CHOIR POSSE SUBGROUP UPDATES!!

Monday SubGroup - Bella Voce - update
The voice part tracks for "Birdsong" were put into DropBox on Friday, January 20th. There are 2 tracks: a S1 track and a DOUBLE track with the parts for S2 and Alto. I made a double track because some of you Altos may be singing bits of S2, and vice versa.

Monday SubGroup - Chamber Singers - updates
1. The voice part tracks for "Erie Canal" and "Under the Willow Tree" are not yet in DropBox, but I hope to have them in DB by the weekend. Check DB on Sunday evening, January 29th. You'll have one week from that time to get "Willow Tree" worked out on your own; the first group rehearsal for "Willow Tree" is on Monday, February 6th.
2. We will cover the Mass part music for our February 5 performance at St. Joe's on Wednesday, February 1.

Tuesday/Thursday SubGroup - Chorale - updates"I Love The Lord" (tenors and basses) - remember 2 things for tomorrow'sperformance in rehearsal (Thursday January 26th):
a.  am conducting/leading it "in 4" for the time being - HOWEVER! we need to feel this "in 2" beginning as soon as possible. You need to remember that it does not begin on a downbeat! Remember that the music actually begins BEFORE you start singing!  it's BEAT I love the / LORD"
b. The key changes are easy as pie when you remember that Do (final pitch before the key change) becomes Mi (first melodic tone) in the new key - keep that in mind and find your new pitch accordingly.

Inspiration!

"Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs" - I invite you to sit quietly in a quiet space, cue up the choral recording, and move towards the spirit and message in whatever way you see fit.
Here.
And here.
And here...
Here.
Those who love Chaim Potok's fiction (?) will remember a relevant sub-plot in "My Name is Asher Lev." ("Brooklyn Crucifixion").

I invite you to move more deeply into the "crucifixion" story. What is happening here? Why? And to whom? (the answer to that last question may surprise you - go with what you find).

I like to do etymological searches when I tackle "Big Concept Words" - here are a few, for starters:

sacrifice
paradox
volition
in/justice
burden
suffering
empathy

In search of greater musical and heart-understanding,
Lee

CHBR folk: Pergolesi

WOW, an amazing YT post from Rachel Yonek at FB:

Incredible. Absolutely exquisite. Perfection. We MUST do this with strings. We MUST. MUST.
Natalie Stutzmann - what an amazing musician! http://nathaliestutzmann.com/biography/

Countertenor P. Jaroussky - interview:
http://www.npr.org/…/philippe-jaroussky-and-the-impossibly-…

Soprano Emoke Barath (Hungary) began her musical training with different instruments!
http://www.concertsparisiens.fr/…/em%C3%B6ke-bar%C3%A1th-so…

Lenten Prayer Concert Materials

Hello, everyone!

Google-fu gems re: SOME of our Lenten Prayer concert repertoire:

Javier Busto Ave Maria (Chbr): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Busto
Transcript of an interview with Javier Busto: http://icb.ifcm.net/en_US/choral-medicine-basque-country-javier-busto/?print=pdf

I Love You, Lord (chbr TB)
Story behind the song: http://staugustine.com/living/religion/2015-02-05/story-behind-song-i-love-you-lord

The King of Love My Shepherd Is - a setting of Psalm 23
in my opinion, the most beautiful English translation of that text is here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=KJV

O Love that will not let me go (story behind the song):
http://www.crichbaptist.org/articles/christian-poetry-hymns/poems-hymns/o-love-that-wilt-not-let-me-go-george-matheson/

Surely, He hath borne our griefs
Scripture text is found here http://www.biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/53-4.htm
Graun: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Graun-Carl-Heinrich.htm

There is a balm in Gilead
Background of the saying: https://www.gotquestions.org/balm-of-Gilead.html
A more musicologically-oriented look at this song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Is_a_Balm_in_Gilead

Thy Perfect Love
Diligent net-search did not turn up anything definite re: source of the text - but my guess is that it comes from England.
Here is a lengthy but utterly fascinating article about the religious situation in that country during the medieval period: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Medieval_England
And here's information about the 15th century in general - always good to have a broader context in which to put the music!
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/266LecN.html - focus primarily on Europe - see Lectures 3 and 4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century - However, the world is a lot bigger than Europe! ;-)


Next post: Cheat sheet for Cantemus (Oh what a Beautiful Morning) and more context info for Spring Concert!

