Music Notes – December 13

General note to bell handbell players — please remember to: A) handle the bells only by the handles (do not touch the bells); and B) do not let the brass part of the bell hit another bell.  These are expensive musical instruments need to be handled with care.  Also, please go early to get bells so that you have time to be in place for any piece you play (esp. Alle psallite).  It is OK to leave the stage and re-enter.

Mask-wearing — if you are going to wear a mask onstage (while singing in performances), I need to know (so, please drop Jackie and me an email to that effect, so I know), Also, you must wear a black mask if you are going to stay masked onstage for performances.  We have many available so please talk to stage management to get one.

1. Nova! Nova!
   – ALL – This is sounding a bit mushy… as you make it to the stage, please face out on the refrains!
   – VISUAL – Chris L., we talked about you using your arms a bit on the first solo
   – SOUND – Maud – we are having a bit of trouble hearing you on your first solo.
   – MARGINALIA – Peter and Brian – please stay to the front of your platform so you are safe from chorus movement onto the platforms
2. Noël nouvelet
   – HANDBELLS – no need to damp your bells at the end, just let them ring
3. Verbum Patris umanatur
   – ALL – listen to the drum for steady rhythm
   – ALL – sorry for the missing arm cutoff at the end; my hat fell off and my hand was hanging onto it
4. Fanfare/Procession Music
   – BRASS – did you have enough music or did you add on?
   – ABBIE – I am going to send you the score for what the brass plays for you and Arthur
5. Alle Psallite
   – HANDBELLS – please go get your bells much, much earlier.  You have the entire children’s set (how about you go during their dance and drift back on for “Dou Way Robyn”?). You absolutely have to be in place and ready to play and you should already be in stage with the bells for the entrance of Arthur and Guinevere.
6. Edi beo thu
   – DONGMYUNG ad MYLA – I am going to try to move you more toward the center (to the SR-most position with the SL group). If we don’t hold pitch tonight on verse 2, we will include the vielle on all 3 verses. Dongmyung, I have another idea we can also try.
7. Quant je voi yer retorner
   – ALL – I think that the new break from instrumental to the intro. to this song worked. Please remember it — Don’t panic and come in early!
   – ALL – I don’t think we did this last night –> Put the final “t” of “eat” on after holding for the full 1-2-3-4-5-6 beats (2 full measures)
8. “Kyrie” from Missa L’homme armé
   – BETSY ENTRANCE TO CONDUCT – I had issues getting on stage because of people ad benches (do we have a plan for moving those).
   – SL and SR sides need to move into the group
   – BRIAN – exit with drum and re-enter behind Les Lin to play drum on Lord of the Dance
9. Lord of the Dance
   – The “descant” is only added after the final verse
10. L’homme armé
    – ALL – Please all remember the French work we did (note – I do hear Peter using a slightly different pronunciation).
    – PETER – as we discussed, you are going to try to cut out of the singing after singing the high part of the repeated B section before cutting out to refill the bagpipe
11. Abbots Bromley
    – DANCERS – was the tempo good for you all last night?
    – BILL HOFFMAN – you actually should play the triangle every now and then (randomly). Come talk to me if you have questions.
12. Conditor alme siderum
    – ALL – can you get on stage any faster?  We are going to try to fix some positioning on this, but I need the T/B chanters to be on the floor (not in the very back)
    – ELEANORE – please ring your three chimes right away, and very slowly (with drama)
13. Sante Nicholas
    – HANDBELLS – unless there is applause, please begin right away (who has the first bell?)
14. Il est né le divin enfant
    – ALL – be ready to start
    – BRASS – you can start right away (in time after the children finish)
15. Dona nobis pacem
    – ALL (reminder) – Since Dona Nobis will be taught after intermission, we will just launching into the Unison (“D” bell, Bill Hoffman, gives the pitch)
    – ALL (reminder) – Remember, please form 3 distinct groups onstage
16. The Hunt is Up
    – PETER – were you having issues with the horn last night?
17. J’atendray tant qu’il vois playra
    – ALL – we still need onstage time to just sing this with the instruments with sound on but it is not going to happen tonight
    – BRIAN – maybe you can get up sometime during the dancing part before the intro. to the final AB to get closer to the small group?
    – ALL – we are still having ensemble issues (in the 2nd half of the “refrain”)
18. Boar’s Head Carol
    – PRESTON – please remember to invite and lead the audience on every Refrain (you might step forward a bit on the refrains)!
    – VERSE 2 SINGERS – I think you got out for your verse better last night, but it always looks like one of you is behind the group
19. Worldes Blis
    – VISUAL – do we like Peter on the floor for this?
    – BRIAN – can you exit through the House door with your drum at the end of this scene (if it is awkward to go back up the steps)  Or, you could leave the stage with Peter as “Gloria ad modum tubae” starts
20. Gloria ad modum tubae
    – PETER – I think that you can exit the stage after you intone and the piece starts
    – T/B – we need to work more on balance and articulation so you all are singing cleanly and balance each other
    – Flipped “R” on “Gloria”
21. Sussex Mummers
    – MARGINALIA – I think we want you on stage somehow during this finale.  I need to consult with directing about how/when to get you there.
22. Curtain Call Music
    – BRASS/MARGINALIA – We are consulting on music for this and I hope to have a plan by tonight’s run (sorry that this is going late)