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.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
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.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
How appropriate - sitting here by the woodstove in the middle of a snowstorm (so now you know that I often begin Thursday Thoughts on Wednesday evening!) and thinking of Christmas music. It is getting to that time and as some point or another, we are all going to have to accept that Christmas is coming whether or not we are ready. Of course those of you with little kids are already aware of that!
Good rehearsal last night. The music is coming and though we sing it in concert next week, it is not quite ready. Most pieces are pretty close. "There Is No Rose" (Enns) is not ....yet, but we are getting there. The secret of preparing the Enns is not to think melodically but harmonically - play the chords and sing your part against the other parts. Then you will be aware how well you know it. We will go at it again next Tuesday and by then it should be in your ears, and by the dress rehearsal on Saturday, you will be confident with it. The rest of the rep needs to be performed and we have time to do that. Next Tuesday we will sing through the program in standing formation. It will be a good test.
A few reminders:
Good rehearsal last night. The music is coming and though we sing it in concert next week, it is not quite ready. Most pieces are pretty close. "There Is No Rose" (Enns) is not ....yet, but we are getting there. The secret of preparing the Enns is not to think melodically but harmonically - play the chords and sing your part against the other parts. Then you will be aware how well you know it. We will go at it again next Tuesday and by then it should be in your ears, and by the dress rehearsal on Saturday, you will be confident with it. The rest of the rep needs to be performed and we have time to do that. Next Tuesday we will sing through the program in standing formation. It will be a good test.
A few reminders:
- remember to deposit your travel donation cheques on Thursday (today) as your own cheque to Camerata will be cashed on Thursday.
- this concert is selling very well and we need to all pitch in to sell it out. Please talk it up everywhere - your office colleagues, church choir singers, church bulletins, friends, relatives. There is a Event Announcement on Facebook and you can say "you're attending" and share it to give it more profile.
- please get as much of this program in your head so that you can be out of the scores and engaging the audience as much as possible.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Choirs are wonderful instruments. It is the only musical genre whereby we can take the collective - a group of good musicians and make a really wonderful instrument. It is what makes the whole process so exciting for me. It is what still, after all these years, still really gets my blood going for both rehearsals and concerts.
But humanity being just that, human - sometimes everyone isn't on the same page. What I consider an intensively musical performance might not be that for you or, conversely, what you may think is our best work, might not cut it for me.
I think the luxury of having a lot of time to prepare (as in our November concert) followed by a very short time to prepare (the December concert) is catching some of us off guard. And if this isn't recognized and fixed right away, the music won't ever come off the page.
As of yet, the music for this concert isn't coming off the page. As hard as you are working in rehearsal, by necessity, we are moving so quickly that in many cases you are forgetting the technical things we worked at so hard to achieve the "sound " for the last concert. Things like the unanimity of vowels, singing through all the notes, singing the text, being sensitive to dynamic shading, and getting out of the score - I"m tired of looking at your hair parts! When I ask you to note a particular vowel colour on a word, I noticed on Tuesday that few of you automatically mark the word with your pencils, rather trying to remember that detail the next time we sing the phrase. Mark your scores more - it really is a sign of musical maturity.
I'd like us to do better - specifically next Tuesday and from now on. My expectations of each of you are high and although I genuinely care for each one of you - as people and as colleagues, when I am conducting the repertoire my only focus is the composers intent and the highest possible level of music we can make together. I do try to be sensitive to each of your personal situations and realize that there are times that families, work, life gets in the way of everything from arriving for a 7pm downbeat to attention spans wandering during the last 20 minutes of rehearsal.
For Tuesday the scores which everyone needs to spend time on include: There Is No Rose (Enns); Magnificat (RW Henderson). Some of you need to work more on Dormi Jesu (Daley) and Huron Carol (Anderson). We will also review Christmas Angel (Hanney) so if this is new to you, learn it for Tuesday. It is dead dog easy however I don't have a lot of time to spend on it. (Sheena already knows and has been working on the solo so we are in good hands in that department). Warmup will consist of the a capella verses of the carols: Once In Royal David's City and I Saw Three Ships (spend time on the latter - it moves quickly and there is a lot of text) Judith will sing the soprano solos.
I truly appreciate everything each one of you gives to this choir and I know you do it because you love to sing at the level we are singing. The difference we are making to choral music is being recognized - across the country. As the result of the Vinyl Cafe program where they played two cuts from the SOLACE CD, we sold over 37 CDs. I, myself had three emails from listeners across the country who heard the recording and loved it and some of you told me of emails and phone calls you received. I had an email from a composer in Australia, visiting Canada who heard us and wants to write for the choir - so make no mistake, we are making a difference. So my expectations will continue to be high - for myself and for each of you because I we need to continue to make a difference and contribute to the choral art.
But humanity being just that, human - sometimes everyone isn't on the same page. What I consider an intensively musical performance might not be that for you or, conversely, what you may think is our best work, might not cut it for me.
I think the luxury of having a lot of time to prepare (as in our November concert) followed by a very short time to prepare (the December concert) is catching some of us off guard. And if this isn't recognized and fixed right away, the music won't ever come off the page.
As of yet, the music for this concert isn't coming off the page. As hard as you are working in rehearsal, by necessity, we are moving so quickly that in many cases you are forgetting the technical things we worked at so hard to achieve the "sound " for the last concert. Things like the unanimity of vowels, singing through all the notes, singing the text, being sensitive to dynamic shading, and getting out of the score - I"m tired of looking at your hair parts! When I ask you to note a particular vowel colour on a word, I noticed on Tuesday that few of you automatically mark the word with your pencils, rather trying to remember that detail the next time we sing the phrase. Mark your scores more - it really is a sign of musical maturity.
I'd like us to do better - specifically next Tuesday and from now on. My expectations of each of you are high and although I genuinely care for each one of you - as people and as colleagues, when I am conducting the repertoire my only focus is the composers intent and the highest possible level of music we can make together. I do try to be sensitive to each of your personal situations and realize that there are times that families, work, life gets in the way of everything from arriving for a 7pm downbeat to attention spans wandering during the last 20 minutes of rehearsal.
For Tuesday the scores which everyone needs to spend time on include: There Is No Rose (Enns); Magnificat (RW Henderson). Some of you need to work more on Dormi Jesu (Daley) and Huron Carol (Anderson). We will also review Christmas Angel (Hanney) so if this is new to you, learn it for Tuesday. It is dead dog easy however I don't have a lot of time to spend on it. (Sheena already knows and has been working on the solo so we are in good hands in that department). Warmup will consist of the a capella verses of the carols: Once In Royal David's City and I Saw Three Ships (spend time on the latter - it moves quickly and there is a lot of text) Judith will sing the soprano solos.
I truly appreciate everything each one of you gives to this choir and I know you do it because you love to sing at the level we are singing. The difference we are making to choral music is being recognized - across the country. As the result of the Vinyl Cafe program where they played two cuts from the SOLACE CD, we sold over 37 CDs. I, myself had three emails from listeners across the country who heard the recording and loved it and some of you told me of emails and phone calls you received. I had an email from a composer in Australia, visiting Canada who heard us and wants to write for the choir - so make no mistake, we are making a difference. So my expectations will continue to be high - for myself and for each of you because I we need to continue to make a difference and contribute to the choral art.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
We're back at it again - a new program which we need to get ready in four rehearsals - now three. I can't impress on all of you enough that we will need every minute of rehearsal time in ouder to prepare for our half of the concert. Next week you will receive the two missing scores: Mid Winter (Chilcott) and Es Ist Ein Ros (Sandstrom) and I will add both pieces into the rehearsal list. I would ask that everyone come next week with the following pieces well learned:
Magnificat - Ruth Watson Henderson
Thou Shalt Know Him - Sirett
There Is No Rose - Jeff Enns
Huron Carol - Robert Anderson
Dormi Jesu - E. Daly
I Saw Three Ships - arr. D. Willcocks
I would like to know by next Tuesday if you are interested in any of the following solos. If I don't hear from any of you I will choose whose voice is best suited for the particular solo. Send me a quick email to confirm and we can set up audition times.
Magnificat - Henderson - soprano solo P. 6 m. 46-53. Note the mm of 72 - requires good breath control!
I Saw Three Ships - soprano solo vs. 1, 3, 5; tenor solo vs. 2 & 4)
Once In Royal David's City (vs. 1 sung by Xara soprano soloist)
Christmas Angel - (will be sung by Sheena H.)
You also have a press release sent to you by Jill Rafuse. Please send it far and wide to all your friends, family and choral contacts. Think about including the poster - we will also have it next week in hard copy. This is a concert we can sell out with everyone spreading the word. Also, if you have a suggestion of a choir we can target, invite and offer discounted tickets, please email Tenille or Marsha (our Board Chair) with your suggestion. The thought is to continue to build audience.
Finally a thank you again for all your wonderful concert on Saturday night. It was a magical way to begin our 25th anniversary season. See you next Tuesday. Have a great long weekend!
Magnificat - Ruth Watson Henderson
Thou Shalt Know Him - Sirett
There Is No Rose - Jeff Enns
Huron Carol - Robert Anderson
Dormi Jesu - E. Daly
I Saw Three Ships - arr. D. Willcocks
I would like to know by next Tuesday if you are interested in any of the following solos. If I don't hear from any of you I will choose whose voice is best suited for the particular solo. Send me a quick email to confirm and we can set up audition times.
Magnificat - Henderson - soprano solo P. 6 m. 46-53. Note the mm of 72 - requires good breath control!
I Saw Three Ships - soprano solo vs. 1, 3, 5; tenor solo vs. 2 & 4)
Once In Royal David's City (vs. 1 sung by Xara soprano soloist)
Christmas Angel - (will be sung by Sheena H.)
You also have a press release sent to you by Jill Rafuse. Please send it far and wide to all your friends, family and choral contacts. Think about including the poster - we will also have it next week in hard copy. This is a concert we can sell out with everyone spreading the word. Also, if you have a suggestion of a choir we can target, invite and offer discounted tickets, please email Tenille or Marsha (our Board Chair) with your suggestion. The thought is to continue to build audience.
Finally a thank you again for all your wonderful concert on Saturday night. It was a magical way to begin our 25th anniversary season. See you next Tuesday. Have a great long weekend!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thanks to you all!
