Hello wonderful singers,
We made some serious progress with dynamics, phrasing, and tuning last evening. I could even feel your focus and intensity, like you were aware of the awesome sound you were making. Well done. Let’s keep going!
Baba Yetu
– we have our tenor soloist! Ryan Billington. He is an experienced jazz singer who will bring a bit of a different flavour to this piece.
– Basses – review p.7-8. It was much better yesterday.
– review phrasing, where to take a breath, and dynamics. We marked our scores in rehearsal.
Hymn of Acxiom
– who knew we could sing the whole piece?!!? Wow. We’ve worked hard.
– in the “easier” sections, look up at me. This will help us place the final consonants together and will create the effect we are looking for.
– focus on the more challenging sessions, use the rehearsal tracks. We are well on our way!
– p.8, last 2 measures – T1 on tenor line, T2 jump down to B1, B1 and B2 sing the notes in brackets
Rainbow Connection
– feel strong beat 1, lighter beats 2 and 3
– it is important to release together at the end of the phrase. If it’s not a final consonant that needs to be placed, release the sound by breathing in on the rest.
– we’ve made a decision to say “been” as “bin.” No need to stress the word, though. Keep it light!
Skyfall
– p.10 m.69-end – we worked on rhythmic accuracy and timing our releases. Everything overlaps in this section so we need independence!
– a bass prostar noticed that m.69 and m.53 you sing F-D-F rather than F-Eb-F.
– please keep this one fresh. We won’t have time to work on it as much as we did yesterday.
I’d Like to teach the World to Sing (NEW)
– Please mark your scores so we don’t have to go over this again and again in rehearsal.
– Reh A – kids only
– “Grow apple…” HBHC and Sop 1 on top notes; S2 and A on lower notes
– p. 4 “I’d like to hold…” HBHC and Sop 1 on top notes; S2 and A1 on lower treble staff; A2 and T on bass staff
– Reh C – HBHC and Sop 1 on top notes; S2 and A1 on lower treble staff; A2 and T on top notes of bass staff; B on lowest notes.
– we skipped Reh. D, E, F, G, H.
– P. 11, 2nd system – HBHC and S1 top notes; S2 and A bottom notes of treble staff
Cantique de Jean Racine
– It took a while in rehearsal, but we made it to long, legato phrases with effective dynamic changes. Please keep this up at home so we can pick up where we left off in rehearsal next week.
– The French vowels are definitely improving. As you are practicing, hopefully with the diction video, remember to keep lips more forward and rounded than in English. Also, for [ i ] and [e] vowels, the tip of the tongue is resting behind the bottom teeth, and the tongue is higher and more forward than usual.
Please review all songs that we didn’t get to yesterday:
– Skye Boat Song
– Danny Boy (up to m.33)
– Singin’ in the Rain
– Dear Old Shiz
– Down to the River to Pray
– Social Madrigal
Just 6 more rehearsals before our Kiwanis class AND our final rehearsals before our concert. Hard to believe!
Krista