First Soprano rehearsal notes

First, I have been asked to remind everyone: no perfumes or scented products, please.

Secondly, please note for next week: first sopranos sit in front.

And finally, here’s what I have for this week’s notes:

Forrest IV: Gloria in Excelsis (whole piece)

• Diction: remember to hold a pure vowel on “Glo-” and don’t close to the r too soon (best to flip the r anyway)
• Diction: The “De-” of “Deo” is deh—no diphthong
• Universal: Mark your score however you need to to sing the piece as a whole, rather than note by note
• Universal: Keep the tone full, supported, and in the body
• Universal: Deemphasize the final “ah” of “Gloria”
• Measure 19: The entrance is soft and gentle, and keep the D and C high
• Measure 22: Note the crescendo
• Measure 25: Observe the composer’s note to sing smoothly and without accents; Jane would also like no big vibrato there
• Measure 27: Jane conducted a continuing crescendo on that E
• Letter B (measure 29 on): Super legato; also, Jane has pointed out that it takes tremendous support to stay on pitch in this section
• Page 6 (and throughout): Practice the text underlays—they’re not always the same
• Letter E (measure 64 on): Keep the Bs and Ds high
• Letter G (measure 87 on): The G-to-C interval is a problem—treat the G as a pivot and always return to the same pitch
• Measure 97: Don’t be bamboozled by the altos singing above our A; if you’re not secure about that pitch, don’t sing it

Forrest V: Creator of the Stars of Night (whole piece)

• Letter E (measure 59 on): Watch Jane for the ebb and flow of the tempo
• Measure 76: Keep this section warm and in the body
• Measure 77: Don't let the pitch sink on the F
• Page 10: Be aware of when the voice parts are coming back together after splitting apart
• Mm. 90-91: Keep light, with no vibrato, and don't let the pitch sink on that C
• Measure 111: Watch Jane–she conducts every chord here
• Measure 112: A tempo
• Last chord: If you drop out, don't come back in

Forrest II: Lux in Tenebris (whole piece)

• Universal: Put a good “ooo” on “Lux” and no diphthong on the “eh” of “(h)odie”
• Universal: “Dominus” is “Daw-mee-nooos”
• Opening: Jane is conducting in 6
• Mm. 34-36: Observe the decrescendo
• Measure 68: Entrance is subito p
• Measure 95: Cutoff is exactly as written–watch Jane
• Measure 115: No diphthong on the “eh” of “eam”

Forrest I: Illuminare (whole piece, quick runthrough)

• Mm. 67-68: Hold the final A for its full value (remember that all the other voice parts drop out first)

I think that's it. Have a great week, everyone!