Pro Arte and Cavalieri and Concert singers should keep referring to the notes below to prepare for March 19.
Pro Arte please note- this is the updated link to The Peace of Wild Things which was incorrect below when first published.
Week of February 14, 2022
Concert and Treble Singers continue using the notes from last week below. All singers please listen to these Siyahamba instructions. In addition, CONCERT SINGERS please use these updated instructions for Tolepe Menanak.
Also note we will not sing No Laugh Race for the library concert.
Pro Arte and Cavalieri some recordings for you to listen to:
Cantare Where the Light Begins
Pro Arte Peace of Wild Things, Birdsong
Cavalieri In the Time of Silver Rain (This is a Soprano/Alto version but still gives you the idea.)
Music for the March 19th concert in Lexington:
Two Native American Songs
Tolepe Menenak
Algonquin Prayer
For the Beauty of the Earth
Song of Creation
Birdsong
In Time of Silver Rain
Call It God
The Peace of Wild Things
Where the Light Begins
This Land is Your Land
Week of February 7, 2022
CONCERT and TREBLE singers, in preparation for the library concert:
(note to Exie- some of your part assignments have changed. Please make a note of it.)
Two Native American Songs
Ancient Mother – Everyone will sing the melody that begins at the “solo” section on page 3. Please review and memorize. We will go straight from this section into the next song, omitting the bottom of page 3 through page 4.
The Earth is Our Mother – The Concert Choir sings the first unison section. The Treble Choir enters at the two-part section with part 1 – melody beginning on note G. Concert choir stays on part 2. On page 6, Treble choir continues with part 1. Concert Choir divides into 2 groups as assigned in rehearsal: Pt. 3 – Cooper, Emelia, Phoebe, Exie; Pt. 2 – Abigail, Emily, Lydia. Memorize entire piece.
Siyahamba - Pt. 3 – Cooper, Emelia, Phoebe, Exie; Pt. 2 – Abigail, Emily, Lydia Pt. 1 – Sarah, Karis, Brooklyn, Saanvi, Epiphany, Eliana, NiiArmah. Practice and memorize all four languages.
Wind on the Hill – Memorize. Work on rhythm at mm. 23 and 43.
Song of Creation – work on memorization, work on rhythmic quality of music - clapping on off-beat, as an exercise.
For the Beauty of the Earth – work on phrasing/breath markings. Study dynamic markings. Memorize.
Tolepe Menenak – Everyone learns refrain. Concert choir learns verses, singing part 1 only. Treble choir will remain on melody for page 2 and 3 refrains. Concert choir will divide into 2 parts for the accompanying repetitive “Tolepes”: Bottom note – Cooper, Emelia, Phoebe, Exie; Top note – Abigail, Emily, Lydia. Memorize entire piece.
Heaven – Memorize.
America the Beautiful – review text for each stanza. This will be a sing-along with the audience.
No Laugh Race – review and memorize.
While this seems like a lot of memorization work, please realize that many of these pieces are already mostly memorized. Please email if you have questions.
Week of January 24, 2022
*Asterisked pieces should be picked up Thursday as well as any other pieces you are missing
PRO ARTE/CAVALIERI
Music for the March 19th concert in Lexington:
Two Native American Songs
Tolepe Menenak
Algonquin Prayer
For the Beauty of the Earth – maybe
Song of Creation
America the Beautiful – maybe
Birdsong (Pro Arte only)
The Peace of Wild Things (Pro Arte only)
*In Time of Silver Rain (Cavalieri only)
*Where the Light Begins
*This Land is Your Land
Commissioned piece – we do not have this yet
Other music in folders:
Siyahamba
Circle Chant
Here Comes the Sun
Simple Gifts (Cavalieri only)
CONCERT/TREBLE SINGERS
The repertoire listed on this page will be sung at the library.
Repertoire to continue working on:
Two Native American Songs
Siyahamba
Wind on the Hill
Song of Creation
For the Beauty of the Earth
Tolepe Menenak
Heaven
America the Beautiful (Sheet music says National Songs at top)
New repertoire:
*No Laugh Race
*This Land is Your Land
*America the Beautiful and Tolepe Menenak – you may or may not have these in your folder already and should pick them up if needed
Week of November 22, 2021
Practice Notes for all GRCC choirs:
We have two holiday events coming up very soon that will require regular practice at home. A few of you will not have all the music, because we didn’t know you wouldn’t be at rehearsal earlier in Thanksgiving week. The Treble/Concert choirs will have more of the music than Cantare. If you have a younger sibling in the choir, check to see if they have any of the music you are missing. Also, many of the songs we are working on can be found on the Internet. Work to memorize all music. You may already have some of the pieces memorized.
For December 12 Caroling in the Park, please study the following:
In the “Carolng in the Park” booklet:
The First Nowell (we are singing stanzas 1&2 not 1&6) – Treble/Concert study melody. Practice reading the text in rhythm then singing it. Cantare – learn your own voice part. Cavalieri - Chris and Mikhail are on tenor, Simon and Chad are on bass. Pro Arte – you already know who sings alto and who sings soprano.
