UAB choirs

Sadie's Prezi

2011-08-18T15:08:00.002-05:00

Sadie asked me to post this . . . A beautiful project of truths!

Five Things I've Learned from Dr. Copeland on Prezi

The Power of Truth

2010-10-22T17:38:00.002-05:00

Many of us attended the funeral service of Madison Holler's mom today.

It was a powerful service for the mother of our beloved Madison. I was prepared for a couple of the truths that I knew that I would face:

Feeling the pain that Madison is going through - and reminded of similar pains that others have had in recent days.
The strong parenting urge I felt - that I must be there for my children.
The reminder that life is brief - that we all are subject to a certain fate.

I wasn't prepared to see and hear the UAB Choir - that took me by surprise.

I have seen members of the choir since our last moments together, but today was the first time that I saw you as a group and I wasn't ready for it. I didn't realize that I would get so caught up in the strong emotions that I felt throughout the service - it was all there - empathy and love for Madi, a feeling of mortality, fatherhood.

And then I experienced the overwhelming specialness of the people I was fortunate to conduct and teach and mentor and love for a certain number of years. There is a special feeling that comes from leading such a unique group of people - when you are gathered together there is a very present and invisible force that I felt very strongly.

As time has passed since our last time together, I have received numerous confirmations that I made the right decision to leave UAB . . . it was the right time and I am in the place I need to be.

But as you sang today, I experienced one very clear and consuming truth: that it was a privilege to have been a part of your lives - especially as your leader - for a brief time.

Tell me where is the road I can call my own,

That I left, that i lost, so long ago.

All these years I have wondered, oh when will I know,

There's a way, there's a road that will lead me home.

After wind, After rain, when the dark is done,

As i wake from a dream, in the gold of day,

Through the air there's a calling from far away,

There's a voice I can hear that will lead me home.

"Rise up, follow me, come away," is the call,

With the love in your heart as the only song;

There is no such beauty as where you belong,

Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.

Thank you for the time that we spent together - both today and for the last few years.

I miss you, and I love you very much.

plc

Friends HS

2010-08-31T17:15:00.001-05:00

This would be the blog post about Friends High School getting straight superiors at State Festival.

Welcome, Brian Kittredge

2010-07-15T10:49:00.001-05:00

Welcome, Brian Kittredge, as the Interim Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

You have a great choir to work with and I am sure you will do an outstanding job.

And for the rest of us, a little about Mr. Kittredge:

Brian is a native of Binghamton, New York, but has lived in south Louisiana for the past four years. He is currently a doctoral student in the choral conducting program at LSU. Prior to LSU, Brian taught middle and high school general music, conducted three choirs, and directed the annual musical production at the Louise S. McGehee School in New Orleans. He holds a Bachelors of Music from Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA; and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. In his spare time, Brian enjoys practicing yoga and attending LSU sporting events.

strange sight

2010-06-11T21:56:00.001-05:00

Strange to see my former position advertised:

There is already "buzz" about the position - what recent DMA graduate wouldn't want a position with a great choir that just performed at ACDA?

The New UAB Choirs are Tweeting

2010-06-10T21:12:00.000-05:00

A great idea, whoever did this!

UAB Choirs are Tweeting. I'll be watching close!

Congratulations, Charles!

2010-05-26T07:29:00.000-05:00

Charles Henry was named the new director of choral music at Spain Park High School. Needless to say, I am very proud. As a student, Charles always did the "right thing." He was hard-working, respectful, and thorough. He's carried those qualities (and much more) into the early years of his career and he's done a fantastic job at Pinson High School for the past few years. He was officially named as Spain Park High School's new choral director - and that speaks highly of several things:

Charles' talent, ability, and personality
His hard work at Pinson High School
His excellent background in choral music with Carl Davis at Decatur High School
His training in music and choral music education at UAB.

Congratulations, Charles.

Notes from Technology Presentation, Podium 2010, Saskatoon, Canada

2010-05-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

Here is the link for my Canadian friends.

