Rudsamblog

- Pre-service: Bog off, Mona Teng (African), Take my Hand
- During service: Brumarsj (Norwegian), If Ye Love Me, Ave Maris Stella
- Signing register: This Marriage (Whittaker)
- End of service: An Irish Blessing
- Social bit in evening: Gaelic set (Ah ben a khum..), Mairi's wedding, Son ar Chistr, Tourdion, Preab San Ol, Only You

Please email Chris if you need any of these pieces so that he can make copies for us for next Wednesday's (28th) rehearsal.

2. This Marriage (Whittaker)

The rehearsal was spent practicing 'This Marriage' (Whittaker) only. Detailed instructions of how to sing it -

General -
- Stand straight and supported to sing the piece
- Sing the piece 'legato', joining the notes together.
- Sops and Basses stand out with Altos and Tenors just filling in the harmony.
- Make vowel sounds very round and nice. 'e's need to be forward, 'a's need to be round. Think "round", "beautiful", "sophisticated" vowels.
- Make the high notes sharp as opposed to flat. Think "sharp"

Page 1 -
- puts lots of voice into 1st page. Make it strong.
- Make the word 'sweet' sharp.

Page 2 -
- (mp) on 'May this marriage be full', then crescendo
- Watch Ollie for shape on the words 'offer' and 'shade'

Page 3 -
- cresendo on 'our every day', then make 'a day in paradise' quieter

Page 4 -
- Diminuendo and rit after 'a seal of happiness here'
- Make 'May this marriage have a' loud (mf), then on the word 'fair' come down suddenly, but leave space for further diminuendo through to the end of the line.
- Basses sing the word 'gord' instead of 'good'
- Altos and Sops stand tall to get the top notes

Page 5 -
- Need a big breath to sing the top line. Sing 'in a clear blue sky' in one breath and clearly with strong consonants.
- Sing 'skar' instead of 'sky'
- Annunciate all the words in 'I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage'. It is a nice phrase and needs to be sung clearly.

Will go through all the other pieces next week so please bring them.

3. Finally, dates for your diaries -

1st May - Cranshaws
15th May - Douglas and Jean's wedding
26 June - ALL DAY FROM 10am - RECORDING FOLLOWED BY CONCERT. PLEASE NOTE THE 28 AUG AS A SEPARATE RECORDING DAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
29 Aug - St. Giles at 6. Singing Cloudburst here.
25 Sept - Wigtown/Whithorn concert in Dumfries and Galloway.

# posted by rudsambass @ 12:24 pm