Music Notes – December 11 and 12

As promised, here are notes from Tech Week Monday and Tuesday. I will likely be running on and off of the stage a lot today to listen more, but Jackie is also in the house and will let me know if she hears any issues. Remember to let your section leaders know if you have any issues that are affecting your ability to sing well with the group.

General note to bell handbell players — do not have a teen get your bells or put them back unless you absolutely can’t physically do it on your own! There are instances where we do need teens to help such as if you’re dancing, but if you’re just watching someone else sing, there’s a very good chance you can make time to get them or put them away yourself.

1. Nova! Nova!
   – Remember – strong entrance on each chorus, make the “n” sound short so the entrance doesn’t sound like mush
   – Remember – inhale for a clean cutoff each time
   – Final cutoff is led by the drum (roll and all cut off at the final strike)
2. Noël nouvelet
   – Remember – pronounce the “t” in Christmas clearly
   – Remember – take a quarter note to breathe at the end of each system
   – Diction, diction, diction!
   – Bells – nice work!!
3. Verbum Patris umanatur
   – Please group with the soloist after their solos each time
   – Doug, remember to replace Diana in the center front for your solo
   – Add a quarter rest at the end of each V1 and V2 choral sections — inhale right on beat 4 to cut off
   – Diction, diction, diction — make sure that your Latin is clean and the vowels are “pure”
4. Alle Psallite
   – Group 1, attack your first entrance at [B]
   – Remember – no ritard as the end; watch Jenny and David for final cutoff!
   – Jane (just a question) – can you move downstage to be more in line with the rest of the bells players?
5. Edi beo thu
   – Dongmyung will be near the SL group with Myla holding the music for her
   – Diction, diction, diction (this sounded mushy on Monday)
   – Review verse 3 words
6. Quant je voi yer retorner
   – There will now be a break between the “instrumental” and the introduction for this song. The intro. will be the music of the entire first phrase — Don’t panic and come in early! Let Peter play a full phrase on his own!!
   – Put the final “t” of “eat” on after holding for the full 1-2-3-4-5-6 beats (2 full measures)
7. “Kyrie” from Missa L’homme armé
   – People on the ends need to move toward the center (as is possible)
   – People who are blocked by Arthur, please see if you can adjust so you can see me
   – Reminder – Basses – no “i” sylable in m. 9. Also, watch where you switch syllables, especially in m. 18 and 22, not everyone is changing vowels on the same notes
8. Lord of the Dance
   – The “descant” is only added after the final verse
9. L’homme armé
   – Please all remember the French work we did (note – I do hear Peter using a slightly different pronunciation). Also, Peter stops singing on the verse repeat and you all need to make up for that by facing the audience and singing facing front
10. Conditor alme siderum
    – Eleanore please ring right away, and slowly (with drama)
    – Greg, Matt and Bennett can probably sing more fully, especially if you are on the top platform (note, I may need to adjust positioning)
    – Remember – separate the 8th note / quarter note in m.16 (top and middle parts)
    – Slight ritard at the end both times
11. Il est né le divin enfant
    – Remember – English word “divine” pronounced “dih-vine,” not “dee-vine”
    – Remember – on the word “past” in mm. 10 and 14, put the “st” on beat 4
    – Bells – nice work!!
12. Dona nobis pacem
    – Since Dona Nobis will be taught after intermission, we will just launching into the Unison (“D” bell, Bill Hoffman, gives the pitch)
    – Remember, please form 3 distinct groups onstage
13. The Hunt is Up
    – Diction, diction, diction!
    – Still need more “F” on fox
14. J’atendray tant qu’il vois playra
    – Intro. is mm. 1-13 (including m. 13, the empty measure) both times
    – We are having serious ensemble issues and will need to work with this in warmup music time, primarily in mm. 21-26
    – Also we will be adjusting stage positions (middle part needs to not be a “block” in the small group); we will be talking strategies today and working on some repositioning on Thursday.
    – There will be a full introduction prior the final refrain
15. Boar’s Head Carol
    – Preston – remember to invite and lead the audience on every Refrain!
    – Verse 2 singers need to move out from the crowd so we can see you
16. Gloria ad modum tubae
    – 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”