Rehearsal Notes - January 12 - Andromeda & Lyra

I mostly focused on your positions in certain parts of these two sections. I will also be posting videos. :-)

ANDROMEDA – MUSIC NOTES

Illumina

Embody the tempo, don’t allow the slow movement to slow your singing.

Warrior

Leah, then Joanna, Kallie & Devon to start the piece. Everyone else in on “and I’m not proud of my address”

ANDROMEDA – MOVEMENT NOTES

See video from today for the reorientation of positions!

LYRA – MUSIC NOTES

Starborn

Practice getting your final note from anywhere in the fragment that you are generally singing at the end of the piece.

Extend the fermatas.

Christina will give a big prep and then a cue for the final chord.

LYRA – MOVEMENT NOTES

Opening

See image for starting positions

Pseudo Yoik Lite

All movement as before

Traveling Movement Score

In 4-part split, create a pinwheel around the centre. The 9 Muses create the centre of the rotation. After one full rotation, split off into your opening positions.

From Ash You Rise

All movement remains the same, but the orientation has shifted. Team Orpheus will be facing East, and team Eurydice will be facing West. See diagram for which team you are on.

UPDATED Rehearsal Notes – October 27

Rehearsal Notes – October 27

Theme of the Day: Pharyngeal Space Makes Better Blended Vowels and Tone Quality!

 

I took video of most of the pieces we rehearsed today. They are taking a while to upload, so I will update this post when they are ready.

Here is Warrior to start with.

Aglepta

Illumina le tenebre

I himmelen

Ave Maria transition

Christmas Wreaths!

·      Please use the form that Tenille posted on Facebook to track the wreaths that you sell.

·      Deadline for orders & money is Sunday November 24^th.

·      Decorating (all day) and Pick Up (2-5pm) on November 30^th, there will be a bake sale put on by the board during the pick up time.

·      Location TBA.

·      Goal is 10 wreaths per person.

·      Price: $20 per decorated wreath; $15 for a plain wreath.

 

Warrior

o   Sing TO Andromeda, don’t become her.

o   Double-check the places where we have decided to sing what is written and when we have decided to follow the recording.

o   Also double-check the feeling for each verse

o   In the last chorus, make sure the “T”s are plosive at the end of “fight”

Warrior Movement

At the end of Illumina, hands can relax by sides

A – B: Stand one at a time in the opposite order from Illumina le tenebre (See notes from Oct 20^th for the order)

B: Zoe and Kristin stand and help Paige up by the elbows; Tenille begins walking forward to stand behind and to the left of Paige (in place by the beginning of the chorus)

C:

Step forward on beat 1 of the following measures, right foot first :

 37, 38 (then together); 40, 41 (then together); 42,43 (then together)

See video for reference J

Transition Information – For Nov. 3rd

Prologue/Polaris

Between I himmelan & Ave Maria:

·      Jenny moves forward and gives her line

·      Choir moves to U formation in proximity to Ave Maria positions (Nikki, Kristin & Krystal in the centre)

·      At the end of Krystal’s line, move to Ave Maria positions

Learn the note relationship between your last note of I himmelan and your first note of Ave Maria

Between Ave Maria & Magnificat:

·      Whisper as quietly as possible! Group 1: Ave Maria, ave maris stella; Group 2: Come to us Mary, O star of the sea; Group 3: Venez à nous Maria, étoile de la mer

·      On whispering, move to Magnificat positions in the aisles, build volume gradually to a very strong whisper

·      Stop as soon as Sara begins to sing

At the end of Magnificat, don’t move to the sides for the Nov 3^rd show (doesn’t make sense without lighting)

Andromeda

At the beginning of Royals:

-  Positions as normal, Emily, Nelle & Brianna out in front for their text

Between Royals & Aglepta

·      On pedal ‘F’ drift from the end of Royals to a tight U in standard order, around Cassiopeia & Andromeda.

·      Colleen & Sopranos speak on hummed pedal F once into position

Between Aglepta & Illumina le tenebre

·      No text

·      Move to seated positions during the opening of Illumina

Between Illumina le tenebre & Warrior

• ·      No text
• ·      Move to standing on first verse

Rehearsal Notes and Homework – October 20^th

Friday October 25^th

·      There are many artists involved, we will not be singing all the time. When we are, we are on a three song loop (I himmelen, Illumina, Aglepta). Arrive at 5:30 for a 5:45 sound check.

·      Short dresses, leggings, and boots (which will be provided at the Museum) Hair off the face, look good.

·      Doors open at 7pm. We will perform from 7:35 – 8:45, we will be sharing the space with another group (we won’t be singing the entire time) 9:20 – 10:30 is another performance slot for us. DJ & dance from 10:30 onwards.

·       

Aglepta – Movement

This song is the spell that the nymphs cast on Andromeda.

**Transposed down a semi-tone (altos keep to the higher octave) – don’t practice with the recording!**

**On the Alto melody (2^nd system, 1^st page) – 4 reps, and at the end Sopranos will hold the A-flat for a beat or two, Sop 2s will cut off with the Altos.**

**PLEASE make sure you are singing a pure Ah vowel, not an Uh J **

·      On pedal ‘F’ drift from the end of Royals to a tight U in standard order, around Cassiopeia & Andromeda

·      On Sop 2 “Ah-Ah’s” (4 reps) drift slowly backwards to standard U formation (in place by  the “Glaria” at the bottom of the page)

·      Top of page 2: 4 slow unison steps in towards the centre

·      PT (3^rd system) telling rumours to one another

·      Tone cluster (4^th system) – once everyone is singing, lean in with right foot and ‘push’ Paige down with both hands. Lean back to normal standing when Christina fades out your voice (the four who continue will lean back when Christina gets to them but keep singing)

·      Aglaria: Drift backwards to standard U

Illumina – Movement

Transformation from evil nymphs to having a connection with Andromeda.

