Blocking Videos from December 8

Pseudo Yoik Lite 

From Ash You Rise

Earth

Last Weekly Update of 2013!

Hi everyone!!!

We've finally made it!!! What a busy and exciting fall we have had. Thank you all for your ongoing energy, efforts, and dedication to this ensemble. We've had six amazing performances since September and we have you to thank for making them extra special for our audiences!

Hopefully we will all get some much needed R&R over the holidays, so we are back in January refreshed and ready to go! There's still lots to work on at home over the next few weeks so we wanted to give you a little homework list.

• All music and blocking must be memorized by the first rehearsal in January.
• There are still a few things that will be forthcoming to you via email, so please look out for them:
• English words for I Himmelen
• Some minor revisions to Muses' text in Lyra
• New soundscape score to replace "Ice"

A reminder of the power weekend scheduled on January 11 & 12, 2014. Both days rehearsal will be from 1:15-5:30 pm, full company.

Please look ahead in your calendars to show week. All dates and times are to be found in the Google Calendar. All rehearsals during show week are mandatory. You must be present for the entirety of each rehearsal.

Xara Holiday Party!

This Sunday, Dec 15, is our annual Xara Holiday Party!!! This is a super fun day!!!!!! We would love for as many people as possible to be there! Significant others are welcome! It's a potluck, so please bring a snack to share, and we also do Secret Santa!

Rules for Secret Santa: Bring a wrapped present valued at no more than $10. No names on the present! The rest is taken care of at the party :)

Location: Tenille & Zoe's House - 2323 Brunswick St, Unit B, Halifax (this is also Claire's old apartment for anyone who was at the holiday party last year)

Time: 2:00 pm onward!

Looking forward to a lovely and festive afternoon!!!!!

Rehearsal Notes - December 8

Revontulet

Letter G to Letter I – Lock in the Zan-za-ka timing, the eighth always stays consistent regardless of time signature changes

This MUST be off-book by the first rehearsal in January, no exceptions.

Earth

Enter on Joanna’s line : Let’s stay together this time, ok?

Letter A

Altos in a clump in the middle of the stage, Sopranos walking around them in a clockwise circle. Sing to each other.

Measure 14 – Sops go to the North and sit down (Sop 3s nearest the centre of the space), Altos 1 & 2 go to the South and stay standing. Alto 3s go to the South and sit down.

Letter B

South group sing to North group  and moves toward the centre

Measure 32 – 34 – Sop 3s stand and confront South group

Measure 45 – 47 – Sop 1 & 2 stand and join the Sop 3s as the North group

Letter C

Step on the downbeat of 50, 51 & 52 (North group advances)

Step on the downbeat of 54, 55 & 56 (North group backs up)

“End of conversation” – North group turns 90˚ over left shoulder and looks back at South group

“Put your back in it” – North group continues turning left and starts walking away from South group

“Make it up” – North group turns back over right shoulder and gestures to South group

“Make it work”  - Sops sit down.

Letter D

Sops sit in the North again. Sop 3s stand up on Measures 78 – 80.

Sop 1 & 2 and Alto 3 stand on Measures 94 – 96

Letter E

Sop 1 & 2, Alto 3 Step forward on the downbeat of 98, 99 & 100 and again on 106, 107, 108

“End of conversation” – North group turns 90˚ over left shoulder and looks back at South group. South group turns 90˚ over right shoulder and looks back at North group.

“Put your back in it” – North group continues turning left and starts walking away from South group. South group continues turning right and starts walking away from North group.

“Make it up” – North group turns back over right shoulder and gestures to South group. South group turns back over left shoulder and gestures to North group.

Letter F

Same as Letter A, Sopranos create a circle from both sides (when the ends meet, start walking clockwise in a circle)

Letter G

Sop 1, Alto 2 & 3 split and go North and South. Other remain in the centre and make the magical moving rectangle.

Last rehearsal of 2013!

Hi everyone!

Thank you all for a beautiful performance last night at Government House. It was extremely well received by Their Honours and those in attendance and you looked & sounded lovely!! A perfect way to start the holiday season!!!

We have one rehearsal left before our holiday party! Here's what you need to know for Sunday December 8th:

Schedule

1:15-2:30 pm   Lyra text rehearsal
2:30-5:30 pm   Full Company rehearsal

What We'll Be Working On

This Sunday, we'll be working on music for Revontulet, learning the blocking for Earth (memorized), and then doing a run of Lyra from memory (Pseudo-Yoik Lite, From Ash You Rise, Earth). We will also be singing through and recording I'll Give My Love an Apple.

Constellations Solos

After hearing the solos again, Christina would like to keep those currently singing solos in Pakkanen (Tenille, Jordyn, Kristin) and Lux Aeterna (Shannon). You're all doing great work!

