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Alto Rehearsal Notes

November 25, 2025
2025-26 Fall Alto 1, Alto 2 Rehearsal Notes
 
Music below is in CONCERT order. These are the last rehearsal notes unless something radically changes.
 
1. O Come Emmanuel
9/16
– “Come” is always “cawm.”
– M4: Tutti.
– M8: Altos strong entrance.
– M20: Tutti.
– M40: Sop2 joins altos.
– M44: Breath.
– M96: Watch Jane for entrance after hold.
– M104: Breath before “oh.” Crescendo.
– M106 and M108: Breath on last 1/8 beat.
– M108: Don’t emphasize “MAH” at the cutoff.
– M112: A2, work on finding that low G.
9/23
Practice “cawm” for “come.”
10/7
– M76-80:  stagger breathing. Needs energy!
– M100: Don’t let B-flat go flat.
– M106, 108: Breath at end of measure
10/14
– CAWM.
– M20: Tutti.
– M46: Careful to go to the F and not an A-flat.
– M52: Hold to eighth rest.
– M56: Slightly slower. Watch.
– M79: Note it is a G, not an A-flat. Mark note in margin of previous measure.
– M96: Watch Jane for entrance after the hold.
11/25
– M4: Tutti, light.
– M8: Strong entrance.
– M13: Strong.
– M20: Tutti.
– M36-37: No breath.
– M60: “Emmanuel” is “EE-man-u-el.”
– M75 – 76: No breath.
– M82: No breath.
– M88: Watch for beats, slower, then M89, a tempo.
– M96: “Shall” is “Shah.”
– M108: We hold until end of measure, watch for cutoff. No M hummed.
 
2. The Dawn from on High
 
I. Illuminare
9/16
No vibrato.
– All altos on bottom line.
– M331: Sing veni nos “vay-nee-nos” as noted.
– M34: Sing low A to C, move to E in M35, stay on E.  
9/23
-All altos on bottom line.
– M142: Note these six measures… wait for entrance.
9/30
Alto splits: top note:  Jennifer, Liz, and Lisa? on (E). On bottom note, (D) – Angela, Pamela, Janet, and Judy.
– M2: Light “L on entrance, “loo” like the sound in “hoot” and drop L when stagger breathing.
– M9: No breath.
– M10: Finish with “-x” at end of measure. 
– M17:  NO alto splits
– M35:  Remain in 5.  
– M61: Alto split A1, A2 bottom line.
– M66: Add “-x” at end of measure.
– M71: Unison.
– M82: Unison octaves until M85.
11/4
– Practice!
– Mark the measures that you find challenging to count.
– Pay attention to crescendos, decrescendos. Don’t be the loudest voice in the room.
– M99: Note this measure is 2/2.
– M102: This is a 5/4 measure so mark the rest before M103, which is 2/2, note the tie to M104.
– M105: Be ready for the page turn!
– M106 et al: Breath at each comma unless noted otherwise.
– M112: A2, no breath until M113.
– M106- 122: This section could get derailed unless you know where you are. Mark some spots that give you a path back in if you get off, for example end of M112 and M113, middle of M116 etc.
– M121: Wait for downbeat from Jane.
– M126: This is six beats total so don’t rush.
– M136-37: No breath.
– M149: Change to dotted half with quarter rest (3 beats, one beat off).
– M151: Breath.
– M156-67: No breath. Stagger.
– M167: Hold until cutoff, “oo” then cutoff with NO L.
11/18
– M48: Light, firm, gentle.
– M65: Crescendo.
– M79: Turn page early.
11/18-20
– M1-M10: Watch, watch, watch.
– M13: Crescendo. All altos on bottom.
– M19-M20: Be ready to enter.
– Pay attention to all the crescendos.
– M33: Strong.
– M58: Be ready to come in two measures later after page turn.
– M82: Quiet. Put H before alleluia.
– M83: Breath.
– M107: Breath.
– M114: Breath.
– M131: Breath.
– M161: Super quiet to end. 
 
II. Lux in Tenebris
10/28
– M24: tutti.
– M38: New tempo.
– M48: In 2. Light.
– M68: 9/8.
– M72: 4/4.
– M79: Prep for entrance in M80.
– M88: A1 on bottom of top line. A2 on bottom of bottom line.
– M88: A2, prep for rhythm.
– M94: A1, prep for low C. Don’t slam.
– M104: All altos on bottom line in parts.
– M117: A1 on bottom of top line. A2 on bottom of bottom line.
– M137: All altos on bottom line in parts to end.
11/4
– Practice!
11/11
– M80: Quiet.
– 86: “-runt” is short.
– M88: A1 on bottom of top line. A2 on bottom of bottom line.
– M88: A1, not too loud. A2, louder.
11/18-20
M48: Light, firm, gentle.
– M65: Crescendo.
– M79: Turn page early.
– M142: FF with courage.
– M133-136: Different words for both alto parts.
 