It is official

2010-05-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

It is official - I have resigned my position at UAB and will become a member of the Samford Music Faculty.

Things I want you to know:

Directing the choirs at UAB was my greatest joy during my tenure at the university. I will always value the nine wonderful years of music making and laughter we shared together.
The relationships that I have with UAB students and faculty are important to me and I hope that they will continue.

Why I chose to leave . . . . There was nothing negative about my position at UAB that caused me to look for another job. You will want to know why I made the decision, so I wanted to share some of the reasons.

Samford appealed to me because:

The Samford faculty, like the UAB faculty, is outstanding. There are four full-time voice teachers and one part-time.
Samford is an arts-centered university. Presidents and provosts, along with scholarships and program budgets, support the choir and believe in its importance.
International travel is funded in part by the university and encouraged every two years in the official description of the choir.
UAB's urban campus was never a long-term career choice for me - the facilities and non-urban nature of the Samford campus is appealing.
There are three separate outstanding performing spaces for choirs: Brock Hall, Hodges Chapel, and Reid Chapel. Two of those spaces have organs, allowing for exploration of the rich choral-organ literature.
String faculty and string students allow for exploration of other types of choral literature.
There is a tradition at Samford that I greatly admire - alumni frequently attend the concerts of the choir.
My family and I are very happy in Birmingham for many reasons and Samford looks like a place I can spend the rest of my career. After a certain amount of time, my children will be able to attend Samford and other similar institutions tuition free - a gift that is worth about $250,000 from what I know about current tuition costs.

I don't know if you want to know all that, but we have always shared honestly with each other and I want to honor that practice by communicating openly about my thinking.

I'm at O'Henry's nearly every morning - come see me if you want to talk.

philip l. copeland
former director of choral activities,
the university of alabama at birmingham

Miree family - with deepest gratitude

2010-05-12T10:37:00.000-05:00

Choir,

On your behalf, I accepted a gift from Harry and his family today - a photo of our performance at Independent Presbyterian Church for Kyser Miree's memorial service on April 20, 2010.

It was a very meaningful gift that commemorated a very special day for us together:

and this:

Tuxedos and dresses due now

2010-05-04T17:44:00.001-05:00

Choir,

It is past time for you to turn in your tuxedo or choir dress. If you don't have it in by this Friday, I'll have to put a hold on your account.

You need to turn in your dress in the hallway across from the choir room.

These pictures will help you know where to go.

Meaningful

2010-04-30T06:21:00.003-05:00

Choir,

I found last night quite moving.

We celebrated the conclusion of our year with meaningful words, funny remembrances, and silly awards.

I'm still laughing!

Party @ O'Henrys

2010-04-28T14:25:00.003-05:00

Choir,

Since we aren't in Paris for the party,

and since there hasn't been a better idea,

I've come up with the following plan for Thursday:

6:30 recording session @ Bluff Park Methodist Church

8:00 dinner on your own

9:00 fun at O'Henry's - coffee shop at Brookwood Mall beside Jos. A. Banks

Updates and Reminders

2010-04-27T07:52:00.004-05:00

Updates and Reminders

1. Recording Session - Thursday, 6:30 @ Bluff Park (Bluff Park has now confirmed - 8:06 a.m.)

2. 8:00ish - End of the Year choir party is Thursday Night after the recording session. Place is still TBA - waiting for confirmation on place/food.

3. No recording session on Friday - you are free! We need to get all we can on Thursday night, so come ready to do your best.

I figured it out

2010-04-26T09:59:00.003-05:00

I had a little trouble figuring out how the triplets saw where babies come from (the story I referenced in choir the other day).

Here was the sequence of events:

1. Teacher sends us a link to bear.org - a site with a bear cam.
2. They have archived video clips of the cam on YouTube.
3. One of the clips is to Lily the bear's birth.
4. In the *related* clips there is this video of some other baby lily birth.

Click this link to see how my babies saw pictures from a live birth. And why Caroline looked so disgusted.