Ice

Based on the amount of time we have left to prep the show, and in recognition of how difficult Ice would be to memorize, we've decided to cut Ice from Constellations. In its place, Christina will be writing something new - it will be significantly easier to memorize, will be shorter in length, and will still capture the same spirit of Ice (soundscape-y etc). You will receive this the first rehearsal back in January.

Changes to I Himmelen

We recognize that this piece has been challenging to sing, memorize, and perform, and we are grateful for all the hard work you have put into this piece! We've had a few opportunities to perform it now, and after some careful consideration from all ends, we've decided to make some changes:

• Christina will be writing new English words, and we will perform the piece in English. You will receive them before the holidays so you can learn them over the break. 
• Devon, Mackenzie, and Paige will now be moved off of their parts in the small choir and will sing with the large choir. Devon and Mackenzie will sing the alto line of the large choir, and Paige will sing the soprano line.

Power Weekend

While we have made these few changes to streamline our preparation for Constellations, we feel like we will need some extra rehearsal time to tighten up the remaining blocking and make it into an absolutely tight, stunning performance. So, we would like to hold an extra rehearsal on Saturday, January 11 from 1:15-5:30 pm, location TBA. Please try your best to make your schedules accommodate this rehearsal, and please be in touch with us directly if you have an unavoidable conflict. We know that this extra time and energy will help to take the show to the next level and to blow our audiences away!!

Thank you all for what has been the busiest fall in Xara's history. You are all amazing, talented, dedicated singers, and all wonderful, inspiring humans. We are so lucky to work with you every week!!!!! Looking forward to this last rehearsal together before the holidays, and then to blow everyone away at Constellations in January!!!!!

December 1st Rehearsal Notes

December 1^st – Rehearsal Notes

Find out for sure if your people picked up their wreaths. Be on this! Contact Claire & Tenille.

Concert Order for the LG show on Tuesday:

Piece	Memory	Movement	Ed
Folders will be preset in stacks by section (Shannon, Paige & Nikki will be in charge of distributing folders after Ave Maria) When not in use, folders are in left hand Whenever there is applause, PUT YOUR FOLDER DOWN
Sister Song	Memorized	Process in from the aisles to mixed scattered (MS)	C
Magnificat	Memorized	U – By parts, Sara in the middle	D
Ave Maria	Memorized	Same blocking as Nov. 3rd	A, C, E, G, C
Apple	FOLDERS	Shannon, Paige & Nikki pass folders along 3 Part U shape	D
Warrior	Memorized	Regular MS with walking	E, G, B
Sure on This Shining Night	FOLDERS	Double U (see photo)	Accompanied
Pakannen	Memorized	In a U (Alto 2s in the middle) Walk forward at C2 Return to U after “Hey!”	C, D, G
Nuit d’étoiles	FOLDERS	Special MS (see photo)	Accompanied
Lux Aeterna	FOLDERS	Double U (see photo)	Eb  & Bb
I himmelen	Memorized	U (like the circle at the museum) Nelle & Shannon on the ends	High A
Illumina le tenebre	Memorized	MS	E
Perhaps They Are Not Stars	FOLDERS	Special MS (see photo)	Accompanied

Double U for Lux Aeterna and Sure on This Shining Night

Special MS for Nuit d'Étoiles and Perhaps They Are Not Stars

Pseudo Yoik Lite

Enter from the NW aisle

o   Zoe, Paige & Kristin

o   Joanna, Nikki & Krystal

o   Jenny, Sara & Devon

o   Colleen & Mackenzie

Enter from the SW aisle

o   Jordyn & Robin

o   Leah, Sarah & Tenille

o   Kallie & Shannon

o   Brianna & Nelle

o   Hayley & Emily

Form a circle, arrive by measure 11 (the high A).  Refer to image for location (order may be slightly different)

Measure 15 – 22 inclusive

Steps forward (into the centre of the circle, starting on the right foot), slightly crouched and sneaky (no stomping).  Be aware of the shape, keep the oval shape consistent.

Measure 23 – 25 inclusive

Drift backward, steps on the downbeat of each bar

Measure 26 – 34 inclusive

Stand and sing

Measure 36 – 45 inclusive

In time with the sung line, parts 2,3,4 & 5 pivot in a clockwise circle, and then in a counter clockwise circle (each circle lasts over the 2 bars of the theme). Slightly crouched and with wonder in the eyes. Involve the arms.  Stop moving on the rests.

Parts 1 & 6 sway with their line

Measure 46 – 49 inclusive

Steps on the spot (same rhythm as M 15)

Measure 50 – 53 inclusive

Steps into the centre of the circle (same rhythm as M 15)

Measure 54 – 61 inclusive

Stand and sing

Measure 62 – 66 inclusive

Move back to the circle from the start of the piece

Measure 67 – 71 inclusive

Stand and sing

Measure 72 – end

Walking toward the centre of the circle (same rhythm as M 15)

Earth

Try to wean yourself off of the recording, as we are singing it in a higher key J