Fun time last night. Thank you! Your hard work is paying off. I hope the sectional was worthwhile for you. Remember that a sectional is not the place for learning notes and pounding parts - that is done at home. But rather it is a place to build ensemble and really get to know the other voices in your section all the while working on challenging repertoire. We'll give it another go this week.
Please remember:
- auction items for fundraiser silent auction (contact Tenille)
- fill out google form re June/July concerts
For next Tuesday:
7-7:30 pm - sectionals
men: Bernstein II - work on text with recording - build speed; Exultate Deo (King)
women: Exultate Deo (King) ; Sing Unto The Lord (Glick)
7:30 -9:30
Sing Unto The Lord (Glick)
Exultate Deo - (Robin King) - visit website to listen to a good recording
Chichester Psalms movement III
Taaveti Laul (Kreek) - visit HCS website to review text & recording
Blazhen muzh (Rachmaninoff ) - visit HCS website to review text & recording
Laudate pueri Dominum (Monteverdi) - solos will be sung by entire sections
Check this recording out:
Bernstein movement III:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TKLWHshPEo&feature=related
Have a great week.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Thursday Thoughts
Thank you for working as hard as you are on this concert. So many notes! It is human nature to work on what we know gives us trouble, however it is my experience that if in one of your home rehearsal sessions you sing (or in my case, conduct) through the rehearsal list for that week you might be surprised at what causes you trouble (eg sopranos last Tuesday in "Denn er hat - Mendelssohn) . Fixing it at home would take a minute rather than 10 when we are together. This is especially an issue when dealing with texts which require different vowel colours. After you really know what is problematic for you (as opposed to thinking you know something) then you can get on to the business of dealing with what needs the real work. I realize you are aware of all this, but sometimes a reminder helps. Good luck this week.
In other news that's fit to print, I received a notice from FBC, Halifax inviting you all to a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 21st, from 5-6:30 pm. On the menu are sausages, fruit and of course, pancakes. Tickets are available at the door: $6. per adult, $4. per child, or $20. per family. Some of you come to rehearsal from work so you might like to take advantage of this.
Rehearsal plan for Tuesday:
7-7:30 pm
Women's sectional: in downstairs hall working on Glick mvt IV; m. 25-33 of Second-storey Sun
Men's sectional : in sanctuary working on Bernstein mvt II; mvt IV of Glick
7:30 -9:30 pm
Sing Unto The Lord - Glick (basses please spend time working on this, esp p. 41-45)
Chichester Psalms - mvts I & II
Denn er hat - Mendelssohn (quick review)
Taaveti laul - Kreek
Blazhen muzh (# 3 from Vespers)- Rachmaninoff (those who have full scores please bring them. The plan is for Dave and Joe to record Joe speaking the text so watch for the email.)
Chantez a Dieu - Sweelinck (quick review as this will be memorized for the concert)
Sicut Cervus - Palestrina (quick review as this will be memoized for the concert)
Please note the concert program:
In other news that's fit to print, I received a notice from FBC, Halifax inviting you all to a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 21st, from 5-6:30 pm. On the menu are sausages, fruit and of course, pancakes. Tickets are available at the door: $6. per adult, $4. per child, or $20. per family. Some of you come to rehearsal from work so you might like to take advantage of this.
7-7:30 pm
Women's sectional: in downstairs hall working on Glick mvt IV; m. 25-33 of Second-storey Sun
Men's sectional : in sanctuary working on Bernstein mvt II; mvt IV of Glick
7:30 -9:30 pm
Sing Unto The Lord - Glick (basses please spend time working on this, esp p. 41-45)
Chichester Psalms - mvts I & II
Denn er hat - Mendelssohn (quick review)
Taaveti laul - Kreek
Blazhen muzh (# 3 from Vespers)- Rachmaninoff (those who have full scores please bring them. The plan is for Dave and Joe to record Joe speaking the text so watch for the email.)
Chantez a Dieu - Sweelinck (quick review as this will be memorized for the concert)
Sicut Cervus - Palestrina (quick review as this will be memoized for the concert)
Please note the concert program:
Chantez à Dieu– J. P. Sweelinck (Psalm 96) 2
Sicut Cervus – G. Palestrina 3
Laudate pueri Dominum – Claudio Monteverdi 5:30
[Solo set by Andrew Pickett (10)]
Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen – Felix Mendelssohn 3:30
Richte mich, Gott – Felix Mendelssohn (Psalm 43) 3:30
I Was Glad (Psalm 122) – C. H. H. Parry (5:30)
Chichester Psalms – Leonard Bernstein (18)
Exultate Deo (Psalm 81) – Robin King * (2:20)
Second-Story Sun (premiere) – Leonard Enns * (6)
Taaveti Laul (Psalm 104) – Cyrillus Kreek (2:40)
Blazhen muzh (from the All Night Vigil) Psalm 1 - Rachmaninoff (4:30)
Sing Unto The Lord A New Song (w harp) - Psalms 95 – S. I. Glick * (5:30)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday Thoughts
Thanks for great work Tuesday night. My intention on Tuesday was to work on specific section of the various pieces and for the most part much was accomplished. You all know the areas which need work both collectively and specific you your own parts, so I'll not dwell on that. Next week Tristan will introduce the "Taaveti laul No. 104 (Kreek) so please look over that before rehearsal. If you are interested in hearing a performance, you can click on this link and hear our own Vancouver Cantata Singers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfLUVdAXoXI
I would like to also really dig into the Glick "Sing Unto The Lord" so do some hard work on the text, and rhythms of that piece as well.
