The Deer in Front of the School

pictures 013
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I visited Buckhorn HS the other day and found this deer in front of the school. It seems that, in a somewhat controversial move, the senior class donated this ceramic deer to the school in honor of this tradition, quoted a bit here. A closeup of the deer is here.

The way Buckhorn High School came by its name is a classical story with many variations and a few authentic facts. The most likely story is as follows: The old Buckhorn Tavern stood in the triangle formed by the old Winchester road, now New Market Pike, and the Deposit road. Buckhorn Tavern was one of the oldest in the country and a popular stagecoach stop, dating back to the days when it was a part of the Mississippi Territory. Andrew Jackson was often a visitor and a guest of the old tavern. We are told that a deer was killed by a young man, William L. Fanning. The horns were hung in the tavern and remained there until it was closed. Until this time the tavern had not been named. The natives and travelers who stopped by for refreshment at this wayside inn began calling it Buckhorn. Because of popular approval, the new high school erected on this site was named Buckhorn High School, The Fanning family gave the horns to the school. They have been mounted and now hang in the office of the principal.

Spring Break

Lauren suggested that I place myself under the "PEOPLE THAT RARELY BLOG" category on the right. I guess that's fair, since it has been a week!

It's also a little ironic, though, 'cause she hasn't posted in 10 days . . compared to my 7. She might want to remember words like these . . . ouch this one really hurts.

At any rate, it's been a good break for me but a busy one. I've been busy recruiting singers from other schools and have really had alot of fun meeting new people.

Places I've been lately:

Albertville High School
Oxford High School (AL)
Alexandria HS
Emma Sansom HS
Hazel Green HS
Buckhorn HS

I'm hoping to hit a couple more over the next two days. There are great singers everywhere in this state. I'm hoping to add superb quality to our ranks. Next year looks great, the year after looks absolutely fantastic. I'm quite excited about what lies ahead.

Enjoy your break, the Mozart awaits us. And then, New York, for the group that is going.

And then . . . summer.

A Little Vocal Jazz

If you are interested in a little vocal jazz, check out The Real Group. Awesome stuff. And here these songs.

God Only Knows
It Don't Mean a Thing
There Will Never Be Another You

Best CD that I know of: The Real Group: Nothing But the Real Group

Check it out!

Dulce lignum, dulces clavos

Don't miss this blog on Easter music.

A portion:

It's just me, I know, but I'd rather do choir music for Good Friday than Easter anytime. So much Easter music is so simpleminded. Triumphalist. Full of trumpets and major triads and lilies and boy-isn't-this-pancake-breakfast-great.

But on Good Friday, we have to witness a terrible thing and see it as a good thing. "Dulce lignum, dulces clavos." Contradictory emotions are what music presents best. "O vos omnes" seems to bring out the best in composers in a way that "Now the green blade riseth" doesn't. Few composers can look at the Crucifixion and write something trite about it. Even the relentlessly cheerful Pergolesi managed to make an expressive masterwork out of the Stabat Mater. Is it an accident that Bach's St. Matthew Passion is the greatest work in the repertoire, while his Easter Oratorio is considered a minor work?

And for a translation of Dulce lignum, dulces clavos, look here.

Does anyone remember Fernando Richardson?

Erin might be the only one that remembers him. Anyway, my searching tools picked him up on this website. Strange, eh?

Mozart Solo Auditions Moved

Auditions for Mozart solos will be after spring break: Tuesday, April 4 from 2.30 to 3.30

Reason: opera performance on original audition date.

Practice!

All Three Days

I know Spring Break is coming up, but we have choir all three days this week.

Don't miss Keith's final two blogs. Can he really be leaving the blogging world? I think he's talking about us:

I was once a part of something larger than myself or anything I ever knew and I loved it. I was in a choir and there I learned what music truly means.

Titles of Keith's last four posts:

1. So Now I'm Going to Hell
2. Farewell to B-A-R-B
3. A Final Post
4. A Final Thought

That does it. I'm putting that guy on suicide watch.

the scream

the scream
Originally uploaded by philipco.

