Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Details for the Weekend!

Hi everyone!

We are so excited for our CD pre-launch this weekend! Sunday's rehearsal was lovely, Denique's video is looking AMAZING, and we are excited to start taking pre-orders for Here on these branches!

Please review Erin's amazing videos and blog post for all the things we went over on Sunday at rehearsal! We want to blow our audience away!

Schedule for Saturday

  • 4:00 pm Call time at Alderney Landing Theatre. 
  • 4:00-4:30 pm Rehearsing the transition between Pakkanen & The Secret Lantern with XYE
  • 4:30-5:30 pm Soundcheck for our two sets in the rotunda
  • 5:30-6:30 pm Backstage
  • 6:30-7:30 pm CD Pre-launch in the rotunda
  • 7:30-7:50 pm Mingle time
  • 7:50-8:00 pm Backstage before The Secret Lantern
  • 8:00 pm Pakkanen + The Secret Lantern 
  • 8:45 pm Singing 2 songs in the rotunda to help encourage people to purchase the CD and then more mingling!
As you can see you have an hour to get dressed and do hair and makeup, but the more you can do before you arrival, the better, as we are tight on time. Please make sure to bring something significant to eat before the show!!

To Bring
  • Xara tunic, boots, black leggings
  • Meal/snacks for supper
Tickets

Please make sure to pump up the show over the next three days! Share on Facebook and social media so we can have a great crowd on Saturday!

Holiday Party

The Xara holiday party is on Sunday afternoon at Robin's house! I'll let her share the address/details but please bring a potluck snack and if you'd like to participate in our Secret Santa, bring a wrapped present of no more than a $10 value!

Please bring your music to the holiday party as Erin will be collecting it on Sunday!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Erin's Notes from December 7

Snow (video)
Envision your beautiful snowy place, and let us see that come to life on your faces.
Opening to A : Mixed Scattered
Letter A : Everyone take a single step toward the centre (Alto 2s can bring the volume of the drone up a bit here)
Letter B : Everyone take a single step toward the centre


Songbird (video)
Sparkly and light
Back row: Nelle, Shannon, Shila, Paige, Hayley, Mackenzie, Joanna, Sara, Devon
Middle row: Georgia, Kallie, Leah B, Brianna, Sydney, Robin, Cat, Leah P
Front row: Rachael, Maria, Kristin, Colleen, Zoe, Camila, Nikki, Natasha
M. 1 – 32 - Stand and sing
M. 33 – 40 - Look at each other (the people near you) and engage with each other
M. 42 – Back to facing front
M. 59 – 66 - (same as 33 – 40)
M. 67 – End - Stand and sing


WINTER
Telling a really expressive story, put that in your face :-) Make a lot of the sound effects and slides.
M Formation (Zoe at the centre of the M in front of Christina), not too tight together, slightly tilted towards Christina.
No movement 







NORTHERN LIGHTS
Special U Formation – no movement 



TABULA RASA
Sense of wonder, warmth, love and amazement.
Sop 2 & Altos in a U, Sop 1s in a line behind. No Movement 

*********************************************************************
Notes from last week with updates (anything in blue is new)


Kiurun Tie (NEW VIDEO)
Everything in this piece is incredibly light on your feet & birdlike. Quiet parts are, “I have a secret! Woo!” Louder sections are, “Whee!!!! I’m a bird!!! It’s so exciting to fly!!!!”
Begin in a standard U formation
M. 5 – move to a two line formation with windows, by section (rows will be posted by Claire this week) Connect with each other as you move.
Back row: Shannon, Georgia, Maria, Kristin, Shila, Hayley, Paige, Sydney, Mackenzie, Robin, Natasha, Sara
Front row: Nelle, Rachael, Kallie, Brianna, Colleen, Zoe, Leah B, Camila, Joanna, Cat, Leah P, Nikki
M. 17 to 24 – lines switch places on beat one of each measure until measure 24 inclusive (to move backward, right shoulder goes back; to move forward, left shoulder comes forward) Step on beat 1, feet together on beat 3. Be very quiet when stepping – put more weight on your toes than on your heels.
M. 25 – no movement until end of M. 29
M. 30 – 34 : Excitedly telling a secret
M. 30 – Lean forward on right foot (as though to tell an exciting secret to the audience) hands by sides, engaged
M. 32 – Look around at other singers
M. 33 – Bring head back to centre
M. 34 – Lean back to stand straight
M. 38 – Move back to standard U formation, drifting backward (no backs to audience Connect with each other as you move.). Steps not necessarily on the downbeats, but speeding up with Christina’s accel.  in place by downbeat of M. 41
M. 42 – 61 Stand and sing
M. 62 – Move back to two line formation, in place by M. 65 Connect with each other as you move.
M. 65 – 69 Stand and sing
M. 70 – 85 inclusive – Line switching, the same as M. 17 – 24
M. 86 – Stand and sing until the end of the piece



