Easter 2013 - "Lamb of God"

We are excited to announce that the Minnesota Mormon Chorale & Orchestra will again be performing the beautiful Easter oratorio Lamb of God by Rob Gardner, on Sat. March 23 & Sun. March 24th, 2013.  The oratorio features the choir & orchestra, 13 vocal soloists, 1 cello soloist, and 2 narrators. The oratorio not only tells the Easter story of the final days of the Savior's earthly ministry, but also tells each person's view of those very special events, from Peter's denial and real testimony of Jesus to Mary's understanding of the blessedness of His sacrifice. Jesus Christ is not portrayed by a singer on the stage, instead a cello soloist represents the Savior in the music, helping us feel His presence and spirit throughout.

To hear clips of the music, click on the link below, and then select PREVIEW, and listen to samples of the solos and choir: http://www.spiremusic.net/servlet/Detail?no=66.

2013 Schedule of Rehearsals and Performances
Complete rehearsal schedules for soloists, choir, cellist and narrators will be provided at the first scheduled rehearsal on Thursday, January 17th, and will be posted on this blog.

Performance dates are currently scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd and Sunday, March 24th. Additional performances may be scheduled. Check here again for a final performance schedule announcement. Soloist auditions will be scheduled with the director and will be selected by Thursday, January 31st.

Auditions - Vocal and Instrumental Soloists
Musicians of all faiths in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas are invited to participate in Lamb of God. The performance is being hosted by the Minnesota Mormon Chorale, but all are welcome to attend as performers or as audience. All vocal and instrumental positions are volunteer only, with no paid positions. Participation is through audition only. Vocal and instrumental soloists should be prepared to audition with a song that shows their range and technique as a soloist.

Soloist Auditions/Requirements**: Thursday, Jan 17th (9-10 pm) and Jan. 24th (6-7 pm & 9-10 pm). Other date(s) as needed.Audition times on Jan 17th and 24th should be scheduled by sending an email and a preferred hour for auditioning 6-7 pm or 9-10 pm to director@mnmormonchorale.org or calling director Erin Gray, at 763.229.7651. Those without audition appointments will be scheduled as time permits. Please note that all soloists may be asked to also learn the choir parts and sing as part of the choir in this ensemble-type performance.  

**We are accepting video auditions for those who live outside of the metro area.  Please upload your video to YouTube and send the link to director@mnmormonchorale.org on or before January 24th.  You may use the CD as accompaniment as long as your voice can be clearly heard over the soloist. 

You may audition for more than one part.  However, it is required that all those auditioning in person or via video prepare the following excerpts according to the part for which you are auditioning (LofG vocal sheet music found here).

Soloist Audition Requirements & Excerpts (in order of appearance):

Accuser: Baritone ('This is He' - mm. 17-23, 30-35)
Thomas, the Apostle: Tenor (tender, high G# required - "To the Disciples" - mm. 125-149)
John, the Apostle: Tenor (lyrical voice, high G required - "To Calvary" - mm. 32-44)
Peter, the Apostle: Tenor (high B required - "This is He"- mm. 79-89, "I Cannot Watch Them" - mm. 8-58)
Martha, sister of Lazarus: Mezzo-Soprano ("Make Me Whole" - mm. 41-63, 123-145)
Mary of Bethany: Contralto (low F# required - "I Am the Resurrection" - mm. 20-26)
Judas: Bass (strong E above middle C required - "Judas' Deal" - mm. 6-25)
Mary, the Mother: Alto (low G required - "To Calvary" - mm. 44-52, "Here is Hope" - mm. 33-45)
False Witness: Tenor ("Gethsemane" - mm. 104-116, "To Calvary" - mm. 29-33, 59)
Maid: Mezzo-Soprano or Alto ("Gethsemane" - mm. 162-172)
Damsel: Mezzo-Soprano or Alto (Gethsemane" - mm. 168-172)
Pilate: Tenor (strong upper range required with consistent high F and G - "To Calvary" mm. 2-28, 52-68)
Mary Magdalene: Lyric Soprano (high A-flat required - "The Resurrection" - mm. 25-32, 122-153, 179-185)

Cello soloist: the cello soloist represents Jesus Christ in the music and should be capable of carrying a strong and expressive cello voice throughout the oratorio.

