Music Notes – October 26 and November 2

• Really overdo the ending consonants. At the end of phrases be sure to place them on the following rest.

• Sopranos: be sure to keep the pitch up when the phrase descends in m. 12

Farmer’s Toast – memorized

• Remember the soloist will be the leader for the following chorus
• Soloists – Anne Simon (verse 1);  Barry Galef (verse 2)

Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby – memorized

• We added a dotted quarter note at the end, to make a full measure. Then take the first beat of the next measure to breathe before repeating.

Promised Land – memorized

• Crescendo on the long first notes – at the opening the leaders will not beat that first note, then will go right into tempo in the next measure. Then continue the crescendo at the beginning of each verse, staying in tempo.
• Make strong downbeats
• Verse 2 is lighter and smoother, and the following refrain keeps that same style. Then verse 3 and the following choruses build to the end.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – memorized

• We will be singing this in the key of D
• Remember to take a lift after “mercy” on the second line and after “mount” in the second bar of the last line.
• We used humming as a technique to “smooth” the vocal line and style for this hymn
• Note, there are some word discrepancies in the script. Please correct  your scripts to reflect the words in your music.

Star in the East – Memorize for November 9

• Soloists are: Liz Spilsbury (verse 1); Doug Baumgardt (verse 2); Jane Bloodworth and Jim Lazar (verse 3)
• The first four measures of the chorus are a bit bouncy; the second four measures should be more connected and mysterious.
• Sopranos – no scooping (bending up to notes) in the chorus part
• Watch pronunciation of “our” (AH-OO-UH)
• Cutoffs in refrains – in the first phrase place the ending consonant on beat 4. At the end of the chorus, make the final “land” a full half note and cut off after the 4th beat (e.g. on beat one of the following measure)

Alleluia – Memorized

• Jan Elicker will solo with bells to introduce this song (bell parts will come by next week)
• Tenors don’t need to push the sound
• We could always have more alto

While By My Sheep – Memorize for November 9

• Really commit to this song – in an energetic carol style
• Sopranos – be aware of not tightening up on the top notes.
• Sopranos – flip the “r” in “Praise” and make the vowel more “eh” than “aye”
• German singers – be sure to study Diana’s recording

• We will only sing verse 2
• Be sure to make the “s” of Syne an s sound. There are still some “z” sounds.
• Sopranos: in the next to the last measure, the second syllable of “kindness” goes down to a C, in unison with the altos. Some people are going up to an E there.

• More melodious phrases overall (this was much better on Nov. 2)
• In mm. 30 and 48, keep the last half note building into the next phrase, “Et nobis…”
• The “Et nobis..” phrase relaxes in volume at the end of the first choral verse, but stay full going into that phrase at the end.
• Sopranos: No break after “fair” in m. 22 and “flight” in m. 40.
• In verse 3, use the normal latin pronunciation for “All gloria in excelsis” (pronounced “een ek-shell-sees”)
• Also in verse 3, de-emphasize the unaccented syllables that fall on the downbeat (“regions” in measure 38 and “heaven” in measure 45). Modify the vowel to a softer schwa sound.
• In measures 45 and 46, concentrate on getting all of the words out clearly while still making a connected phrase. Make  a glottal before “earth” and  “and beast” to help with clarity.
• Make the dotted rhythms more definite.