Pseudo-Yoik Lite (NEW VIDEO)
This song is all about connection with each other, community building, fun and playfulness. In general, more connection with each other.
Beginning Formation: Mixed scattered, but still in parts
M. 1 – 14 Stand and sing
M. 15 – 22 – Tiny (SILENT) steps and lean forward as so:
            M. 15 Beat 1
            M. 16 Beat 1
            M. 17 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 18 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 19 Beat 1
            M. 20 Beat 1
            M. 21 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 22 Beat 1 & 3 (step together)

M. 23 – 30 – Sop 1s & Alto 2s glide to Stage Left and form a clump; Sop 2s & Alto 1s glide to Stage Right and form a clump 75%
 M. 31 – 45 – Stand and sing (because you are separate on the stage, be aware of the tempo) A bit more loose in your bodies, and connect with one another.
M. 46 – 53 – Steps forward toward the centre (same beats as M. 15) Make sure you are ready for this.
M. 54 – 57 – Return to beginning positions (Mixed Scattered)
M. 58 – 71 – Stand and sing
M. 72 – 79 – Steps forward (M. 76 – 79 Step forward standing tall)
M. 80 – End – Stand and sing



Pakkanen (New Video)
This is the song we sing at the beginning of the XYE show
Part 5: Make your chest hits a standard size (about a foot out from your chest)
Starting positions : Callers in front, Soloists behind them (Kristin & Shila closer to the front. Everyone else (in straight lines) lining the sides facing inward. Lines will potentially be on different sides from where you were during recording. We will solidify those sides next week.
SL Line (front to back): Shannon, Maria, Brianna, Colleen, Paige, Leah P, Devon, Georgia, Nelle
SR Line (front to back): Joanna, Leah B, Camila, Sydney, Robin, Mackenzie, Sara, Natasha, Hayley, Zoe
M. 1 – 15 Stand and sing
A – Move to these places : Melody in the middle, everyone else in a U around them.  (Lines move in to meet in the centre)
M. 16 – 43 – Stand and sing
B1 – Centre group step forward to make a row in the front (plus the two people on each end of the U). Everyone else step forward to create a second row. Interact with each other during this section.
A3 – Snap to face front
A3 – B2 Stand and sing
B2 – Move back to a U – melody people are in the centre of the U (Kristin stay forward) interact with each other as you go
M. 67 – On the held “Oh”, turn to the middle of the U
C1 – Stand and listen to Kristin’s glory
M. 72 – Tiny steps toward the centre, not on the beat
C2 – Snap forward, tiny steps toward the front on the beat
D1 – Drift into a more spread out mixed scattered formation, stand and sing to the end of the piece
M. 97 – Snap forward & stop chest slapping