This is one of my favorite photos from a choir tour. It was with the University of Mississippi and we were on some trip through a salt mine (or something). No one knew that we were headed down a slide at the end of the "ride."

If you can't see the second woman's face clearly, click here for a better look. It's hilarious.

(Dee, if you ever see this, forgive me.)

ACDA Plaque

ACDA Plaque
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I'm not sure if you guys ever saw what they handed me on the stage in Charleston. Here it is! A symbol of our hard work.

One of My Purposes in Life

This captures one of my purposes in life very well.

MP3's of Recording Session March 15

Cantate Domino from Due motetti
Sándor Szokolay b. 1931

Ave Maris Stella
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

When I Bring #1 from "When I . . . "
Vytautas Miśkinis b.1954

When I Sing from "When I . . . "
Vytautas Miśkinis b.1954

When I Bring #2 from "When I . . . "
Vytautas Miśkinis b.1954

Over Hill, Over Dale
Four Shakespeare Songs (1984)
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi b. 1963

Kondairaren Ihauterian: Dantza
Javier Busto b. 1949

Note: These are MP3's that I made from my meager audio equipment at home. I'll be submitting this DAT to our studio guy for a more professional production. The singing, however, is superb.

You guys really get to me sometimes

Jennifer Scively writes beautifully. I'm always touched by her thoughts and always thankful that choir has played a part in her life. She recounts some of her experiences on her latest blog--one that mentions our rehearsals:

What I realized was that I can look at communication as a very musical aspect because music is based on communication. In UAB’s Concert Choir, we used to spend entire afternoons picking apart our music looking for deeper meanings and discussing different technical things we could do to relay exactly what we wanted to an audience who couldn’t see the music and hadn’t been in on our discussions. There were moments during our performances when it was evident that we’d done our job and everyone in the concert hall was “on the same page,” so to speak. Those moments were intimate and sometimes spiritual. Everyone wants to understand and be understood and when that happens, communication can be a beautiful thing.

Thanks, Jennifer. You are a special girl.

Mozart Auditionees

Here is what Erin gave me, organized by part:

UPDATED

Soprano: Lindsey, Jessica, Sarah
Mezzo: Whitney, Maggie, Meghan, Erin
Tenor: David, Sean, Anthony, Patrick, Tommy
Baritone: Charles, Clay, Evan

Registering for Concert Choir Fall 2006

Concert Choir will have to register for two sections next fall (see page 101 of new course schedule).

You will need to register for:
#6611 MUP 220-1G 1 credit
#6616 MUP 220L-2E 0 credit hours

Nick Cummins is a Cursed Man

And he has shared his curse with me.

The name of the curse? LOST.

Nick became obsessed with it and then shared the DVD Season 1 with me. Now I can't get enough of it. The show keeps me up at night as I watch episode after episode after episode after episode.

Nick Cummins is a Cursed Man.

And now I am cursed.

The week ahead

Tuesday: No Rehearsal

Wednesday: Recording Session, Bluff Park Methodist (tell your friends!)
Directions from Music Building to Bluff Park.

Thursday: No Rehearsal

Tentative New York Rehearsal Schedule

Look here for tentative rehearsal schedule for New York.

And, here is more information about concerts, tickets, cruise tickets, pictures, concert dress, participating ensembles, etc.

Music Ed Classes

More changes

"Learning Lab"

New Choir Schedule for Next Year:

M&W&F,(Aug. 22-Dec. 14) 2:00PM-2:50PM HC 308
MUP 220-1G
6611

Tu&Th,(Aug. 22-Dec. 14) 2:00PM-3:15PM HC 308
MUP 220L-2E
6616

I know that many of you know this already, but it just hit the online scheduling system: Choir has a new time next year.

Gone is the 3-day a week 2 hour per rehearsal. While that schedule had its benefits, it also had its problems. I don't need to tell you what they were, you know! Scheduling other classes around choir was an issue. A big issue.

This new schedule gives us 300 minutes (what I've identified as necessary for a successful choir).