(insert Star Trek BOLDLY GO theme music)

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the continuation of Flight 2016-17, Winter Quarter!

After a fabulous Christmas concert, we went our separate ways for a brief shore leave, only to reconvene and recombine for our next event: Lenten Prayer!

Saturday - March 4, 2017 - 8 p.m. St. Ignatius

Tell ALL of your friends! Begin inviting people /now/!! We have some wonderful music.

I shouldn't call Lenten Prayer a "concert" - not exactly, not really. It's more of a musical offering or worship concert, offered with no applause before/during/or after. LP provides an hour of engaged listening, contemplation, reflection and meditation. Most of the people who attend LP are Roman Catholics or members of another faith tradition that follows a liturgical calendar. In these traditions, the Ash Wednesday begins a 40-day period (Lent) leading up to Easter (which is always, btw, the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox).

Wikipedia article about Lent. 

But not everyone is a R.C. - in fact, not everyone who comes to our LP or ChrC concerts is even "religious."
Our choir is as diverse (perhaps more diverse) as our audiences. Some of our choir folk identify with world faith traditions other than Christianity. Others identify as agnostics, seekers, or atheists. Still others are (in Karen Armstrong's delightful self-identification) "freelance monotheists."
This, I say, is a Very Good Thing.

If you find yourself saying to yourself, "I don't know if I can really relate to the text of this song," think again - look at it from a "macro" perspective. I challenge you to determine the Big Story expressed by the music we're singing. What human needs, aspirations, challenges, experiences, etc. are being explored and expressed in this music? If you think of the texts as "particulars," where and what is the "universal??" What's there for everyone to gather and to find nourishment?
Okay, end of sermon.

And now!

Composer of the Week: William Grant Still (1895 - 1978)
Read about him here at the mighty fount of all knowledge, Wikipedia
His surviving family operates a website with biographical material, sources, and other good things.

Here's a link to what is perhaps his best known composition, "Afro-American Symphony" -
Movement 1 What's happening at the beginning of this movement (form)?
Movement 2
Movement 3 scoring includes an instrument not usually found in symphony orchestras - what is it?!
Movement 4

WGS was a very fine pianist and wrote many wonderful piano pieces.
Here's one: "Summerland."

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LIFTOFF MINUS 40 HOURS and 20 MINUTES!!

Hello everyone,
Wow - what an absolutely EPIC dress rehearsal!

Thanks to everybody for your patience, focus, care for the space, flexibility, and dedication.
Second dress rehearsal "on-site' is always pretty epic - this one was more epic than some, because we weren't able to cover everything we needed to cover in the first on-site dress.

You all really put forth a mighty and concerted effort, and that effort was well repaid.

Please continue to push ahead to claim the prize - rest tomorrow (Thursday), but don't let the motivation sag. Stay on it! Take care of yourself. Don't put vocal-fold-drying substances into your body (alcohol, tobacco, "herb"). Don't put mucus-forming substances into your body (milk, dairy). Drink a lot of plain tepid water or mix up a thermos of my special Singers Cocktail:


Hot water
Lemon juice
Honey

Yup, this is the hot toddy recipe, minus Jack Daniels ;-) You can complete it on your own time AFTER THE CONCERT ON SATURDAY ;-)
Pamper yourself tomorrow, as much as possible. Spend some time listening to the choral recordings of your pieces with and without the score. Get on the floor! Dance to it, move to it, conduct, sing it mentally as though you were singing ALL of the parts. Really dive into it head-first and let it soak into your heart.

"Dark Day" is for physical replenishment - NOT for mental laxity. Stay active, stay engaged, stay focused!

Also - remember this - WE CAN START EACH PIECE ONLY ONCE AT THE CONCERT. Instruct yourself to immediately get into the "set" you need to begin each piece. Instruct yourself to immediately switch moods/ "set" between pieces. This is part of the challenge of performing - to be able to do those important lightning switches between pieces. Each piece brings a world of its own. Keep training yourself to immediately "beam down" when it's time to begin.

If you're one of those who will be standing "facing the center" on the risers with your head turned to face Doc - PRACTICE THIS POSITION!!!! Practice standing and singing that way.