Dear Friends,
I wanted to take a minute to thank you all so much for the heart and soul you put into a wonderful concert Saturday night. The concert was really great and I have had calls and emails from people who simply wanted to say "thank you". I just got off the phone with Peter Togni and he wanted to "send his love to all the singers" with a big thanks for such a lovely job on his pieces. Jeff Enns is really looking forward to hearing the recording of the premiere of "The Lord's Prayer" (which I don't think you ever sang better!)
Camerata is certainly a group of dedicated musicians but the spirit of this choir is more than that. I sense a real energy when we make music together. Most of you are not golf buddies or socialize together outside of the choir, but I sense in the music you make that there is a spirit in this group which helps to create the magic in performance.
To each one of you who sang those beautiful solos, to the readers who so eloquently captured the spirit of the poems, to Cynthia and Garth who really rocked the accompaniments, to Geoff, Tenille, Marsha and the Board, Front of House Committee, etc., etc - thank you all for being a part of this wonderful team.
See most of you Tuesday as it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....
I wanted to take a minute to thank you all so much for the heart and soul you put into a wonderful concert Saturday night. The concert was really great and I have had calls and emails from people who simply wanted to say "thank you". I just got off the phone with Peter Togni and he wanted to "send his love to all the singers" with a big thanks for such a lovely job on his pieces. Jeff Enns is really looking forward to hearing the recording of the premiere of "The Lord's Prayer" (which I don't think you ever sang better!)
Camerata is certainly a group of dedicated musicians but the spirit of this choir is more than that. I sense a real energy when we make music together. Most of you are not golf buddies or socialize together outside of the choir, but I sense in the music you make that there is a spirit in this group which helps to create the magic in performance.
To each one of you who sang those beautiful solos, to the readers who so eloquently captured the spirit of the poems, to Cynthia and Garth who really rocked the accompaniments, to Geoff, Tenille, Marsha and the Board, Front of House Committee, etc., etc - thank you all for being a part of this wonderful team.
See most of you Tuesday as it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
What a great time Tuesday night! Thanks to you all for working so hard. Some reminders which you may want to make note:
REMEMBER: Those of you who are submitting travel claim forms and cheques, you need to do this by Saturday, November 5. See the travel claim form for mailing details.
Please make a last minute plug for the concert - we'd like to see this one sold out! If everyone took just a minute to send a reminder to your concert lists (I did mine this week) and update your social networking sites there would be a lot of chatter about our concert. No one would be able to say they didn't know about it. It's all about getting the word out, and these days it is easy for everyone to play a vital part in promoting the art we have worked so hard to create.
Finally, huge congratulations to the artistic team of Camerata Xara and to the choir itself for a very moving event last weekend. (I meant to mention this on Tuesday night) The whole experience of Fatty Legs was one of the most emotional events I have attended and Xara is to be commended for telling the story of the residential schools in such a profoundly dramatic fashion in music, dance and in the reading of the story. You should feel very proud of your accomplishments!
Thanks and see you all tomorrow evening.
- dress rehearsal is 7pm tomorrow (Friday) evening. Please arrive with your rep in concert order in your folders. Readers please bring copies of your poems.
- the call on Saturday night is 6:15pm ready to sing at First Baptist.
- all music from this concert is to be passed in Saturday after the concert. The blue box will be set up backstage. Please keep and reuse your music envelopes.
- rep for the December 4 concert will be given out on Tuesday.
REMEMBER: Those of you who are submitting travel claim forms and cheques, you need to do this by Saturday, November 5. See the travel claim form for mailing details.
Please make a last minute plug for the concert - we'd like to see this one sold out! If everyone took just a minute to send a reminder to your concert lists (I did mine this week) and update your social networking sites there would be a lot of chatter about our concert. No one would be able to say they didn't know about it. It's all about getting the word out, and these days it is easy for everyone to play a vital part in promoting the art we have worked so hard to create.
Finally, huge congratulations to the artistic team of Camerata Xara and to the choir itself for a very moving event last weekend. (I meant to mention this on Tuesday night) The whole experience of Fatty Legs was one of the most emotional events I have attended and Xara is to be commended for telling the story of the residential schools in such a profoundly dramatic fashion in music, dance and in the reading of the story. You should feel very proud of your accomplishments!
Thanks and see you all tomorrow evening.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
In spite of loosing some time to our AGM last night, you all did wonderful work. The rep is coming closer to performance standard and now we have time to practice preforming the pieces. The goal now is to get as much of the scores in our heads as possible so that singing out of the score is not an uncomfortasble process. There are a few "joins" which need to be checked - know how to get from one movement of the Howells to the next. Other than that, really know each score on this program.
Here are some reminders for the next week:
Here are some reminders for the next week:
- let's all try to support the Camerara Xara concert this weekend. For tickets or details email Tenille.
- plug our concert with your church/community choirs, friends & family, address contact list, etc. Please sell your tickets. Remember the Antigonish concert has been cancelled and we are trying to make up the lost revenue.
- don't forget your Facebook pages and other social media sites. Talk it up...a lot!
- for those making travel claims remember your claims due next week.
- thinking ahead, please note the time of the December 3 dress rehearsal on the blog calendar.
- Tuesday's rehearsal will be with Jeff Reilly. He will arrive around 8 pm and we will spend time on all the rep he will play with us.
- the dress rehearsal (as per the choir calendar) is Friday, November 4th from 7-10 pm.
- the choir call the night of the concert is 6:15 pm.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thank you again for fine work on Tuesday. I think we made huge strides on the Howells and the music is now coming off the page. We have an hour and 45 minutes next Tuesday to get through most of the program and my thought is to run the Howells front to back to have a sense of pacing and see what we need to tweak. Please have all scores prepared and work at all the little places which need special attention.
Also please remember that this coming Tuesday is the organization's AGM - a necessary function for all non profit organizations. We will rehearse from 7:00 - 8:45 pm, take a 5 minute break and then proceed directly to the AGM, chaired by our President, Marsha Curry. We will be on our way home by 9:30pm.
Finally, I will be emailing you a Travel Claim form. This is being offered to those who travel to rehearsals and/or concerts to subit a mileage claim in order to get a tax receipt. This will be processed earlier than in the past as December will be so busy for us all. Please do not leave it until the last minute to submit.
See you all next Tuesday. Have a good rest of the week. Stay dry!
Also please remember that this coming Tuesday is the organization's AGM - a necessary function for all non profit organizations. We will rehearse from 7:00 - 8:45 pm, take a 5 minute break and then proceed directly to the AGM, chaired by our President, Marsha Curry. We will be on our way home by 9:30pm.
Finally, I will be emailing you a Travel Claim form. This is being offered to those who travel to rehearsals and/or concerts to subit a mileage claim in order to get a tax receipt. This will be processed earlier than in the past as December will be so busy for us all. Please do not leave it until the last minute to submit.
See you all next Tuesday. Have a good rest of the week. Stay dry!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
From the Artistic Director
From the Artistic Director:
Welcome to the opening concert of the 25th Anniversary season of the Halifax Camerata Singers. Twenty-five years is a significant achievement for any arts organization and we welcome you tonight and thank you for joining in helping us celebrate.
The Camerata remembrance concerts have been one of our most popular events over the past decade or so. I deliberately used the word “event” as this concert is unlike any other I program each season. The purpose of the evening is to give each of you the space and opportunity to “remember” whomever you choose. Some of the names listed In Memoriam are familiar while others are known only to the person who submitted the name. All are important. The exquisite beauty of the music, solemnity of this lovely sanctuary, and the selected readings will help create the space for you to reflect, to think and to remember.
The concert is in three different sections. We begin by remembering those who have been killed in armed conflict through the ages. Book-ended by two powerful poems by First World War poets, the choir opens the program with the evocative Herbert Howell’s Requiem. Written by Howells in 1936 (but not released for performance until 1980) some say that the death of Howell’s only son in 1935 was the catalyst for his writing of the piece. Howells uses a fragmented portion of the traditional text for the Requiem Mass but intersperses them with settings of Psalms 23 and 121 thus creating a unique but powerful work.
We reflect next on the loss of those who we have known – those who have been our friends, relatives and comrades. Those who have passed from us but are still vivid in our memories. Jeff Enns’ “Lord’s Prayer” is one of the most beautiful settings of this well known text I know and we are very happy to bring you the world premiere of this piece. Peter-Anthony Togni’s skilful attention to his ethereal, chord-coloured texts combined with Jeff Reilly’s bass clarinet improvisations over the choir all create a mystical atmosphere so serene you can almost smell the incense!
The final section of the program celebrates life and the influences of those lives who remain vividly in our memories. Beginning with the David Roberts poem, “There Will Be Peace” and followed by contemporary settings of the “Ubi Caritas” and “In Paradisium” we now celebrate lives well lived and hope for future generations. As in all of our remembrance concerts, we end by inviting you to stand and join with the choir to sing The Kontakion.
Thank you for your support over the last 25 years, both by attending our concerts and by your financial donations. We are excited by the music we sing and we hope that you leave today refreshed and renewed at what you have experienced. Please take a rack card and allow us to add your email address to our e concert list. We really do want to see you again!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
We continue to make progress on this program and in that light, I have asked the basses to come a little early next Tuesday. They will do sectional work at 6:45 pm and the rest of the choir should be there at 7:15pm. We will forgo the warmup (please look after that in the car on the way!) and tackle the Howell's Requiem straight off. The Truro crowd is sometimes pressing it to get there and get the chairs set up so if anyone can arrive a little earlier to help set up, on a perfect night we need 24 chairs from the Boardroom.
A few reminders:
- our annual AGM (necessary to fulfil our obligations with the Registry of Joint Stocks) takes place on Tuesday, October 25. Rehearsal will begin at the usual time of 7pm however we will stop at 8:45pm and turn things over to the Camerata Board led by President Marsha Curry. We will finish by the usual 9:30 pm.
- sometimes we work so hard singing in a choir like Camerata that we sometimes believe that this can be our only contribution. Please don't forget that even if the music is sublime, if there is no one there to hear it, the organization's bottom line is seriously affected - let alone our own morale. With so many arts events competing for our time and dollars, it is up to each one of us to do whatever possible to publicize our concerts. With less than three weeks to go, here are a few simple things which take little time :
I love this music and am so looking forward to presenting this program with you to our audiences in Halifax and Antigonish on November 6 & 7. Have a great week!