IV. Gloria in Excelsis
9/23
– Mark the variations in the runs!
9/30
– M64: Strong, sing in the body.
– M72 et al: It might help to note where we are unison.
– M81: A1, listen or sing quietly with the Sop1, we have same notes in next measure.
10/7
– “In” is “Een.”
– M23: Be ready for rhythm.
– M49: Note unisons.
– M53: Note unisons.   
– M50, 51, Staccatos.
– M61: Staccatos. Strong.
– M66, 67: Note that there is a C in first run, then a D in second run. Practice runs.
– M71: Watch the drop to E.
– M77: All staccato.
– M81: A1, listen or sing quietly with the Sop1, we have same notes in next measure.
10/14
– Makes a big difference if you mark all the unison spots.
– M61: Lyrical, watch rhythm.
– M64: Strong, forte.
– M77: All staccato.
10/21
– M24: Tutti.   
– NO “H” on “Hodie.”   
– M38: New tempo.
– M68: Watch Jane for tempo.
Oct. 28
– M15: Altos with Sop2.
– M23: Less. Watch rhythm.
– M29: Smooth. Unison.
– M29,30: Mark in margin that we move to D in M30.
– M34: Note unison. Then no unison in M35.
– M36: Just two quarter notes, off with Sops.
– M37: Be ready to move on “Gloria.”
– M43: Unison. Mark different rhythm pattern.
– M50: Get starting note A from alto G in 49 and Sop G in 50.
– M66: Don’t slam low C.
– M89,90: Note differences in pattern.
– M96: Mark and note rest. Note the move to two G’s.
11/4
– Sing “in the body,” strong voices.
– Smooth rhythm, don’t punch, especially “-ri-a.”
– Practice the runs, many differences.
– M95: Slow crescendo. 
11/11
– M38: Turn page early.
– M99: A1, practice pattern: g, a, b, g, b, a, b, a, g. Don’t sing C instead of B by mistake.
11/18-20
– M15: Quiet entrance.
– Staccato but smoother on “Deh-o.”
– M64: Louder. Joy.
– M81: Sing both lines soprano and alto.
– M83-4: No breath.
– M99: A1, check last three notes, should be B, A, G.
 
V. Creator of the Stars of Night
9/23
– For next week, so take a look.
9/30
– M46: Parts are split evenly. S1 and A1 on top line, S2 and A2 on bottom line.
– M58: All altos on bottom line.
– M86: Usual splits to end.
10/14
– Mark time changes so you count correctly. Example: M98 (4/2), M99 (3/2), M100 (2/2), M101 (4/2).
10/21
– “Light” should be “Lawt.”
– M46: Parts are split evenly. S1 and A1 on top line, S2 and A2 on bottom line.
– M58: All altos on bottom line.
– M61: “Night” should be “nawt.”
– M69: Emphasize “PEE-ple,” “EV-er-LAS-ting.”
– M77: Emphasize “Christ,” “SAV-ior.”
– M113 to end: If out of breath, don’t go out and come in, just stay out.
10/28
– M47: Reminder, A1 on bottom of top line, A2 on bottom of second line.
– M58: Reminder, all altos on bottom line. Slower.
– M77: Raise pitch on “thou.”
– M88: Find places to sneak breath. A2, be ready to move to G. Decrescendo to unison with NO slam.
– M98: Watch Jane for each half note, which gets one beat. Next three measures: 3 beats, 2 beats, 4 beats.
– M111: Watch Jane for each note!
11/4
– Cutoffs as written.
– M21-22: It is Latin, not English, so pronounce “creator” “creh-ah-tor.”
– M24: Off on 3.
– Observe stresses. Example: M25: “TER-na” “cre-DEN-.” Et al.
– M 34: Back off the shared notes
– M38: No rest on bright. 
– M39: Note break after “sov-‘reign.”
– M43: Very quiet.
– Reminder: M46: Parts are split evenly. S1 and A1 on top line, S2 and A2 on bottom line.
– Don’t overpower other parts during the splits. Should be soft, crescendo, decrescendo for each section.
– M58: All altos on bottom line.
– M59: Slower.
11/11
– M21-22: It is Latin, not English, so pronounce “creator” “creh-ah-tor.”
– M35: Don’t accent “the.”
– Reminder: M46: Parts are split evenly. S1 and A1 on top line, S2 and A2 on bottom line.
– Don’t overpower other parts during the splits. Should be soft, crescendo, decrescendo for each section.
– M58: All altos on bottom line.
11/18-2
– M21-22: It is Latin, not English, so pronounce “creator” “creh-ah-tor.”
– M83: Slower.
– M98 to end: Jane will give each note.
 