I am very proud of all of you, and I look forward to serving this delicious, nutritious musical feast on Friday and Saturday. Enjoy your success - you have earned it! Let the audience know that you love their presence and that you are determined to give them what they came for - delight, surprise, heart-felt emotions - something to feed the deep hunger that motivated them to buy a concert ticket and to make time for us ;-)

See you all on Friday. Stay focused - stay enthusiastic - stay positive - stay powerful!

In musical solidarity,
Lee

LIFTOFF IN EIGHT DAYS!!!

Hello everyone,

Well - here we are!
Our Christmas concerts are just eight days away.
From extensive experience giving solo recitals AND 9 years of full-time work as Assistant to Our Leader, I offer the following:


PERSONAL CHECKLIST
First item isn't numbered because it is a given: STUDY PRACTICE KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC BE FOCUSED ON THE CONDUCTOR AT ALL TIMES
After that - make sure that you are:
1. Well-hydrated
2. Eating well - and DO eat a bit more than usual on concert days - performing uses extra energy (blood glucose) - be prepared!
3. SLEEPING WELL
4. Avoiding alcohol, 'herb' and excessive caffeine the week of the concert. Recreational substances can wreak havoc on the vocal folds. The body being your instrument, singing is really an athletic activity. Respect yourself!
5. Lay out your clothes at least 2 days beforehand - that will give you time to mend / clean / complete your outfit. SSAA NOTE: Please be sure that your outfit is properly modest, viewed from /all angles./ Re-read the outfit guidelines in the syllabus and CONTACT ME if you have ANY questions!
TTBB NOTE: I don't have any more spare bowties. Make sure that you have all the "small items" you need RIGHT NOW and tuck them into the pocket of your tux coat, or whatever you need to do in order to keep everything together.
The concert outfits are stipulated according to voice part. Sopranos and Altos wear dresses and quiet shoes. Tenors and Basses wear tuxes and quiet shoes.
6. Everybody: You'll be in close quarters on the risers - please avoid scents and scented products on concert nights. Many people have fragrance sensitivities - I wouldn't want anyone to be unable to sing freely because they're unable to BREATHE. Cologne that can be pleasant at a short distance, can be absolutely LETHAL at close range. NO FRAGRANCE OF ANY KIND, please! And - Biological body odor counts as a fragrance (it is definitely a smell, yes?!)
7. ALERTNESS. Concert week is intense. Be prepared for this intensity. Embrace this intensity. Ride to victory on this intensity.
8. Remember - vocal folds are small. They work constantly, even when you're not singing! it's crucial that they be functioning at 100 percent capability and capacity these final 8 days! Do the "eeeeeeeee" exercise at least 3 times a day. Wear a disposable face mask if you must spend a great deal of time "in public." (Who cares how it looks? This is Seattle!). If people around you are hacking, snorking,  sniffling, and/or spewing, GET AWAY FROM THEM!!!!  Do not (I repeat!! DO NOT) touch "public" surfaces with your bare hands. Bring germicidal wipes to the computer lab and use them on the keyboard. (Most economical way is to buy a big container of wipes and throw 3 or 4 into a plastic ziplok baggie every day).
Wear a scarf and keep your head / feet/ hands warm and toasty when outside.
Go easy on the "dairy" or avoid it altogether during Concert Week. "Shirley Temple toddies" (honey, lemon, warm or hottish water) are soothing and help keep you hydrated and glucose-d ;-)

Tell your body that you expect cooperation! Insist upon it! You'll be amazed by the power of mind over matter ;-)

AT THE CHURCH:
I commend everyone for their conscientious behavior and respectful adherence to the rules associated with our concert venue. It's important that we continue to be Great Guests! We need to score 100 percent on this one, y'all...Let's continue to set a positive, inspiring example of great guest-ship in our remaining three Christmas Concert-related visits!

that said, it pains me to report that after our dress rehearsal on November 21, I found 4 partially-filled bottles of the "snack-time" water in the nave. One of the bottles was uncapped. Doubly not good! I know you will take care of this. Just a reminder...please look around before leaving and make certain that you pack out EVERYTHING you packed in (either before rehearsal or after snack break).