Here on These Branches (NEW VIDEO)
Beginning formation:
CLUMPS : Sop 1s in the middle, Sop 2s Stage Right, Alto 2s Stage Left, Alto 1s split in two groups and join the Sop 2s & Alto 2s
M. 1 – 21 : Doon Doon Pattern #1: Dragonfly hands with right hand (up, across to the left, across to the right, back down) Be sure to follow with your eyes (face forward on M. 9, and again on M. 23)
M. 25 onward – Sop 1s stand and sing
M. 29- Right hand dragonfly up
M. 31 – Left hand dragonfly up
M. 33 – Both hands up, choreo repeating until M. 56 (3 repetitions) SEE VIDEO FOR TWO-HANDED CHOREO
M. 57 Doon Doon Pattern #1 In the first rep after the two-handed version, the hands need to move slightly more quickly
M. 73 – Move to new formation (vaguely triangular), slightly mixed scattered in the centre of the space, but still in parts (Sop 1s step slightly forward; Alto 1s reunite behind the Sop 1s; Sop 2 & Alto 2 move in slightly) See photo for positions.
M. 86 & 87 Step forward starting on your right foot, on the downbeats (feet together on downbeat of M. 88)
M. 89 – Step and look right (SMALL step)
M. 91 – Circle back to face front, leaning forward and creating a circle with your body
M. 93 – Step and look left (SMALL step)
M. 95 – Circle back to face front
M. 96 – 100 Stand and sing
M. 101 – 107 – Right Hand Dragonfly up when your part comes in – down over the course of M. 107
M. 109 – Spread out to fill the whole space
M. 133 – Drift back to the central clump formation (see M. 73) More connection as you reunite (in the weird bird-woman cult!)
M. 141 – Repeat choreo from M. 89 (Lean and circle in)
M. 149 – 180 – Stand and sing, but look at each other and connect (BIRD WOMAN CULT!!)
M. 181 – Move to three row formation -
Back Row: Nelle(1), Maria(1), Georgia (2), Shila(1), Paige (2), Sydney(1), Joanna(2), Sara(1), Natasha(2)
Middle Row: Shannon(3), Rachael(4), Brianna(3), Zoe(4), Leah B(3), Robin(4), Cat(3), Nikki(4)
Front Row: Kallie(5), Kristin(6), Colleen(5), Hayley(6), Mackenzie(5), Camila(6), Devon(5), Leah P(6)
Once the repeats start in M. 201, start counting reps – Imagine you are in a beautiful forest! Please have a gentle pulse in your body through this section, but not too much!
#1 – sing 2 reps, turn on rep 3
#2 – sing 3 reps, turn on rep 4
#3 – sing 4 reps, turn on rep 5
#4 – sing 5 reps, turn on rep 6
#5 – sing 6 reps, turn on rep 7
#6 – sing 7 reps, sing 8th rep while turning, Kristin sings 9th rep alone (still facing forward)

When the applause begins, turn inward (follow Paige and Sydney’s lead)

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Notes for Sun Dec 7!

Hi everyone!

It's hard to believe it, but it's our last rehearsal of 2014 this Sunday! Thank you all of you for your excellent wreath-selling skills, and for making the wreaths look beautiful on Saturday! Mega enormous gigantic THANK YOU to Tenille for coordinating the wreath fundraiser and dealing with all the last minute changes - we are so grateful for all your hard work and love for Xara!!!

We are going to spend the rehearsal getting our sets ready for our December 13th performance.

Please review Erin's excellent blog post that goes over the choreography for Pseudo-Yoik Lite, Here on these branches (partial), Pakkanen, and Kiurun Tie. This is especially crucial for those who missed rehearsal on Sunday. Further choreography notes for Here on these branches will be coming from me later this week.

Just so you are aware, the movement plans for the remaining pieces are as follows:
Formation only, no choreography: Winter, Northern Lights, Tabula Rasa
Light, simple choreography: Snow, Songbird

Dec 13
Please continue to spread the word about our Dec 13 show! We need to sell all 80 seats for the CD pre-launch part of the evening. It will help us out so much if you can share the Facebook event and tweet about it/retweet anything you see from us on Twitter about the event! We need to spread the word as much as possible and you are Xara's greatest ambassadors!!! The link to purchase tickets is here.

Clothing
For the December 13th performance, you will be wearing tunics, boots, leggings. Hair can be down or up but must be off your face including bangs.

Black Xara Dresses Needed!
For XYE's performance, The Secret Lantern, we need the singers to wear long black skirts/dresses. Could all singers with a black Xara dress bring it to rehearsal on Sunday? Please make sure that the dress is labelled with your name - we recommend safety pinning a little tag to the inside of the dress. Tape will likely just fall off. We will be able to return them to you following the performance.

