Notes for Sunday Oct 4

Hi everyone!

We are excited to be back together this Sunday (Claire missed you!!!). Here's the plan:

Schedule:

1:15  Warmups
1:30  SATB Music
2:30  SSAA Music
3:45  Break
4:00  Blocking

This Sunday we will finish blocking Tundra, and start the blocking for I See You and Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind.

Memorization:

For this week, Tabula Rasa must be memorized. We have decided to split up the memorization schedule for Ariana's Lament. For this Sunday, please have the first and last pages of Ariana's Lament memorized. For October 12, the rest of the piece will have to be memorized. Remember that by now Mountain Nights, Tundra, I See You, and Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind are also all now from memory, so keep working on them so that we don't slide backwards on anything.

Pronunciation Guides:

On our Xara Soundcloud there are now pronunciation guides for both Hanget Soi and Tabula Rasa. Please note: there are some adjustments in the pronunciation for Tabula Rasa from what we sang on the recording last year - therefore EVERYONE must listen to the recording and make the appropriate changes. Also note that Christina expects everyone to continue working on the Hanget Soi pronunciation so we don't slide backwards on that either.

To access the Soundcloud visit www.soundcloud.com // username: xaraxingers@gmail.com // pass: xaraxingers

Narrator:

We are pleased to welcome actor/director/playwright Jennette White, who will be playing the role of Narrator for our show. Jennette was the Director of the Neptune Theatre School/Youth Performance Company for 18 years, has been the Artistic Director of the Alexander Keith's Brewery since 2000. She is a wonderful, generous artist and we are so pleased that she will be sharing her immense talent with us for this production! Jennette will be working with the text from the original folk tale as well as text that we have adapted for our show. She will be at our rehearsal on Monday October 12, and is very excited to meet everyone and get started!

Casting & Solo Assignments

Claire and I want to congratulate everyone who auditioned for these parts. As always, you each shone in your own way which makes our job difficult! Ultimately, we make our decisions based on whose approach and/or sound matches the role best. Thank you to everyone for trying out. We are so exited about the way this show is taking shape!

Hags: Leah P (Mara), Colleen (Cailleach), Tenille (Badb)

Wind: Hayley, Mackenzie, Brianna

Bear: Julia, Sarah Jean, Jess, Nikki, Carolyn

Queen/Schafer Solo: Kallie

Mountain Nights Solo: Sarah

Tundra Solos: Georgia (mm. 14-18), Rachael (mm. 38-40; mm. 50-54)

Tabula Rasa Solo: Georgia

Notes for Sunday September 27

Hi everyone!

Claire and I were really pleased with the progress we made on Sunday - things are sounding really great and the blocking is taking shape quickly. Thank you for your focus and, as ever, your dedication to excellence!

Here's the plan for this Sunday:

1:15  Welcome (men + women)
1:20  Guest presentation
2:20  SATB Rep rehearsal
3:00  Review memorized material and blocking (Mountain Nights, Tundra & Blow, Blow)
3:45  Break
4:00  SSAA Rep
5:00  Solo Auditions

Rehearsal Location
This week we are at BETHANY UNITED CHURCH (7171 Clinton Ave off the Armdale Roundabout). I'll post directions on Facebook!

Guest Speaker
Our guest presenter this week is Kim Vance, Executive Director of ARC International - an amazing network of people who facilitate strategic planning around LGBTQI issues and enhance access of global queer communities to UN mechanisms. As you know, our show connects to issues of identity, vulnerability, gender, and isolation so we wanted to offer you a chance to reflect on how these questions are being asked around the world, not just in our own region. In addition to Kim's amazing work, she is also an XYE Mom and plays in Samba Nova! She has been to several of our shows over the years.

Memorization Schedule
Reminder that Tundra and Blow, Blow are to be memorized for this Sunday. That also means that your blocking for Tundra needs to be from memory. In addition, please review/shore up your memory work for Mountain Nights and I See You. Alto 2s - please make sure that your entry notes are solid as a rock for the opening of Mountain Nights this week!!

Auditions
All remaining solos for the show (except Heigh Ho solos) will be auditioned this Sunday. Here is the list of pieces/solos:
Mountain Nights - final 4 measures
Tundra - mm. 14-18; mm. 38-40; mm. 50-54
Tabula Rasa - mm. 68-74

Please note that what I had previously said would be a solo in The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun (mm. 91-93) will just be the Sop 1s as a section.

Claire and I will post the results of this last Sunday's solo/acting auditions as soon as they are finalized.