What's new:

1. We rehearse every day, not three days a week.
2. We rehearse on Mondays and Fridays (just spelling it out)
   
3. (however, i'll likely do sectionals on Fridays--all men, all women, etc. or not have class on some Fridays)
4. There will be no class conflict allowed.
   

There are a couple of other changes in the class schedule. I'll explain more soon.

What was the last thing I said?

From Allen Simon at ChoralNet:

I sometimes entertained myself trying to guess what was the last thing a conductor said to their group before they went onstage for a performance. Was it "Remember not to scratch your nose, and don't wave to the audience, and watch the conductor"? Was it "Tenors, if you miss that F sharp this time the bus is leaving without you tomorrow"? Was it "God is singing through you today"? Often you could tell by their faces as they entered.

Do you remember the last thing I said before ACDA?

I love that "God is singing through you today." Wish I'd thought of that.

It could have been: "Look like champions."

Or: "Basses, get that A or I'm going to go touchdown on your head."

Barry Manilow is in concert tonight. I know you've been dying to know that and I'm watching a bit of it now.

Barry seems to have had so much plastic surgery that he can't open his mouth very wide anymore.

He doesn't blink that often, either.

It seems to be a public TV fundraising concert.

If you get a chance, catch the show--or a little of it.

I used to like Barry but I think he's over the hill now. (sigh) Another one seems to have bitten the dust.

Wonderful words: Magnificent! Polished! Powerful!

Dale Peterson, Minister of Music/Composer in Residence at Auburn First Baptist Church sent this wonderful email to me and the UAB Choir today. He kindly gave permission for me to share it with you.

Dear Philip,

I intended to send this note sooner, but alas! the demands of work prevented it. I want to convey to you and the members of the UAB Concert Choir that the recent performance at the ACDA convention in WV was absolutely magnificent! Polished! Powerful! The audience agreed with me.

And we both know ACDA audiences are very difficult to please and impress. But that is exactly what the choir did!

Everything relating to the concert (literature and execution) was outstanding! It was one of those few times when I was actually proud to be an Alabamian! My best to you and the members of the Concert Choir!

Again BRAVO!

Sincerely,

Dale Peterson

Minister of Music/Composer in Residence
Auburn First Baptist Church

Mozart Solo Auditions

Date of Audition: Thursday, March 23 after choir

All voice parts
Dixit:
p. 14, m. 118-128

Confitebor:
p. 20, m. 35-57;
p. 24, m. 66-75

Beatus Vir:
p. 32, m. 60-73

Soprano Concentrations:
p. 36, m.114-125
p. 50, m. 11-42; 63-69
p. 61, m. 53-58

Keeping my students up to date

Yo, students . . . .

Wanted to keep you up-to-date on a couple of techs I'm following:

1. Origami Project: Microsoft's plan for the ultra mobile pc. Am I interested? yes. Here is a link to a high resolution image of a Samsung model.

2. Google Calendar: I've heard rumors of this for sometime; looks like it is finally going to arrive.

In other news . . .

3. It appears Lauren is coming home from Chile. I don't know what's up but I'm concerned. Keep Lauren in your prayers.

4. The girls are calling for some milk . . . I'll try to post later . . . as I am their parent and milk provider.

Flight information to NYC

Airlines: Continental Airlines 18 passengers 06 MAY 06 Dep BHM on CO 2354 @ 3:30PM Arr EWR @ 7:07PM 10 MAY 06 Dep EWR on CO 2756 @ 7:15PM Arr BHM @ 8:55PM	2) Airlines: Continental Airlines 22 passengers 06 MAY 06 Dep BHM on CO 2625 @ 11:50AM Arr IAH @ 1:39PM 06 MAY 06 Dep IAH on CO 62 @ 2:19PM Arr EWR @ 7:01PM 10 MAY 06 Dep EWR on CO 411 @ 11:55AM Arr IAH @ 2:46PM 10 MAY 06 Dep IAH on CO 2695 @ 3:340PM Arr BHM @ 5:26PM
Kristina Banks David Berg Luke Boone Anthony Concepcion Charlotte Copeland Marlon Copeland Philip Copeland Meredith Foster Tina Franks Georgette Gainey John Howard Chris Josof Jason Leger Katie Movelle Marybeth Verchot Erin Pair Jess O’Leary Tommy Nelson	Leigh Copeland Alison Fain Christina M Felderhoff Jasen Ewalt Melinda Ewalt Rebekah Guthrie Melissa Justice Linda Pannell Elizabeth Perkins Dale Reynolds Jackie Roche Martin Schulz Toni Stewart Ginger Swan Patrick Williams Genoveva Valle Patricia Valle Islara Vasquez Chrystal Whatley