O little town of Bethlehem (we are singing stanzas 1&3 not 1&5) – same practice assignment as The First Nowell.
In the booklet with “White Christmas” on the front:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Pro Arte will sing the first page. Everyone joins at second page. We are using the repeat. Be sure to study the slower quarter note rhythm of the second ending.
For the Fan Christmas Event on December 10:
We will sing the music for December 12 plus the following:
In the booklet with “My Dreydl” on the front:
My Dreydl and S’Vivon – Treble/Concert and Pro Arte sopranos on part one. Pro Arte altos and Cavalieri on part 2. Cavalieri sings one octave down.
Winter Wonderland – stanza 1 only. Carefully study the rhythm like the one that occurs on “new bird”, “snowman”, etc. Do not rush the quarter note.
Deck the Halls (all stanzas), Jingle Bells (stanzas 1&2), Silent Night (all stanzas) – Use the same practice directions as The First Nowell.
Enjoy learning!
Week of November 8, 2021
Cantare (Pro Arte and Cavalieri)
Please carefully practice the repertoire for our next performance (Nov. 21):
Tolepe Menenak – Practice to feel secure on your own part. Cavalieri basses – work on singing in the correct octave. Practice breathing at the end of each musical line and after fermatas. Memorize text by November 1.
Algonquin Prayer – Study your part and memorize text on page 8. Pages 6&7 – be certain you understand the performance directions given at the beginning of p. 6 and can sing your own part securely. Sopranos, the third time through omit the final “yo” on p. 6. Cavalieri – be certain to practice your independent part on page 7. Memorize text on these two pages as well. Pages 1-5 – review your part on Solfege syllables and practice reading Algonquin text once per day in rhythm. Memorize the English translation from the bottom of p. 3 through p. 5. UPDATE: listen to recording here!
Song of Creation – memorize text. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds. Feel the energy of the off-beats.
For the Beauty of the Earth – secure memory. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds. Work on rhythmic breathing, always preparing the breath in the shape of the next vowel to be sung. Memorize where breaths occur and where they do not happen. Memorize/practice dynamic changes. On larger intervals leaps, be sure to practice getting from note to note accurately without sliding.
Simply Gifts (Cavalieri) – memorize.
Service Music – Learn melodies on solfege. Sing through texts. Learn parts on “For the Fruit of All Creation”. Sopranos learn descant on first hymn.
Week of November 1, 2021
Pro Arte and Cavlieri please carefully practice the repertoire for our next performance:
Tolepe Menenak – Practice to feel secure on your own part. Cavalieri basses – work on singing in the correct octave. Practice breathing at the end of each musical line and after fermatas. Memorize text by November 1.
Algonquin Prayer – Study your part and memorize text on page 8. Pages 6&7 – be certain you understand the performance directions given at the beginning of p. 6 and can sing your own part securely. Sopranos, the third time through omit the final “yo” on p. 6. Cavalieri – be certain to practice your independent part on page 7. Memorize text on these two pages as well. Pages 1-5 – review your part on Solfege syllables and practice reading Algonquin text once per day in rhythm. Memorize the English translation from the bottom of p. 3 through p. 5.
Song of Creation – memorize text. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds. Feel the energy of the off-beats.
For the Beauty of the Earth – secure memory. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds. Work on rhythmic breathing, always preparing the breath in the shape of the next vowel to be sung. Memorize where breaths occur and where they do not happen. Memorize/practice dynamic changes. On larger intervals leaps, be sure to practice getting from note to note accurately without sliding.
Simply Gifts (Cavalieri) – memorize.
Service Music – Learn melodies on solfege. Sing through texts. Learn parts on “For the Fruit of All Creation”. Sopranos learn descant on first hymn.
Week of October 25, 2021
Please carefully practice the repertoire for our next performance (Pro Arte and Cavalieri):
Tolepe Menenak – Practice to feel secure on your own part. Cavalieri basses – work on singing in the correct octave. Practice breathing at the end of each musical line and after fermatas. Memorize text by November 1.
Algonquin Prayer – Study your part and memorize text on page 8. Pages 6&7 – be certain you understand the performance directions given at the beginning of p. 6 and can sing your own part securely. Sopranos, the third time through omit the final “yo” on p. 6. Cavalieri – be certain to practice your independent part on page 7. Memorize text on these two pages as well. Pages 1-5 – practice reading Algonquin text once per day in rhythm. Memorize the English translation from the bottom of p. 3 through p. 5.
Song of Creation – memorize text. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds.
For the Beauty of the Earth – secure memory. Work on “tall” production of vowel sounds. Work on modifying R sounds. Work on rhythmic breathing, always preparing the breath in the shape of the next vowel to be sung. Memorize where breaths occur and where they do not happen. Memorize/practice dynamic changes. On larger intervals leaps, be sure to practice getting from note to note accurately without sliding – some of this came back at the 10/25 rehearsal.
Simply Gifts (Cavalieri) – memorize.
Service Music – Learn melodies on solfege. Learn parts on “For the Fruit of All Creation”