Returning Singers Poll
I posted a link to a very brief form that will let us know if you are intending to continue singing with us in January (we hope so!) Please fill this form out no later than this Saturday! To fill out the form, click here.

Holiday Party!
Sunday December 14 is our holiday party!!!! Wheee!! We typically start around regular rehearsal time at 1 or 1:30. It's a snack potluck so please bring something yummy to eat or drink! And we also do a super fun Secret Santa - bring a wrapped present, no more than $10, and we will take it from there!

We are in need of someone to host this year's holiday party - Christina lives 30 minutes outside the city and my one-bedroom apartment is too tiny! If anyone has enough space and is willing to host, please let us know!


Monday, December 1, 2014

Erin's Notes from Nov. 30th

NOTES from NOVEMBER 30TH

December 13th Information
FYI – we will be having a full CD launch event when the physical CD is available (target is around the end of February), the price will be significantly lower than the Dec. 13th event. If you have thoughts about how this event could be shaped, be in touch with Claire, Christina or Tenille.
6:30 – 7:30 CD Pre-Launch (Xara performs 2 sets)
§  We will be performing in the rotunda lobby space.
§  This will be a catered event with a cash bar, some standard seating and some cocktail tables with chairs. 80 seats only.
§  Ticket prices are higher for this event because of the exclusivity of the event, the fact that it is catered etc.
§  Christina & Claire will talk about the recording
§  We will show Denique’s “Making Of” video
§  Anyone who pre-orders the CD (either at the event or online) will receive a link via email to immediately download Here on These Branches.
§  There will hopefully be potential sponsors at the event, as well as friends and family
7:30 – 8:00 Lobby schmoozing & doors open for The Secret Lantern
8:00 – Secret Lantern begins
Xara sings an opening number that leads into the beginning of Secret Lantern
8:45 – Secret Lantern ends
Xara will be in the lobby singing as the audience exits

Rehearsal Notes

VIDEO 
Kiurun Tieeverything in this piece is incredibly light on your feet & birdlike. Quiet parts are, “I have a secret! Woo!” Louder sections are, “Whee!!!! I’m a bird!!! It’s so exciting to fly!!!!”
Begin in a standard U formation
M. 5 – move to a two line formation with windows, by section (rows will be posted by Claire this week)
M. 17 to 24 – lines switch places on beat one of each measure until measure 24 inclusive (to move backward, right shoulder goes back; to move forward, left shoulder comes forward) Step on beat 1, feet together on beat 3
M. 25 – no movement until end of M. 29
M. 30 – 34 : Excitedly telling a secret
M. 30 – Lean forward on right foot (as though to tell an exciting secret to the audience) hands by sides, engaged
M. 32 – Look around at other singers
M. 33 – Bring head back to centre
M. 34 – Lean back to stand straight
M. 38 – Move back to standard U formation, drifting backward (no backs to audience). Steps not necessarily on the downbeats, but speeding up with Christina’s accel.  in place by downbeat of M. 41
M. 42 – 61 Stand and sing
M. 62 – Move back to two line formation, in place by M. 65
M. 65 – 69 Stand and sing
M. 70 – 85 inclusive – Line switching, the same as M. 17 – 24
M. 86 – Stand and sing until the end of the piece

VIDEO - Doon Doon Pattern #1

Here on These Branches
Beginning formation:
CLUMPS : Sop 1s in the middle, Sop 2s Stage Right, Alto 2s Stage Left, Alto 1s split in two groups and join the Sop 2s & Alto 2s
M. 1 – 21 : Doon Doon Pattern #1: Dragonfly hands with right hand (up, across to the left, across to the right, back down) Be sure to follow with your eyes (face forward on M. 9, and again on M. 23)
M. 25 onward – Sop 1s stand and sing
M. 29- Right hand dragonfly up
M. 31 – Left hand dragonfly up
M. 33 – Both hands up, choreo TBA repeating until M. 56 (3 repetitions)
M. 57 Doon Doon Pattern #1
M. 73 – Move to new formation (vaguely triangular), slightly mixed scattered in the centre of the space, but still in parts (Sop 1s step slightly forward; Alto 1s reunite behind the Sop 1s; Sop 2 & Alto 2 move in slightly) See photo for positions.