No Choir on Monday

2010-04-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

Neither choir will meet on Monday.

You've done a spectacular job this semester - I was very proud of the concert this past Friday night. A great end to the year.

it was truly angelic . .

2010-04-21T14:59:00.001-05:00

Dr. Copeland,

My name is Paul George and I serve as the Director of Development for the UAB School of Engineering. This is also my alma mater, as both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees came from UAB.

Yesterday I attended the memorial service for Kyser Miree. His parents are wonderful friends of the School of Engineering, and – like you – we are devastated at this senseless act of violence. The Miree family will remain in our prayers for peace and healing.

Before yesterday, I had never had the opportunity to hear The UAB Choir perform. That is a sad indictment of me…I love music, I lead worship at our church, and I am married to a Birmingham Southern alum who sang in the BSC Concert Choir under Dr. Hugh Thomas. I have always just been too busy and never sought out opportunities to hear our very own UAB Choir.

Although it was a tragic reason to hear the group, I hope you will pass along to them for me just what a beautiful, beautiful performance they offered. The range, the dynamics, the blend, the arrangements…it was truly angelic. I was touched deeply by their work, and I feel strongly that God used them in a mighty way yesterday. Thanks to you and to them for sharing your immense gifts.

I will not be remiss in finding other, happier opportunities to hear my UAB Choir. Thanks again to all for what you did.

Paul D. George
Director of Development and External Relations
UAB School of Engineering
Direct: (205) 934-8481
Mobile: (205) 482-7003

Harry's brother

2010-04-19T09:26:00.004-05:00

Concert Choir,
I figure that you've heard by now about the tragic death of Harry Miree's brother this past weekend. (obituary here)

I contacted the family with the offer of our choir singing at the funeral and Harry's mother graciously accepted my offer. I'll find out later this morning about the details, but here is what I know now:

the funeral is tuesday, april 20 at 3:00 p.m.
it is at Independent Presbyterian Church (map here)
we will meet there at the church at 2:00
We will wear our tuxedos and dresses - avoid perfume, it will be warm in the choir loft
I'm not sure what we will sing, but be ready for:

Esti dal
There will be rest
Abide with Me

Abide With Me (arr. Moses Hogan)
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

In life and death, O Lord, abide with me.

There Will Be Rest (Frank Ticheli)

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace,
– above me Stars I shall find.

--Sara Teasdale

Esti dal (Zoltan Kodaly)
Translation:
As I lay down for the night by the edge of the woods,
I pull my blanket up to my chin.
I put my hands together,
Thus imploring you, my good Lord

My Lord, grant me a place to stay,
For I’ve grown tired of wandering,
Of hiding,
Of living in a foreign land

My Lord, grant me a good night.
Send me your blessed angel
To give courage to the dreams in our hearts.

--

One more chance at recording (well really 2)

2010-04-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Our next time to record is during our exam time. I have James Bevelle holding afternoons and evenings on April 29 and 30. I would like to do evening recording sessions but need you to reserve that time now. If we can't do nights, plan on recording on both days at 2:00 pm. Perhaps we can record both evenings and have our end of the year party after the Friday session.

Recording session results

2010-04-16T19:21:00.003-05:00

Hosted on what will eventually be my new website, philipcopeland.org!

Mate Saule

Regina Caeli
Pretty good recording, need better first chord. Individual voices coming out occasionally. Listen close and let's get it better.

Sourwood Mountain
2nd sopranos, listen to the end and you'll find the spot I can't fix. Can you help?
Some balance issues in a couple of sections, but pretty close to a fine recording.