A few reminders:
- our annual AGM (necessary to fulfil our obligations with the Registry of Joint Stocks) takes place on Tuesday, October 25. Rehearsal will begin at the usual time of 7pm however we will stop at 8:45pm and turn things over to the Camerata Board led by President Marsha Curry. We will finish by the usual 9:30 pm.
- sometimes we work so hard singing in a choir like Camerata that we sometimes believe that this can be our only contribution. Please don't forget that even if the music is sublime, if there is no one there to hear it, the organization's bottom line is seriously affected - let alone our own morale. With so many arts events competing for our time and dollars, it is up to each one of us to do whatever possible to publicize our concerts. With less than three weeks to go, here are a few simple things which take little time :
- please forward Tenille's recent press release to the choral music lovers in your contact list the info re season's tickets. At $50 for all three concerts it is a steal.
- send our concert info on to your social networking contacts (Facebook, Twitter, etc and include the thumbnail of the concert poster as your profile picture. This is the way our younger concert audience members exchange information. They rarely use email.
- make sure our concert announcement is in your church bulletins. Encourage your choir members to come.
- we are trying to encourage youth choirs to come to Camerata concerts. Last season an entire youth choir from Pictou came to our May concert and went away Camerata fans. Help us identify youth choirs who might like discounted tickets and an invitation to attend a Camerata concert.
- talk up our concerts with everyone! The little time you spend is well worth it. You, the singers who travel week to week to rehearsals and give so much of your time and energy to create this choral art, you are our best ambassadors. Let's all take ownership of our concerts and help sell them out!
I love this music and am so looking forward to presenting this program with you to our audiences in Halifax and Antigonish on November 6 & 7. Have a great week!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
It has been quite a week! Everyone seemed rejuvenated after last weekend and much of what was learned from the Elise Bradley workshop carried over into Tuesday's rehearsal. Thanks to everyone who helped to make both Camerata's and Xara's PD workshop such a success. I would be remiss not to mention Bethany United and Ann Bradley for helping to make things go so smoothly on Saturday and to Tenille, Christina, plus a number of Camerata and Xara volunteers who all contributed in many ways to the overall success of the weekend.
Looking ahead: we are 4 Tuesdays until the Friday dress rehearsal! Lots need to be accomplished in the next 4 weeks but we have time to really make this concert special. I will be emailing you three readings in a couple of days. I am looking for three persons who have some experience either in theatre or public speaking, reading in public, etc to be the readers for the three poems in the concert. Not everyone's gifts lie in this area as to make words come to life off a printed page requires a certain self confidence and sense of drama. But we have many talented people in Camerata so if you think you would like to give it a try, please let me know.
For next Tuesday:
Howells Requiem: all soloists who have expressed an interest please be ready as I will make time for everyone. The choir will concentrate on mvts 5, 6, 1 & 3
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo) - fix. m 28-32; m. 40-end; be able to perform complete
Lord's Prayer (Enns) - run through
In Paradisium (Corlis) - review
The Kontakion (Lang) - I have decided to add this to the program; I'll bring copies for everyone and run it through. New singers will find it easy.
One of the things I am so thankful for is the wonderful, eclectic mix of talented friends I get to work with every Tuesday night. To each of you: have a happy Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends!
Looking ahead: we are 4 Tuesdays until the Friday dress rehearsal! Lots need to be accomplished in the next 4 weeks but we have time to really make this concert special. I will be emailing you three readings in a couple of days. I am looking for three persons who have some experience either in theatre or public speaking, reading in public, etc to be the readers for the three poems in the concert. Not everyone's gifts lie in this area as to make words come to life off a printed page requires a certain self confidence and sense of drama. But we have many talented people in Camerata so if you think you would like to give it a try, please let me know.
For next Tuesday:
Howells Requiem: all soloists who have expressed an interest please be ready as I will make time for everyone. The choir will concentrate on mvts 5, 6, 1 & 3
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo) - fix. m 28-32; m. 40-end; be able to perform complete
Lord's Prayer (Enns) - run through
In Paradisium (Corlis) - review
The Kontakion (Lang) - I have decided to add this to the program; I'll bring copies for everyone and run it through. New singers will find it easy.
One of the things I am so thankful for is the wonderful, eclectic mix of talented friends I get to work with every Tuesday night. To each of you: have a happy Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thanks you for a very good rehearsal Tuesday night. The music came a long way and is starting to settle. Now for Saturday's workshop I would ask that you refer to Joudrey's Theorm # 23 - DWWR (Do What Was Rehearsed!)
A few reminders:
- be in your places and ready for singing by 9:30 am on Saturday.
- PLEASE always be aware of Camerata's no scent policy. There are people in the choir very allergic to perfumes, colognes, scented lotions, etc. All singers - male and female - are reminded that we have a no scent policy for all rehearsals and concerts.
- please remember to wear your Camerata t shirts on Saturday
- remember to work on your program advertising as it is due in a week. Last year this was a good source of revenue for the year's programs and we should try to surpass last years' numbers.
Please check last week's blog post for the rep list for Saturday. Some people have been asking about the schedule for the day and it looks like this:
For next Tuesday:
Requiem (Howells) - all movements but emphasis on 5 & 6
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo)
Antiphon (Togni)
Silencio (Togni)
A few reminders:
- be in your places and ready for singing by 9:30 am on Saturday.
- PLEASE always be aware of Camerata's no scent policy. There are people in the choir very allergic to perfumes, colognes, scented lotions, etc. All singers - male and female - are reminded that we have a no scent policy for all rehearsals and concerts.
- please remember to wear your Camerata t shirts on Saturday
- remember to work on your program advertising as it is due in a week. Last year this was a good source of revenue for the year's programs and we should try to surpass last years' numbers.
Please check last week's blog post for the rep list for Saturday. Some people have been asking about the schedule for the day and it looks like this:
Saturday at Bethany United Church, 7171 Clinton Ave., Halifax
9:30 am Joint Camerata and Xara Workshop (intro to vowels and resonance)
11:00 am Camerata workshop with Elise Bradley
11:00 am Xara in private rehearsals
12:30 pm Lunch: both choirs + auditors
1:30 pm Camerata workshop with Elise Bradley (applying morning concepts to rep)
1:30 pm Xara in private rehearsals
4:00 pm Choir dismissed. Joudrey/Murray/Bradley Tutorial (Q & A)
6:00 pm Networking Reception for choral conductors around NS (choir does not attend)For next Tuesday:
Requiem (Howells) - all movements but emphasis on 5 & 6
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo)
Antiphon (Togni)
Silencio (Togni)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Hello all,
Thanks to you all for a good rehearsal Tuesday night. Thanks especially to Christina to working on vowel production early on in the rehearsal. the improvement was huge when you were concentrating on single vowels and in " the moment" As the rehearsal wore on, if was interesting to listen to the vowel colours " morphing" into your best generic guess! Good vowel production needs to become a habit and something which I will pursue relentlessly in rehearsals, so please pay attention to the concept from now on, especially those of you who have not already had vocal training in this area. As we do more of this and especially in the workshops with Elise Bradley next week, note the troublesome vowels and begin your self awareness there. You can already hear the difference when the choir sings the "before and after" vowel examples and so, this needs to be fully integrated into repertoire more and more.
Stuff to Remember:
- please bring t shirt money next week. New singers will be given the new Camerata 25th Anniversary t shirts free of charge. Returning singers who want another t shirt will be charged the choir's cost - not sure what that will be but Tenille will let you know. Her plan is to have the t shirts at rehearsal next Tuesday so please remember to bring in your money.
- Elise Bradley workshop next Saturday, October 1 at Bethany United. We are opening up the workshops to include 15 auditors so if you know of conducting colleagues or singers who might like to observe Elise in action please give them Tenille's contact info. We have already accepted 5 auditors in the first day the info went out, so please let your students, colleagues and friends know about this. As this is part of the Camerata outreach program, the cost is minimal, only $10 - enough to cover lunch..
- the link to a really fine recording of the Togni "Silentio" is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGtcPn-JOQo&feature=related Please give it a listen with the score in front of you.
- people who have spoken to me about the Howell's solos please be prepared to sing them next Tuesday.
Rep for next Tuesday will include:
Howells:
Salvator mundi
Psalm 23 ( for the EB workshop)
Requiem I (for the EB workshop) - tuning is an issue here and we need to work on making sure intrevals are secure.
Psalm 121 (for the EB workshop)
Requiem aeternam 2 (for the EB workshop) - everyone go over your parts and make sure intervals are secure.
Lord's Prayer - Enns (for the EB workshop)
Silenctio - Togni
Have fun with the music and remember - it will get better only when everyone knows the scores intimately. Have a great week!
Thanks to you all for a good rehearsal Tuesday night. Thanks especially to Christina to working on vowel production early on in the rehearsal. the improvement was huge when you were concentrating on single vowels and in " the moment" As the rehearsal wore on, if was interesting to listen to the vowel colours " morphing" into your best generic guess! Good vowel production needs to become a habit and something which I will pursue relentlessly in rehearsals, so please pay attention to the concept from now on, especially those of you who have not already had vocal training in this area. As we do more of this and especially in the workshops with Elise Bradley next week, note the troublesome vowels and begin your self awareness there. You can already hear the difference when the choir sings the "before and after" vowel examples and so, this needs to be fully integrated into repertoire more and more.
Stuff to Remember:
- please bring t shirt money next week. New singers will be given the new Camerata 25th Anniversary t shirts free of charge. Returning singers who want another t shirt will be charged the choir's cost - not sure what that will be but Tenille will let you know. Her plan is to have the t shirts at rehearsal next Tuesday so please remember to bring in your money.
- Elise Bradley workshop next Saturday, October 1 at Bethany United. We are opening up the workshops to include 15 auditors so if you know of conducting colleagues or singers who might like to observe Elise in action please give them Tenille's contact info. We have already accepted 5 auditors in the first day the info went out, so please let your students, colleagues and friends know about this. As this is part of the Camerata outreach program, the cost is minimal, only $10 - enough to cover lunch..