M. 86 & 87 Step forward starting on your right foot, on the downbeats (feet together on downbeat of M. 88)
M. 89 – Step and look right (SMALL step)
M. 91 – Circle back to face front, leaning forward and creating a circle with your body
M. 93 – Step and look left (SMALL step)
M. 95 – Circle back to face front
M. 96 – 100 Stand and sing
M. 101 – 107 – TBA on the VLOG
M. 109 – Spread out to fill the whole space
M. 133 – Drift back to the central clump formation (see M. 73)
M. 141 – Repeat choreo from M. 89
M. 149 – 180 – TBA on the VLOG
M. 181 – Move to three row formation
Back Row: Nelle(1), Maria(1), Georgia (2), Shila(1), Paige (2), Sydney(1), Joanna(2), Sara(1), Natasha(2)
Middle Row: Shannon(3), Rachael(4), Brianna(3), Zoe(4), Leah B(3), Robin(4), Cat(3), Nikki(4)
Front Row: Kallie(5), Kristin(6), Colleen(5), Hayley(6), Mackenzie(5), Camila(6), Devon(5), Leah P(6)
Once the repeats start in M. 201, start counting reps – Imagine you are in a beautiful forest!
#1 – sing 2 reps, turn on rep 3
#2 – sing 3 reps, turn on rep 4
#3 – sing 4 reps, turn on rep 5
#4 – sing 5 reps, turn on rep 6
#5 – sing 6 reps, turn on rep 7
#6 – sing 7 reps, sing 8th rep while turning, Kristin sings 9th rep alone (still facing forward)

VIDEO
Pseudo-Yoik Lite – This song is all about connection with each other, community building, fun and playfulness
Beginning Formation: Mixed scattered, but still in parts
M. 1 – 14 Stand and sing
M. 15 – 22 – Tiny (SILENT) steps and lean forward as so:
            M. 15 Beat 1
            M. 16 Beat 1
            M. 17 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 18 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 19 Beat 1
            M. 20 Beat 1
            M. 21 Beat 1 & 3
            M. 22 Beat 1 & 3 (step together)

M. 23 – 30 – Sop 1s & Alto 2s glide to Stage Left and form a clump; Sop 2s & Alto 1s glide to Stage Right and form a clump
 M. 31 – 45 – Stand and sing (because you are separate on the stage, be aware of the tempo)
M. 46 – 53 – Steps forward toward the centre (same beats as M. 15)
M. 54 – 57 – Return to beginning positions (Mixed Scattered)
M. 58 – 71 – Stand and sing
M. 72 – 79 – Steps forward (M. 76 – 79 Step forward standing tall)
M. 80 – End – Stand and sing

VIDEO - Kristin's Solo Section
VIDEO - Last Page
PakkanenThis is the song we sing at the beginning of the XYE show

Part 5: Make your chest hits a standard size (about a foot out from your chest)
Starting positions : Callers in front, Soloists behind them (Kristin & Shila closer to the front. Everyone else (in straight lines) lining the sides facing inward. Lines will potentially be on different sides from where you were during recording. We will solidify those sides next week.
M. 1 – 15 Stand and sing
A – Move to these places : Melody in the middle, everyone else in a U around them.  (Lines move in to meet in the centre)
M. 16 – 43 – Stand and sing
B1 – Centre group step forward to make a row in the front (plus the two people on each end of the U). Everyone else step forward to create a second row. Interact with each other during this section.
A3 – Snap to face front
A3 – B2 Stand and sing
B2 – Move back to a U – melody people are in the centre of the U (Kristin stay forward) interact with each other as you go
M. 67 – On the held “Oh”, turn to the middle of the U
C1 – Stand and listen to Kristin’s glory
M. 72 – Tiny steps toward the centre, not on the beat
C2 – Snap forward, tiny steps toward the front on the beat
D1 – Drift into a more spread out mixed scattered formation, stand and sing to the end of the piece

M. 97 – Snap forward & stop chest slapping

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Details for Nov 29/30!