Sitting for the entire piece, very slow upper body choreography

Order for sitting down (come down to knees, sit on left hip, slide both feet to the right), this will take from the first measure up to measure 8 (page 2, second system): #1-10 fill in the centre of the stage. Start moving when the person before you is about two thirds of the way through sitting down.

1.     Kristin

2.     Zoe

3.     Jenny

4.     Shannon

5.     Emily

6.     Robin

7.     Hayley

8.     Jordyn

9.     Nikki

10. Nelle

11. Leah

12. Devon

13. Brianna

14. Sarah

15. Joanna

16. Kallie

17. Mackenzie

18. Krystal

19. Colleen

20. Sara

Make all movements last over the given measures.

Measure 8, 9, 10 Dammi una fede retta speranza certa

Right shoulder lift, and then reach out with right hand over the right knee, look over your fingertips. Left hand remains on your left thigh.

Measure 11 & 12 Carita perfetta

Left hand reaches across, grab right wrist

Measure 13, 14, 15 E umilta profonda

Left hand pulls both hands down to your lap (centre)

Measure 16 & 17 Dammi signore

Bring your left hand to the floor beside your left hip, weight shifts slightly left

Measure 18 – 25 Senno e discernimento […] e santa volunta

Right hand comes out to meet the left hand, draw a circle around to the right-hand side, mid shin. Hover above the floor rather than touching it.

Measure 25 – 30 Dammi Signore senno e discernimento

Right hand to heart, look up to the balcony

Measure 30 – 33 Per compiere […] volunta

Left hand comes to meet the right.

Measure 34 – 40 O alto […] cuore mio

Both hands down to the floor on either side

Measure 41 – 44 O alto […] illumina

Rise to knees, hands by sides

Measure 45 (pick up) – End Illumina […]

Hands rotate to face forward, sink to sitting on knees, arrive by “mi-“, hands remain facing forward

Rehearsal Notes and Homework - Sept 22

September 22 2013

Homework

• There have been a significant number of changes to dates and repertoire for various events that are coming up. Please be sure to check the Google Calendar in order to double-check all of those dates.
• Write Sara’s words in the Magnificat onto your line so you know what is coming. Refer to the youtube recording of Xara performing this piece to get a good feel for it. Christina will post a recording of the Latin pronunciation.
• If you were absent, please make sure to get the phrasing notes for Illumina le tenebre
• Memorize I himmelen for next week (Sept 29). View Claire’s video of the movement.

Rehearsal Notes

On Vepsian Pathways and Vem kan segla have both been cut from this show. Pakkanen has been added. There have been some minor changes to the running order, more information to come.

Ave Maria

Sop 1a please join Sop 1b the first time at A

Sopranos please be sure that your timing is exactly lined up with the pulse underneath.

Focus on becoming familiar with the structure of the piece (repeats, second endings) so that you are less dependant on the score.

Movement – notes in green are a repeat of a previous week’s movement notes (red are additions).

See standing positions in the seating order post on the blog!

A  & B– each action happens on the downbeat of the bar (even if you aren’t singing yet). Keep tension in hands and shoulders

-       Right hand forward     

-       Left hand forward

-       Cross arms to chest (pull in with shoulders) Part A shift weight slightly and turn towards right foot, Part B to left foot

-       Release arms down to the sides

On the first ending:

-       Left hand drops on the rest after “Maria” & Right hand stays in place for the downbeat at the repeat of A re-articulate with the right hand on the downbeat

C – Reach forward with right hand, small step forward on the downbeat and hold for the bar in the following sequence (repeat movement on repeat):

M17 Sop 2

M18 Sop 1

M19 Sop 3

M20 Alto 1

M21 Alto 2

M22 Alto 3

M23 nobody moves

D – Two bar sequences this time (start with the right hand reach and step, then step and pull back in pain) in the same order as above.

This means that there will be no movement at all on measure 31 (Alto 3s will be ending their movement on measure 30)

E – Repeat of D

F – All movements at the same time. Exactly the same on the repeat (straight out of the reach in measure 47 into the downward reach at measure 40)

M40 Hands down and turn to the right

M41 Both hands up and turn to the right

M42 Hands down to sides

M43 Three shoulder pushes, lean back slightly (Right-Left-Right)

M44 Turn to face front (MMA to face Christina)

M45 Two shoulder pushes (Right-Left)

First ending:

M46 Stay still

M47 Two shoulder pushes (R-L) and then a reach forward with Right Hand and step with Left Hand

Second ending: TBD

G & H – Exactly the same movement as letters A & B

Magnificat

Check the seating chart post for confirmation of which part you sing in this piece.

Starting on page 5, your “prayers” are in your own time, and you go through them only once.

 

Illumina le tenebre

When rehearsing, please observe the phrasing we went over in rehearsal.

Aglepta

Casting a spell over Andromeda

Use recording as reference