Many thanks for Andrea and Jan for contributing to these notes.
Most PDFs are now on the Music Scores and Audio Recordings page. There are also audio links (some to MP3, some to audio on Spotify). Some of the audio is “inspirational” and we will be making our own arrangements.
Peace Round (Memorize by 10/5)
- Sing four-bar phrases — carry through “thing … if the” “together … in peace.”
- Use mm 2-3 to give yourself a little extra support to connect to the remaining phrase, and increase your level of diction so that the words and phrases are clear.
- Watch final consonants: remember the final “c” on end of Peace. Cut the half note in measure 8 (“peace”) short in order to get into the repeat of the round on time. Hold the note to its full value on the final ending.
- Watch falling third on “togeth-er…in”… No sliding; keep the intervals clean
- Even though this is slow, it needs energy, which improves the clarity of the words.
Lord of the Dance (Memorize by 10/5)
- Observe rests so you can breathe.
- Sing written melody or descant – please don’t make up your own parts.
- Descant is only sung after the final verse.
Sussex Mummers Carol (Memorize by 10/5)
- Descant is only sung on the final verse: generally only high voices (Sop/Ten) — if you’re going to sing it make sure you know it.
- Observe commas as breaths (however, the descant breaks different places)
- Last verse has more lifts: like after “… bless your house” and “… children too.”
- You can grab breath before the final “and more”.
New Britain (Amazing Grace)
- Melody in tenor (typical for shape note hymns)
- Needs to be very rhythmic
- Altos – measure 2 – make sure you get up to the B flat on the third beat (-zing of “A-ma-zing”)
- We will break at the same places in every verse (four-bar phrases)
Promised Land
- There are still hard copies of this music if anyone still needs a copy
- The piece begins with a whole note–be sure to sing the full value.
- ALTOS: m. 15 – make sure you get down to the F.
- Verse 2: Treble, Alto, Tenor. No basses.
- Page 2, m. 10: Crescendo on first note of verse “O”
- End of verse 2: “de-light” quarter note, quarter rest so you are ready for the refrain. Also. at end of verse 2, return to Refrain on page 2.
- Verse 3: Alto, Tenor, Bass – no sopranos. Need more melody from tenor. Crescendo on first note “There” — at end of verse to final refrain, page 4.
- Final Refrain: Treble part (Sopranos) split in two parts measure 21. Descant will be sung by sopranos to be selected by Jan and Betsy.
- SOPRANOS: In m. 4 be sure to sing the C on the “wish” of “wish-ful.”
- We were under tempo tonight – need to kick it up so it really moves nicely.
- Everyone needs to work to get really comfortable with this.
Alleluia
- Feel the swing of the rhythm. Use the slur lines and rests to help you understand and shape the phrasing of the “Alleluias.” Be sure to observe dotted rhythms.
- Since we sing “Alleluia” many times… please make sure to keep all of the vowels pure:
AH – LEH – LOO – YAH - ALTOS: The first page turn is tricky because of the addition of the descant line. After the page turn, remember that the alto is the third line down, and your line begins on an A. Your part is tricky, as at times it jumps up from alto range to join the soprano line.
- BASSES: Your part is easy, but it is important; let your sound be resonant and your singing precise–don’t go on autopilot. Hold last note “ia” for the full value of dotted quarter tied to quarter.
- TENORS: Keep rhythms steady
Rorate
- Melody is in the soprano
- ALL: note that in m. 30, the time signature is in 6/4 “gladsome light”
- Make lines smoother and more musical.
- Pronunciation: “notes,” “fowles,” “firthes,” “dully,” “cloudes”
- When is your part important? Moving notes, etc. bring them out. Sopranos, dotted rhythms.
- ALTOS:
–measure 23 and 24 check notes on “now at all you might”
–pick up to measure 27 through measure 30 – notes.
–make sure you come down to D on the fourth beat of measure 31 (“-er”) - All: No breath in measure 22 after “fair”
- m. 19: everyone except altos breathe after “air.” Altos carry through.
- m. 26: put “T” on together on “night.”
- m. 30: crescendo though measure…..”glad-some light” hold light 2 beats.
- m. 32: glottal before “est” to separate it from the s on “na-tus”
- BASSES: m. 69 — note that you hold a pedal tone
- T&B: beginning with m. 26, see where your notes, words and syllables are in respect to other parts–they are different.
- BASSES: m. 27, take note of the leap between the high E and the D that follows.
Wayfaring Stranger
- Watch on the placement of words in measures 19-27.
- Divisi in measures 27-29 – we will figure this out working with section leaders.
Auld Lang Syne
- m. 2: “Tae” = “Tay” – “Never brought tae mind”
- ALTOS: in m. 3, your part, goes into the tenor range.
- In m. 7, accent the eighth notes on “Tak a cup o kindness”