Hi everyone!!!

What an incredible weekend. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! Your focus, energy, and commitment to this project shone through at every moment. It has been an intense journey to get to this point, but we hope you all feel uplifted and proud of the beautiful music we made this past weekend. This CD is going to be absolutely magical and it is thanks to your dedication to the project and care for one another over the weekend that made it happen!! Now we get to celebrate and share this music with our audiences!

Our next two rehearsals are dedicated to learning choreography for our December 13th performance. Here are the songs we will be singing. These must all be memorized.

Set 1
Snow
Winter
Northern Lights
Kiurun Tie

Set 2
Songbird
Tabula Rasa
Pseudo-Yoik Lite
Here on these branches

Opening for "The Secret Lantern"
Pakkanen

For this Sunday you need to have the following pieces memorized: Kiurun Tie, Pseudo-Yoik Lite, Here on these branches, Pakkanen. The other pieces will need to be memorized for our December 7th rehearsal.

This Sunday, we will be creating the image for the CD cover. Our concept is to use willow branches to create a beautiful object that will then be photographed. We are going to work together during the last hour of rehearsal to create the object!

Schedule for December 13th
As you know, December 13th is our big night to celebrate the CD being recorded and hype it up to our audiences. The CD will be available for pre-order that night and there will be a reception following our hour of singing prior to XYE's show The Secret Lantern. We are also using the opportunity to work in Alderney Landing Theatre to get footage for our newest promotional video with Journeyman Films. Here's how the scheduling will work for the day:

10am-12pm  Filming session with Journeyman Films
12pm-4:30pm Break/Off
4:30 pm  Soundcheck
5:30 pm  Backstage time
6:30 pm  Show

We will discuss in further detail at this Sunday's rehearsal. Reminder that tickets for this event are now available for purchase online and via phone: https://alderneylanding.ticketpro.ca/?lang=en&aff=alt#achat_ALT13LS14

Fundraising
This Saturday is our wreath decorating day (YAY!!!) from 9am-5pm at Edgewood-Oxford United Church, 3055 Connaught Ave. Please enter from the side door off the parking lot. We will be in the basement. Reminder that wreaths will be able to be picked up from 2-5pm. Please tell the people you have sold wreaths to about the pickup time! If any of your people cannot come to the church to pick up their wreaths, YOU are responsible to take them home and deliver them. We cannot store ANY wreaths.

If you have friends or partners who want to come and help out, please bring them along! There are a lot of wreaths to decorate and we need to make sure we get it all done (go team!!) Any additional wreath related questions should be directed to Tenille.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

CD WEEKEND IS HERE!!!

Hi everyone,

It's finally here!!! Our big weekend!!! We are so excited and we know that we are going to have a great experience and create something beautiful!!

Thursday Nov 20th
  • Dress rehearsal
    • 6:30-9:00pm
    • Location: Dalhousie Arts Centre, Room 121 (see Christina's Facebook post)
    • Plan: Do a run of everything, especially the pieces we didn't get to on Sunday
Friday Nov 21st
  • Recording Day 1
    • 6:00pm-9:00pm
    • Location: St Anselm's - 7037 -7 Highway, West Chezzetcook
    • Please come with a bag supper you can eat in the car, or with lots of snacks for yourself
Saturday Nov 22nd
  • Recording Day 2
    • 9:30am-5:30pm
    • Location: St Anselm's - 7037 -7 Highway, West Chezzetcook
    • Lunch will be provided by the Xara organization
    • Soprano 1s are on snack duty
Sunday Nov 23rd
  • Recording Day 3
    • 1:00pm-8:00 pm
    • Location: St Anselm's - 7037 -7 Highway, West Chezzetcook
    • Soprano 2s & Alto 1s will bring a potluck supper on Sunday
    • Alto 2s are on snack duty

Recording Etiquette
As I said on Sunday, the recording process is different than anything else in the music world. Beginning on Friday night, even my "ears" are not in charge - that role gets turned over to our producer, Jeff Reilly. So, in order to ensure we maximize our time, these are the "rules" of recording etiquette. I'm going to have to be fierce about enforcing them since our ultimate success is very tied to staying on schedule and to only one person steering the session.