Concert Choir - Spring 2010 Songs and Soloists

2010-04-15T16:06:00.003-05:00

UAB CONCERT CHOIR

Mate Saule
Peteris Vasks, (b. 1946)

Regina Caeli
Cecilia McDowall, (b. 1951)

There Will Be Rest
Frank Ticheli, b. 1958

Sourwood Mountain
~arr. John Rutter, b. 1945
Lincoln Parrot, tenor
Tony Morse, bass

Black Sheep
arr. John Rutter, b. 1943
Sadie Mason-Smith, soprano

Roll, Chariot
Noble Cain, 1896 - 1977
Shane Bloemetjie, tenor

commandments

2010-04-13T21:44:00.003-05:00

I found it here.

mf @ aso

2010-04-11T22:30:00.002-05:00

Save the Date

2010-03-31T11:35:00.000-05:00

We are considering a UAB Choir Retreat this fall.

Will and I talked about dates and $$ for the UAB Concert Choir to travel to Camp McDowall on either August 20-21 or August 27-28.

I think that August 27-28 makes more sense for the choir - it gives us more than a week to promote it to the new students.

For you - save the date. It is on the Google Choir Calendar now for the 27/28.

Catherine and the broken wrist

2010-03-30T18:40:00.000-05:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New Dresses

2010-03-29T13:45:00.003-05:00

Dr. Reynolds says we have money for new dresses.

Let's get going on it!

Look here and let me know what you think. I like Southeastern - they are an Alabama company and they have worked well with us in the past.
Ms. Reynolds likes to cover arms and wants to get a dress that looks good on every body type. That leaves us with this if we go with Southeastern.
We use this company with Birmingham Concert Chorale.
One thing I saw with Conspirare that I really liked was their use of the pashmina to add color as well as unify the group. Look and see what you think. Different colors for each girl (or select from designated colors):

New Dresses

2010-03-29T13:35:00.000-05:00

Dr. Reynolds says we have money for new dresses.

Let's get going on it!

Look here and let me know what you think. Ms. Reynolds likes to cover arms and wants to get a dress that looks good on every body type.

Recording sessions

2010-03-26T16:33:00.002-05:00

Concert Choir,

Recording dates:

1. Tuesday, March 30 5:45 p.m. (after opera) (place TBA)
2. Friday, April 2 2:oo p.m. - during class time (place TBA)

Hierarchy of Choral Stupidity

2010-03-24T21:55:00.000-05:00

I love this title.

SHPC organ news

2010-03-20T22:27:00.001-05:00

look --

It made the front page of the religion page in Saturday's paper:

Must See, Religion »

Old Ensley Highlands Presbyterian organ reclaimed from empty church

By Greg Garrison -- The Birmingham News

March 20, 2010, 5:30AM

South Highland Presbyterian director of music Philip Copeland, left, organist Jamie McLemore and organ builder Robert Coulter discuss plans to install the organ in the chapel at South Highland Presbyterian Church. (The Birmingham News / Hal Yeager) The only sound echoing inside the sanctuary of the long dormant Ensley Highlands Presbyterian Church the past decade has been the sound of pieces of plaster falling on the red carpet and cushioned pews.

The elegant 1926 E.M. Skinner organ remained silent, unplayed.

The dilapidated sanctuary was buzzing with activity again on Wednesday as workers took down the 1,224 pipes of the 17-rank organ. Organ builder Robert Coulter will refurbish the pipes. "It'll be restored in our shop in Atlanta," Coulter said.

Smaller pipes from the 1926 E.M. Skinner organ at the defunct Ensley Highland Presbyterian Church are packed in boxes with bubble wrap in preparation for a move to the chapel at South Highland Presbyterian Church. (The Birmingham News / Hal Yeager) By next year, the organ could be rebuilt inside the chapel of the South Highland Presbyterian Church near Five Points South.

http://blog.al.com/living-news/2010/03/old_ensley_highlands_presbyter.html

Gawthrop praise

2010-03-20T09:19:00.002-05:00

This surprised me:

Dan and I sometimes argue over the nature of copyright on ChoralNet - that's what he is referencing in the last line.

Such nice words!

Here it is on the ChoralNet site.

wishes

2010-03-14T21:26:00.003-05:00

Wow

2010-03-13T20:14:00.002-06:00

Unbelievable post:

http://paulcarey440.blogspot.com/2010/03/absolutely-great-performance-by-univ-of.html

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A little too far

2010-03-13T13:11:00.001-06:00

Guys, thanks. But this is a little too far.

