 1 1x
• Alleluia Chaconne
• enter in this order: B-T-A-S
• when S enters, sing twice
• then all move to part 3 rhythm, sung twice
• then move to part 1 1x, ending with A-men on opening chord
• (small soprano ensemble to sing part 2 when all others are on part 3)
• Asperges me
• Sopranos begin each system; all others enter at hashtag
• then first two lines are repeated by all
• Shall we gather
• cut verse 4
• We are not alone
• sung seated
• There is no rose
• cut verses 3 & 5

This week, we will run the entire program and see where things stand.

Agenda for 11/8

Fabulous rehearsal last night! Need I say more?

The concert is coming upon us pretty quickly, and it's more important than ever to make sure that this music is in your ear before you come to the remaining rehearsals. Use the listening links at the blog to review the music, but, since not all of the music is available online, look through your music before we meet each week. 

Last night went well especially because we reviewed music with piano before we sang it. We won't be able to do that for the concert, and we shouldn't be doing it at this point. Please plan ahead!

7-7:30 warmup and rounds, including final touches on Alleluia Chaconne
30-40 Cantate Domino
40-50 Asperges me
50-8pm Shall we gather
8-8:05 BREAK
5-15 There is no rose
15-30 We are not alone
30-40 23rd Psalm
40-50 Il est né
50-9pm Down in the river

Agenda for Nov. 1

Well, we can't always have good rehearsals. Let's hope for a better one this week!

The following pieces need immediate attention:

• Asperges me
• 23rd Psalm
• There is no rose

Please use the listening links on this blog to familiarize yourself with these three pieces.

7-7:30 warmup and review of carols

• Silent Night
• Deck the Hall
• Angels we have heard
• In the bleak
• We wish you a merry

7:30-40 Asperges me

40-45 Alleluia chaconne

45-55 Cantate Domino

55-8pm BREAK

8-8:15 23rd Psalm

15-30 There is no rose

30-45 Down in the river

45-55 Lully lulla

55-60 Il est né

Agenda for 10/25

The program order is here! Please put your music in order before Tuesday's rehearsal. Click here to view the program order.

7-7:25 warmup and rounds

• I know this rose
• Dona nobis
• Gaudeamus
• Hine ma tov

25-30 Alleluia Chaconne: we'll decide how this will be done

30-40 Asperges me

40-55 23rd Psalm

55-8pm BREAK

8-8:05 college hymn 

5-15 Lully lulla

15-20 Siyahamba

20-35 There is no rose

35-45 In the bleak

45-9pm Singing outside (weather permitting)

• rounds
• FSU hymn
• Siyahamba

10/18 agenda

Videos of Asperges me & There is no Rose are now posted in the right column of the blog (desktop version).

Here's the plan:

7-7:30 warmup with final "new" carols:

• Silent night
• Deck the hall
• In the bleak midwinter
• Angels we have heard

30-45 There is no rose

45-8pm 23rd Psalm

8-8:05 BREAK

5-15 Asperges me

15-20 Il est né

20-30 Cantate Domino

30-45 Lully, lulla

45-9pm Down in the river

The program is really taking shape! I hope to have the program order to you by Nov. 1.

REHEARSAL VENUE CHANGE!

This Tuesday, October 11, 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 towards the building at the top of the hill (Dwight)
• before Dwight follow the path to the left; you are now traveling between Dwight and the new science building, towards the library
• enter library 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

Agenda for 10/11

Once again, I am impressed with how well this group is singing. Honestly, I didn't know how things would go this semester, and I therefore picked some really easy repertoire--much of which I've now abandoned. This explains why some pieces are still being passed out.

This week, I'll introduce a medieval carol (thanks, Vanessa, for the impassioned suggestion) and a Gregorian chant. I will pass out the remaining carols, too. Soprano Pat will also give a brief lecture on the art of organizing music. Here's the plan:

7-7:15 warmup and a new round
15-20 Alleluia Chaconne
20-35 We wish you a merry
35-50 our new carol: There is no rose
50-8pm Il est né
8-8:05 BREAK
5-10 Pat speaks!
10-20 Gregorian chant: Asperges me
20-40 Down in the river: we'll start to learn this unaccompanied
40-50 Cantate Domino
50-9pm Siyahamba!

Agenda for 10/4

Great rehearsal last night. Singing outside was lots of fun, too. 

Please take a moment to listen to the 23rd Psalm and Cantate Domino. (Cantate is organized as a playlist by voice type; use this to practice.) All videos are linked in the right column of the blog. (If you are reading this on a mobile device, be sure to click "view web version" at the bottom of the page to see what I'm talking about.)