- the link to a really fine recording of the Togni "Silentio" is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGtcPn-JOQo&feature=related Please give it a listen with the score in front of you.
- people who have spoken to me about the Howell's solos please be prepared to sing them next Tuesday.
Rep for next Tuesday will include:
Howells:
Salvator mundi
Psalm 23 ( for the EB workshop)
Requiem I (for the EB workshop) - tuning is an issue here and we need to work on making sure intrevals are secure.
Psalm 121 (for the EB workshop)
Requiem aeternam 2 (for the EB workshop) - everyone go over your parts and make sure intervals are secure.
Lord's Prayer - Enns (for the EB workshop)
Silenctio - Togni
Have fun with the music and remember - it will get better only when everyone knows the scores intimately. Have a great week!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thanks again for a great rehearsal on Tuesday. Here are some reminders:
- you all should have received the email notice from Tenille inviting auditors to of the Elise Bradley workshop on Saturday, October 1 at Bethany United. Please pass this along to your conducting colleagues, students, and singing friends. Remember we are only taking 15 auditors.
- please keep thinking of available tenors who might want to sing great repertoire with a great choir. Email me with ideas and contact info.
- Camerata T shirts will be worn by all singers for the Elise Bradley workshop. The order will go in early next week. so if you are new or if you need annother t shirt, please contact Tenille. Your first t shirt is free - any additional you will have to pay for. There are both men's and women's sizes in S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL - well, you get it! Email Tenille at: tenille.goodspeed@gmail.com
- Remember to sell advertising for this season's concert programs. Tenille emailed you the rate sheet which you can either duplicate or email to potential advertisers. Last year this was an additional source of needed income. Let's all work on it again this year.
- many thanks to Geoff and his cohorts (you KNOW who you are) for unloading the risers to their permanent storage space in the bowels of First Baptist. Finally those puppies have a home!
- a reminder of Janis Cobb's Celebration of Life service at St. Luke's Anglican in Hubbards, (on Shore Club Road, just off Hwy 3 on the east side of the village) Saturday 17, 2 pm. As I previously mentioned I am away with my Girls' Choir but will be thinking of you all.
Rehearsal notes for next Tuesday:
Requiem (Howells) - mvts: I, II, III & IV
Lord's Prayer (Enns)
Lamentations Movement III- "Silentio" (Togni)
In Paradisium (Corlis)
Thanks so much for your work. Have a great weekend.
- you all should have received the email notice from Tenille inviting auditors to of the Elise Bradley workshop on Saturday, October 1 at Bethany United. Please pass this along to your conducting colleagues, students, and singing friends. Remember we are only taking 15 auditors.
- please keep thinking of available tenors who might want to sing great repertoire with a great choir. Email me with ideas and contact info.
- Camerata T shirts will be worn by all singers for the Elise Bradley workshop. The order will go in early next week. so if you are new or if you need annother t shirt, please contact Tenille. Your first t shirt is free - any additional you will have to pay for. There are both men's and women's sizes in S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL - well, you get it! Email Tenille at: tenille.goodspeed@gmail.com
- Remember to sell advertising for this season's concert programs. Tenille emailed you the rate sheet which you can either duplicate or email to potential advertisers. Last year this was an additional source of needed income. Let's all work on it again this year.
- many thanks to Geoff and his cohorts (you KNOW who you are) for unloading the risers to their permanent storage space in the bowels of First Baptist. Finally those puppies have a home!
- a reminder of Janis Cobb's Celebration of Life service at St. Luke's Anglican in Hubbards, (on Shore Club Road, just off Hwy 3 on the east side of the village) Saturday 17, 2 pm. As I previously mentioned I am away with my Girls' Choir but will be thinking of you all.
Rehearsal notes for next Tuesday:
Requiem (Howells) - mvts: I, II, III & IV
Lord's Prayer (Enns)
Lamentations Movement III- "Silentio" (Togni)
In Paradisium (Corlis)
Thanks so much for your work. Have a great weekend.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday Thoughts (just a little late!)
My apologies for this being late - yesterday was the first rehearsal for my Girls' Choir and it seemed that there were way too many details to attend to!
As I said in my email - good beginnings on Tuesday. We have all the ingredients for a very fine choir this year. A big welcome to the new singers and I hope you find a home in Camerata.
Some housekeeping items (which for most of you are common sense):
- if you are going to be absent or late, I will expect to be notified, just as if I expect to be absent or late, I will make sure you all get a message. On Tuesdays I am in rehearsal in Truro and am unavailable from 3:15-4:30 pm. I leave for Halifax no later than 5:30 pm. Please make note of my contact info: 902-893-4242 (o); 902-899-6299 (c), 902-893-8425 (h) and email is: jeffjoudrey@gmail.com.
- as the level of musicianship in Camerata is of a high standard, I expect everyone to arrive at rehearsal knowing the notes. No matter how good a musician you are, please don't come to rehearsal and sight read. I mentioned on Tuesday that 2 hours /week will not be uncommon for you to spend working on scores at home and your colleagues sitting next to you, in the sections singing near you or across the choir will appreciate the time and effort we all give to the music.
- I sent you all access info for the website. Please file it for reference. There are all kinds of documents you might want/need to read but the most important tools are found in the Choir Only section. Sean P. has downloaded reference recordings of a number of the works we are performing in concert. Use the recordings to get an idea of the shape and style of the piece - not where every breath, phrase and articulation is placed. Inevitably, our performances will be different.
Always in the Blog I will give info on my rehearsal for the following Tuesday so you can adequately prepare. For next Tuesday the rehearsal will look like the following:
Lord's Prayer (Enns) - review work of last Tuesday. Phrasings should become an integral part of the line. Be confident with modulations, beginnings of new sections, etc.
Requiem (Howells) - be confident with movements I & II and learn notes of III & IV
In Paradisium (Corlis) - review
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo) - review
Antiphon (Togni) - listen to the recording on the website. We may note get to this but be ready in case.
I am VERY much looking forward to our working with our guest clinician, the incomparable Elise Bradley on Saturday, October 1, from 9:30-4:00 pm at Bethany United (remember: in the original schedule the workshop was also for the Friday night but Camerata Singers will be required only on the Saturday) Continuing Education for us all is how we become better musicians and the day we spend with Elise will be so invaluable to us all, whether you are a conductor, singer, auditor of the sessions, of just want to listen and watch how a international level conductor with Elise's experience works with a choir like Camerata. Thanks to the Camerata Board and the NS Department of Culture for making this workshop possible for Camerata and Xara.
Finally a huge round of virtual applause for (soprano) Danielle Kain and her husband in celebration of the safe arrival of Gabriel James Howard, born September 7 weighing in at a brusing 7 lbs 7 oz. Mom, Dad and Gabriel are doing wonderfully well. Congratulations and big hugs from us all, Danielle .
Again my sincere thanks for everything each one of you bring each time we work together. I truly missed not working with you during the summer, and our rehearsal was the highlight of my week. See you all next Tuesday.
-
As I said in my email - good beginnings on Tuesday. We have all the ingredients for a very fine choir this year. A big welcome to the new singers and I hope you find a home in Camerata.
Some housekeeping items (which for most of you are common sense):
- if you are going to be absent or late, I will expect to be notified, just as if I expect to be absent or late, I will make sure you all get a message. On Tuesdays I am in rehearsal in Truro and am unavailable from 3:15-4:30 pm. I leave for Halifax no later than 5:30 pm. Please make note of my contact info: 902-893-4242 (o); 902-899-6299 (c), 902-893-8425 (h) and email is: jeffjoudrey@gmail.com.
- as the level of musicianship in Camerata is of a high standard, I expect everyone to arrive at rehearsal knowing the notes. No matter how good a musician you are, please don't come to rehearsal and sight read. I mentioned on Tuesday that 2 hours /week will not be uncommon for you to spend working on scores at home and your colleagues sitting next to you, in the sections singing near you or across the choir will appreciate the time and effort we all give to the music.
- I sent you all access info for the website. Please file it for reference. There are all kinds of documents you might want/need to read but the most important tools are found in the Choir Only section. Sean P. has downloaded reference recordings of a number of the works we are performing in concert. Use the recordings to get an idea of the shape and style of the piece - not where every breath, phrase and articulation is placed. Inevitably, our performances will be different.
Always in the Blog I will give info on my rehearsal for the following Tuesday so you can adequately prepare. For next Tuesday the rehearsal will look like the following:
Lord's Prayer (Enns) - review work of last Tuesday. Phrasings should become an integral part of the line. Be confident with modulations, beginnings of new sections, etc.
Requiem (Howells) - be confident with movements I & II and learn notes of III & IV
In Paradisium (Corlis) - review
Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo) - review
Antiphon (Togni) - listen to the recording on the website. We may note get to this but be ready in case.
I am VERY much looking forward to our working with our guest clinician, the incomparable Elise Bradley on Saturday, October 1, from 9:30-4:00 pm at Bethany United (remember: in the original schedule the workshop was also for the Friday night but Camerata Singers will be required only on the Saturday) Continuing Education for us all is how we become better musicians and the day we spend with Elise will be so invaluable to us all, whether you are a conductor, singer, auditor of the sessions, of just want to listen and watch how a international level conductor with Elise's experience works with a choir like Camerata. Thanks to the Camerata Board and the NS Department of Culture for making this workshop possible for Camerata and Xara.
Finally a huge round of virtual applause for (soprano) Danielle Kain and her husband in celebration of the safe arrival of Gabriel James Howard, born September 7 weighing in at a brusing 7 lbs 7 oz. Mom, Dad and Gabriel are doing wonderfully well. Congratulations and big hugs from us all, Danielle .
Again my sincere thanks for everything each one of you bring each time we work together. I truly missed not working with you during the summer, and our rehearsal was the highlight of my week. See you all next Tuesday.
-
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
On Herbert Howell's Requiem
Listening in Context: Does Knowledge of a Piece’s History Affect What We Hear?
The following article puts in context far better than I could, a brief history of the Herbert Howell's Requiem. It askes some interesting questions about listening to music in context to the story behind the score and using the Howell's Requiem begs the question of whether or not the story behind the score is relevant to the understanding of the music. You decide for yourself. Thanks to Tim Parolini (February 2011) for the article.
