Soloists – keep doing what you are doing!
PART 1
Wexford Carol
– SR and Center singers please watch Jennie and Matt for keeping with the brass on V.2
– Articulate the final 3 notes of each phrase; use those phrase endings to line up with fellow singers, band, and brass
– Fully pronounce the words, and check your terminal consonants
Deck the Hall
– Teens who deliver bells, please recall what bells you get and to whom you give them
– Handbell players, please rehearse air bells today and tomorrow
– Everyone watch Greg for ritard at the end of the carol
Kentucky (American) Wassail
– Be ready to really kick in at the start; really pronounce the words
The Farmer’s Toast
– Watch Anne and Barry on the refrains as they lead you
Shady Grove
– Add some harmony on the refrains
Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby
– After the trio establishes the song, I need more people to delay leaving the stage so that we can hear it two more times at least with more singers
Meeting in the Woods is wonderful, and getting better and better each time you sing these songs. Thank you! Keep those entrances strong, and let the words come through!
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
– This sounds amazing — Keith and Tai, your increased vocals on the humming verse were great
– Be sure to use consonants, particularly on the “I am weak” phrase: be sure to use consonants on word endings so it doesn’t sound mushy. Don’t over exaggerate them, but use them.
Roughy Rocky Road
– Remember to sing “I am bound to carry my soul to the Lord” at the end of Christina’s first verse—don’t forget the “I am.”
Amazing Grace (New Britain) / Promised Land
– Greg McG, you can improvise even more
– All watch Andrea or Betsy
– All, we finally achieved a nice steady tempo on Promised Land, let’s keep doing that
– Fully pronounce the words and sing through the vowels (to ward off rushing)
Amazing Grace Audience Sing
– Warmly lead the audience
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
– All, remember to breath early and start the singing right on time
Lord of the Dance
– All, unison until after the final verse
PART II
Wayfaring Stranger
– Tenors, the tempo is on all of you in the first entrance, do what you can to lock in with each other as you get on stage
– All, remember the accents on beat 1 on the following measures: 26, 28, 29
– All, remember the crescendo on mm. 34-35
– Alto, Tenor and Bass, remember to build on mm. 38-40
– Alto and Bass, hold through on m. 40 / Tenors, get off your note early
– Verse 3, remember to hold through the dotted quarter note endings on “sto-RY” and “glo-RY”
– Tenors, Basses, build mm. 46-48
– Tenors, Basses, remember the “Russian choir” sound at the end
– Matt, take your time on your ending
Star in the East
– After Liz sings, SSA on the refrain
– After Doug sings, TBB on the refrain
– After Jane and Jim sing, ALL on the refrain
– All, dotted quarter cutoffs until the final note of the song — hold that a full half-note
– 1st half of the refrain should be light and buoyant; 2nd half of the refrain smooth and mysterious
The Peace Round
– All, I have been trying to take this this a bit slower, but you all are pushing the tempo a bit
Alleluia
– All, remember the vocal build that we worked on in rehearsal (and do it)
– Basses, remember the articulation that you add in the 2nd round
– Let’s all be careful to really listen on the ritard and final cutoff
While By My Sheep
– Germans, please review your words, and please over-pronounce!
– All, sing fully on the “tutti” parts in English
12 Days of Christmas
– “My true love SENT to me”
– All, there is a really big slow down at the end, try to lead the audience on that
The Winter
– I know that this is late coming, but here is a link to the score that has harmonies that we are using (this is especially useful to sopranos, altos and basses)
https://production.revelsdc.org/scores/thewinter-2022.pdf
Auld Lang Syne
– “Then there’s a hand…”
– Please check the rhythm on “We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness”
Auld Lang Syne Audience Sing
– Warmly invite the audience to join us on this
Rorate coeli desuper
– Jennie – feel free to take your time with verse 1
– Watch me for the start of verse 2
– Over-pronounce so we can better understand the text
– All, be strong on the verse 3 entrance – “Sing heaven”
– Remember the choral moment on “All gloria in excelsis cry”
Sussex Mummers Carol
– On stage singers, please focus on excellent singing and long phrases