Here's the plan for next week:

7-7:15 warmup, plus introducing a new round or two
15-25 Shall we gather
25-40 We are not alone
40-55 23rd Psalm
55-8pm Alma mater
8-8:05 BREAK
5-25 Down in the river (review pp4-6, add p3, pp1-2)
25-40 Cantate (second half, and review 1st half)
40-50 Lully Lula
50-9pm review Down in the river

agenda for 9/27

7-7:15 warmup, including I Know This Rose
15-25 read We wish you a merry Xmas
25-45 Down in the river, pp.4-6, then review earlier material
45-8pm Cantate Domino
8-8:05 BREAK
5-25 Lully, lulla
25-40 Siyahamba
40-55 Alma mater
55-9pm Gaudeamus!

Fall 2016 repertoire

The theme for our December program is "A Cappella!" With some good hard work this fall, I am planning on the concert being completely unaccompanied. (Allie: you might have the night off!) 

In the spring, there were several unaccompanied moments in the Robert Frost poem settings, and this made me realize that we need to get this group to be more comfortable singing unaccompanied. There's no reason we're not doing it already!

The program will feature unaccompanied music from a variety of styles and historical periods, followed by Christmas carols. You can see some of the repertoire by clicking the link to the right of this post.

Hallelujah

April 19 agenda

This one's easy: we'll run the program from top to bottom and then take time to make any corrections.

Keep up the good work!

4/12 agenda

We have three more rehearsals, including this one!

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Because you live: starting w/ the ending divisi
24-40 The eyes of all
40-50 Concord
50-8pm Little tree
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 Sure on this shining
20-35 Choose something
35-50 The Road: starting with unaccompanied parts
50-9pm Lonely People: review divisi & p.6 unaccompanied, and then run

Poetry assignments

Thank you to all those who signed up to read. I added a few people who didn't sign up. Please check the list below:

• Because you live: Cienniwa
• The Eyes of All: Inessa Burnell
• Concord: Vanessa Pendexter
• Bittersweet: Mary Collins
• Because I could not stop: Anne Sullivan
• Little Tree: Jesse Sannicandro
• Sure on this Shining Night: Samantha Petracca
• Choose Something Like a Star: Pat Berlandi
• Hallelujah: Gena DeGioia
• The Road Not Taken: Jessica Feinzig
• Lonely People: Molly Dubrowski
• Things That Never Die: Sam McGuire
• Give me your tired: Cienniwa

For access to the readings, please visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_OVfMpR4XA6LENvAmK2NoRNNCHsCZBuTQe2kQtpW4_U/edit?usp=sharing

Please print out your page from the document link or feel free to copy/paste your page into a document/font format you prefer.

Program order

Because You Live
The Eyes of All
Concord
Bittersweet
Because I Could Not Stop
Little Tree
Sure on this Shining
Choose Something Like a Star
Hallelujah
The Road not Taken
Lonely People
Things that Never Die
Give me your tired

3/5 agenda

Allie won't be with us this week, so this is an excellent opportunity to woodshed some music.

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Hallelujah
20-40 Lonely People: work on divisi
40-8pm Give me your tired: start w/ working divisi
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 Because I could not stop
20-40 Bittersweet
40-55 These things never die
55-9pm Concord

3/29 agenda

We're back in the chapel this week. (Hurrah!)

Here's the plan:
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Little Tree
20-40 Choose something
40-8pm The road
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 The eyes
20-35 Lonely people
35-50 Sure on this
50-9pm Hallelujah

3/22 rehearsal

Back from spring break and onward to the concert!

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Because you live
20-30 Because I would not stop
30-45 Bittersweet: putting it all together
45-55 Things that never die: in reverse order as a refresher
55-8pm BREAK
8-8:10 Hallelujah: working particularly on text rhythm
10-20 Concord: review
20-30 The eyes of all: reviewing the outer sections, then the middle
30-40 Sure on this Shining: review alto part first, then add all parts
40-50 Check the unaccompanied spots on Road not Taken
50-9pm run Lonely People with close attention to divisi

3/8 agenda

First, a reminder: please, no perfumes or scented lotions if you can avoid it. Breathing singers = migranes.

Here's the plan:
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Hallelujah
20-30 review Because I would not stop
30-40 altos: please look over/listen to Sure on this Shining Night. We'll go over it here and then add all parts.
40-50 Lonely People
50-8pm Because you live
8-8:05 BREAK
5-15 Things that never die: in reverse order as a refresher
15-25 Bittersweet: let's put it all together!
25-35 The eyes of all: in reverse order as a refresher
35-50 We'll check all of the unaccompanied spots in The Road not Taken (Good work this week!)
50-9pm Concord

3/1 agenda

This is somewhat of a "state of affairs" rehearsals as we review just about everything on the program and see how things stand.

