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First Soprano rehearsal notes

March 31 Rehearsal Notes

Please note for next week's rehearsal: first sopranos sit in back. Also, please remember that next Thursday (April 9), there's an added optional rehearsal. 
OK, lots of notes this week.
Warm-up
  • To create the “e” vowel, don't spread the mouth–keep it tall with a humped tongue
  • “First One” (The Tree House: Alder): Think of the “f” as the vehicle to the vowel to help land on the pitch, and put the vowel on the beat. “One” is “ooo-one” with “uh” on the beat
I Started Out Singing
  • Universal: All page turns in this piece are tricky–turn early and silently, and know what's coming on the next page
  • Universal (mentioned at every rehearsal): Watch the cutoffs–they are critical
  • Pick-up to measure 10 (first note we sing): “Don't poke and hope”–if you don't know the pitch, don't sing it
  • Measure 18: Watch Jane for the ritard
  • Beginning pick-up to measure 39: Needs energy
  • Mm. 45 into 46: Note the repeated C
  • Measure 57: Watch Jane for the ritard
  • Beginning measure 66: No Minnie Mouse here–keep it in the body and give it energy
  • Measure 78: “Don't hide”
  • Ending: Be aware that, because we're singing 1/4s rather than 1/8s, it feels slower here, but the tempo remains the same–don't slow down (watch Jane)
Hope Is the Thing with Feathers
  • Universal: This piece is not about a wispy hope; it's about a fueled hope–keep it fierce
  • Universal: It's important to be one time (also, don't flat)
  • Beginning measure 12: Listen, and don't slow down
  • Measure 13: No “r” in “heard”
  • Mm. 30-31: I circled the F# to C#, but I don't remember why–maybe make sure you know the interval?
  • Pages 5-6: Know how the dynamics differ in the two verses
  • Measure 42 (both times): Keep the “-ers” (-“uhs”) of “feathers” short
  • Measure 54 (both times): Drop the “d” of “And” if you need to to stay in time
  • Measure 63: Off on beat 3 
  • Mm. 65-66: Don't close to the “all” vowel–the word is still “at”
  • Mm. 67-69: Don't let the pitch sag–keep it high
Shadow River
  • Universal: Energy, support!
  • Universal: The 1/16-dotted 1/8 pattern is the wing figure–the audience needs to hear it. Keep it alive, accented, and not too soft
  • Mm. 7-8: Lower S1s, keep the pitch high
  • Measure 8: Only higher S1s sing the final “s”
  • Measure 11: Vowel of “lies” is “aw”; note that we are in unison with the S2s
  • Beginning measure 19: Be aware that S1s and As are having a conversation–listen for it
  • Measure 22: “Power” is one syllable, and flip the “r”
  • Measure 26: Create energy
  • Measure 31: Beat 2 is a full-beat rest–eliminate the dot on the first note
  • Measure 37: Decrescendo to an mf–don't get too soft
  • End of page 11: Be aware that a completely different tone is coming on the next page
  • Page 12: No Minnie Mouse
  • Page 12: Keep it warm and legato
  • Pick-up to measure 47-measure 50 (“floor”): No breath
  • Beginning page 14: This section is dreamy–but with energy; enjoy the words; and remember that making it too personal = bad rhythm–keep it moving, in tempo
This Day I Am Eighteen
  • Universal: Don't slow
  • Universal: Same S1 divisi as for Shadow River
  • Mm. 8-9: Keep “here” (“heee-uh”–no “r”) in the body
  • Pick-up to measure 20: Keep it soft–give yourself somewhere to go
  • Measure 22: Breath on beat 2–eliminate the dot on the downbeat
  • Mm. 24-27: No breath, and don't slow (you won't want to!)
  • Measure 29 fp-to-f dynamic: Listen to the other parts so that we fall and rise together
  • Measure 31: Full beat rest on beat 7–eliminate the dot on the half note
  • Measure 32: Vowel of “I” is “aw”
  • Measure 33: No vibrato, and sing the “ih” vowel–don't close to the “ll” too soon
  • New members: I have additional marks from last year. Let me know if you'd like me to scan them and send them to you.
Where the LIght Begins
  • Universal (reminder): Rhythm is key in this piece
  • Universal: Let the long notes bloom
  • 1st measure: A lot going on in this one measure. Drop the “r” of “per-” and give the 1/16 a good solid entrance. Don't close to the “ps” of “-haps” too soon. Let the held note (“not”) bloom.” Remember that the last note of the measure is an 1/8.
  • Beginning measure 22: Keep the syncopations supported and light, and don't slow
  • Measure 38: Watch Jane
  • Ending: Don't cry
For next week: Tree House (all three movements), movement 1 of Concord Fragments, and run-throughs of Grown Wild and Alway Something Sings.

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