If I were a policeman

If I were a policeman, this would probably happen to me . . .

Danny Boy

For those of you who don't follow Chris Reid's blog:



Thanks, Chris. Great find.

Star of the County Down (and more)

Other music that we are going to learn available from ITUNES.

Here's the Itunes link for "Star of the County Down." This is an awesome piece . . . but it will be quite difficult to learn. My advice . . . listen now!

The Flower of Maherally. A fantastic tenor solo. Choir back up. Anthony?

Dulaman. Charles?

Dulaman. Chanticleer singing.

Schutz: So far ich hin zu Jesu christ SWV 379

Preparing for next semester . . . studying the Schutz piece I gave you at the end of the semester.

Lots of recordings on Itunes.

Here's the one I like best. And it's nine cents cheaper at Amazon's mp3's.
This one is also worthy of a listen. Or purchase. (it's only 99 cents, you know)

Found this information about the work here.

11. So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ

SWV 379 is a setting of the fifth and final stanza of the hymn Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist by Nikolaus Hermann (1500-1561) published in the Gesangbüchlein Geistlicher...Psalmen at Bonn in 1575. It has a rhythmic scheme of 87878888 syllables, and a rhyme scheme of abcbde.

Schütz's setting is intensely depictive. The opening figure, with its simultaneous stepwise ascent and descent, demonstrates the contrapuntal technique fuga inversa, which Schütz used to encapsulate the spiritual paradox that the descent into death was simultaneous with the ascent to the afterlife. To set "ruhe" Schütz's rhythmic motion nearly stands still and comes to a full stop in m. 19. The music for "kann mich aufwecken" seems to shake the listener from slumber, and the motet closes with "ewigen Leben" set with rapturous flourishes.

So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ, mein Arm tu ich ausstrecken, so schlaf ich ein und ruhe fein, kein Mensch kann mich aufwecken, denn Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn, der wird die Himmelstür auftun, mich führen zum ewigen Leben.

Thus I go hence to Jesus Christ, I stretch out my arm, thus I fall asleep and rest soundly; no one can wake me except for Jesus Christ, Son of God, who will open the gate of heaven and lead me to eternal life.

Zach Hill checks in

For those of you who knew Zach, he wrote me this email today:

Dr.Copeland,

I just wanted to let you I'm thinking about you and your family and wish you all a very Merry Christmas this year and that the Lord would bless you. You have played a very important part in my life and I just wanted you know that I appreciate the time I had singing for you at UAB. I'm working as a Database Developer at a company now and just recently became engaged to a Wonderful Woman. I thought that you would like a update and to know that you are on my mind and I am and will continue to pray for you and your family. May the Light of His love fill you this Christmas and all of your life!

Zachary Hill

His second email contained this:

Actually I was looking at the UAB choir blog today and trying to track down folks and see what was going on in people's lives. I was also listening to a UAB Choir Listening CD from when i was still there..Maute Saule, I Thank You Jesus, Jauzete Dame Herrn... were just a few on there. I was kind of reminiscing about when I was there and realized just how much i missed it. It is really weird how time has passed so quickly.

The No-Rehearsal Friday's - Spring 2008

No rehearsal on these days:

1/11
1/25
2/8
2/15
2/22

We'll plan a Saturday rehearsal soon.

The Competition in Cork

Looks like these are a few of the choirs (from what I can ascertain) that we will see in Cork. Formal announcement of the participating choirs will come later.

Mornington Singers, Dublin.
University of Alberta Madrigal Singers, Canada
molto cantabile, Switzerland
St. Johannes Chamber Choir, Sweden

Looks like fantastic competition. Mornington and Alberta have won before.