Happy practicing and see you on Sunday!!

Rehearsal Notes from Sept 20th

SATB Notes

BOADICEA

·      Men – Change all hums to a nasal ooh (think of droning)

·      Women – Each time there is a tenuto or stacato at the end of a phrase, scoop up to it

·      Page 2 – dynamics are key! There should be a constant feeling of motion – either growing or receding

HEY HO! NOBODY HOME

There is no “S” at the end of nobody J

JUL JUL STRALANDE JUL

·      All men in unison throughout

·      Measure 17 – Sopranos & Altos only (two-part split, disregard the S1/2 indication)

·      Measure 33 – Three-part split for Sopranos and Altos

XARA Notes

HOMEWORK

·      Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind – to be memorized for next Sunday (Sept 27)

·      Tundra – to be memorized for next Sunday (Sept 27)

·      Altos, please review your entry notes for Mountain Nights

MOUNTAIN NIGHTS

·      Please make sure you rehearse this with movement, particularly to deal with the issue of keeping your tone steady while moving

·      When you are not mirroring Ariana’s movement, you are observing her

BLOW BLOW

·      Ellide “most jolly” (no stop between the two words)

·      Page 7 & 8 - Make sure you know where the accented consonants happen

TUNDRA

Auditions for Solo will be next week

·      Focus on diction when you practice this one.

·      Plan how you will approach the stagger breathing on the final page of music.

·      Note that measure 39 is a 5 beat measure, with the last eighth as a breath.

Movement: SEE VIDEO

Starting positions: Two lines (Sop 1 & Alto 1 in front; Sop 2 & Alto 2 in back) spread out across the back of the stage. Hold this positions until Letter C

Letter C: Become the castle

Letter D: Triangle behind Ariana

Notes for Sunday September 20

Hi everyone!

Great rehearsal this Sunday! It is exciting to see and hear parts of the show starting to come to life! Here's the plan for this Sunday (it's a busy one):

Schedule

1:15   Men's Sectional/Hag Auditions
1:45   Women Arrive & Warm up
2:00   SATB Music
3:15   Break - Queen Auditions
3:30   AGM
4:00   SSAA Music
5:00   Blocking 

Note that it will be men only from 1:15-2:00pm working on music with Christina. Claire will hold auditions for the hags (see notes below) from 1:15-1:45pm in either the gym or Sunday School room. Anyone who is not interested in auditioning for the hags should arrive at 1:45pm for the Xara-only warmup which will take place in the gym/Sunday School room.

Auditions

QUEEN - See Erin's notes: re what to prepare for this audition.

HAGS - These will be movement/text auditions. You can audition for one, or all three. The three hags are as follows to give you a sense of the characters of each:

Mara, the Sleep Hag - Crone/demon. She's the ugly scary one. Slumber and nightmares.

Sits on the chest of sleepers and strangles them with her long fingers or ropes.

Cailleach Bheur, the Weather Hag: Symbolizes winter harvest, destructive winter wind, and winter storms. Strong and powerful. Giant.

Babd, the Battle Hag: Can transform into crow but appears as a warrior woman. Strong. Female. Most beautiful of the three. Madame Death. "Phantom Queen" "A monster in female form" "Spectre"

Banshee-like battle cries which foresee the future of a battle or to tell who dies. Battle helper/brings confusion.

Claire will ask you to do a short movement improvisation for the role of Mara. She will provide a text to work with for the role of Cailleach Bheur, and a movement improvisation & text selection for the role of Babd.

Note: If you are unable to be present at rehearsal this Sunday to audition, but are interested in either the Queen or one of the hags, please let us know via email. We can arrange additional auditions before or after XYE rehearsal on Tuesday, Sept 22 as needed (location: Bethany United Church).

Memorization Schedule

We have had a little mix-up in the memorization schedule in terms of what was posted online VS what was said in rehearsal - our apologies! As per what Christina requested in rehearsal on Sunday, Mountain Nights & I See You need to be memorized for Sunday (not Tundra as stated on the blog). The memorization schedule blog post has been updated to reflect this change.

