Music Notes – September 13, 2023

• Translation of the Latin:
  Nova! Nova! Ave fit ex Eva! (News! News! “Ave” has been made from “Eve”!)
  (i.e. The angelic salutation “Ave” reverses the sins committed by Eve.)
  
• About the song:
  The lyrics are macaronic (in two languages: Latin and early English) follow the story of the archangel Gabriel’s visit to Mary at the Annunciation, which will culminate in the Nativity. Mary is sometimes called the “new Eve” (Eve, in Latin, is Eva). “Ave” is the first word Gabriel says to Mary (“Eva” spelled backwards).
• Rehearsal notes:
  — Separate the repeated “Novas” by making a lift after each comma
  — The refrain comes immediately after each verse
  — There are 3 forms of the refrain — please review them for next week:
  1. Unison – at the start, and after verse 1
  2. Two-part (S/A and T/B) – after verse 2
  3. Four-part (SATB) – after the rest of the verses
  — The song is a proclamation (i.e., an announcement), and the translation begins, “News! News!” so let your voices and bodies tell the story
• Score correction:
  — mm. 63-64 are missing a few notes; either print a new score or make mm. 63 and 64 the same as mm. 49 and 50.
• Please review this for next week – look at solos/duets let me know if you would like to be considered – hearing them, beginning on Saturday.

Noël Nouvelet

• Assignment:
  Please memorize verses 1 and 2 for September 20
• Rehearsal notes:
  — Pronounce the “t” in Christmas
  — Take a quarter note to breathe at the end of each phrase
  — Breathe or take a lift at each comma/punctuation
  — Sopranos: be sure to sing the C# in tune
  — Tenors: strong on your extra “Noels” in mm. 10 and 12
  — Altos: check that you are singing a nice high D# in mm.10 and 12
  — This will be an audience sing

Verbum Patris Umanatur

• Translation of the Latin:
  1. The word of the father is made human, while a maiden is greeted;
  the greeted one is fruitful without knowledge of man. Behold, new joys!
  2. A new manner of birth, but exceeding in power of nature,
  when the creator of all things is made creature. Behold, new joys!
  3.The God-human is given us, the given one is shown to us,
  while peace is announced to the nations and glory to the heavens. Behold, new joys!
• Rehearsal notes:
  — “Ey” and is pronounced as a long A (like “say”) in Ey and Eya
  The verses need to be sung rhythmically (you’re proclaiming again).
  — The refrain, “Eya, eya, Nova gaudia,” meaning “Behold, new joys”)is to be sung legato.
  — Remember – this is a joyful (and FUN) song
• Please review this for next week – look at solos let me know if you would like to be considered – hearing them, beginning on Saturday.
• Divisi assignments:
  — Please use the 3-part assignments here:
  https://production.revelsdc.org/cast-information/
• Listening assignments:
  While these are not exactly how we will do the song, they are helpful!
  — https://youtu.be/Y-Q5jD0MzCI?si=DMj4UDJIjS9XkVqx (with instruments and solos)
  — https://youtu.be/cAW7S85IPe0?si=Mj9ZaNZ8AlCiY0g- (faster tempo)

Kyrie from Missa “L’homme arme”

• Translation:
  Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy); Christe eleison (Christ, have mercy)
• Rehearsal notes:
  — We worked on the “Christe eleison” section (mm. 14-28)
  — This piece is in “3” (essentially 3/2, meaning 3 beats per measure, half-note gets the beat)
  — Go through score and note counting for the rhythms as needed
  — Sopranos: check especially the rhythm in m. 25-27
  — All note that the melody that the mass is based on (“L’homme armé”) is in the tenor part
  — Some altos could sing tenor for this very high section of the tune
• Listening assignment:
  Take time to really listen to this excellent recording:
  — https://youtu.be/BV105orBxKE?si=Q-HyZgsqCq2Ew-Lf

Conditor alme siderum (Dufay)

• Translation (also found in the score, but corrected and revised below):
  1. Conditor alme siderum aetérna lux credéntium
  Christe redémptor ómnium exáudi preces súpplicum
  Creator of the stars of night, your people’s everlasting light,
     O Christ, savior of us all, We pray you, hear us when we call.
  2. Qui cóndolens intéritu mortis perire saeculum
  salvásti mundum languidum donans reis remedium.
     Thou, grieving that the ancient curse should doom to death a universe,
  hast found the medicine, full of grace, to save and heal a ruined race.
  3. Te, Sancte fide quáesumus, venture judex sáeculi,
  consérva nos in témpore hostis a telo perfidi.
     Come in thy holy might, we pray; redeem us for eternal day
     preserve us, while we dwell below, from every insult of the foe.
  4. Virtus, honor, laus, gloria Deo Patri cum Filio,
  Sancto simul Paraclito, in saeculorum saecula. Amen.
     Praise, honour, might and glory be to God the Father, the Son
     and the Holy Comforter, for all eternity. Amen.
• Rehearsal notes:
  — We worked on the chant verse (1) and the 3-part verse (2)
  — Tenors, you may find it easier to tune to the bass part; but note that you sing in parallel fourths with the Cantus part (Sopranos and most Altos).
  — Altos, some of you could sing with the middle (Tenor) part
• Divisi assignments:
  — Coming by Wednesday
• Listening assignment:
  Take time to really listen to this excellent recording:
  — https://youtu.be/XE5jLG2Kbww?si=t-l8vPbxKHk4d4KC&t=80