Notes from October 18th

Hey Ho! Nobody Home - Video (no blocking)

Road Map reminders:

-       Sing straight through to the first ending of letter D (verse 2)

-       Repeat Letter C

-       Sing verse 3 at Letter D

-       Repeat Letter C, jump to the Coda (the words are “made us all” with “all” only lasting only an eighth note). Solo 1 begins with the word “Now”.

-       Continue to Letter E and sing through to the end of the piece

Blocking - VIDEO

General notes:

-       when you are walking around, be sure to use all of the space, and be purposeful in your walking

-       think about who your character might be in the village (you’ve been suffering through storms, there is the ritual of lighting the fire etc.) and make that clear in the way that you move around. It’s fine as well for there to be small groups of two or three who always travel around together.

M. 1 – Letter B – Standing at the back of the stage,  mixed (men mostly together, near the centre) on platforms and on the floor.

Letter B – Lights come up, you stay where you are

M. 31 (and into Letter C) – Move forward and fill out the space

Letter C

“Soal a soal a soal cake” – look at each other

“Please good missus a soal cake” – STOP, snap to look at the audience

“an apple…” look at each other again, walk around : Alan move to downstage right and Jess to downstage, everyone else mill about until you get to the side & back of the stage by letter D.

Letter C (second time)

More walking about. End up on the other side of the stage

“Please good missus a soal cake” STOP, snap to look at the audience

Continue to mill – then be at the sides of the stage at Letter D – Sara, Katelyn, two XYE girls, Dorian, Neil and Omercan at the centre as a family unit.

Letter C (third time)

Walking!

“Please good missus a soal cake” STOP, snap to look at the audience

By the end of C, men will be clustered in the centre near the back, two descant groups in the front on either side of the fire (Solo1 downstage left, Solo2 downstage right), Sops fill the space on stage right, Altos fill the space on stage left. Don’t isolate the descant singers, but they are at the very front. YOU MUST BE HERE ON TIME :-) 

Letter E to the end – Stand and sing

Boadicea - VIDEO

Singers embody the forest. Make sure you move very smoothly from one formation to the other.

First page of music – XCTE drift onstage until you are just on the periphery (Sops Stage right, Altos stage left – leave space near the front of the stage for the men on either side)

M. 10 – Men enter (Tenors DownSR, Basses DownSL)

Letter A – (FOREST A) Spread out to sectional mixed scattered formation, but men stay near to each other and near the front.

M. 29 – 31 Move to FOREST B

Letter B – (FOREST B) Diagonal formation from USR to DSL. Men will be in the centre of the formation. Sopranos upstage, Altos downstage. Ariana will walk through this formation. See photos for standing order. 

M. 42 Move to FOREST C

Letter C – (FOREST C) Two lines (groups of 2 or 3) with a channel down the centre – Tenors & Sops SR (Tenors in front), Basses and Altos SL (Basses in front).

M. 54 Move to FOREST D

Letter D – (FOREST D) Three very close semicircles around Ariana who will be front and centre. See photos for standing order, the lines will meet in the centre.

M. 69 Move to FOREST E

Letter E – (FOREST E) Fade very slowly backward (Sops to USR corner, Altos to USL corner maintaining your positions; Tenors and Basses also drift back, staying toward the front of the group)

M. 89 – End – Sopranos and Altos slowly leave the stage, walking backward. After the final chord, Tenors and Basses fade back as well.

The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun

Pay attention to the unintuitive rhythms (e.g. page 4 “so deep”; page 5 “Paradise with me, awake…”

M. 52 – All Sops and Middles sing the top line

Hanget Soi

Use the tools that have been provided for diction and pronunciation :-) 


Videos : 
I See You
Don't Be Afraid

Notes for Sunday Oct 18

Hi everyone!

Thank you for a very productive rehearsal on Monday evening. We now have six pieces blocked and are charging ahead with the rest. As we noted at rehearsal, we are making great progress, but we are sliding backwards on pieces we memorized/blocked earlier in the process (Mountain Nights, Tundra etc). We NEED to make sure we are keeping everything perfect from week to week so that we do not slide backwards and use up rehearsal time on review. We totally believe that this is within all of your capabilities, and we know that if we all work together, we can make a beautiful and brilliant show! Don't be afraid to reach out to other singers if you need help - sectional parties are a great idea, Erin's blog posts are full of helpful information, and Christina and I are happy to answer questions as needed outside of rehearsal time. We try to give you as many resources as possible to help you - we want this show to be as sparkly and amazing as it can be!!