Competition Literature: Cork

Here it is, world:

Regina Coeli Romuald Twardowsky (b. 1930)
Edition Ferrimontana
(EF 2091)
2:49

Nunc Dimittis Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Novello
(NOV290459)
2:55

So Fahr Ich Hin Zu Jesu Christ, SWV 379 Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
CPDL: Choral Public Domain Library
(2:44)

With A Lily In Your Hand Eric Whitacre (b.1970)
Santa Barbara Music Publishing
SBMP 431
2:27

Timings:
Regina Coeli (Twardowski) 2:49
Nunc Dimittis (Holst) 2:55
So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ 2:44
With A Lily In Your Hand 2:34
11:02

Well, I Did It - The purging of the blogs

Well, I did it. I purged my bloglines feed of all the dead choir blogs. It was a little sad. Back when we started this blogging deal, we had quite a little community all blogging about our life, our music, our thoughts and whatever.

Today, I said goodbye to:
heregoesnothing (Sarah Labriola). Last post December 2006
Caroline Blog (Caroline Spears). Last post August 2005
Zach's Journal (Zach Hill). Last post November 2004
They Made Me Sign Up (Lauren Davidson). Last post August 2006
Who'Da Thunk It (John MarriedKristina). Last post February 2006
Illinois State Choirs. Last post October 2005
The Profound Thoughts of Jonathan Hood. Last post February 2006
ClayTablets (Clay Rector). Last post September 2006
Andy's Often Psycho Rant About Important Things. First and Last Post September 2005
Radagast1986. Last post December 2006
Mitchell Miller. Last post December 2006

Thanks for the memories.

The Importance of Diction

You might like this as much as I did . . . also posted on ChoralNet:

I found this here.

A choral director used this video to make a point about the importance of diction in singing.




Here are the actual words - but don't look until you've watched it without them at least once and tried to make sense of it!

1. Blessed city, heavenly Salem,
vision dear of peace and love,
who of living stones art builded
in the height of heaven above,
and, with angel hosts encircled,
as a bride dost earthward move;

2. from celestial realms descending,
bridal glory round thee shed,
meet for him whose love espoused thee,
to thy Lord shalt thou be led;
all thy streets and all thy bulwarks
of pure gold are fashioned.

Results of Today's Work

Rune of Hospitality
Nunc Dimittis (Holst)
Christmas Song (version 1)
Christmas Song (version 2)

So I'm Driving To Work Today . ..

IMG_1563, originally uploaded by philipco.

So I'm driving to work today talking on my cell phone and all of a sudden I spot this scene in front of me.

Now, I'm not one to really think about omens, but this certainly had me worried about the rest of my day.



I took three pictures of the unique scene and only drifted into another lane once. Note: I had nothing to do with the name of the cow . . . what you see is what I saw.

Sacrilege: Burger King Whopper Goes Away

Burger King eliminates the Whopper.

Recording Session is a YES

Recording session is a YES:

Concert Choir
Recording Session: Nunc, Rune, Christmas Song
Thursday, December 13 1:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Bluff Park Methodist

This is part of our final exam, attendance is required and you will be dismissed in plenty of time to make your next exam.

A tremendous concert

I'm busy working on Ireland competition details . . . but needed to say to everyone involved with today: FANTASTIC JOB!!!!!

I'll have more specific comments later and I look forward to hearing yours. Let me know what you thought.

CAA: Dress Rehearsal Schedule

8:00 UAB and Birmingham Concert Chorale seated
UAB on Jemison Stage
BCC in choral balcony (Jemison)
BCC runs their set
UAB runs Nunc, Christmas Song

8:40 Brass downbeat: Willcocks: The First Noel
Rehearse Gabrieli “Canzon noni toni” (Brass Only)

9:00 Samford arrives and is seated

Gabrieli: Et In Terra Pax
Pinkham: 3rd Movement
Handel: And the Glory (brass is dismissed)
Birmingham Concert Chorale dismissed
UAB runs “Rune of Hospitality” with Joel Smith, guitar
UAB dismissed

10:00 Samford runs set

10:30 ASC closes

Call Times for Sunday, December 9, 2007]

Birmingham Concert Chorale: 2:00 Hulsey Recital Hall
UAB: 2:00 Hulsey 210 (Band room)
Samford: 2:00 Hulsey 308 (Choir room)

Friday's Performance

Be there tomorrow at 10:30 AM and we sing from 11 - 11:30. Directions below. My advice: carpool.

Where to Gather: third floor of the South Exhibition Hall.