Regardless of the context of its origins, Howells’ Requiem is ineffably beautiful. Mournful, pleading, and ultimately, dare we say it, hopeful—or at least peaceful—it is a work full of rich harmonic texture and immense emotional depth.
The following article puts in context far better than I could, a brief history of the Herbert Howell's Requiem. It askes some interesting questions about listening to music in context to the story behind the score and using the Howell's Requiem begs the question of whether or not the story behind the score is relevant to the understanding of the music. You decide for yourself. Thanks to Tim Parolini (February 2011) for the article.
So apparently, you can’t believe everything you read online after all.
Most performance notes found on the web of Herbert Howells’ Requiem relate the same tale of how Howells composed the eloquent and moving work in 1935 after the death of his young son, Michael. Poignant. Tragic. And yes, his son did pass away in 1935 at the too-young age of nine. Howells, though, had written Requiem three years earlier.
Herbert Howells, born in 1892, was regarded as something as a composing prodigy and upheld as one of the great hopes of English music. He had his share of troubles along the way, including his own near-death experience, the death of his son, and a sensitivity to criticism that caused him to stop writing for nearly a decade. In the end, though, he helped define and advance the voice of English classical music, particularly that of the Anglican church. He also provided us with the moving Requiem, a work full of texture, subtlety and emotional depth.
Howells shared a musical sensibility with Ralph Vaughan Williams. A September 1910 concert in Gloucester Cathedral included the premiere of a new work by the then little-known Vaughan Williams. Howells not only made the composer’s personal acquaintance that evening, but the piece, the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, profoundly moved him. Howells and Vaughan Williams met again, and after the First World War, their acquaintance deepened into a lasting friendship. Howells studied at the Royal College of Music under C.V. Stanford, Hubert Parry and Charles Wood. (Works by both Vaughan Williams and Wood are also featured in the Oratorio Singers program, as is a piece by the decidedly-non-British Johannes Brahms.)
In 1915, Howells was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and given six months to live. He became the first person in the country to receive radium treatment. His doctors had no idea how much to inject into Howell’s thyroid. They stopped treatments when his neck showed signs of radioactive burns. Howells lived for another 70 years.
Despite his prodigious compositional abilities, Howells was plagued by a disabling sensitivity to criticism. After a hostile reception to a performance of his second piano concerto in 1925, Howells simply stopped composing. By 1932, though, he had written Requiem, which was commissioned by King’s College, Cambridge. Howells never sent the completed work and Requiem remained unknown for nearly five decades. In the months after his son’s death three years later, Howells was unable to write. The following year, though, he used material from the previously unaccompanied Requiem to compose another work, Hymnus Paradisi for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
So, how did the misconception about the Requiem develop? In 1980, an unreleased, undated Requiem for unaccompanied chorus was discovered. According to Dr. Robert Michael Istad, Associate Professor of Music at Cal-State Fullerton, who studied Howells for his doctoral dissertation, “It shared a significant musical connection with Hymnus Paradisi, which had first been performed in 1950. Howells, then elderly, indicated that this unreleased work was the inspiration for Hymnus Paradisi. The work immediately became popular throughout the choral community. Unfortunately, many assumed that the delayed release of Requiem indicated personal struggle and profound grief. Printed materials began to relay a connection between Requiem and Michael’s death as fact, and Howells was too ravaged by senility to engage in fruitful discussion.”
Herbert Howells Trust acknowledges that Howells wrote Requiem in 1932 and incorporated some of its material into Hymnus Paradisi, which he did complete in memory of his son in 1938. Mystery solved. But does the fact that Howells didn’t write this Requiem while grieving over his son’s death change the way we listen to it? Does the context of a composition change how we hear it? If, for example, we learned that Beethoven had his full hearing ability when he composed his Ninth Symphony, would that change our response to it? We like context. Our understanding of art is given meaning by our understanding of the artist. Besides, we just like to know where things come from, and if there is a good story behind it, so much the better.
In music, interestingly enough, this context serves us best when contemplating or discussing a work, but not when actually listening to it. When we listen, the music stands alone. During a live performance of a musical work, the composer, the context, and the story behind it all melt away and there remain only the performers, the music, and the listener. Further, if we as a chorus do our job well, even we “disappear” and what is left to the listener is simply the music. With Howell’s Requiem, what is left is a work of sheer beauty.
While rooted in the past traditions of English music, Howells was not afraid to experiment outside of traditional tonality. He did so to great effect in Requiem. Like Faure’s Requiem, Howells’ is restrained—but it is richer harmonically with a rapt, almost hushed intensity and a more pointed sense of grief and loss. Only two movements use the traditional words of the Requiem as Verdi or Mozart employed them. The others are in English, based around Psalm texts. Throughout the work, Howells moves us between pleas on our own behalf and those for the ones who have gone before us.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Everyone,
Thank you for a great final rehearsal. There was some really exciting music making on Tuesday and I am so looking forward to singing this program at St. Bernard's.
So to review:
The call for the choir is 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon in the church. Please allow ample time to get there, arrive, use the washroom, etc., etc. I will have a maximum of 45 minutes singing in the church before we will have to vacate for the audience, and I will need all of that. Placements will be different, and I want everyone to be comfortable when we being at 4pm.
The concert is 75 minutes of music (including encore) plus intermission. There likely will be refreshments for the choir afterwards in the sacristy (out back).
We will gather in the sacristy before the concert and at intermission.
Please bring all HCS scores you have to return to the blue box in the sacristy immediately after the concert.
Directions to St. Bernard:
http://mapq.st/k9qYUJ?__domain=ca (Mapquest)
Click on the link and take it from there. The directions are specific to coming fron Truro but HRM people pick up the directions from highway 101. I prefer going through the Rawdon Hills to Windsor however that's likely because i like the twisty roads in the Miata! You have better road coming in the 102 and then picking up the 101 in Bedford. An interesting note: MapQuest gives the time from Truro at 3h 30" while Google Maps puts it at 4h 30". I think Google Maps is more accurate so don't short change your drivig time.
But for basic directions from Hwy 101: Take exit. 4B (Evangeline Trail) to Hwy 101 for about 240 km. Take the exit NS-1 ramp to NS- 340/ Belliveau Cove/Grosse Cocques/Church Point and head toward Church Point for a couple of k and you will see a grand stone Catholic church on the right hand side of the road. You can't miss it!
If there are discrepencies or confusion please email each other. I am auditioning in Halifax Saturday morning and will be leaving Truro around 9:30 am.
Drive safe and I'll see you in St. Bernard.
Thank you for a great final rehearsal. There was some really exciting music making on Tuesday and I am so looking forward to singing this program at St. Bernard's.
So to review:
The call for the choir is 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon in the church. Please allow ample time to get there, arrive, use the washroom, etc., etc. I will have a maximum of 45 minutes singing in the church before we will have to vacate for the audience, and I will need all of that. Placements will be different, and I want everyone to be comfortable when we being at 4pm.
The concert is 75 minutes of music (including encore) plus intermission. There likely will be refreshments for the choir afterwards in the sacristy (out back).
We will gather in the sacristy before the concert and at intermission.
Please bring all HCS scores you have to return to the blue box in the sacristy immediately after the concert.
Directions to St. Bernard:
http://mapq.st/k9qYUJ?__domain=ca (Mapquest)
Click on the link and take it from there. The directions are specific to coming fron Truro but HRM people pick up the directions from highway 101. I prefer going through the Rawdon Hills to Windsor however that's likely because i like the twisty roads in the Miata! You have better road coming in the 102 and then picking up the 101 in Bedford. An interesting note: MapQuest gives the time from Truro at 3h 30" while Google Maps puts it at 4h 30". I think Google Maps is more accurate so don't short change your drivig time.
But for basic directions from Hwy 101: Take exit. 4B (Evangeline Trail) to Hwy 101 for about 240 km. Take the exit NS-1 ramp to NS- 340/ Belliveau Cove/Grosse Cocques/Church Point and head toward Church Point for a couple of k and you will see a grand stone Catholic church on the right hand side of the road. You can't miss it!
If there are discrepencies or confusion please email each other. I am auditioning in Halifax Saturday morning and will be leaving Truro around 9:30 am.
Drive safe and I'll see you in St. Bernard.
140 m | ||
66.9 km | ||
173 km | ||
| 11. Take the NS-1 ramp to NS-340/ | ||
300 m | ||
| 12. Turn right onto Evangeline Trail (signs for Nova Scotia 1Trunk W/ | ||
2.4 km | ||
| 13. Turn left onto Gaudet Rd | ||
400 m |
St Bernards Catholic Rectory St Ber |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
It never ceases to amaze me the varied amount of organizational hard work it takes to run Camerata. I just emailed you the results of our successful Canada Council operations grant. The amount of hours it took to put that grant together, and the many areas of the organization's activity which were inputted into the application itself was staggering. What committment we have - people so willing to help and have the expertise to help the organization move forward.
As we countdown to the final run out to St. Bernard in a little over a week, please make sure you are confident with all the scores on the program. On Tuesday we will essentially run the program and I expect all eyes out of the music. Please download a copy of the program and put it in your folders as you will need to refer to it a number of times, if only to keep your scores in concert order.
Some housekeeping items: Some of you are consistently arriving late - please don't. Rehearsal begins at 7pm and the warmup is important. If you need time to find a parking place or deal with traffic, please leave home earlier. Also please arrive this Tuesday with your scores in concert order so we can get straight to the program.
Auditions: The first round of auditions for Camerata is taking place on Saturday morning, June 25th at Bethany United. Next season there are vacancies for altos, tenors and baritones (unless there are sopranos not coming back who haven't spoken to me) and I hope to fill at least one of those positions from the auditions scheduled for the 25th. Some of you have said that you knew of singers interested in singing with Camerata so please forward on any names you have, give them my email address. Audition info is on the website. I am especially interested in two tenors and a baritone (sounds like a B Italian movie!)
Speaking of replacements, Laura, Chris, Lynn and Robin are taking what I hope to be a leave next season to concentrate on their jobs and in the case of Robin, to go back to school to do an MBA. Hopefully all this is temporary, as I know we all will miss these talented singers and lovely people. St. Bernard will be their last concert. I wish you all well and thank you so much for everything you have given to Camerata.