The Game

2010-03-11T05:59:00.001-06:00

Will ponders:

"Would they have waited for me?"

All the details for you

2010-03-10T09:47:00.001-06:00

Here is another link to all the information about our trip tomorrow.

Opera thrilling

2010-03-06T19:17:00.000-06:00

The opera performance Friday night was thrilling - congrats to all involved.

Rooming list

2010-03-05T11:48:00.001-06:00

Choir,

This is the rooming list that I have turned in to the hotel. If you want to make changes now, you will need to contact me.

Nick Recommends Hueys

2010-03-05T11:19:00.004-06:00

Here is my next venture for Thursday lunch:

Menu here.

Rendezvous Fail

2010-03-05T11:17:00.000-06:00

Abandoning Rendezvous attempt. Too expensive, not open for lunch, etc.

Found out about the Rendevous

2010-03-05T10:32:00.002-06:00

UPDATE: I was originally thinking about the Rendevous as an evening meal for us. However, the place is less than a mile down the street from the Cannon Center, and that is where we will have our morning warm-up as well as our afternoon concert viewing. I'm now thinking that we will travel as a group in the bus to the Rendevous, eat lunch there, and then head back as a group for the afternoon concert session.

Here's what I've discovered -

For us to eat at the Rendevous, it will cost us close to $28 per person.

If we got our number up to 50 (we are at 45 right now) we could move into a buffet style meal.

That price seems a bit steep for college students, it seems to me, so I'm going to continue looking around.

However, I wanted you to weigh in on the matter. The Rendevous is a famous place in Memphis - especially for the "dry ribs."

Here is some more news about the Rendevous.

Get all the latest plans from the Tour Worksheet here.

Tell me about your wishes in the comments.

Spring 2010 Exam Times

2010-03-03T10:22:00.003-06:00

Here are the choir exam times:

Concert Choir:
1G: 4/30 1:30 - 4:00
2E: 4/29 1:30 - 4:00

Chamber Singers:
3A: 5/3 4:15 - 6:45

Broadtext?

2010-02-24T17:09:00.002-06:00

UAB Concert Choir Members:

Sign up!

rooming list

2010-02-24T11:20:00.002-06:00

Cute comments on the previous rooming list.

I'm ready to finalize it for the hotel. Here is the list.

Sectionals suspended

2010-02-22T12:06:00.001-06:00

We are making good progress on everything. I'm now suspending sectionals for the time being - let me know if your sectional needs individual help.

plc

Much to learn

2010-02-19T08:11:00.001-06:00

There is much we can learn from this choir and this performance:

Almighty and Everlasting God`

2010-02-17T15:56:00.002-06:00

There is a problem with this video - do you know what it is?

Still - a great model and video.

Are we an ADD choir?

2010-02-16T23:27:00.002-06:00

Just for the heck of it, I looked up the official symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. This is where I looked and this is what I found (verbatim):

Inattention symptoms:

Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork
Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play
Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork)
Often loses toys, assignments, pencils, books, or tools needed for tasks or activities
Easily distracted
Often forgetful in daily activities

What do you think? Any of that ring true?

Droning about the drone

2010-02-15T10:41:00.003-06:00

I found this little essay about singing chant against a drone line - and I really like it:

The Drone

Not all European chant was meant to be sung against a drone. A drone is a single note, usually the “base” note of the scale (the "do") or the fifth step up from the base note, held for the duration of the piece or until the mode changes.

Although you could sing Gregorian chant against a drone, it wasn’t really done that way. Hildegard’s chants (she lived from 1098-1179, by the way) are often sung against a drone. A lot of Celtic music (chants included) are performed against a drone.

Something amazing happens when you provide a drone. A drone builds a kind of foundation upon which the other notes depend. Sometimes the drone provides a rudimentary harmony, at other times a dissonance. But there is a kind of homing sensation about it. You feel the tension created by the changing notes and look forward to the resolution when the melody note matches the drone. The same thing continues to hold true in modern music; you wait for the root chord (the base note's chord) of the scale of the piece to know that the piece is finished.

