Good afternoon everyone! Apologies for the delay in getting these notes written for you, it's been a very busy weekend, including a massive concert.
What we did on Tuesday 8th November
We found our footing in the mixed formation with Away in a Manger, not only fixing the odd note/tuning issue, but thinking about a lovely blend and a great performance, breathing and working together. After this, we spent a lot of time on Advent Moon, clarifying the beginning of the piece, and working well through to the join from the previous week (bar 47).
After the break we worked on White Christmas, which will be a great encore in the concert, and it was brilliant to do some detailed work on tuning and harmonic progressions to nail down the impact of the piece. We ended with Candlelight Carol, which was very beautiful, and just needs a bit of work on confidence with notes. Please do look at this at home.
What we'll do on Tuesday 15th November
We'll start off in 'normal formation' and run through what we did of Advent Moon last week, locking that good work in place. Then we'll break off for sectionals - T/B with James in the kitchen room, S/A with me in the church. Here we'll do some hard work on Fanasia on Christmas Carols, both the opening section and from Letter R.
After the break, we'll continue with the Vaughan Williams, covering Letter Dd if there's time, before returning to a full and singing through the first and last sections of the Fantasia.
Marked Scores
I'm hoping you all have these in by now. If not, please get them in; don't let the team down!
Spotify Playlist
The Spotify Playlist, as always is HERE. I hope it all helps.
A Hymn to the Virgin auditions
Final call to audition for the chamber choir (four soloists) for the Britten. Please let me know at the rehearsal, ask in the WhatsApp group, or email me or Wendy. We'll hold the audition after the rehearsal on the 15th, and I'll let people know by the end of the week.
Poster
Keep sharing this wonderful poster digitally far and wide, and pick up posters and fliers on Tuesday to place anywhere and everywhere!
Your Repertoire Ideas
You may be wondering where I'd got to with this; some excellent suggestions, all of which I've written out. If I've missed anything, or you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch.
This document will be really useful to me in programming music for the choir, and it's great to know some things that you'd like to do.
Suggested Listening
A short one this week - a beautiful setting of the folk song Bushes and Briars by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Check it out HERE.
Thanks everyone, and see you on the 15th.
- Ben