Thursday, January 12, 2012

Thursday Thoughts

Good beginnings Tuesday night.  We made headway on a program spanning seven centuries and cracked the notes on a commission which promises to be a significant part of this program's landscape. We welcomed 4 out of the 6 new YMP singers, introduced new alto Erin MacIntyre, and welcomed back Danielle, Garth, and Bill after their "sabbatical. "  Not a bad way to begin 2012.

For the time being we're going to learn notes as quickly as possible and each week try to get out of the scores along the way. It is going to take a little time to jell as a new choir but with everyone listening and concentrating it will happen.  My New Year's resolution is to take care of more of the details and get more from the score and that is my expectation for you as well.  You, in turn, need to expect more from your colleagues and depend on them to "have your back" musically. I love the quote I read to you last night in reference to performing Renaissance polyphony: It applies to all of choral music and is you get serious about it, this is going to pay big dividends in performances: " What the musician needs is a listening ear, an open and critical mind and a feeling for group unity. It is this continuous group dynamic that really brings polyphonic compositions to life. Every member of an ensemble is creatively involved in the development and realization of polyphonic works." 

On to next week. Please prepare the following:

Psalm 96 - Sweelinck
Sicut Cervus - Palestrina (review)
Laudate pueri Dominum - Monteverdi 
Second-storey Sun - Enns
Chichester Psalms  - work on text and notes of mvt 1.
Two Mendelssohn Psalms

Note: Everyone please check the program order. If you are missing any of the scores (except the Rachmaninoff which so one has) email me so I can put them in my briefcase and bring them to you for next Tuesday.  

For help with the Chichester Psalms you might find the following links helpful. Use them as needed. There are also good recordings of the Mendelssohn Psalms on You Tube if you want to search them out.

Have a great week!

Cyber Bass - help learning notes for Chichester Psalms:

http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Bernstein/bernstein_chichester_psalms.htm

Good recording on YouTube:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEnYf_aQUnc

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