So next Tuesday we run the program and then on Sunday at 2:30 pm we meet at St. Bernard for a short sound check. Until then, stay dry!
As we countdown to the final run out to St. Bernard in a little over a week, please make sure you are confident with all the scores on the program. On Tuesday we will essentially run the program and I expect all eyes out of the music. Please download a copy of the program and put it in your folders as you will need to refer to it a number of times, if only to keep your scores in concert order.
Some housekeeping items: Some of you are consistently arriving late - please don't. Rehearsal begins at 7pm and the warmup is important. If you need time to find a parking place or deal with traffic, please leave home earlier. Also please arrive this Tuesday with your scores in concert order so we can get straight to the program.
Auditions: The first round of auditions for Camerata is taking place on Saturday morning, June 25th at Bethany United. Next season there are vacancies for altos, tenors and baritones (unless there are sopranos not coming back who haven't spoken to me) and I hope to fill at least one of those positions from the auditions scheduled for the 25th. Some of you have said that you knew of singers interested in singing with Camerata so please forward on any names you have, give them my email address. Audition info is on the website. I am especially interested in two tenors and a baritone (sounds like a B Italian movie!)
Speaking of replacements, Laura, Chris, Lynn and Robin are taking what I hope to be a leave next season to concentrate on their jobs and in the case of Robin, to go back to school to do an MBA. Hopefully all this is temporary, as I know we all will miss these talented singers and lovely people. St. Bernard will be their last concert. I wish you all well and thank you so much for everything you have given to Camerata.
So next Tuesday we run the program and then on Sunday at 2:30 pm we meet at St. Bernard for a short sound check. Until then, stay dry!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Thursday Thoughts (on Wednesday!)
I'm writing a little earlier this week as tomorrow I leave for Halifax for three very busy days with the Board of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities.
Great so see you all last night (well not all of you - we had 5 singers missing, but you get what I mean) Isn't it interesting how it takes a little time to get back into scores we have left for a while. And with scores which the parts have multiple divisi, it really doesn't come together until everyone is present.
So with that in mind, it is really crucial that for the remaining two rehearsals, everyone attend, barring being hit by a bus! Musique St. Bernard is a highly regarded music series and i want us to do our best work down there.
For next Tuesday please prepare the following:
Many Winters - Enns (everyone review carefully; needs work)
First Snow - Holten (women need to feel every 8th note - rhythm needs to be sung w confidence)
i thank You God - Whitacre (m. 84-89 were insecure in the concert. Be absolutely sure of your part)
Benedicto - Sisask (clean up phrase endings; Men: ck notes top of P. 7 & open 4ths & 5ths in B1 & B2)
Ave Verum - Raminsh (review)
On suuri sun rantas autius - arr. Torma (review)
O Sacrum Convivium - Miskinis
Please note: I have sent our version of Many Winters from the November concert to Sean to put on the Choir Only page of the website so you can learn from that first performance. Sean or I will email you to let you know when he has had a chance to upload it. Please listen to it with the score.
Thanks again for a good rehearsal last night. Welcome again to Bill (B2) and Judith (S1)
See you next Tuesday.
Great so see you all last night (well not all of you - we had 5 singers missing, but you get what I mean) Isn't it interesting how it takes a little time to get back into scores we have left for a while. And with scores which the parts have multiple divisi, it really doesn't come together until everyone is present.
So with that in mind, it is really crucial that for the remaining two rehearsals, everyone attend, barring being hit by a bus! Musique St. Bernard is a highly regarded music series and i want us to do our best work down there.
For next Tuesday please prepare the following:
Many Winters - Enns (everyone review carefully; needs work)
First Snow - Holten (women need to feel every 8th note - rhythm needs to be sung w confidence)
i thank You God - Whitacre (m. 84-89 were insecure in the concert. Be absolutely sure of your part)
Benedicto - Sisask (clean up phrase endings; Men: ck notes top of P. 7 & open 4ths & 5ths in B1 & B2)
Ave Verum - Raminsh (review)
On suuri sun rantas autius - arr. Torma (review)
O Sacrum Convivium - Miskinis
Please note: I have sent our version of Many Winters from the November concert to Sean to put on the Choir Only page of the website so you can learn from that first performance. Sean or I will email you to let you know when he has had a chance to upload it. Please listen to it with the score.
Thanks again for a good rehearsal last night. Welcome again to Bill (B2) and Judith (S1)
See you next Tuesday.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
There is a quote which reads: I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours. But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places. Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality. (H. A. Overstreet)
I think the quote sums up rather well the impact you made on many of our concert patrons last Saturday in St. Patrick's. I have had so many messages, emails, conversations, etc of people who were not only there, but took the time to try to put into words what your music meant to them. Some examples:
- It is a real privilege to be part of this music-making (SNSC member)
- Saturday night’s concert was a highlight! Just spectacular! It brought me to tears when I was describing how beautiful it was to someone the next day! You and every member of the choir should be very proud! (concert patron)
- it was the most exquisite musical event I have been to in a very long time - moved me to tears, touched the soul and was so beautifully choreographed - such a gift and commitment you have to the art - thank you. (patron who has not heart the choir in a long time)
- Yes, it does remind us why we do music, to lift people's souls (SNSC member)
I included some of the comments to remind you that we do more than just sing concerts and make pretty music. People come to our concerts for various reasons and one such reason is that our music helps them cope with whatever life is throwing at them. We must not loose sight that.
So on to St. Bernard's! Another wonderful acoustic - very different but wonderful. The program is below - I know I sent it to you at least once before but you need to have a copy of this in your folder. Go through your scores before Tuesday and make sure you have everything. Please do this now - not three weeks downthe road. Email me if there is anything missing.
I also want to welcome Judith Burdett (soprano) and Bill Perrot (bass) who will be singing this concert with us. Please introduce yourselves to Judith and Bill if you don't already know them.
This concert is a combination of the year's work and we have performed everything before in concert this season. However there are scores which need to be reviewed, so for this Tuesday, at First Baptist I will concentrate on the following:
Many Winters - Enns
O Sacrum Convivium - Miskinis
I Am Not Yours - Stroope
Benedicto - Sisask
First Snow - Holten
Kyrie - Palestrina (I am considering doing the Christe w a solo quartet. Email me if you are interested)
Northern Lights - Gjeilo
See you Tuesday.
Musique St. Bernard Program
Sunday June 26, 2011 4pm - St. Mary’s Church, St. Bernard, NS
Call for choir: 2:30 pm
Programme order
Totus Tuus – Henryk Górecki 9’
Ave Verum – Imant Raminsh * 5:15
Benedicto – Urmas Sisask 6:30 (Tristan to conduct)
Agneau de Dieu – Rupert Lang * (3) * (quartet: Christina, Laura, Chris, Lynn)
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Pärt (6:40) (solo: Danielle)
O Sacrum Convivium – Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania) 4:45
Intermission
i thank You God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre (6) (solo: Paula)
Lay A Garland – Robert Pearsall (2:45)
Many Winters – Jeff Enns * (9:30)
I Am Not Yours – Randall Stroope (4)
First Snow - Bo Holten (Denmark) (5)
Northern Lights – Ola Gjeilo (Norway) (4:45)
On suuri sun rantas’ autius – trad Finnish/arr. Juha Törmä 3
[encore: Kyrie (Missa Brevis) – Palestrina]
I think the quote sums up rather well the impact you made on many of our concert patrons last Saturday in St. Patrick's. I have had so many messages, emails, conversations, etc of people who were not only there, but took the time to try to put into words what your music meant to them. Some examples:
- It is a real privilege to be part of this music-making (SNSC member)
- Saturday night’s concert was a highlight! Just spectacular! It brought me to tears when I was describing how beautiful it was to someone the next day! You and every member of the choir should be very proud! (concert patron)
- it was the most exquisite musical event I have been to in a very long time - moved me to tears, touched the soul and was so beautifully choreographed - such a gift and commitment you have to the art - thank you. (patron who has not heart the choir in a long time)
- Yes, it does remind us why we do music, to lift people's souls (SNSC member)
I included some of the comments to remind you that we do more than just sing concerts and make pretty music. People come to our concerts for various reasons and one such reason is that our music helps them cope with whatever life is throwing at them. We must not loose sight that.
So on to St. Bernard's! Another wonderful acoustic - very different but wonderful. The program is below - I know I sent it to you at least once before but you need to have a copy of this in your folder. Go through your scores before Tuesday and make sure you have everything. Please do this now - not three weeks downthe road. Email me if there is anything missing.
I also want to welcome Judith Burdett (soprano) and Bill Perrot (bass) who will be singing this concert with us. Please introduce yourselves to Judith and Bill if you don't already know them.
This concert is a combination of the year's work and we have performed everything before in concert this season. However there are scores which need to be reviewed, so for this Tuesday, at First Baptist I will concentrate on the following:
Many Winters - Enns
O Sacrum Convivium - Miskinis
I Am Not Yours - Stroope
Benedicto - Sisask
First Snow - Holten
Kyrie - Palestrina (I am considering doing the Christe w a solo quartet. Email me if you are interested)
Northern Lights - Gjeilo
See you Tuesday.
Musique St. Bernard Program
Sunday June 26, 2011 4pm - St. Mary’s Church, St. Bernard, NS
Call for choir: 2:30 pm
Programme order
Totus Tuus – Henryk Górecki 9’
Ave Verum – Imant Raminsh * 5:15
Benedicto – Urmas Sisask 6:30 (Tristan to conduct)
Agneau de Dieu – Rupert Lang * (3) * (quartet: Christina, Laura, Chris, Lynn)
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Pärt (6:40) (solo: Danielle)
O Sacrum Convivium – Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania) 4:45
Intermission
i thank You God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre (6) (solo: Paula)
Lay A Garland – Robert Pearsall (2:45)
Many Winters – Jeff Enns * (9:30)
I Am Not Yours – Randall Stroope (4)
First Snow - Bo Holten (Denmark) (5)
Northern Lights – Ola Gjeilo (Norway) (4:45)
On suuri sun rantas’ autius – trad Finnish/arr. Juha Törmä 3
[encore: Kyrie (Missa Brevis) – Palestrina]
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thank you all for an exciting rehearsal on Tuesday. You are beginning to own these scores and on Tuesday there were many magical moments. I can't wait for this concert! Tell your family and friends as it will be worth the drive to Halifax.
