Rudsamblog

Ollie pointed out we've got a real problem with attendance. With significant numbers of different people being absent at different rehearsals it becomes difficult to build up something musically coherent, so we're shooting ourselves in the foot basically. Having said that I will be away at a summer school the next two rehearsals, for which I apologize. All I can say is I think it's difficult for people to avoid the occasional professional commitment that requires travel out of town.

Short notes this week, as we mostly notebashed some new things.

First, "Margot Labourez les Vignes", a folky early French piece. We learned this by ear due to a shortage of copies. The pronunciation is early French, which apparently means the 'r' is rolled more with the tongue than in the back of the mouth.
"Trois" sounds like "tres", and the 'e' in 'ren' sounds I think like, well, like you would expect it to sound in English.

The idea for this piece will be to sing it in quartets, which should be by heart. We want to start doing this next week, so please for next week, learn the tune and first verse lyrics to Margot Labourez ... by heart.

*Chris has put the sheet music up on the skydrive:
http://cid-2ddf56b8fdf7c0b5.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Music/Autumn%2009
There is also an mp3 recording of it on the skydrive.

Secondly, Bettinis' "Dormi Jesu", which we sightsang all the way through. There's a recording of this on the skydrive as well.

If you have them, bring Dormi Jesu, Holy Thursday, This Marriage and the Komitas (the recent one, single page, lyrics in a script that looks like a cross between Cyrillic and Tamil marked as 'Grave, religioso').

1. MENS' SONG has been taken out of St.Giles programme

2. THUMA MINA/AKANAMANDLA
Ollie will give us an 'F' to start.
Men can improvise rythmically from the 2nd verse onwards in Thuma Mina (not women!).
The first piece runs straight into Akanamandla, sopranos leading us in on that. Listen carefully to sopranos for the beat.

3. GREEN FIR FOREST
pg.3 - Sops wait for Ollie to bring you in. Everyone look up at Ollie, watch to be brought in. Sops sing an 'oeu' sound where 'e' is written.
pg.2 - middle system, last note, 2nd verse - move on to the 'n' of 'shen' quickly - 'shennnnnn...'
pg.3 - bar 3 - dim on 'qin' (V1) but not on 'shen' (V2). Crescendo on 'shen' (V2).
Big breath for last system on the last page when singing 'mm...'

4. SFOGAVA CON LE STELLE
Look up for speed changes on pg2 esp around bar 25 (it gets quicker here) and bar 35.
Take a big breath bar 69 onwards.
Very bright at the beginning of pg2.
Bar 48 - ATBs carry on singing under sops
Will be standing in a mixed-up formation for the performance of this at St. Giles.

5. Small group sang STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

6. LADIES TORMIS
Be on the ball.
Otherwise fine.

7. LUX
Make the 'ca' of 'calida' on pg1 sound like 'car'
Will sing this at St. Giles

8. THE SPRINGTIME OF THE YEAR
Hold the dynamics back until pg2
Watch Ollie, especially in the last few bars.

Notices - 4pm start at St. Giles on Sunday. Normal performance dress.

WARM-UP - Row row row you boat with the lovely C2. Only confirmed for me that boys are rubbish.

TAKE MY HAND - watch for the crescendos etc. Look up at Ol as the timing is a bit funny and we want to add dynamics. It starts very quietly.

AFRICAN STUFF - we are singing it in F (I think)
Thuma- accompanying parts need to be quiet so we can hear the beauty of the sopranos ;-) Keep it bouncy though and aim for the down beat. We sing each verse twice
Akanamandla- one song runs straights into the next with C1 and Kay leading us in. They are setting the pace and will go quick! Also twice through each verse.
Both of these pieces need to be done with guts and we need to hear the basses very loudly.

DINDIRIN - sang it in Spanish and it didn't sound too dreadful! Keep a clear tone like in Sfogava. We discussed the language so ask Anne and John who had a Sonny and Cher moment if you don't know what you are doing.

TIMID GIRL (ladies only) - ARRRRGGGGHHHH! Watch Ol and don't just try and read the music as you will sound like a numpty. Sop 2s should keep in swingy. Sop 1 top p 28 prepare notes. DON'T PANIC.

BOY's SONG (no one has given me the title for this yet) - sounded lovely. Sing it cabaret stylee like Seb as it sounds very funny and brill.

SFOGAVA - It is inferMo - change it in your copies. Keep looking up for this too and especially watch Ol's mouth during the free style lines.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY - Bring all your music to the church. Helen and Anne are getting there early and then we start at 11.30 so be earlier than that. There is a room to get changed and eat your sarnies in - in has floor to ceiling mirrors - Nice!