As a singer, performing against a drone provides a real sense of time and space that I have never experienced with any other kind of music. I become more aware of the personal space that I occupy--my own size and shape--and the size and shape of the space or room in which I stand. I am more aware of my breathing, and of how much breath I spend when I sing, of the sounds coming from the room itself, of any sounds outside the room. I slow down, and really get the point of the chant, really feel it in my body, hear from the space when the notes should change to make the meaning clear. I become part of the chant, and the chant becomes part of me.

I had a conductor (David Babbitt of the San Francisco Bach Choir) who said that chant is like a garden hose. Since humans began to vocalize, someone somewhere has chanted. If you take a moment and breathe quietly in the space where you are, you can feel when it’s your turn to come in. Chant is passed along through time and space from person to person, like water through a garden hose. For me, the drone helps my hectic modern mind connect to the hose of history and the future and take my turn.

Program Notes - ACDA 2010 performance

2010-02-13T19:59:00.003-06:00

I worked on program notes for our upcoming ACDA performance that you can look at here.

I was surprised that I was able to find Liber usualis chants hit our concert at the beginning, middle, and ending . . . that made me pretty happy.

I've also been corresponding with composer Cecilia McDowall today - we talked a little about the Regina caeli and I found the original plainchant in the Liber usualis and sent it to her after her first email.

Early email:

I remember looking at Regina caeli plainchant before writing the motet and something of that footprint stayed with me, only speeded up! The Alleluia’s seemed opportunities for contemplation after the faster passages and each harmonic shift downwards allowed for a return to the opening statement as the climax of the work without pushing the soprano line higher.

Later email:

Dear Philip,

Wow, you are most impressively on the case!

Thank you for the Liber usualis download. Looking back, I can’t be certain of how I thought about the writing of Regina caeli; nothing literal from the plainchant, more a feel of the stepwise shape of the chant phrasing, I think.

You raise an interesting point about the ending. A final, plangent conclusion could indeed bring the work to a resounding close and yet I wanted something which might be a little subtle, something which could melt into a big acoustic of, say, our larger cathedrals or College Chapels, something to slip away into the distance. Not an apologetic ending, more one that might just bring the listener back to a mood of meditation.

I worked some of her comments into the program notes. Let me know what you think.

Choir Cancelled. Snow induces mass hysteria.

2010-02-12T13:31:00.003-06:00

Choir is canceled for Friday, February 12, 2009.

Snow has induced mass hysteria:

Snow Won't Stop Us

2010-02-12T11:06:00.001-06:00

Snow won't stop rehearsal today unless it shuts down the University.

And President Carol Garrison doesn't sound like she will shut down the university.

Meet Catherine's Dad

2010-02-12T09:32:00.002-06:00

We had "Donuts for Dad" in Catherine's class this morning. I was greeted with this picture of myself and a little information that Catherine supplied. If you look close at the bottom, you'll see that "the neatest thing we've ever done" was "haveing a dat with daddy."

How sweet is that?

Congrats to B. and L.

2010-02-11T10:36:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to Brianna Moore for her first place award in the 2010 UAB Talent Search that was heldd Tuesday night at the Alys Stephens Center. I understand that her rendition of Etta James' "At Last" received thunderous applause and loud cheers.

And congrats also to Lindsay Warner for her 3rd place award in the same competition.

It's about time everyone realized where true beauty and talent resided on the UAB campus!

You Don't Know Anything About Technology

2010-02-10T17:35:00.001-06:00

From my convocation this morning:

You Dont Know Anything About Technology

View more presentations from philipco.

Choir director needed

2010-02-04T18:44:00.000-06:00

Got this email today:

May be some of UAB teachers or students will be
interesting.