Nothing profound today. Please remember times and venues:
Saturday 10 - 12:30 at Bethany (w SNSC)
Tuesday 7-10 pm at St. Patricks (w SNSC)
Friday 7-10 pm at St. Patrick's (w SNSC - dress rehearsal)
On Tuesday please be on time as we only have an hour and a half alone before rehearsing w SNSC.
On a more somber note, I would like to express on your behalf, our sincere condolences to Christina on the passing of her grandfather. His was a life well lived.
Take care everyone. Stay healthy. See you Saturday.
Nothing profound today. Please remember times and venues:
Saturday 10 - 12:30 at Bethany (w SNSC)
Tuesday 7-10 pm at St. Patricks (w SNSC)
Friday 7-10 pm at St. Patrick's (w SNSC - dress rehearsal)
On Tuesday please be on time as we only have an hour and a half alone before rehearsing w SNSC.
On a more somber note, I would like to express on your behalf, our sincere condolences to Christina on the passing of her grandfather. His was a life well lived.
Take care everyone. Stay healthy. See you Saturday.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Good morning everyone:
We have two rehearsals left until the concert and one of those is in St. Patrick's with SNSC. The music is learned, but not polished and still performances are not consistent - it seems sort of hit and miss. So in the last two rehearsals we have together before the dress, everyone needs to get out of the scores more and we need to build in consistency of great performances.
It is my goal to get through the entire list below on Tuesday. Pieces are listed in order of importance - again thinking of the need to practice consistency of great performances in rehearsal:
Then Shall I Leap into Love - Enman (baritones remember the 8ve doubling m. 59-69)
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (please memorize opening and be prepared to rehearse recessional and sing at the same time!)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (beautiful work on this piece Tuesday. Women please remember dynamic changes on SSAA section beginning at m. 41)
i thank YOU God - Whitacre
Lay A Garland - Pearsall (review. Pay attention to your function in the chords)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang
Gloria (from Missa Brevis) - Raminsh
Agnus Dei - Barber
Please note that the rehearsal on Tuesday, May 24th will be at St. Patricks and will go until 10 pm. Camerata will have the first part of the rehearsal alone, from 7-8:15pm We will use the single line formation again in St. Patrick's for Camerata. After the break, we will rehearse the second part of the concert with SNSC. (Geoff, we will definitely need the risers for rehearsals and concert)
Thank you to our IT guru, Sean for posting the March concert on the choir website. Go to the choir only section and give a listen.
Please remember the rehearsal with SNSC on Saturday, 10 am at Bethany. If you have not attended 2 of your required 3 rehearsls, please plan on attending on Saturday and work on the second half of the concert. In general, if you are able to come and sing, please do.
Have a great weekend and stay healthy! :)
We have two rehearsals left until the concert and one of those is in St. Patrick's with SNSC. The music is learned, but not polished and still performances are not consistent - it seems sort of hit and miss. So in the last two rehearsals we have together before the dress, everyone needs to get out of the scores more and we need to build in consistency of great performances.
It is my goal to get through the entire list below on Tuesday. Pieces are listed in order of importance - again thinking of the need to practice consistency of great performances in rehearsal:
Then Shall I Leap into Love - Enman (baritones remember the 8ve doubling m. 59-69)
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (please memorize opening and be prepared to rehearse recessional and sing at the same time!)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (beautiful work on this piece Tuesday. Women please remember dynamic changes on SSAA section beginning at m. 41)
i thank YOU God - Whitacre
Lay A Garland - Pearsall (review. Pay attention to your function in the chords)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang
Gloria (from Missa Brevis) - Raminsh
Agnus Dei - Barber
Please note that the rehearsal on Tuesday, May 24th will be at St. Patricks and will go until 10 pm. Camerata will have the first part of the rehearsal alone, from 7-8:15pm We will use the single line formation again in St. Patrick's for Camerata. After the break, we will rehearse the second part of the concert with SNSC. (Geoff, we will definitely need the risers for rehearsals and concert)
Thank you to our IT guru, Sean for posting the March concert on the choir website. Go to the choir only section and give a listen.
Please remember the rehearsal with SNSC on Saturday, 10 am at Bethany. If you have not attended 2 of your required 3 rehearsls, please plan on attending on Saturday and work on the second half of the concert. In general, if you are able to come and sing, please do.
Have a great weekend and stay healthy! :)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Good morning everyone,
There were some lovely moments in rehearsal on Tuesday. This music is getting off the page and really taking shape. Good work!
I have been asked for the concert order so am enclosing it here. Please copy it and put it in your folders:
(First half – Halifax Camerata Singers )
i thank YOU God for most this amazing day –Whitacre (solo - Paula)
Lay A Garland – Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Then Shall I Leap Into Love – Edward Enman
Agneau de Dieu – Lang (solo quartet: Christina, Laura, Chris, Lynn)
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Part (solo - Danielle)
Totus Tuus – Peter Togni *
Rosa Mystica – Andrew Balfour *
Intermission
(Second half: HCS/SNSC)
A Mass through the Ages)
Kyrie (from Missa Papae Marcelli) – Palestrina
Gloria (from Missa Brevis) – Imant Raminsh (solo: Ann B.)
Sanctus (from Requiem) - Gabriel Fauré
Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber (solo: Judith Burdett)
Dona Nobis Pacem (from the Mass in b minor) – J. S. Bach
The Hour Has Come - Srul Irving Glick *
For Tuesday the rep list is as follows:
i thank YOU God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre
Lay A Garland – Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Then Shall I Leap Into Love – Edward Enman
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Part
Rosa Mystica – Andrew Balfour * (please begin to memorize)
Gloria (Missa Brevis) - Raminsh
Agnus Dei - Barber
The Hour Has Come - Glick
Some of you have attended 0-1 SNSC rehearsals. In addition to the HCS rep, please be familiar with the last three pieces on the list for Tuesday as I must get to them this week.
Note that the next SNSC rehearsal is Saturday, May 14.
Some of you have been asking about rehearsal dates/times, days off, etc. I am attempting to keep the blog calendar up to date, and right now the calendar should be up to date to December 31, 2011. If you have questions or think that there may be an error, by all means please contact me.
Thanks to all of you who have updated your Facebook pages to include the Camerata poster and info on the concert. Please continue to do that and help spread the work about the concert - coming up in three weeks!
Finally, let's remember the Xara concert coming up on Saturday, May 14, 8pm at St. Matthew's on Barrington Street. Christina and the Xara young women have been working hard on this very interesting program called "Played" and will be taking it to Festival 500 in the summer. Let's all get out there and support our little sister choir.
Have a great weekend everyone. I will be on PEI on Friday helping our daughter celebrate her graduation from UPEI with her DVM degree. Her lifelong dream is finally realized - it doesn't get better than that!
There were some lovely moments in rehearsal on Tuesday. This music is getting off the page and really taking shape. Good work!
I have been asked for the concert order so am enclosing it here. Please copy it and put it in your folders:
(First half – Halifax Camerata Singers )
i thank YOU God for most this amazing day –Whitacre (solo - Paula)
Lay A Garland – Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Then Shall I Leap Into Love – Edward Enman
Agneau de Dieu – Lang (solo quartet: Christina, Laura, Chris, Lynn)
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Part (solo - Danielle)
Totus Tuus – Peter Togni *
Rosa Mystica – Andrew Balfour *
Intermission
(Second half: HCS/SNSC)
A Mass through the Ages)
Kyrie (from Missa Papae Marcelli) – Palestrina
Gloria (from Missa Brevis) – Imant Raminsh (solo: Ann B.)
Sanctus (from Requiem) - Gabriel Fauré
Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber (solo: Judith Burdett)
Dona Nobis Pacem (from the Mass in b minor) – J. S. Bach
The Hour Has Come - Srul Irving Glick *
For Tuesday the rep list is as follows:
i thank YOU God for most this amazing day – Eric Whitacre
Lay A Garland – Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Then Shall I Leap Into Love – Edward Enman
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Part
Rosa Mystica – Andrew Balfour * (please begin to memorize)
Gloria (Missa Brevis) - Raminsh
Agnus Dei - Barber
The Hour Has Come - Glick
Some of you have attended 0-1 SNSC rehearsals. In addition to the HCS rep, please be familiar with the last three pieces on the list for Tuesday as I must get to them this week.
Note that the next SNSC rehearsal is Saturday, May 14.
Some of you have been asking about rehearsal dates/times, days off, etc. I am attempting to keep the blog calendar up to date, and right now the calendar should be up to date to December 31, 2011. If you have questions or think that there may be an error, by all means please contact me.
Thanks to all of you who have updated your Facebook pages to include the Camerata poster and info on the concert. Please continue to do that and help spread the work about the concert - coming up in three weeks!
Finally, let's remember the Xara concert coming up on Saturday, May 14, 8pm at St. Matthew's on Barrington Street. Christina and the Xara young women have been working hard on this very interesting program called "Played" and will be taking it to Festival 500 in the summer. Let's all get out there and support our little sister choir.
Have a great weekend everyone. I will be on PEI on Friday helping our daughter celebrate her graduation from UPEI with her DVM degree. Her lifelong dream is finally realized - it doesn't get better than that!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Next Season - our 25th Anniversary!
Some of you have been asking about next season so I am posting it here (click on each page to see a large version of the image). The concert dates have been chosen after a lengthy process and sometimes going through various combinations of possibilities. With the exception of the possible run out of Psalmo on March 25, 2011 (unlikely but still possible) and the working through the concept of the fundraising concert for late May 2012, the rest of the season is complete. (Barring you finding a mistake I have made with a date which doesn't exist! ) However although I am publishing it here, this is for your eyes only and is not for public release. In addition, along the way there may have to be a change for some unforseen reason. If that happens I will send you an updated season outline with a new revision date at the top. I hope you are as excited about the programs as I have been in putting them together. I believe that this is a 25th Anniversary season of which we all be proud.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
I once had an organ teacher who I greatly respected ask me what I was doing during my daily sessions at the instrument. I looked at him as if he had two heads and replied, "practicing!" He looked at me shaking his head, and offered these words of wisdom "no you're learning, you can't practice anything until you learn it."