Notes from September 13th

HOMEWORK

• ·      Memorize Mountain Nights and I See You
• ·      Review Ariana’s Lament so that you don’t lose the work we did this week
• ·      If you want to audition for the solo in Ariana’s Lament, please prepare the last system of page 1 and the descending triplets at the top of page 5 (up to speed)

Music Notes

I SEE YOU

Measures 75 – 82 All parts, change “doo” to “doh” (back to “doo” at measure 83)

TABULA RASA

Page 4 – Solo lines will be sung as follows:

Soprano solo : Sop1A (Sop 1B stay on the Sop 1 line)

Alto solo : Alto 2A (Alto 2B say on Alto 2 line)

Movement Notes

Mountain Nights – see video (there will be some changes in exactly where people are standing)

Page 1

Stand and sing (three line U formation) – Ariana enters on the moving Alto line

Page 2

4^th measure (moving Alto line) form the triangle clump with Ariana at the apex. In place by the end of the moving Alto line

Page 3

First 2 measures : step forward on right foot and lean forward

Next 2 measures (Sop 1 entry) : look to the right (still leaning)

Next 2 measures (Sop 1 entry) : stand back up (still looking right)

Second system, second measure (when Sopranos start their pattern that moves up to a G) : begin walking behind Ariana, staying close together

Page 4

3^rd measure : left shoulder back, right foot step back (in time with the Alto moving eighths)

Last measure, top system : Fade quickly back to initial formation (in place before the fermata)

Notes for Sunday September 13

Hi everyone!

Thank you for an amazing retreat weekend. It was so wonderful to spend so much time getting to know one another, making music together, eating yummy food, and stretching! :) Now we get into our regular Sunday routine of rehearsals - we've got this week's schedule as well as some important info to share. Please make sure to review Erin's homework blog posts with all her notes regarding divisi. We don't want to have to spend more time going over the divisi in rehearsal if we can help it! Please also review the memorization schedule which was posted on the blog this week.

Plan for Sunday Sept 13

1:15  Warmups
1:35  Music
3:15  Break
3:30  Choir Handbook & Fundraising Discussion
3:50  Music
5:00  Blocking

Attendance & Fees

Reminder that any unavoidable known absences must be communicated to Erin, Claire, and Christina no later than Sunday, September 13th. Our email addresses are:

• Erin Gaudet: eringaudet06@gmail.com
• Claire Leger: claire.xara@gmail.com
• Christina Murray: conductor@xara.ca

Your choir fees are $150 for the year ($75 per term). These fees are due by Sunday September 27th. You can pay via cash or cheque made out to "Xara Choral Theatre", and all monies will be collected by Erin. If you'd like to work out a payment plan (paying in smaller instalments throughout the year) please speak with Erin directly to coordinate setting up a plan.

Reference Recordings

Christina has provided reference recordings for the following pieces so far: 

• Mountain Nights (Hegyi Ejszakak) - Kodaly
• Tundra - Gjeilo
• Ariana's Lament - Schafer
• I See You - Mika arr. Jen McMillan (this is the SATB version but we are singing the SSAA version)

You can download the recordings via this link: 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-PHAkmzRweCRkx6S3hBTXBUX2s&usp=sharing

Thanks everyone! As always feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the week! See you on Sunday!

Tenor/Bass Schedule - Tales of the Old North

All Sunday rehearsals to be held at St. Matthew's United Church, 1479 Barrington St., with the exception of Sept 27 & Oct 25 which will be held at Bethany United Church, 7171 Clinton Ave.

Tech/dress rehearsals/performances will take place at Alderney Landing Theatre, Dartmouth.

Sunday Sept 20 - 1:15-3:15 pm

Sunday Sept 27 - 1:15-2:30 pm

Sunday Oct 4 - 1:15-2:30 pm

Sunday Oct 18 - 1:15-3:45 pm

Sunday Oct 25 - 4:00-5:30 pm

Sunday Nov 1 - 1:15-2:45 pm

Sunday Nov 8 - 6:00-9:00 pm

Sunday Nov 15 - 1:15-5:30 pm

Saturday Nov 21 - 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday Nov 25 - 6:00-10:00 pm - Tech Rehearsal

Thursday Nov 26 - 6:00-10:00 pm - Dress Rehearsal

Friday Nov 27 - 6:00-10:00 pm - Show #1

Saturday Nov 28 - 1:00-10:00 pm - Shows #2 & #3

Any known schedule conflicts must be communicated to Claire, Christina, and Erin no later than Sunday Sept 27.

