Here is the rehearsal recording from January 30th. I’ve trimmed the break out of the middle, so if you want to take a break at that point, pause the playback.
Monthly Archives: January 2023
Rehearsal Recording, January 30
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Rehearsal Recording, January 23
Here is the recording of our January 23rd rehearsal. Unfortunately, I paused the recording at the break, and didn’t re-start it until about halfway through the 2nd hour. My apologies for that! (Still trying to get the rhythm of this.) We worked on Kuimba Nafsi Yangu and (I think) Sing Gently in addition to what’s covered in the recording.
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Need some help with your sight-singing skills?
If you are having difficulty following along, or find yourself getting lost, or just want to improve your music reading skills, check out the Sight-Reading Factory.
https://www.sightreadingfactory.com/
There’s also a basic primer about following a choral score. I’ve noticed some of you occasionally seem lost. Maybe this video can take some of the mystery out of following the music, and staying afloat during rehearsals. Try it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn7YJWGsw5Q
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What Is Peace?
This is part of a larger work, the text is based on the Beatitudes (from the Sermon on the Mount).
This stand-alone movement from Tuvayhun – Beatitudes for a Wounded World, is from Matthew 5: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be the children of God.”
SOPRANOS: Please everyone learn soprano 2. I will only put one or two voices on the sop 1 part, as it just needs to float and not be too heavy.
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How Can I Keep From Singing
This is an arrangement of an old Shaker hymn written 250 years ago. Even though it was written as a deeply Christian hymn, I appreciate the fact that this arrangement is timeless and open to interpretation. We are certainly living in times of tumult and strife, roaring tempests and darkness. The rock we each cling to to survive is personal and unique to each of us. Some believe in a God, for some it’s the goodness in others, for some it’s simply love, for some the Earth as our Mother. Whatever you feel is your rock, please sing this beautiful song with heart full.
Here are the parts to this arrangement. Please note the time signatures as we move through the changes in meter.
As you work on your part, warm up your voice a little, then first just listen and follow along, making sure you have your line of music marked so you don’t get lost. Please as you listen, ignore the words. Don’t even look at them. Pay close attention to your notes and rhythms. The words are easy and will come later.
Then, on the next listen, sing along on a neutral syllable like doo or loo or lah. Learn the notes and rhythms that way first. Have your pencil ready to make any tricky spots that might need extra work.
Repeat until you know all the note and rhythm changes, continue to ignore the words, looking at only the notes and rhythms. Then when you’ve really got it in your ears, eyes and body, you can add words, remembering to use tall vowels and deep full breathing.
Have fun.
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First Rehearsal Recording
If you missed the first rehearsal, or just want to go back over it, you can listen to the recording here.
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Time Signature Refresher
From time to time I’ll post some helpful videos or information concerning the art of music reading.
This one helps to explain time signatures. Please watch if you have any questions about what a time signature is or what information it gives you.
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Ukrainian River Song
Enjoy. We will pick up the tempo eventually!
sop part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaIOCUieF6o
alto part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irzl8CLh8ZE
tenor part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hICx7xZHvAA
bass part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdCcaVWHpz0
We’ll pay tribute to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters by singing this joyful dance-like song.
Mostly nonsense syllables, it is written in the style of a Ukrainian -Carpathian folk song. May the People of Ukraine find a reason to dance very soon.
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January 15, 2023 · 8:14 pmHow Can I Keep From Singing Arr. Sarah Quartel
A Beautiful rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL3-gqGHfdw
I am familiar with a couple of different arrangements of this song. We sang the arrangement by Gwyneth Walker several years ago. I like this arrangement, and I like the tempo Susan Rice takes to keep it light and not plodding. Just listen to the blend of the women’s voices!
Parts to follow in the coming weeks.
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Lux Aeterna by Tom Porter
In choosing music for this session, I felt it was important to acknowledge the profound losses (global, national, and personal) of the past 3 years, and was looking specifically for the text of the Requiem. I settled on this arrangement by Tom Porter. Perhaps we can all have the intention of holding someone dear we’ve lost in our hearts while we sing this together.
Here is the translation from the Latin text:
Light eternal shine on them Lord,
with your saints in eternity,
because you are holy.
Rest eternal, give them, Lord,
and light unending shine on them.
Here are your isolated rehearsal tracks.
soprano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGfEBCIe1I
alto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYS3aquEkc
tenor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuoisYGk6EM
bass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeiXRBg_Ezg
All Parts/Full Mix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apFVXtHzU7c
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