Arts and Humanities article

uab-france-article1_Page_1
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Don't miss this article from the Arts and Humanities magazine on the choir's trip to France last year.

The file was too large as a PDF so I turned it into 2 pictures available on Flickr.

Thanks, Virginia

Thanks for stopping by today, Glee Club from the University of Virginia.

I enjoyed hearing this group sing--the concert was very enjoyable. I especially enjoyed meeting the groups director, Mr. Frank Albinder. We had a chance to talk before their concert at South Highland and he has quite a resume:

Frank Albinder became the Music Director of the Washington Men's Camerata in the fall of 1999. He came to Washington, DC from San Francisco, where he spent eleven years as as singer in and the Associate Conductor of the a cappella vocal ensemble Chanticleer. He appears on 17 of the group's recordings, including Wondrous Love, which was recorded under his direction, and the Grammy Award-winning Colors of Love, for which he chose the repertoire and designed the concept. From 1984-88, Mr. Albinder was Director of Choral Activities at Davidson College in North Carolina, and he has conducted and sung in numerous festivals in the United States and abroad. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and master's degrees in both vocal performance and choral conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Albinder also serves as Music Director of the Woodley Ensemble, an 18-voice professional, mixed chamber choir in Washington, DC and is Music Director designate of the University of Virginia Glee Club (the men's chorus of the University of Virginia).

Best of luck to you in the rest of your tour. Thanks for a beautiful "Ave Maria" by Biebel.

July 2007

Check this out as a possibility for 2007.


International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival & Competition, Wernigerode, Germany
The colourful town on the foot of the Harz mountains, Wernigerode, is host to one of the most attractive MUSICA MUNDI competitions. The scenic town with its half-timbered architecture and one of the most beautiful market squares in Germany serves as the ideal background for this festival with its pleasant atmosphere. Apart from the actual competition, there is a wealth of encounter concerts, consultation sessions and opportunities for concerts. This competition takes place every two years.

Glee Clubs Visit Birmingham

Two glee clubs are visiting Birmingham.

The first, from the University of Virginia, is at South Highland Presbyterian Church tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.

The second is the Harvard Glee Club:

The Harvard University Glee Club, America's oldest college chorus, will sing at Indian Springs School on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the concert, which will be in the school's concert hall, are $25 for premium tickets, $10 for regular admission and $5 for students. Call 226-8707 for tickets and information.

Heard Birmingham-Southern Today

I heard a choir concert by Birmingham-Southern today and observed a rehearsal of Samford's Acapella Choir on Friday. Will report to you observations and realizations.

Both groups have talented directors. I'm very glad that I have the talent I have in front of me this year.

At All-State, I began focusing on building next year's group. I'll be bringing you into that very soon--Whitney has already been a big help by telling her "Bob Jones" choir friends about her experiences at UAB. That's what we need from the rest of you . . . word of mouth reports about your experiences at UAB. There are people we need! Let's go get them.

Visiting All-State

IMG_0244
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I'm hanging out at Alabama All State Choir this week looking for more great singers like Johnny Depp, pictured to the right here.

It's a great time for recruiting--and also a great time for a little choir vacation. I've enjoyed the respite from choir this week but I'm looking forward to being in rehearsal again soon.

Up next: some recording time, some old favorites, some standards of the repertoire.

Carnegie Hall Ticket Info

If you are interested in purchasing tickets for our Carnegie Hall performance for guests or family, click here for the order form.

vanity alert

Spotted this today.

Travelin' Light

Found this site today, hope to remember it the next time we head to Europe . . . packing in one bag. Is it possible?