Rudsamblog

Geographical Fugue – still haven't really nailed this but it's improving. Remember to look ahead to prepare for what's coming.
If I fall in love … need to be absolutely precise in middle section.

Main Rehearsal:

Douglas did the warming up tonight. I think he was right - Hey Mr Miller was good fun but not EVERY week!

Hide and Seek:
Page 12: quartet is Kay, Susan, Natasha and Chris.
Jenny and Natalie should both learn the alto solo.
AnnaLauren and Claire1 are the sop soloists. They know who does which bit – I don't!

Ollie will give us ONE bar in.
(Very) Odd notes I took at the time:
Bring out the melody – "melody" is written in tiny letters above the part who has it.
Make the vowel sound in "where" rounder, not as in "lair".
Sing through the phrases. Not too "poppy".
Again, try to look ahead, legato where it should be, don't be put off by syncopation.

Tormis pieces:
We're singing them in this order –
7. Kiisu-miisu (Pussy-cat)
8. Laulda teile lauluke (To sing you a little song)
3. Taevased kosilased (The Heavenly Suitors)
9. Mis teil tehakse? (What are they doing?)

We practised gluing them together;
7 and 8 no problem (leave it to Anne!)
8 and 3: practised the join without the fermatas – wasn't as tricky as…..
3 and 10: where 2nd Sops need to make their C very clear as this is the note Tenors and Basses need. Sops and Altos need to pick their notes up from the T and B's Cs – sounds easier than it was.
Sops : I have made a version of no.3 on just two pages which means you don't have to turn over at all. I'll bring them along on Wednesday if anyone's interested.

O Magnum Mysterium - Victoria
It's the counting that gives us the most trouble.
Remember the dynamics – not too loud at the beginning.
Always prepare your Os in advance.
Alleluia is Ahlehluia, not Allayluia.
My notes just say "rah". I think this must be the "rah" in admirahbile and sacrahmentum (not ra as in rat).
Remember to aim for "ster" in mysterium.
Bar 53 (first 3/2 bar): cut "stum" a bit short and LOOK UP to get the new brisker speed from Ollie which starts at the beginning of that bar.

Envoi
("Well done, you're doing fine". Well, that's what he said).

Sops – look up at bar 37 so that it doesn't drag.
Bar 45 – f then decrescendo until it's p at bar 49.
It is starting to sound "amazing" – Robin wants to release clouds of butterflies.

En une seule fleur
"good …. not bad"
Homework – keep on working at the words so that we can sing them up to speed.
Bar 19 – "exuberantly" is what it says – needs to be legato but keep the speed up – this section should be faster but it tends to drag.

Dowland Psalm 38:
Ollie will give us D and 2 bars in.
V3 quartet: Susan, Anne, Chris and John
V8 quartet: AnnaLauren, Natalie, Ollie and Sebastian.
We sang the words to all the verses this week and it became very obvious that we must all learn the tune so that we don't have to read the notes as well as the words!
My notes say "round vowels" and then it's illegible.

Dowland Psalm 100 version 2:
2 bars in.
Tenors have the tune.
V3 quartet is Claire1, Anne, Robin and Thomas.

Notices:
Ollie will be at no.16 from 7pm on Monday for anyone who wants an extra sing.

Wednesday 2nd April: Anne has now confirmed we'll be at St Peter's Lutton Place – small group at 7, everyone else ready to sing at 7.45.
There won't be any break for refreshments - bring your own water and whatever else you want.

Thursday 3rd April: Portrait Gallery concert

Wednesday 9th April: this will be (mostly) a rehearsal of the Scottish pieces for the University gig.

Czech Visit:
Anne now has a note of all accommodation preferences so that's it! Travel to Susice on Thursday: the 4pm and 4.40pm buses go straight through with no changes so it would be better to wait for one of those and use the opportunity for a quick look at the sights of Prague if you're not going to get a chance on the way back. Otherwise it's the train and we don't need to book tickets. (Hope I've got that right Anne!)

# posted by rudsambass @ 3:25 pm