Keep up the good work on words, words, words, diction, diction, diction and tall open vowels!
Opening Scene
- Erin – you sound lovely on “Ca’ the Yowes”!
Wexford Carol
- All – We lost ensemble with each other and with the brass about halfway through verse 2. Please use the articulated last three notes of each phrase to really pull together. Verse 4 was better.
Deck the Hall
- Handbell Players – we will get your bells pulled an upright pre-show, but I want ribbons on all three sets (Galene, please add ribbons to your bells)
- Teens getting bells – you all need to be far SL at the end of Wexford, know what ribbon colors you are looking for, and get the bells fast and deliver them. Max — could you please get the bells for Jill Kester (Jill, please talk to Max about which bells are yours and what the ribbon color is)
Kentucky Wassail
- Jane – please step forward more to lead the audience and use big open arms. You may need to say “Sing”! They can sing any time that the words come up (verse and refrain) after the first time.
Shady Grove
- David Potts-Dupre – please have Danny double-check the position of your mic during the Farmer’s Toast so that it is in the correct place for Shady Grove. Please also be part of the band and really be with them.
In the Woods Scene
- ALL – there was some really beautiful music-making last night!
New Britain / Promised Land
- ALL– apologies from me, if I am unclear, but we are having some serious ensemble issues during this song. We will have an onstage fix for this tonight.
- S/T – I still feel like I get about 50% of you on your entrance
- Leaders on stage – we will hold on the last beat of verse 2 of New Britain (so don’t keep beating). Same for the end of verse 3.
Amazing Grace – Audience Sing
- Greg McG – I am going to ask the brass to start playing earlier and you should talk over them. Greg McG, please see me to talk about this.
Come Thou Fount
- ALL – this was lovely, but your entrance was a bit late.
Lord of the Dance
- ALL – more sound on the refrains please
Teaching
- Jessica Estepa and Elizabeth-Anne Newberry – I am adding you two to the teaching please
- Bill – Could you hand off your bell after the Peace Round is taught and then you can help to demonstrate the moves for 12 Days.
- Greg Lewis – please refer to the “Song Lyrics Sheet” (vs., the program)
Wayfaring Stranger
- ALL – I am going to ask you all for more volume on verse 2 generally. We will work on this during warmup.
- ALL – I need more crescendo during verse 2 in the spots we worked on.
- S/A – hearing some “mothers” on the chorus’ second verse instead of “sisters”
- T/B – I need a stronger “brothers”
- ALL – Remember that the blocking was changed… NOBODY EXIT until the instrumental tag at the end (after Matt’s final phrase).
Star in the East
- Solos – really beautiful!
- ALL – Jane (and anyone else who forgot) refrain after Liz is SA only; refrain after Doug is TB only.
- ALL – remember the cutoffs we worked on yesterday – 1 beat and off at the ends of phrases and end of SA and TB refrains. Hold final note of final refrain 2 beats and off.
While By My Sheep
- Germans – I am asking the brass to start right away, so please get in place faster.
- ALL – More brilliance and joy!
Twelve Days
- Reminder to those in audience – only do hand signals and singing for your group’s verses and 1, 5, 12 which everyone does.
And There’s a Hand – Auld Lang Choral Version
- ALL – We will rehearse this in warmup, but I am sensing that ya’ll are forgetting how this one goes.
Auld Lang Syne – Audience Sing
- ALL – Entrance was weak and not together. Take pitch from bagpipe (this is in unison, not parts) and watch me — I will raise my arms to indicate that audience should join, and speak. There is no break in the rhythm before your entrance.
Rorate
- Jennie – beautiful!
- ALL – More words, words, words!
- ALL – Make sure the first note “Ceh” is very tall, not spread.