Tonight's fireside CANCELLED - possible reschedule for 12/16

The fireside tonight has been CANCELLED.  However, we are discussing the possibility of RESCHEDULING for next Sunday 12/16.  This event has been well publicized so we feel it would be worth rescheduling. 

I will send out another e-mail and post on the blog as soon as we know if it is rescheduled.  If you are unable to perform next Sunday, please reply ASAP by tonight so we can plan accordingly.  If we're missing too many people, it may not be possible to give the fireside.  If I don't hear from you, I'll assume you will be performing. 

Thanks so much for your service!!! 

Warmest regards,
Erin

November 1, 2012 Rehearsal Notes

Hi everyone! Great rehearsal last night! So just a reminder, our concert order for Nov 9 & 10 is: Johnny, Pilgrim Song, Cindy and Come Thou Fount, although I'm not certain if we are singing Come Thou Fount on the 10th, but I guess we'll find out next week :)

We stayed in SATB for the entire rehearsal last night. During the first half we worked o our concert pieces, making sure we are familiar with all of the markings and dynamics. It is VERY important, if you are uncertain about certain areas of your music, to practice at home. As Erin reminded us, it is a requirement in our Membership Guide to practice our music outside of rehearsal. I would like to once again offer, if anyone is in need of help learning their part, I am more than willing to come and help you, no matter where you live, or how late or how early you need me to help. I am serious. If you want/need help, don't be shy. My number is 651-402-9682, so now you have no excuses :)

After rehearsing the concert pieces, we went through The Hand that First Held Mary's Child. We need to make sure we pay attention to the dynamic markings that Erin gave us several weeks ago. This song is dependent on the dynamics and the flow. Erin reminded us to think of certain colors that associate with the mood of the song and it should help us with our emtion. Then we went through Virgin Mary (memorize it!). I was happy to see a couple of altos without their music for the most part, so I'm hoping that next time we go through this piece to see even more people without their music. It is a very simple and short song. We can do it! Oh, and Erin had us change all of the words that start with -th to a -d sound, so instead of The Virgin Mary, it would be Duh Virgin Mary. Also, we are no longer making a -k sound on the word glory. Then finally, we went through Sussex Carol. The rhythm is very tricky in this piece, so please be sure to go over it at home. Thanks!

~Laura

Oct 25, 2012 Rehearsal Notes

Hi everyone! Great rehearsal on Thursday! I know we all learned a lot.

First of all, I just want to reiterate the confirmed concert dates & times:

Thanksgiving concert: Nov. 9 ~ Call time: 5:30pm
Rosedale Center Concert: Nov. 10 ~ Call time: 3:45pm
Rochester Concert: Dec 1 ~ Call time: 4:45pm
Christmas concert: Dec 7 ~ Call time: 6:00pm
Fireside @ Mpls Stake Center: Dec 9 ~ Call time: 6:00pm (as far as we know)

I also wanted to remind everyone that I need about 6-7 ushers for the concert in two weeks, so if you have family members who are willing to do that for me, let me know so I can get them the info they need.

Okay, so for rehearsal notes: we only have 2 more rehearsals before our Thanksgiving concert. Eek! I think we all realize after Thursday's rehearsal that we need to super oober make sure we know our notes. We won't have time to do anymore sectionals during rehearsal, so it is super important to go over your part outside of rehearsal and make sure you know your part.

We stayed in SATB the entire evening on Thursday. The pieces we went through are: Johnny, Gloria, Cindy, Go Tell It on the Mountain, While Shepherds Watched Their flocks, and First Nowell. Please review these at home so we can come to rehearsal next week ready to conquer them :)

~Laura

Oct. 11, 2012 Rehearsal Notes

Hello, everyone! You all did such a wonderful job on Friday at the fireside! It was such a wonderful event to be involved in. I loved hearing all of the different musicians. We have such amazing talents in the Church!