3. What Child
9/16
– Don’t staccato on the “bum” that has tenuto marks below them. 
– M1 and throughout: Hold the quarter note “bum” to the next notes. 
– M5: A1, smooth.
– M16: Clear break after “this.”
– M39, 40: A1, prep for jumping to the E unison with A2.
– M51: Prep for time change 6/8.
– M61: Note back to Tempo 1.
– M72: Note repeat back to M62. Second time through skip M69 and continue at 2 in M73.
9/23
– Full in the body.
– Practice closing on “bum” for hold notes.
– M42: Note that altos do not sing “her” unlike Sops.
– Clearly mark the repeats.
10/7
– M25: Soft, blend.
– M56: Note, go up to B, gently. It should be SLEEP-ing, soft on the B.  
– Review repeat so you are ready.
10/21
– Need power in singing.
11/25: Page 3, A1, be ready for page turn.
– Don’t rush “bums.”
– M40: Strong.
– M51: Watch, significantly slower.
– M80: Slower.
 
4. Stars I Shall Find
9/16
– Clarify and note the repeats. Sing through to page 10. Jump back to page 4, sing to M38, jump to Coda on page 11. Liz suggests you can make a copy of pages 4 – 7 if that helps.
– M64 and throughout. Flip the “r’s,” don’t roll them.
9/23
– Practice repeat.
10/7
– Full, in the body.
– M13: Don’t lag.
– M15: Mark the page turn note of “B” so you are prepared.
– M17: Watch rhythm, don’t get lazy.
– M25: Emphasize “vis” of “de-VIS-ing.”
Oct. 14
– M16: Don’t slow.
10/21
– Be clearer with words. 
– M13, 14: Flip (not roll) the “R” in “reign” and “rest.”
– M29: Lean in on “lonely.” “Mind” is “Mawnd.”
– M34: No breath.
– M39: “there” – “thah” – get to the vowel.
– M40: “Sure” is “shuah.” “Stars” is “stahs.”
– M64: Slower.
– M68: Flip “R” in “rest.”
11/25
– Clarify and note the repeats. Sing through to page 10. Jump back to bottom of page 4, sing to M38, jump to Coda on page 11. Liz suggests you can make a copy of pages 4 – 7 if that helps.
 
5. Siyahamba
9/16
– M3: All Altos.
– M47: Soft entrance. With Sop2.
– M22, M42, M72: No break between “khos” and “si-ya-,” do crescendo.
– M82: Short cutoff.
9/23
– In the body.
– “ham-ba” is “HAM-ba.” Don’t stress the “ba.”
– M65: Big, bright, exciting.
9/30
– M3: All altos and Sop2.
– M46: Check notes, we go to the low A.
– M47: Be ready to jump up to the G.
10/7
– M63: “Light” – dental-ize “t” so more like “d.”
10/14
– Emphasize HUM…not bah!
– M27: Start on D, not G.
– M47: Suddenly softer. Mp.
– M63: More energy, bright, exciting.
10/21
– When emphasizing “HAM-ba,” don’t thrust out head.
– M34: Rhythm.
– M35: Crescendo every time you are holding “ham-.”
 
6. Shalom
9/30
– Note we go from 4/4 first measure to 2/2 measure 5.
– M2: Very short “s” on “Peace” – consider leaving it off.    
– M53: Lean in.
– M55: No breath. 
– M57: No breath.
– M58: Breath.
– M79: Much slower, wait for Jane.
– M80: “Sha” of “Shalom” is “Shaw —.”
– M92: Breath.   
– M94, et al: No hissing the “s” on “peace” – again, consider leaving it off. It only needs one person to voice the “s.”
– M99: Altos out.
11/25
– Pay attention to crescendos, decrescendos.
– M20: Breath.
– M26: Breath.
– M72: Breath.
– M80: Watch for Jane’s beats throughout this section.
– M90: Breath.
– M94: No “s” sound on the sung “peace.” Get off cleanly to be ready to speak “peace.”
 

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