  1. Questions: No matter what you hear or what concerns you have about how the music goes with each take, there are to be no questions. At all. Trust that Jeff is listening to everything, catching everything, and has a plan to ensure he gets what he needs to edit our work into a cohesive, fabulous track. The only time questions are okay are if Jeff or I ask for your feedback on how something felt. I know this goes against our norm, but recording is just entirely different from the rest of the world of music-making.
  2. Wait Times: There will be countless moments of waiting while Jeff listens back to things or has me come listen to things. At that time, please stretch, drink water, release stress, etc. However, DO NOT leave the room. There will be sufficient bathroom breaks, etc scheduled. The moment Jeff or I says we're back "on" you need to be there and ready to go. 
  3. Page Turns: Have the bottom corners of your pages folded over so you can turn pages as slowly and silently as possible.
  4. Physical Readiness: Wear layers, do everything in your power to be well-rested and healthy for each day, wear REALLY comfortable and supportive shoes.
  5. Strike a Balance: Recording can often make a choir become "stiff" as we are working hard for the perfect take. I am far less concerned with the perfect take (that's what editing is for) as I am with the "Xara feeling" living in each song. When we do full runs of a piece, we need to perform rather than just sing. So be ready to connect to the emotions, the ideas, and the passion for each piece. Any blips that happen will be dealt with by re-singing a few measures so they can be edited in.

Notes Re: Food

  • We have been told that the water at the church is safe to drink but doesn't taste very good. In that case, we advise bringing lots of your own water and we will provide some large jugs of water as well.
  • The kitchen is equipped with dishes, an oven, a microwave, and a fridge. 
  • Reminder that we only have an hour for each meal break so you should bring things for the potluck meal that will be relatively easy to assemble or heat up.


Other Details
  • Please dress in layers as we don't know how warm the church will be each day, although we have asked to have the heat left on throughout the day on Friday so that it is warm.
  • WREATH MONEY must be brought to Tenille not later than Sunday's session.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Erin's Notes from November 16

General Notes
ALL wreath money must be handed in to Tenille next weekend with a final count of how many wreaths you are ordering.
If you cannot attend the dress rehearsal on Thursday (6:30 – 9:00, location TBA), please let Christina, Claire and Erin know (don't rely on the Facebook poll to give us that information)
Bring your folder with you on Thursday.



Snowforms
·      Page 5, middle system last “measure” – everyone says the entire word “Akelrorak”, and you just stop on your note (but keep saying all the syllables of the word)
·      Page 3 middle system, alto entry – double check the entry note (there was a bit of wavering on it)
·      Page 4 middle system, alto entry – the “mm” starts on the D (not the G)

Songbird
·      Stagger breathe the whole piece – consider writing that at the top of each page J Endings are getting clipped. Where Christina has given breaks, don’t actually take a full breath
·      Altos, double check the number of “Come my way” repeats you have at the bottom of the first page
·      Measure 69 – No breath, but give the impressing that a new phrase has started
·      Sop 1s – page 5 – stronger entry please
·      Altos – page 6 – make the transition over the bar feel like a new phrase, even though you might not be breathing
·      Altos – page 12 – check the early entry of the high E (you are coming in late)

Northern Lights
·      Those of you who have some minor part changes, make sure you know where you switch and where you switch back!
·      Standing order for this has changed a bit:
o   Sop 1s special new order (Stage Right to Stage Left)
§  Nelle  Kristin   Shannon   Georgia   Kallie   Maria   Rachael
o   Second Row  (Stage Right to Stage Left) :
§  Claire   Hayley   Paige   Zoe   Mackenzie   Tenille   Robin  Natasha   Sara   Krystal
o   Front Row (Stage Right to Stage Left) :
§  Brianna   Colleen   Shila    LeahB   Sydney   Camila   Joanna   Nikki   LeahP   Devon   Cat
·      More Alto 2 at letter D
·      Everyone please note the crescendo in the last two measures of D
·      No breath for Alto 2 & Sop 1 in the last measure at the bottom of page 5 (measure 59 into 60)
·      Sop 2 - Top of page 6, we have scaled all of the dynamics UP by one level (pp by the very end of the last measure)


