Rehearsal Summary 11 Nov 2010

Dear Choir,

Long post tonight. I have the rehearsal schedule and program for tomorrow at the end of the post.

In the sectionals today we worked on Sing We Now of Christmas, Carol of the Magi, Go Where I Send Thee, The First Noel, and African Noel. The women probably also worked on There is No Rose. The men worked through all measures of all those with the following exceptions: we didn't get to African Noel, and we stopped at measure 50 on Carol of the Magi. The most significant things I noted were to work on the consonants and flipping r's in Sing We Now of Christmas. I don't have anything new to say about the others.

In the combined rehearsal we spent most of our time on the numbers for the thanksgiving concert: How Can I Keep From Singing, Witness, and Come Thou Fount.

• How Can I Keep From Singing - Erin told the men to sing "with fervor" at measure 47. From 52 through 65 where the words in the different parts fall on different beats (the contrapuntal polyphonic section) we have to emphasize the consonants more than we already were in the rest of the piece or it sounds like mush. The men need to be careful not to go flat in measure 68.
• Witness (or Widnuss) - We reviewed all the things I've noted before (Widnuss Witness, Mah My, Lawd Lord, men start very softly in unison, rhythm at 21, ending t in 33 and 35, campfire feel, breath after hand in 66, Lord ends in D not d, et cetera). New points were an extra long rest in 44 before we start the swing, and for the men to put extra sh on shave in 65.
• Come Thou Fount - We mostly worked on the bells and chimes. We play an A-minor chord on the down beats of measures 77 and 81. A C-major chord is played on the down beats of measures 73, 80, 85, 88. In a change from last week, the bells from 92 to the end will only be the C-major chord. In measures 92 and 93 the high bells play eighth notes and the low bells play quarter notes. In measures 94 and 95 the high bells play 16th notes (or free fast ringing) and the low bells play eighth notes. At 96 (last measure) all bells in the C-major chord ring once on the down beat and let it resonate for a beat and then mute it before the choir cuts off.We also worked on the choreography of African Noel.

The question about performing at the Mall of America has been resolved. We will not do it this year.

Call time for the concert is 6pm. Don't forget to bring your black music folders.

Erin mentioned that the rehearsal time before the concert is strictly allotted. I hope she doesn't mind me posting the schedule:

• 6:00-6:10 pm - Introductions, take places, warm-ups
• 6:10-6:20 pm - "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
• 6:20-6:30 pm - Global Harmony Community Chorus
• 6:30-6:40 pm - SMC Vagabonds
• 6:40-6:50 pm - MN Blue
• 6:50-7:00 pm - Caritas Vocal Ensemble
• 7:00-7:10 pm - MN Mormon Chorale and then everyone take places for "Come Thou Fount" and then exit to rooms
• 7:15 pm - Doors open
• 7:20-7:25 pm - GHCC line up outside of stake offices, all others be seated with group in back
• 7:30 pm - BEGIN!!!

The program looks like this:

Global Harmony Community Chorus

The Size of Your Heart

We Are One

South Metro Chorale Vagabonds

Lamb of God, What Wondrous Love

This Little Light of Mine

I’ll Make the Difference

Minnesota Blue

Canaan’s Land

Long Journey Home

A Beautiful Life

Congregational Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King

Caritas Vocal Ensemble

Not One Sparrow is Forgotten

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal

Minnesota Mormon Chorale

How Can I Keep From Singing?

Witness

Speaker - Sara Ibis from Second Harvest

Combined Choirs

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (with bells)

Albin Dittli