11/20/2024 – Last push/read carefully

Thank you for your hard work last night. I know some of you were uncomfortable, but it was bright!!! Riser boxes will help. Performance venues are never perfect. This one is pretty close. The difference between your sound at 7:30 and 8:30 was demonstrable. You adjusted to the acoustic, many of you stopped over singing, we curved the choir around so you could listen better, and the energy level went up by 150%. We still need to get out of our books and enjoy the moment! I highly recommend over these next four days that you sit with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine/water and just read over the text. Cover up four measures and see if you can recall them. There are many techniques to memorization, but internalizing the text away from the act of singing can be very helpful. I remember having to memorize the Gettysburg address. It was quite a feat!

I am going to address each piece and what you should work on.

Hand in Hand: first row, as you go to get onto the risers, please file out among the kids every other person. This thought came to me last night, and I think it would be a grand gesture to show the interconnection among all ages. Julie likes it.

I should not be able to see your cheat sheet. I saw some of you holding up a piece of paper. That is not the look we want. Thanks to Kris for sending a small sheet that you can put on an index card, and it would be really great if you could make that black.

Really spit out the consonants, have fun, don’t be afraid to smile and move. Get the audience involved from the get-go.

O Clap your Hands:

Gets better each time. Transitions are tricky. Mark the meter changes and when we slow and speed up. Lots of dynamics and spooky moments T/B

Precious Lord:

Watch, support, as you descend in pitch, open your eyes wide and lift the soft pallet. That will help with intonation.

As you approach the big divisi chords, hear your pitch first.

Words like worn, storm, home, drear should be dark in color whereas the words life, light should be brighter.

The last humm, separate. It took us five tries last night. Sunday we only get one!

Hands are Knockin’:

Get out of the music and have fun. You know this piece. We started work on it in the very first rehearsal. You’ve been living with it for 2 1/2 months. Trust yourself and watch Greg.

Hands:

Enjoy every minute. Stay with the original tempo.  I am going to ask the first row of soprano and altos to join the kids measures 28 through 35. They are trying to remember all those words plus sign language. Julie would like them to have some support. Sing with a youthful tone but really annunciate the words and accent the verbs.

Hands:

Just make this melt. It is so glorious. Observe the accents and remember, everyone is doing dahs except for the Sopranos.  observe dynamics and Rebecca and Phoebe, nail that high B. If I am in voice, I will add as well.

No excuse to not look at the audience and me. There is no text!!!

Clap Yo’ Hands:

If you see the audience getting into this piece, you have done your job. You know what that will take. But we do not sing it all loudly. Do observe the dynamics and clap correctly. Some folks might join us, but don’t let that throw you off.

Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel:

Another show stopper. Please practice over and over again with the learning file and have those pitches dead on. Basses and tenors, it is up to you to keep that intensity going. And of course, the whole piece will need abundant energy, facial involvement, separated text, use of accents creating a driving rhythm, and tenor 1’s and assigned altos, nail the rhythm on measure 92. Trey, please join. T2, you just repeat the high F sharp.

I will switch into 4/4 time at measure 96 until the end. Look up, watch and remember there’s a big separation before the last chord which is sfz!!!

With Heart and Hand:

Do not drag, breathe early on your pickup notes. Basses, practice over and over again with learning Files. Measure 32, 33 through 35, measures 62 through 65. Your notes are not secure, and intervals are shaky at times. This is one of those pieces that should glow with love and wonderment. The text is beautiful. Very glad that it will be in the program.

An Irish Morning:

You know this was our weakest preparation. We did not have time to clean up the notes, especially in the Amen section. Do your homework!!! I want Julie to love the moment. It is a gorgeous work.

He’s got the Whole World:

Doo’s throughout when you don’t have words. Once again basses, you must be RIGHT!!! And all eyes on me at the end!!!!! A big Fermata, railroad tracks and then the dramatic ending!!

I hope this info will guide your practice.

Be in your seats at 3pm sharp in concert black and organized black folder. Can have water at your seat. Make sure you grab a program. Got extras so every singer can have one.

Spread the word! Ticket sales are picking up but a long way to go before a sellout.

Rest, hydrate, practice, smile and let’s raise the rafters!!!