The rehearsal list for Tuesday will look as follows:
Sing Unto The Lord - Glick
Chichester Psalms - Mvts 1 & 2 - men will please begin to memorize the 56 measures of "choral hell!"
Second-storey Sun - Enns - now that pages 2-5 are in place we will complete the piece.
Mendelssohn Psalms - text needs to be reviewed and we need to finish these pieces next week.
Taaveti laul No. 10- Kreek - Tristan will introduce & teach
Chantez a Dieu- Sweelinck - much better work last night; basses please be certain of notes and phrase shapes.
This will keep us all very busy. I really appreciate your all taking ownership of this music, your committment to the scores, and to these timeless texts. This is a really fabulous program and I, for one, can't wait to share it with our audience. Have a great week!
I would like to also really dig into the Glick "Sing Unto The Lord" so do some hard work on the text, and rhythms of that piece as well.
The rehearsal list for Tuesday will look as follows:
Sing Unto The Lord - Glick
Chichester Psalms - Mvts 1 & 2 - men will please begin to memorize the 56 measures of "choral hell!"
Second-storey Sun - Enns - now that pages 2-5 are in place we will complete the piece.
Mendelssohn Psalms - text needs to be reviewed and we need to finish these pieces next week.
Taaveti laul No. 10- Kreek - Tristan will introduce & teach
Chantez a Dieu- Sweelinck - much better work last night; basses please be certain of notes and phrase shapes.
This will keep us all very busy. I really appreciate your all taking ownership of this music, your committment to the scores, and to these timeless texts. This is a really fabulous program and I, for one, can't wait to share it with our audience. Have a great week!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday Thoughts
Tough night. Usually the second rehearsal of a new program is rough - the first night everything is new, we begin from nothing and at some level, make music. But often for the second rehearsal, some choristers neglect to put in the work needed to take the music further. It is the human condition, but I don't have the time, nor do I build the time in my planning, to teach notes. That's your job and couple that with difficult texts and the mountain seems high.
So please read my "thoughts" today carefully as I am trying my best to equip you with the tools you need to give an exciting performance of this program. Budget your "home practice time" and guard that time in your schedules carefully.
For next Tuesday:
Chantez a Dieu - Sweelinck: Practice singing your part slowly and centre all the vowels. Pay attention to strong-light syllables. Know the text intimately. Think of it as a madrigal and always feel the dance. I said last week sing as if you are preparing a solo - not many of you heard me, as there was a lot of fumbling around. Finally sing it at tempo.
Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen - Mendelssohn
Richte mich, Gott - Mendelssohn
Text and melody. Know the German. Go online and listen to good recordings of these pieces to get the feel. As I mentioned in rehearsal, stop trying to sing in such a legato style when the text dictates that the consonants separate the notes.
Chichester Psalms mvt I: This all comes down to you not only being able to speak the text in rhythm at tempo, but buying into the notion that Bernstein knows what he is doing by writing ma molto marcato for each of the men's entrances (beginning at m. 14) and then marcato for the women (m. 22) I asked you to carefully mark the 18 measure theme beginning at m. 14 and for those of you who were away or need a review. I have attached it here:
If your scores are marked and you memorize the "order" of the thematic material, you will be able to see Bernstein's working through the A section via the various voicings of the choir. For those of you who are still having trouble with the text, I have attached a link to a Hebrew speaker speaking the text. He speaks rather quickly but you can get the word stress of the rhythm. Play it over and over if necessary. Please copy the following link and paste it in your browser.:
http://paysonchorale.org/audio/virtualchoir-index.html
Chichester Psalms mvt II: This movement is the soloist singing a lovely, lyrical, floating setting of Psalm 23 The composer's directions suggest a young boy strumming his harp and almost idly improvising on the melody. The sopranos pick up on this melody at m. 32 and then in canon with the altos at m. 48. Then all hell breaks loose when the sublime SA duet is interrupted by the thunderous voice of the Almighty and asks the repeated question: Why do the nations rage? M. 64-120 contains the most difficult material of the Chichester Psalms and it is said that men who were forced to memorize the Allegro feroce sections will be able to recall it at will 20 yearls later as it stays with you for life. NB: The words of this entire section must be memorized by all of the choir and that memory work must take place at home. We will begin it next week. so again, listen to the sound clip (Mvt II) of the text.
Sing Unto The Lord (only mvt IV) - Glick: We will begin this next week. Learn the notes.
Second-Storey Sun - Enns: m. 1-33 needs work. Please prepare.
Final thoughts: For some of you this is the toughest rep you have ever sung while for others it is all in a day's work. Most of you are somewhere in the middle. This will be a brilliant concert but I'm not waiting for people to catch up. Please be prepared every rehearsal.