Interesting philisophy and likely applies to most things. Right now we're at that tough (but exciting) stage of preparing for a concert. The time between learning the score and now practicing performances - albiet of various levels of success. With four rehearsals left we should be ok, but I would like to take some in each rehearsal and work the SNSC repertoire of the second half of the program. My rehearsal plaaning reflects this but on Tuesday the plan went out the window with the extra work we had to do on the Whitacre.
So for next Tuesday the list is as follows:
i thank You God - Whitacre (everyone needs to review carefully)
Lay A Garden - Pearsall (if you have not sung this please learn it throughly as most of the choir have recorded the piece.)
Then Shall I Leap Into Love - Enman
Totus Tuus - Togni (performance run through only - the piece is learned)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (the notes are learned. However I want to "practice" balancing the chord functions in the divisi sections - m. 43-105; shape the opening up to m. 39; and see if we can be a little more consistent in that exquisite SA blend at the end.
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (the style needs a vibrato-less sound reminicent of the Middle Ages, even in the forte sections. Be certain of the rhythm - the combinations of the quarter/eighth note are always changing in the individual parts. I would like this to be as close to memorized as possible as you will be recessing and singing as you go down the asile to close the first half. Let's begin next week)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang (I may not get to this as the piece is nearly complete, however there are some issues re text. Hopefully we will get a mp3 of the text up on the website. The quartet will be: Christina, Laura, Chris and Lynn)
Agnus Dei - Barber (depending on what happens on Saturday, I may spend time on this)
Stuff to remember:
Due to the AGM next Tuesday from 9-9:30 pm at FBC, we will begin the rehearsal at 6:45pm. Please arrive on time. (Tristan - please limit the warm up to 5 minutes)
SNSC rehearsal for all HCS this Saturday from 10 am-12:30 pm at Bethany United.
Finally, no excuses but apologies for not doing my best work the last two rehearsals. I think it has to do with my health. My concentration, energy level and hearning have all been affected as up to last night, I was sleeping for a maximum of 4 hours. Re the hearning, my left ear has been buzzing in the forte sections - much like a speaker with a tear in it, or an ear full of water after a shower. It comes and goes but is improving. I had a minor set back all day yesterday with a nasty stomach flu, but am feeling much better now. For those of you who are struggling with this cold/flu you have my sympathies and thank you for contributing what you can.
Easter is over! Spring is here! On to a better week! See you Saturday.
Interesting philisophy and likely applies to most things. Right now we're at that tough (but exciting) stage of preparing for a concert. The time between learning the score and now practicing performances - albiet of various levels of success. With four rehearsals left we should be ok, but I would like to take some in each rehearsal and work the SNSC repertoire of the second half of the program. My rehearsal plaaning reflects this but on Tuesday the plan went out the window with the extra work we had to do on the Whitacre.
So for next Tuesday the list is as follows:
i thank You God - Whitacre (everyone needs to review carefully)
Lay A Garden - Pearsall (if you have not sung this please learn it throughly as most of the choir have recorded the piece.)
Then Shall I Leap Into Love - Enman
Totus Tuus - Togni (performance run through only - the piece is learned)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (the notes are learned. However I want to "practice" balancing the chord functions in the divisi sections - m. 43-105; shape the opening up to m. 39; and see if we can be a little more consistent in that exquisite SA blend at the end.
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (the style needs a vibrato-less sound reminicent of the Middle Ages, even in the forte sections. Be certain of the rhythm - the combinations of the quarter/eighth note are always changing in the individual parts. I would like this to be as close to memorized as possible as you will be recessing and singing as you go down the asile to close the first half. Let's begin next week)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang (I may not get to this as the piece is nearly complete, however there are some issues re text. Hopefully we will get a mp3 of the text up on the website. The quartet will be: Christina, Laura, Chris and Lynn)
Agnus Dei - Barber (depending on what happens on Saturday, I may spend time on this)
Stuff to remember:
Due to the AGM next Tuesday from 9-9:30 pm at FBC, we will begin the rehearsal at 6:45pm. Please arrive on time. (Tristan - please limit the warm up to 5 minutes)
SNSC rehearsal for all HCS this Saturday from 10 am-12:30 pm at Bethany United.
Finally, no excuses but apologies for not doing my best work the last two rehearsals. I think it has to do with my health. My concentration, energy level and hearning have all been affected as up to last night, I was sleeping for a maximum of 4 hours. Re the hearning, my left ear has been buzzing in the forte sections - much like a speaker with a tear in it, or an ear full of water after a shower. It comes and goes but is improving. I had a minor set back all day yesterday with a nasty stomach flu, but am feeling much better now. For those of you who are struggling with this cold/flu you have my sympathies and thank you for contributing what you can.
Easter is over! Spring is here! On to a better week! See you Saturday.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Thanks for a good rehearsal on Tuesday. We are still working out the listening issues at First Baptist and I will continue to experiment with seating arrangements until we can finalize an arrangement whereby you are comfortable and can hear the other sections in the choir.
For those who missed rehearsal take note that the choir has finished learning a number of pieces on the program, so make sure you are up to speed by next Tuesday.
Next Tuesday the rep list will be as follows:
i thank You God - Whitacre (performance ready - basses/baritones, this needs a little more work - baritones your part is integral in the 4 part men's texture and it begins with really secure pitches. Begin at m. 8)
Kyrie - Palestrina (learn the final Kyrie - remember it is in 2; I will rehearse from the Christe on)
Then Shall I Leap Into Love - Enman (we have finished learning this and we'll stitch it together)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (the only part left to teach is m. 1-40 so I'll begin there, also review m. 107-end)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang (mark in your scores where it goes from 2 to 3 as this is not clearly already marked in the score. don't underestimate this relatively easy piece - the changes in tempi - both marked and inferred, dynamics and integration with the quartet need careful attention in order to get it off the page.
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (work on dynamics, perform through)
Totus Tuus - Togni (Tristan will perform through)
Agnus Dei - Barber (I need to work this so please know the score, Note the following divisi changes: P. 8 m. 2 - S2 the phrase and sing top part of the alto stave until P. 9 m. 2 where you join the top stave singing your regular S2 part. Tutti Camerata altos sing up to P. 8, m. 2 beat 2, then tacit until m. 3, beat 3 where you sing the A2 line until P. 9 m2. 2 where you sing the unision alto line. Please S2s and Altos mark your scores accordingly. )
Please note the following announcements:
- watch your email for an announcement from Marsha Curry re a special AGM on Tuesday, May 3 from 9-9:30 pm. Rehearsal on Tuesday May 3 begins at 6:45pm.
- final auditions for solos next Tuesday or at a time you have confirmed with me.
- SNSC rehearsals: I would like you to come on Saturdays April 30 and May 21. The understanding was that HCS would attend at least 3 SNSC rehearsals to prepare for the second half of the concert. Some of you have not attended any. As I mentioned on Tuesday, do not arrive at the rehearsal the Saturday before the concert (May 21) and sight read your way through this rep.
Finally, thank you all for some really lovely moments last Tuesday. Women, the blend of both sopranos and altos in the Palestrina and the duet in the Part was gorgeous. The sound in the mixed formation of the Palestrina was also exciting - this is what I'm trying to achieve. I also want to welcome new S2, Claire Legere, and hope you feel welcome in this wonderful collection of musicians. For those of you who don't know Claire, she is also on the Camerata board, is an artistic partner with Xara and is finishing her Masters thesis (UBC) here in NS.
Have a wonderful Easter holiday with your family and friends. Stay healthy!
For those who missed rehearsal take note that the choir has finished learning a number of pieces on the program, so make sure you are up to speed by next Tuesday.
Next Tuesday the rep list will be as follows:
i thank You God - Whitacre (performance ready - basses/baritones, this needs a little more work - baritones your part is integral in the 4 part men's texture and it begins with really secure pitches. Begin at m. 8)
Kyrie - Palestrina (learn the final Kyrie - remember it is in 2; I will rehearse from the Christe on)
Then Shall I Leap Into Love - Enman (we have finished learning this and we'll stitch it together)
Nunc Dimittis - Part (the only part left to teach is m. 1-40 so I'll begin there, also review m. 107-end)
Agneau de Dieu - Lang (mark in your scores where it goes from 2 to 3 as this is not clearly already marked in the score. don't underestimate this relatively easy piece - the changes in tempi - both marked and inferred, dynamics and integration with the quartet need careful attention in order to get it off the page.
Rosa Mystica - Balfour (work on dynamics, perform through)
Totus Tuus - Togni (Tristan will perform through)
Agnus Dei - Barber (I need to work this so please know the score, Note the following divisi changes: P. 8 m. 2 - S2 the phrase and sing top part of the alto stave until P. 9 m. 2 where you join the top stave singing your regular S2 part. Tutti Camerata altos sing up to P. 8, m. 2 beat 2, then tacit until m. 3, beat 3 where you sing the A2 line until P. 9 m2. 2 where you sing the unision alto line. Please S2s and Altos mark your scores accordingly. )
Please note the following announcements:
- watch your email for an announcement from Marsha Curry re a special AGM on Tuesday, May 3 from 9-9:30 pm. Rehearsal on Tuesday May 3 begins at 6:45pm.
- final auditions for solos next Tuesday or at a time you have confirmed with me.
- SNSC rehearsals: I would like you to come on Saturdays April 30 and May 21. The understanding was that HCS would attend at least 3 SNSC rehearsals to prepare for the second half of the concert. Some of you have not attended any. As I mentioned on Tuesday, do not arrive at the rehearsal the Saturday before the concert (May 21) and sight read your way through this rep.
Finally, thank you all for some really lovely moments last Tuesday. Women, the blend of both sopranos and altos in the Palestrina and the duet in the Part was gorgeous. The sound in the mixed formation of the Palestrina was also exciting - this is what I'm trying to achieve. I also want to welcome new S2, Claire Legere, and hope you feel welcome in this wonderful collection of musicians. For those of you who don't know Claire, she is also on the Camerata board, is an artistic partner with Xara and is finishing her Masters thesis (UBC) here in NS.
Have a wonderful Easter holiday with your family and friends. Stay healthy!
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