Rehearsal Summary 28 Oct 2010

Dear Choir,

Here are my notes from rehearsal today.

Sectionals:

Witness - See below

African Noel - See below

Carols of the Night - We have performed this number in past years. We reviewed (sight read for some) the O Holy Night verse which makes up the first half of the song.

Go Where I Send Thee - This is also a returning number. We sight read the whole song.

Combined rehearsal:

Witness - We worked on the entire piece, but focused on pages 2, 3, 5, and measure 58 to the end. We worked on pronunciation. The t in Witness should not be harsh. In fact Erin asked us to almost make it into a d. Also the vowel sound in the second syllable should be a short u as in the word "up" instead of a short e as in the word "end". We should emphasize the f in "wife" in measure 61.

How Can I Keep From Singing - We rehearsed the entire song but we spend most of our time on measures 51 to the end. The most note worthy thing from tonight's work was the word "can". Every time we sing "How can I keep ...", the emphasis should be on "can". We have to suppress the tendency to emphasis "how".

African Noel - We worked on the choreography. In some parts we move our feet in a right-left-left-right pattern. In some parts we do things with our hands and arms. These are both done facing forward or to the side at various parts of the song. If you missed it then you will just have to come to rehearsal next week and get the full version, because it is beyond my ability to describe in blog post. (I suppose my description of the choreography could fit almost anything. Oh well. The blog can't replace rehearsal.) Again, this song has to be memorized.

As before, I only have information about the men's sectional. If you have something to add (about any part of the rehearsal) please comment below.

Albin Dittli

Rehearsal Summary

Hello Choir,
I'm trying to post some notes on the rehearsals for the benefit of people who were absent and people with short memory.

The Morning Trumpet (Men's number): The men worked from the beginning to measure 68.  We focused on the staccato and accents.  We also worked on the marching beat in the bass parts from 30 to 50 and again at 65.

There is Faint Music:  In the men's sectional we practiced from measure 33 to 58.

The Twelve Days of Christmas???????: In the men's sectional we practiced from measure 34 to 69.  Note the pause before the down beat of measure 36.  Also notice that in measure 61 we changed the quarter note for "doves" to two eighth notes and added the word "and" to help with the transition to Rudolph.  This piece will have to be memorized.

Jingle bells: In the men's sectional we practiced from the beginning through about measure 35.

Gesu Bambino: In the men's sectional we practiced pages 5 and 6.

Witness: We worked on the entire song in the combined rehearsal.  In measure 33 when we sing "Marvel not", the t should come immediately.  But on the next line when we sing "repent" the t should come on the rest.  Erin asked for more consonants in measures 17 through 24 (and possibly other places as well).

How Can I Keep from Singing: In the combined rehearsal we worked on measures 51 to the end.  We worked especially on the diction (Wh in when in 51, flip r in ring in 55 and in prison in 61, etc.)

(African) Noel: In the combined rehearsal, we talked about the coda and 1st and 2nd endings (in both places) and sang through it all.  The flow (by measure numbers) is: 1-30, 23-29, 31-63, 56-62, 64, 32-46, 65-66.

Erin reminded us at the end of rehearsal that at this point we should have to notes down so that we can work on style.

Obviously, I don't have any notes from the women's sectional.  If you have anything to add please comment below.

Albin Dittli

Oct. 7th Rehearsal & Call Time for Sunday Fireside

Dear Choir,

We will be rehearsing at the Oakdale Stake Building this Thursday to help us prepare for the Fireside on Sunday.  The address is 2140 Hadley Ave N in Oakdale.  It is the church building right by the Temple.  Rehearsal will begin at 7:00pm.

The Fireside on Sunday begins at 6:30pm so our call time will be 5:30pm. Please be on time and ready to warm up at 5:30pm.  Invite your friends!  The title of the fireside is The Purpose of Temples.  According to the flyer: "Presenters will include G. Kent Archibald, President of the St. Paul Minnesota Temple, and other senior temple ministers. An opportunity for question & answers, light refreshments, and videos on temples both modern and ancient will follow."

See you in Oakdale on Thursday at 7:00pm and on Sunday at 5:30pm!

Also, Erin has been feeling very sick these past few days.  Please keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

-Kendra

Fall 2010 Choir Photo

Special thanks to Jen Klingensmith for this beautiful photo of the choir! She's amazing!

Fall REPERTOIRE Links

Please check out the links (in the right column) to see performances of some of the pieces we're singing this semester. I can't wait!

CORRECTION: MMC Begins September 9th

Sorry for the mixed messages. At an earlier meeting this summer, the board discussed starting on 9/2 but at our most recent meeting we all decided we'd like to practice warm-ups at home for one more week! So, my dear friends, we will begin on Thursday, September 9th at 7:00 PM in New Brighton - AFTER LABOR DAY!

You do not want to miss this evening! We will:

1. Dive right into the semester's music!
2. Announce some changes and discuss the overall plan for the semester.
3. Welcome new singers and reconnect with those we haven't seen over the summer.
4. Have a party at the end!

Check out the links on the right to watch performances of some of the songs we are singing this semester. See you soon!

Fall 2010 Season Begins September 2nd!

It's time to start singing scales in the shower again! :) Congrats to those who did it all summer! :)

We usually begin the Thursday after Labor Day but since it's a little later this year, we've decided to start the Thursday before. Stay tuned for more info.

You're gonna love the music this semester! I can't wait to hear you sing it!