So please read my "thoughts" today carefully as I am trying my best to equip you with the tools you need to give an exciting performance of this program. Budget your "home practice time" and guard that time in your schedules carefully.
For next Tuesday:
Chantez a Dieu - Sweelinck: Practice singing your part slowly and centre all the vowels. Pay attention to strong-light syllables. Know the text intimately. Think of it as a madrigal and always feel the dance. I said last week sing as if you are preparing a solo - not many of you heard me, as there was a lot of fumbling around. Finally sing it at tempo.
Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen - Mendelssohn
Richte mich, Gott - Mendelssohn
Text and melody. Know the German. Go online and listen to good recordings of these pieces to get the feel. As I mentioned in rehearsal, stop trying to sing in such a legato style when the text dictates that the consonants separate the notes.
Chichester Psalms mvt I: This all comes down to you not only being able to speak the text in rhythm at tempo, but buying into the notion that Bernstein knows what he is doing by writing ma molto marcato for each of the men's entrances (beginning at m. 14) and then marcato for the women (m. 22) I asked you to carefully mark the 18 measure theme beginning at m. 14 and for those of you who were away or need a review. I have attached it here:
If your scores are marked and you memorize the "order" of the thematic material, you will be able to see Bernstein's working through the A section via the various voicings of the choir. For those of you who are still having trouble with the text, I have attached a link to a Hebrew speaker speaking the text. He speaks rather quickly but you can get the word stress of the rhythm. Play it over and over if necessary. Please copy the following link and paste it in your browser.:
http://paysonchorale.org/audio/virtualchoir-index.html
Chichester Psalms mvt II: This movement is the soloist singing a lovely, lyrical, floating setting of Psalm 23 The composer's directions suggest a young boy strumming his harp and almost idly improvising on the melody. The sopranos pick up on this melody at m. 32 and then in canon with the altos at m. 48. Then all hell breaks loose when the sublime SA duet is interrupted by the thunderous voice of the Almighty and asks the repeated question: Why do the nations rage? M. 64-120 contains the most difficult material of the Chichester Psalms and it is said that men who were forced to memorize the Allegro feroce sections will be able to recall it at will 20 yearls later as it stays with you for life. NB: The words of this entire section must be memorized by all of the choir and that memory work must take place at home. We will begin it next week. so again, listen to the sound clip (Mvt II) of the text.
Sing Unto The Lord (only mvt IV) - Glick: We will begin this next week. Learn the notes.
Second-Storey Sun - Enns: m. 1-33 needs work. Please prepare.
Final thoughts: For some of you this is the toughest rep you have ever sung while for others it is all in a day's work. Most of you are somewhere in the middle. This will be a brilliant concert but I'm not waiting for people to catch up. Please be prepared every rehearsal.
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
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
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thank you all so much - for a wonderful concert last Sunday afternoon at First Baptist. I have had so many compliments which I accepted on your behalf. People really had a good time and came away with a new appreciation of what we do. And in addition to your singing, John Hancock's spellbinding delivery of "A Child's Christmas In Wales," having Xara join us on stage - it was a concert which truly touched the record audience we had jammed into First Baptist. You are to be congratulated.
To all the people who worked behind the scenes to make the concert a success - and frankly there are way too many to list here - thank you! Every spoke in this giant wheel contributes to its success and you all are important. However it is important on your behalf to say thank you to three singers who were replacing Camerata regulars on temporary leave: Shannon Lawson, Shannon Snelgrove and Leander Mendoza will not be with us in January and I'd like to say publically how much I appreciated getting to know each of you and working with you this last little while. Who knows when our paths will cross again.
To those of you who are singing Messiah - thank you for finding the energy on Tuesday night after a very busy weekend. It was so much fun for me to dust this piece off again and to look at it with fresh eyes. For those I will not see until our next Camerata rehearsal on Tuesday, January 10, I wish you a safe and happy Christmas, full of great times with family and friends.
To all the people who worked behind the scenes to make the concert a success - and frankly there are way too many to list here - thank you! Every spoke in this giant wheel contributes to its success and you all are important. However it is important on your behalf to say thank you to three singers who were replacing Camerata regulars on temporary leave: Shannon Lawson, Shannon Snelgrove and Leander Mendoza will not be with us in January and I'd like to say publically how much I appreciated getting to know each of you and working with you this last little while. Who knows when our paths will cross again.
To those of you who are singing Messiah - thank you for finding the energy on Tuesday night after a very busy weekend. It was so much fun for me to dust this piece off again and to look at it with fresh eyes. For those I will not see until our next Camerata rehearsal on Tuesday, January 10, I wish you a safe and happy Christmas, full of great times with family and friends.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
A few reminders for the weekend concert:
- the dress rehearsal Saturday begins at 10 am and Camerata will warm up and work our solo rep until 11 am. During that time we will put together the piece with organ. Time will be precious.
- Camerata and Xara will work joint rep from 11am-12:30 pm This includes the audience carols.
- Camerata's Call on Sunday is 2:30 pm
- March repertoire will be available on Saturday - please remember to pick up your music envelopes.
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