OLA -catholic church /1728 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood. Cross
from the Homewood library/ have open position: Director of Adult
Choir. It's a good paying job for educated, talanted. dedicated,
responsible person. Need min. bachelors degree in choir conducting,
friendly personality, high spirited and motivated to do this job.

Please apply by sending your letter to SANSN234@gmail.com or call for
more imformation: 981-2773/533-4802, Alexandra Naylor -OLS music
director. Thank you!

Topic Sign Up

2010-02-04T12:44:00.000-06:00

Class,

Here is the link to the topics we selected.

Here is the link to PBWorks.

I'll be adding the "individual" workers to the wiki.

Presentation from today:

the dawning of possibility in rehearsal

2010-02-02T23:30:00.003-06:00

Presentation Notes 1/22/2010

2010-01-22T14:53:00.000-06:00

This is for the presentation I gave in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 22, 2010.

Link to Google Document Handout

Tapscott interview

2010-01-21T11:59:00.001-06:00

http://www.districtleaderspodcast.org/wordpress/2009/06/28/ep-41-don-tapscott-author-interview/

Room Sign up

2010-01-21T09:35:00.001-06:00

No more than four to a room. (memphis trip)

Sign up here.

Regina caeli

2010-01-19T13:42:00.000-06:00

Here is the link for the new sopranos - Regina caeli

Esti dal - Kodaly

Pronunciation help for Esti dal. (i will find a way to fix the links soon)

Memphis trip details

2010-01-15T18:36:00.001-06:00

I'm working on details for the Memphis trip.

Look here for my ideas.

Hotel Room Sign Up

2010-01-15T16:26:00.001-06:00

We are staying at the Hampton Inn - Southaven on our trip to Memphis for the Southern ACDA Convention Performance.

Hampton Inn - Southaven
390 Goodman Road W, Southaven, Mississippi, USA 38671

Tel: +1 (662) 996-1512
Fax: +1 (662) 349-8866

We have 13 rooms - we will sign up here but I'll not open it up to make *reservations* until next Tuesday.

Talk about it with your friends and we'll make it official soon.

conviction

2010-01-14T20:42:00.001-06:00

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

another possibility

2010-01-09T15:39:00.002-06:00

Looking at William Byrd's Sacerdotes Domini.

Latin:
Sacerdotes Domini incensum et panes offerunt Deo: et ideo sancti erunt Deo suo et non polluent nomen eius. Alleluia.

Translation:
Then did priests make offering of incense and loaves of finest wheat to God and therefore shall they be holy to their Lord and shall not defile his most holy name. Aleluia.

Idea .. . .

Sacerdotes would come after Mate Saule, which has this translation:

Translation:
Morning is rising like kneaded bread dough.
Mother’s footsteps clatter on the clay floor.
And loaves, covered with maple leaves,
Travel on the peel into the mouth of the oven.

Which sort of works with this idea of Sacerdotes:

Then did priests make offering of incense and loaves of finest wheat to God and therefore shall they be holy to their Lord and shall not defile his most holy name. Aleluia.

And the piece works in key as well as length and mood.

Rethinking the ACDA Program

2010-01-08T16:22:00.002-06:00

So here is my latest thought:

1. Spiritus Domini (chant) - 60 - 90 seconds
2. Mate Saule (Peteris Vasks) - 4:30 (5:30 - 6:00 total)
3. Spiritus Domini (William Byrd) - 90 seconds (7:30 total)
4. Regina Caeli (Cecilia McDowall) - 2:30 (10:00 total)
5. Death May Dissolve Me (Jaako Mantyjarvi) 4:30 (14:30 total)
6. Esti dal (Zoltan Kodaly) - 3:00 (17:30 total)
7. Nunc dimittis (Vytautas Miškinis) - 5:00 (23:30 total)

We have a 25 minute limit, so this works time wise.

Here is the textual breakdown:

1. Spiritus Domini (chant) - 60 - 90 seconds

The Latin:
Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, Alleluia.
Et hoc quod continet omnia, scientiam habet vocis. Alleluia.