UPDATE: BRING YOUR CHRISTMAS MUSIC PACKET.

Wear nice clothes that have a lot of black . . . NOT the concert outfits.

Full choir rehearses at 1:30 in Hulsey Recital hall. See you then!


Here are directions:

From Atlanta and Gadsden
Take 22nd Street exit from I-20/59 west (125) At bottom of ramp go straight across 22nd Street. At the next intersection take a right on to Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North. The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and Medical Forum are on your right and the Arena, Concert Hall, Exhibition Halls and Meeting Rooms are on your left.

From US Hwy 280
Take Carraway Blvd. exit. At the second light take left on to Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North. Go four blocks.

From Huntsville, Montgomery or Tuscaloosa
At the downtown interchange of I-20/59 and I-65 take I-20/59 east to Atlanta and Gadsden. Take the 17th Street exit (125A) and turn left on to 8th Avenue (first light). Take left on 19th Street, go under the interstate and the Arena is on the right side of the street.

Vestavia Country Club Singers--UPDATED

Here's what I've got scheduled. They want you to wear nice clothes . . . khakis, white shirt and tie for guys and nice outfit for girls.

UPDATED

Tuesday December 4, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sami Ashley
Elizabeth Bannister
Anthony Concepcion
Bryan Bastow

Thursday December 6, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Katie Harris
Whitney Cummins
Brian Denton
Jason Leger

Friday December 7, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Samantha Pace
Whitney Cummins
Anthony Concepcion
Jason Leger


Saturday December 8, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Jenny Smith
Nancy Lewis
Roxy Nelson
Jake Richey
Lincoln Parrott
Jason Leger

Sunday December 9, 2007 11:00 am. to 12:30 p.m.
CANCELLED


Tuesday December 11, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sadie Mason-Smith
Whitney Cummins
Anthony Concepcion
Bryan Bastow

Wednesday December 12, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Katie Harris
Madison Holler
Jake Richey
Ron Baxter

Thursday December 13, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sadie Mason-Smith
Jennifer Thorp
Brian Denton
Ron Baxter

Friday December 14, 2007 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Katie Fussell
Jenny Smith
Brian Denton
Alex Fecanin

Christmas Carol Packet and Singing around

For those going a'caroling, I've created this packet. Please download it, print it out, put it in a folder and show up at your appointed time.

Proper dress for Vestavia Country Club: Women nice clothes, men in khakis, button up shirt, and tie. My thought: look like carolers.

On Friday, I've committed us to three groups of 8 that will perform as Christmas Carolers at the BJCC. For those who don't have exams during the Friday late morning slot, we'll show up at the BJCC at 10:30 and sing from 11:00 - 11:45.

Special note: Solos are announced in previous post.

Results: Christmas solos

Congratulations to these soloists for Nunc Dimittis:

Soprano: Samantha Pace
Tenor: Lincoln Parrott

For Christmas Song, I'll be choosing from these women with help from Dr. Kris:

Ashley Arrington
Whitney Cummins
Nancy Lewis
Katie Smith
Jennifer Thorp

Help me figure it out

It's your turn to help me shape tasks for the choir, students.

Goal: We have a goal of putting out a CD this summer from our recordings.

Opportunity: We have three songs ready to sing in performance. (well, almost)

Potential reward: If we have a recording session, we can put these down for posterity.

Problem: Scheduling recording sessions is difficult and potentially infringes upon your time.

Possibility: We have a stated exam time for the 2E part of our class on Thursday, December 13 from 1:30 - 4:00. UPDATE: The more I think about it, this is the ideal time to do it. It's scheduled and there should be no other conflicts with it unless you are in the Honors School (and they might not have exams then). My advice: don't schedule anything on that day and time.

Shall I make that a definite? Speak now. If you are good for it, I need to schedule the church, the recording engineer, put it on the UAB Music Dept. calendar, and hope that Joel Smith (our wonderful guitarist) has that time free.

Singing with yourself

It's always interesting.

It's always interesting to see what people say about you when they don't know you can read their blog.

And . .

I find this site very interesting. I searched, but there is no Choral Director Rumor Mill.