For this coming Sunday:

• Hey Ho! Nobody Home and Boadicea are to be memorized (music)
• We will be blocking the above two pieces on Sunday with the men.
• Please review the first four pages of the script in detail this week. While most of you do not have lines to learn, it is incredibly important that you become familiar with the narrator's text, especially when it comes to ***cue lines***. As we work through more of the detailed blocking, memorizing your cue lines for coming on/off stage, starting a new blocking action etc, becomes crucial. Step 1 is to become really familiar with the text and the shape of the story.
• You will receive the second half of the script on Sunday.

Schedule

1:15   Physical/Vocal Warmups (XCTE + men)

1:35  SATB Repertoire/Blocking

3:45  Break

4:00  Guest Speaker (tentative) AND/OR SSAA music/blocking rehearsal

Hey Ho! Solo Results

*note - we are cutting Verse 1 at Letter D

Letter D

• Verse 2 - Alan (Solo 1); Jess (Solo 2)
• Verse 3 - Sara J + 2 XYE singers (Solo 1); Dorian, Neil, Omercan (Solo 2)

Letter E

• Nikki, Colleen, Sarah N (Solo 1); Paige, Mackenzie, Sydney (Solo 2)

Additional Things

• I have posted a poll on the Facebook group surrounding a potential performance opportunity on Sat Oct 24. Please respond with your availability as soon as possible.
• XCTE fall fees are now overdue - please coordinate with Erin if you have not already spoken with her or submitted your tuition.
• Please review and sign your choir contract and submit to Erin if you have not yet done so.

Blocking Notes from October 12th

Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind (Ariana’s lonely song)  Video

Opening formation – open curtains

M. 8 – 16

“Blow blow thou winter wind” Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“Thou are not… because thou art not seen.” Stand and sing

“Although thy breath be rude” Lean back with the wind

M. 17 - 18 Cross to the other side of the stage, end mixed scattered.

M 20 -  Reach right hand, left hand, sweep hands across to the right, then left and allow that movement to carry you back to your original side, end in MIXED SCATTERED.

M 26-28 Peel back to the open curtain formation.

M. 29 - 36

“Freeze, freeze… “ Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“that does not bite… thy sting is not so sharp” Stand and sing

“As a friend remembered not” Lean back with the wind

M. 37 – 38 Sop 1s & Alto move backwards, Middles move forward, ending in mixed scattered formation

M. 40 Step back with right foot, lean right shoulder back – then Sop 1s & Altos push forward and step with their right foots while Middles reach forward with right hand and pull back. Return to MIXED SCATTERED

M. 44  Same as M. 17 (side to side cross, arms sweep up and cross back)

M. 51 Peel back the curtain

Tabula Rasa - Video

Beginning until the end of page 4:  Xara will be at the back of the stage, providing a backdrop for Ariana & Lucy. See photo for standing locations (Carolyn between Talisa and Jordyn)

Letter C – Come down off the platforms and fill the stage in mixed scattered by measure 53. Path TBD.

Letter D – M. 74 – Stand and sing

M. 75 – 82 Arms come up in a hug, sway one bar right, then rock back to centre. Lead with your right shoulder. Sense of comforting and keeping safe. See video.

M. 83 – 85 Gradually come to stillness and drop arms slowly to sides.

M. 86-87 Complete stillness

Don’t Be Afraid - Video

Remain offstage until measure 12. Then enter just enough that you can see Christina. Just on the periphery. Sing from here until Letter B.

Letter B – Enter a little more, remaining on the edges of the stage. ¾ turn toward Christina.

Letter D – Fill the space (spread around Ariana & Lucy, don’t be further toward the front of the stage than they are)

Letter E – Hold hands with your neighbour (Carolyn hold hands with Maria)

Letter F – Release hands and spread out to fill the space even more (it’s ok at this point to be further downstage than Ariana & Lucy)

Tundra Video 

Mountain Nights Beginning Lines: 

Notes from Oct 4 - Blocking

Again, many apologies about the lack of video / photos. Silly computer crash!! 

Tundra

Hallway #3 – At letter E

Hallway #4 – Midway through letter E (watch Christina for cue)

I See You

M. 1 – 10 Move from (off / side) stage to your mixed sitting location. You will sit there until measure 98, so make sure you are comfortable!