Tales of the Old North Memorization Schedule

Sunday Sept 20 - Hegyi Ejszakak & I See You

Sunday Sept 27 - Tundra & Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind

Sunday Oct 4 - Tabula Rasa & Ariana’s Lament

Monday Oct 12 - Don't Be Afraid

Sunday Oct 18 - Hey, Ho! Nobody’s Home, Boadicea

Sunday Oct 25 - The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun

Sunday Nov 1 - Hanget Soi & Jul, Jul

Notes from Saturday Sept 5th

Divisi and rehearsal seating order

4 or 8-part  split
Sarah	S1a
Kallie	S1a
Rachael D	S1a
Rachael G	S1b
Carolyn	S1b
Maria	S1b
Georgia	S1b
Leah B	S2a
Colleen	S2a
Brianna	S2a
Hayley	S2b
Paige	S2b
Sarah-Jean	S2b
Meghan	S2b
Mackenzie	A1a
Grace	A1a
Jordyn	A1a
Sydney	A1b
Joanna	A1b
Tenille	A1b
Nikki	A1b
Talisa	A2a
Jess	A2a
Sara	A2a
Krystal	A2b
Cat	A2b
Julia	A2b
Leah P	A2b

3 or 6-part split
Sarah	SopA
Kallie	SopA
Rachael D	SopA
Maria	SopA
Carolyn	SopA
Rachael G	SopB
Georgia	SopB
Colleen	SopB
Brianna	SopB
Leah B	MSA
Hayley	MSA
Paige	MSA
Sarah-Jean	MSA
Meghan	MSA
Mackenzie	MSB
Grace	MSB
Sydney	MSB
Joanna	MSB
Nikki	MSB
Tenille	AA
Jordyn	AA
Jess	AA
Sara	AA
Talisa	AB
Krystal	AB
Cat	AB
Julia	AB
Leah P	AB

MOUNTAIN NIGHTS

Divisi notes:

·      Pages 1, 2 & 5 – 3-part (6-part) split

·      Pages 3 & 4 – 4-part (8-part) split as follows :

-       top line : Sop 1a

-       second line : Sop 1b

-       third line : All Sop 2s

-       fourth line : All Alto 1s

-       fifth line : All Alto 2s

Music notes:

·      Pay close attention to the [a] vowel throughout this piece

·      Dynamics should be exactly as written (take note of places where crescendos/decrescendos exist and where they don’t)

·      Page 3 : Middle voices should create a sense of mystic fog

Context Notes

Page 1 & 2 – Cold mysterious night

Page 3 & 4 – Building danger of bear’s presence

Page 5 – The bear is actually a friend

Movement Notes

Page 1 & 2 (see photo for approximate positions)

Page 3 & 4 (see video)

Begin forming the triangle clump following Ariana.

Step forward on the right foot first, when the Sop 2 line begins.

Forward movement stops in the second measure of the second system.

On the decrescendo at the bottom of page 4, melt back into opening positions (slightly faster than the movement forward)

TABULA RASA

Divisi notes:

Note : A change has been made to the original A1-A2-A3 on page 3 and at measure 75. This should mean that no Alto has to jump between lines. Please make note of this change if it affects you.

·      Page 2 – Normal 4-part divisi

·      M. 13 - 19 Divisi :

o   Sop 1 & 2 as normal in a 4-part split

o   A1 – Mackenzie, Grace, Jordyn, Sydney Mackenzie, Grace, Sydney, Joanna, Nikki

o   A2 – Joanna, Nikki, Tenille, Talisa, Jess Tenille, Jordyn, Jess, Sara

o   A3 – Sara, Krystal, Julia, Cat, Leah P Talisa, Krystal, Cat, Julia, Leah P

·      Letter A – Normal 4-part divisi

·      Page 5 – is in a 6-part split

o   S1 – Sop A

o   S2 – Sop B

o   S3 – MS A

o   A1 – MS B (top: Meghan, Mackenzie, Grace, Jordyn; bottom: Sydney, Joanna, Nikki)  when this part splits, make sure to increase your volume to carry forward to the forte on the next page

o   A2 – Alto A

o   A3 – Alto B

·      Letter D – 4-part split

·      Measure 67 – 74 There will be a soloist, the other divisi are as written

·      Measure 75

o   Solo – Sop 1A (in a 4-part)

o   Sop 1 – Sop 1B (in a 4-part)

o   Sop 2 – Sop 2A

o   Sop 3 – Sop 2B

o   A1 – Mackenzie, Grace, Jordyn, Sydney Mackenzie, Grace, Sydney, Joanna, Nikki

o   A2 – Joanna, Nikki, Tenille, Talisa, Jess Tenille, Jordyn, Jess, Sara

o   A3 – Sara, Krystal, Julia, Cat, Leah P Talisa, Krystal, Cat, Julia, Leah P