AFTER THE CONCERTS:
People will love us, and many of them will want to express this verbally. Our crew and section leaders and house team will ALSO need to clean up and inspect the space. Please move towards the "exit" as you talk to people. Crew needs to have the front of the church cleared so that they can take down risers and move a number of things back into the truck. Help them by moving towards the entrance. On your way, look around and retrieve left-over programs for recycling.

SERIOUS REQUEST: Yes, we have our pizza on Friday. Yes, it's delivered around 10:15 p.m. AND, yes, that DOES give us time to pitch in TOGETHER for cleanup!! With over 100 people participating, cleanup would take around 5 minutes (if that!) With only 6 or 7 people, cleanup can take nearly an hour. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OURSELVES.  Ask your section leader what you can do to help with cleanup after BOTH concerts.

Drivers: Best drop-off is off 19th Avenue across from Tully's Coffee; just turn into the church parking lot. 
On Saturday 12/3 we must (MUST!!!!!) stay out of the upstairs part of the church (INCLUDING the lobby/narthex) until 7:00 p.m.
Parking: If you are parked on 19th, please avoid parking in front of the church or the parish hall. Move farther down 19th and save close spaces for people with mobility issues, please.

Riders: If you are dropped off on 19th for some reason before 7 p.m. on Saturday, take the outside stairs down to the social hall and go inside. Do not go into the church, please.

This will be my 16th? XC with our group. We get better at some part of this epic, massive undertaking every year. Let's make 2016 another success in every way! 

LL&P,
Lee

COUNTDOWN TO FESTIVAL COMMENCETH

Yes, mein Choir-Posse, countdown to our two concerts has commenced.
Beginning Tuesday 11/8/16 and ending Thursday 12/1/16 ("Dark Day"), there are

23 days until Concert #1.
TWENTY THREE DAYS

Not counting the dress rehearsals, we have:
Bella Voce - 3 rehearsals
Cantemus - 3 rehearsals
Chorale -  7 rehearsals
Chamber - 4 rehearsals

0000000

Having done many, MANY concert/recital countdowns in my career, I offer the following:

One - proper self-care (Eat well and regularly, sleep enough. stay away from excessive white powders - salt and sugar - and DO NOT SMOKE "HERB" OR DRINK ALCOHOL THE WEEK OF THE CONCERTS. Two - incessant obsession with the music (mental, studying, reviewing, chewing chewing digesting digesting). Three - vigilance against viruses. If people are hacking and eructating in your vicinity, GET AWAY FROM THEM AT ONCE. Don't touch public surfaces with bare hands. Wear a face shield if you spend a lot of time in public places or unventilated spaces.

Four - Attitude Adjustment.
Yes, we all have our days when things just seem to hover round the drain from wake-up to put-down, but those are transient phenomena that must NOT affect our resolve. Human nature being what it is, you will likely not 'have time' to study your music, listen to the choral recordings, etc. repeatedly REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY. You must make time.
YOU MUST MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
FORCE YOURSELF IF NECESSARY. Overcome inertia. Be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul. DO. IT.
See yourself in your concert garb, triumphantly and enthusiastically singing from your very soul. HEAR the immense power of the mighty and puissant Choir Posse shaking the very walls of that cavernous (and bass-devouring!) space. FEEL the satisfaction of a job well done - of having successfully and powerfully communicated the timeless message of glorious music. PUT YOURSELF IN IT. BE IT. LIVE IT.

There will be resistance. There is always resistance. SO WHAT!  Comfort yourself with the knowledge that great potential for good is always (ALWAYS!) confronted by great resistance and pull from the opposite direction. Nothing great is EVER achieved without a fight.
Fight for your might! Move from "We can" to "WE WILL."

You have a marvelous opportunity to bring the transcendent and soul-uplifting power of music to yourselves and to many people who may be starving for reassurance that there IS still good in this world. You are ambassadors of hope, life, light, liberty, love, and celebration!

Set your mind for success. Set your body for full function. Set your voice for glorious sound.

EXPECT VICTORY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT TRIUMPH. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT MASTERY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT SUCCESS. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT "OUTSTANDING." Settle for nothing less. "Excellence" is our baseline, our starting point!

AND WORK, WORK, WORK RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SECOND TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

We're positive thinkers, yes - but most importantly, we are POSITIVE DOERS.

End of sermon!