In Sectionals we worked on the following pieces:
Come, Come Ye Saints ~ Men, mm. 8-34 and Women, mm. 1-17. The women worked on making their sound unified and without vibrato. It is very difficult to sing this beginning without vibrato. Also, on the word Come, we need to make sure to close to the M immediately. I tried to have you all envision stalwartly marching closer and closer to your destination as one. It seemed to help as well when we made sure the rhythm was right on.
Sussex Carol ~ We ran through mm. 52-end making sure we knew the rhythm and then singing the notes. This section was similar to the beginning of the song, so the rhythm was easier to pick up. In measure 55 be sure to pronounce "the" as thee because the following word starts with a vowel. So it should be ''thee angels".
Go Tell It On The Mountain ~ We reviewed mm. 40-end. I had the women stand in a circle and imagine they were telling a story. Add some soul and have some fun!
For Unto Us ~ We reviewed mm. 26-72, making sure that each phrase has movement and as always, tall vowels :)
Finally we went through mm. 24-39 of Pilgrim Song. The sopranos will sing with the altos at measure 24 and then split off to their own part on measure 31 after the word "story."

In SATB we worked on:
Come, Come Ye Saints ~ We ran through the entire piece.
The Spirit of God ~ We ran through the entire piece. (We will be turning this piece in on Thursday)
Pilgrim Song ~ We went through the Forever section and Erin wants to make sure we get the entire phrase "I'm going to live forever" out so the audience will understand it.
Lastly, we sang through Cindy (memorized)...it was a little shaky, so be sure you have your parts memorized.

Thanks, and have a great week!
~Laura

Oct. 4, 2012 Rehearsal Notes

Hi everyone! Sorry I slacked off this weekend...I'm using Conference as my excuse :)

In sectionals we worked on While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Letter I to the end. We need to make sure our phrasing flows in each section. We then refreshed our memories with Go Tell It On The Mountain. Be sure to practice the rhythms in this piece outside of rehearsal because they are a little tricky and it will be easier during rehearsal if you know your part. We then went over the runs in For Unto Us A Child is Born. Be sure to have good breath support and know where the notes are going in each run. You don't want to be surprised... Then we sang mm. 32-end of Pilgrim Song.  Be sure to have tall vowels. Finally we reviewed Cindy, mm. 1-50. This piece will be memorized, so you should all be working on this outside of rehearsal.

In SATB we sang through Come, Come Ye Saints, which is one of the pieces we will be performing this Friday at the fireside. ( We will also be performing The Spirit of God and A Child's Prayer). Be sure you know your parts for these three songs. Thanks! Have a great week!
~Laura

Sep 20, 2012 Rehearsal Notes

We are taking tshirt orders! Yay! I will be taking remaining orders next week and I need everyone's money that night as well because I have to pay upon ordering. If you have checks, make them out to Laura Michels.

Also, just a reminder that next week is the MMC Autumn Party.Altos and Basses are in charge of treats, so let's bring it!

We received two new pieces this week: The Spirit of God (will be performed on Oct. 12) and Angels We Have Heard on High. If you did not receive either of these, make sure to talk to John Horton before rehearsal next week.

In sectionals the women worked on Come Thou Fount with Erin. We need to make sure we have tall vowels and enunciate all of the words, paying special attention to consonants at the beginning and end of words. When words have two syllables, be sure to stress the first syllable and back off on the second.  The men worked on Johnny with Barb.  We then worked on While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, mm. 76-end. It is very important that we all know our notes in this piece. There are a few tricky places, so practice at home and know your notes :)  We then worked on The Spirit of God. The men went over mm. 48-80 and 87-103. The women covered 87-end. Then we worked on The Virgin Mary, mm. 73-end. This piece is going to be memorized, so be sure to work on that during the week. I have found it helps to listen to the Motab version on youtube. I had it memorized in 2 days. If I can do it, anyone can :)  Lastly, we worked on the stomp/clap section in Cindy. This is another thing that will be helpful if you learn it at home. If you need help, please let me know because I am more than willing to help anyone who needs it.

In SATB we ran through A Child's Prayer and While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks with Barb. Then we did mm. 87-end of The Spirit of God, making sure we had the notes down. Finally, we worked on The Virgin Mary, mm 73-end. Erin had us change the pronunciation of Believer to buh-lee-vuh. We also need to make sure to not sing the k for gloria as hard.

Have a great week!