M. 9 – 24 – Passage of time, Ariana & Lucy’s friendship is just beginning. Slightly nervous, tentative feeling.

M. 25 – 40 – The friendship starts to build, curiosity and interest.

M. 41 – 48 – Altos are playing the voice of Lucy

M. 49 – 56 – Sopranos are playing the voice of Ariana

M. 56 – 98 – Increased happiness, playfulness, joy

M. 99 –107 – One by one, stand up and fill the space in mixed scattered formation. You can turn around to walk, no need to walk backwards.

Order of standing:

Alto 1b

Alto 1a

Sop 2b

Sop 2a

Sop 1b

Sop 1a

Alto 2s

Remain standing in these positions until the end of the piece.

Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind (Ariana’s lonely song)

Opening formation – open curtains  – Jordyn, Meghan & Leah P. will all be on stage left.

M. 8 – 16

“Blow blow thou winter wind” Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“Thou are not… because thou art not seen.” Stand and sing

“Although thy breath be rude” Lean back with the wind

M. 17 - 18 Cross to the other side of the stage, end mixed scattered.

M 20 -  Reach right hand, left hand, sweep hands across to the right, then left and allow that movement to carry you back to your original side, end in MIXED SCATTERED.

Tales of the Old North - Character Breakdown by Song

Hi everyone - this is a piece by piece listing of who sings which song, and when certain characters are onstage or offstage. Note that a couple of things are still marked TBA but we should be locking those down soon. Any questions, let me know!

Hey Ho! Nobody Home

• XCTE
• XYE
• men
• note: keep Rachael G in the back

Mountain Nights

• XCTE (no bear team)
• Katelyn (onstage but not singing)
• Bear Team (onstage but not singing)
• note: keep Rachael G in the back

Tundra

• XCTE (no bear team)
• Katelyn (onstage but not singing)
• Bear Team (onstage but not singing)
• no Rachael G? TBA

I See You

• XCTE
• Katelyn + Rachael G (both singing)

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind

• XCTE (bear team? TBA)
• Katelyn (onstage but not singing)
• no Rachael G

Tabula Rasa

• XCTE
• Katelyn (singing)
• Rachael G (onstage but not singing)
• no Leah P, no Colleen

Boadicea

• XCTE
• men
• Katelyn (onstage but not singing)
• no Rachael G
• no Leah P, no Colleen, no Tenille

Wind Soundscape

• XYE
• men
• XCTE (not singing, movement only)
• Katelyn (not singing)
• no Rachael G
• no Kallie
• maybe Leah P? TBA
• no Colleen, no Tenille

Ariana’s Lament

• XCTE
• Katelyn (onstage but not singing)
• no Rachael G

Don’t Be Afraid

• XCTE
• Katelyn & Rachael G (both singing)
• no Kallie

The Sky and the Sun and the Dawn

• XCTE
• Katelyn & Rachael G (both singing)
• no Kallie

Hanget Soi

• XCTE
• XYE
• Katelyn & Rachael G (onstage but not singing)
• note: keep Kallie in the back

Jul Jul

• XCTE
• XYE
• men
• Katelyn, Rachael G
• note: keep Kallie in the back

Notes for MONDAY Oct 12!

Hi everyone!

We hope you are having a great week and that you will enjoy your long weekend! :D Reminder that rehearsal this week is on MONDAY, Oct 12 from 6-9pm at St Matthew's. Here's the plan for Monday:

6:00  Physical Warmup
6:10  Vocal Warmup
6:20  Blocking
7:15  Music (Ariana's Lament memory check)
7:30  Break
7:40  Blocking/Run sections from first half of show

Reminder that for Monday you need to have the rest of Ariana's Lament as well as Don't Be Afraid memorized.

As you can see, it is a very heavy blocking rehearsal. We'll finish up Blow Blow, block Tabula Rasa, as well as Don't Be Afraid. In our last section of the evening we'll run Mountain Nights, Tundra, and I See You (music and blocking from memory please), as well as start to integrate some of the text. Reminder that our narrator Jennette White will be at rehearsal on Monday - please give her a warm welcome!

Reminders

• your tuition (or working out a tuition payment plan) was due last Sunday - please coordinate with Erin if you have not submitted it yet
• if you have not already done so, please sign and return your copy of the choir contract (for those missing on Sunday, we will have extra copies for you on Sunday)

Have a great week and we'll see you MONDAY!