Lullaby
This piece seems to need the most work – check your entries in terms of timing and notes

Winter
Great work on the final measure! J
Top of page 8, bottom two parts need to back off and listen to the Sopranos more
Page 11, middle system, 4th measure (nightly sings) – EYES UP for the molto rit.


            

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Notes for ScotianAires + Logistics for Sunday, November 9th

Hi everyone!

Great work on Sunday - not only are we making great progress on the CD we are also off to a great start with our Christmas wreath sales!!!!! Whoo!!!

ScotianAires

Call time: 5pm
Location: Spatz Theatre at Citadel High School
Entrance: Please enter through the ground floor doors at the rear of the building (off of Ahern Ave.). The doors to the theatre are to the right once you enter (the big glassed in cafeteria is on the left)

Rep:
Be Like the Bird w/ XYE)
(walk offstage for XYE's two songs)
Songbird
I'll Give My Love an Apple
Pakkanen
(break)
One Voice (big closing number with XYE & ScotianAires)

Please refer to Erin's excellent notes and photos regarding standing order for each piece.

Dress: Full Xara outfit - black tunic, opaque black leggings, black boots
Hair: off your face, either down or up
Makeup: stage makeup (foundation, blush, lipstick, eyeliner, mascara)

You will have time before the show to get dressed and put on makeup if need be so you do not need to arrive in full dress.

Please bring a snack for yourself as we will be rehearsing over the dinner hour and we want y'all to be feeling good and well-fed!

Sunday Nov 9

Please note our special rehearsal time of 5:30-9:00pm this Sunday at St. Matthew's. We have an alternate time because the Canta Mara concert is taking place in the space that afternoon. If you would like to attend the concert, check out the event here.

Keep up those Christmas wreath sales!!!! 155 and counting!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

Erin's Notes - Nov. 3

Overall Note
The theme of the day was text painting – during your rehearsal time this week, really read the words to these pieces of music and find the meaning in the poetry that is used. Give much more attention to special words (think about alliteration and onomatopoeia!)
Snowforms
We did a lot of work today on text colour – refer to your notes as you rehearse to lock those in.
Songbird
In your personal rehearsal, please pay much more attention to variety in dynamics (write in if the dynamic goes up or down when there is a shift) and appropriate text stress.
Pseudo Yoik Lite
Check your nanas ;-)
Practice this piece with all of the extreme dynamic changes to get your muscle memory working for you.
Snow
Christina really will post her score this week so that you can mark in the groups of two and three.
Here on These Branches
·      Only breathe when there is a period/question mark. NEVER breathe other than at a period/question marks. Christina gave you all the exceptions during rehearsal today.
·      Commas are acknowledged by a lift in the sound, but no breath.
·      Don’t sing through a rest J
·      You can back off on the diction a little bit, particularly with the “t” sounds
·      A little less Alto 2 throughout this piece (more buoyant/bubbly in nature)
·      Look at your individual line at the end of the piece to make sure you are tuning your intervals properly – use a piano of some sort
Heaven Will Rise
Sounding good. Continue to check the key changes.



ScotianAires Information
Soundcheck is at 5pm at Citadel High, please email Erin if you are unable to make it for 5pm. Bring all of your music with you, in case a moment occurs at the After Glow! If you have to leave immediately after the show, that is fine too.

Be Like the Bird
3 part split – mixed scattered but in sections (with XYE)
*split in the centre & exit to both sides of the stage*

Songbird
3 straight rows, spread wide to leave windows

Apple
Regular U formation

Pakkanen
Mostly in recording order, but with a couple of changes for height reasons (Nelle & Georgia in the back)

One Voice
Likely mixed scattered with XYE in front of the ScotianAires (on risers)