[ Anne adds:

IF YOU'RE COMING ON THE M8 TO JUNCTION 6, THEN A73.

If you're coming on the A71 into Newmains then you get to the roundabout by Asda and take the A73. You see the church quite soon on the left and the turn-off to the church car park is then AFTER the church [first road to the left then left again, marked to St Brigid's church and centre].

And yes, I have checked this is correct, I'm quite paranoid now after my faux-pas with the postcode, despite Elaine's best efforts to tell me the week before. How are the mighty fallen..... ]

The turn off for the church is before you get to the building and there is plenty of parking.

Re lifts - hopefully we all know where we are going? [Natalie - we need to ring Alison on Friday night to organise pick up (652 1553)]

And the Mild Wyrtles and Sebastian are both playing tonight if you fancy a couple of t'rific shows.

Claire II led us all with a lot of breathing and cheesy watsits. Next week Claire II is warming up and no one is doing notes which doesn't mean to say we don't need them!! Can someone's arm be twisted:) Thanks.

Ollie has an order of service now, so pick one up from him and scrap any other order of service you might have acquired.

We are singing for the congregational hymns:-

COLOUR OF DAY - in unison (poo) It's dead easy. Pick one up next week.

LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS - In harmony. Have the line you're singing in your head so you can switch verses easily and look up for them.

OTHER WEDDING SONGS:

You had a list of them in an email a week ago. At the bride's arrival (but not to her going down the aisle) we sing

TAKE MY HAND

1st page is repeated 3 times
2nd page is repeated 2 times
descant is verse 4 and 5 - Claire II and Kay
Last two bars PP come right at the end of the song

Bar 17 - verse 4 - omit the half measure so it's - east wind bites (rest) and cold grey... NOT ....bites (rest rest) and....
Bar 17 - verse 5 - there is NO -and- before -melting-

HOLD ON TO tied notes and watch for Ollie bringing us off them. It's essential because some are held for full value and some not and I couldn't keep up with what was what.

Feel the triplets - don't drag - think 'envoi'

Pay attention to upbeats.

Dynamics:-
Verse 1 - light and warm - pp
Verse 2 - light - p - slight crescendo through -ripe fruits of passion taste heady and sweet-
Verse 3 - hard - mp - crisp words
Verse 4 - Strong - mf - strong especially on -hard rocky shoreline-
Verse 5 - first line - mp - slight crescendo through -smouldering- and
bringing it down again in -core- Happy ending - mf
Very last -take my hand- pp

Put some effort into it. Don't sing it in a floppy 'gay' way as Ollie demonstrated. Sing it from somewhere good like your diaphragm and support it

Sops keep the G sharp - this piece tends to go flat during the first two bars.

NO SWEEPING from anybody!

LOOK UP - for reasons mentioned above and ESPECIALLY if you've sung the piece before as it's being done slightly differently. You'll be caught out if you don't!

DIEU Qui'l la fait
Connect the dieu to qu'il - no break or breath in between words
PRACTISE at home the scaley bits staccato, it will help them not get slurry.
Songe is nasal sound. NOT as in awful but as in if you are a goose and going honk honk honk
Tenors don't dot -la loue

SPRINGTIME
pp is sustained for at least two pages so the f has an effect.
DON'T COUNT but WATCH
LOOK UP for STOP and GO signs and definite directions from Ol
ENTRANCES important - be supportive. No bum notes/breathy effects./ice cream servers/
PREPARE the notes and tones a BEAT EARLY
Circle any place you are coming in out of nowhere
Men think BAA at AAA

MONTEVERDI
Faster than you think
Bright and keep tone when diminuendoing
Rolll rrrrrrrrs especially Amo rrrrrrr e
Mentally prepare before entries especially at beginning and keep it up!
watch Bar 34. It's very slow.
watch Bar 36. It's sped up again
Keep sharp sops
Practise at home Bars 38 - 45 Staccato
Bar 45 still think in tone.
Effect should be RICH BLOCK CRISP and STOPPING and STARTING together

KOMITAS
pick one up we'll be practising it soon. after St Giles

The wedding is at New Mains, Wishaw near Motherwell. A71 M8 junction 6/A73 ML2 9DA . Either M8 and then A73 or A71 to the A73 junction. It's on the A73 near the junction. There are two new mains don't go to the wrong one!!
Be there, with your lunch, for 11.30. Should finish about 2pm

Check with Anne as to who's driving you. Arrange pick ups etc between yourselves and driver. It takes about 1 hour.

PLEASE get your subs in so Anne can do the gift aid thing.