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Because I would not stop: review and rehearse
25-35 Sure on this shining
35-45 Lonely people
45-55 Give me your tired
55-8pm BREAK
8-8:10 Bittersweet, pp. 1-4
10-20 review Things that never die
20-30 Because you live
30-40 Choose Something
40-50 The road not taken
50-9pm Hallelujah

Agenda for 2/23

7-7:10 warmup
10-15 review Little Tree
15-25 review The Eyes of All
25-35 Because You Live
35-50 The Road, pp.16-end, working towards unaccompanied singing
50-8:05 Choose Something, pp.74-77, pp.71-74
5-10 BREAK
10-20 Bittersweet pp.1-4
20-30 review Concord
30-40 review divisi (pp.4-end) in Give me your tired
40-50 read Because I would not stop
50-9pm review Lonely people

agenda for 2/16

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 read Little Tree
20-35 work on Sure on This
35-55 work out divisi on Give Me Your Tired
55-8pm BREAK
8pm-20 Things That Never: review in reverse order
20-35 The Eyes: review in reverse order
35-50 The Road: look over parts pp.16-20, go on to final pages
50-9pm To Laugh

Agenda for 2/9

Barring any nor-easters:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Concord
20-40 Because you live: go through all of it
40-8pm Choose something: review 77-end; add 73 (bottom)-75
8-8:05 BREAK
5-20 The road: pp.16-20
20-35 Bittersweet: pp.5-end, starting with "new" passage at top of p.7
35-50 Sure on this: review pages in reverse order 
50-9pm: review divisi; add divisi on p.6

Bittersweet [Autumn]: live performance

The Choir of First Church in Boston sang Mary's piece yesterday morning as part of a service focused on musical members of the church (composers, performers, etc.). This explains why an autumn-themed piece was performed in January!

Agenda for 2/2

Please note: page numbers refer to the page numbers printed on the page, where available.

6:45-7pm meet with all new singers
7-7:10 warmup
10-25 Things that never: pp.9-11
25-35 The Road: pp.12-16
35-50 Choose something: pp.77(bottom)-end
50-8pm read Late October, assign divisi
8-8:05 BREAK
5-25 Bittersweet: pp.8-end
25-40 The eyes of all: pp.3-4
40-55 Lonely people: untexted sections
8:55 DONE (except for new singers)

YouTube audio

YouTube videos of most of the pieces are now posted in the right column. Not everything is available, but most everything is.

To convert YouTube to mp3 audio, use the link further down the right column.

Agenda for 1/26

Congratulations on a successful first rehearsal. We made our way through a good chunk of the music, and we'll conclude our reading at the 1/26 rehearsal.

If you are new to this group, remember: we have an entire semester to learn the music. We are just reading right now, and there will be plenty of time for you to feel comfortable with the music.

For those early-comers, I have a rehearsal from 6:15-6:45 next week in Heineman. You are welcome to come in, though.

Here's the plan:

6:55 Tori: I'd like to give you a quick vocalization to assess if you are soprano or alto. Please come a wee bit early.
7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Concord
20-8pm read final three pieces (not yet handed out)
8-8:05 BREAK
5-15 These things never die
15-20 Give me your tired (adding missing page & reading)
20-30 Lonely people: do all "lonely people" sections
30-40 Sure on this: pp.6-7
40-50 Hallelujah: we need to conform rhythms on the verses + we'll work on the final page
50-9pm All new people: I will give you a quick assessment for vocal placement.

See you then!

Spring 2016 repertoire

"The Poet Sings"

Albrecht: little tree (cummings)
Barber: Sure on this shining night (Agee)
Berger: Lonely people (Hughes)
Berger: The eyes of all (King David)
Berlin: Give my your tired, your poor (Lazarus)
Britten: Concord (Plomer)
Cienniwa: Late October (Angelou)
Cohen: Hallelujah (Cohen)
L. Collins: Because I would not stop for death (Dickinson)
M. Collins: Bittersweet (M. Collins)
Dengler: Things that never die (Dickens)
Hailstork: Because you live (Emerson)
Thompson: Choose something like a star (Frost)
Thompson: The road not taken (Frost)

A New Semester!

Here we go! Please check the syllabus and calendar links to the right.

Our first rehearsal is next Tuesday, January 19. See you then!

Don't forget to bring a black binder and a pencil.