Translation:
The Spirit of our Lord hath replenished the whole world, alleluia.
And that which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice. Alleluia.

2. Mate Saule (Peteris Vasks)

Translation:
Morning is rising like kneaded bread dough.
Mother’s footsteps clatter on the clay floor.
And loaves, covered with maple leaves,
Travel on the peel into the mouth of the oven.

Lambs still sleep with stars in their eyes
Ploughs still lie idle in men’s dreams,
But Mother Sun churns white butter –
Like eternity – on the threshold.

Time rolled by through the cold dew –
Three centuries or hours three.
When we awoke, the sun was already stepping
Up through the ash trees into the sky.

3. Spiritus Domini (William Byrd)

(see above)

4. Regina Caeli (Cecilia McDowall)

Translation:
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

5. Death may dissolve me (Jaako Mantyjarvi)

Death may dissolve my body now, And bear my spirit home;
Why do my minutes move so slow, Nor my salvation come?

With heavn’ly weapons I have fought The battles of the Lord,
Finished my course, and kept the faith, And wait the sure reward.

God has laid up in Heav’n for me A crown which cannot fade;
The righteous Judge at that great day Shall place it on my head.

Nor hat the King of Grace decreed This prize for me alone;
But all that love, and long to see Th’appearance of His Son.

Jesus, the Lord, shall guard me safe From ev’ry ill design;
And to his heav’nly Kingdom keep This feeble soul of mine.

God is my everlasting aid, And Hell shall rage in vain;
To Him be highest glory paid, And endless praise, Amen.

-William Billings – Isaac Watts

6. Esti dal (Zoltan Kodaly)

Translation:
As I lay down for the night by the edge of the woods,
I pull my blanket up to my chin.
I put my hands together,
Thus imploring you, my good Lord

My Lord, grant me a place to stay,
For I’ve grown tired of wandering,
Of hiding,
Of living in a foreign land

My Lord, grant me a good night.
Send me your blessed angel
To give courage to the dreams in our hearts.

7. Nunc dimittis (Vytautas Miškinis)

Translation:
LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.

Os Justi OUT

2010-01-08T08:26:00.002-06:00

Got this word last night:

Philip,

Another choir, Memphis Central HIgh School, has already programmed Os Justi. Is there another Bruckner piece you can add?

Brad

So I'm back to the drawing board. Right now I'm thinking we will begin with "Regina Caeli" and I'll start working that up again today.

I'm thinking of several pieces and haven't settled on anything yet.

Syllabus - Chamber Singers and Concert Choir

2010-01-06T12:06:00.001-06:00

Chamber Singers Syllabus

Concert Choir Syllabus

Sopranos Lost, Sopranos Gained

2010-01-06T11:42:00.003-06:00

In a very strange turn of events, we lost three sopranos over the break:

Lauren Nolen
Meredith Foster
Maegan Reid

We will miss these young women and wish them well.

And, thanks be to God, we are fortunate to be gaining four very talented sopranos for the first day of class:

Kristin Gordon
Katie Harris returns!
Ashleigh Nkashama
Lindsay Warner

We welcome these young women and look forward to incorporating them into our fine choir.

Spring 2010 Dates for Concert Choir

2010-01-06T11:33:00.002-06:00

Subscribe to UAB Choir calendar here:
ICAL format.
XML format.
HTML format.

Dates that we won't meet:
Friday, January 22, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010 (but we do have a performance the next day!)

January 30, 2010 UAB Honor Choir Concert

March 11-12, 2010 Trip to Memphis, TN for performance at the Southern ACDA Regiona Convention

April 23, 2010 UAB Spring Concert

My Favorite Christmas Song of 2009

2009-12-31T21:09:00.002-06:00

Too good.

Two TV's Free to Someone VERY soon

2009-12-31T11:49:00.000-06:00

They are biggish and NOT HDTV.

Anyone want them?

You need to act fast - we'll be donating them somewhere very soon.

Noel the Christmas Elf

2009-12-22T07:17:00.005-06:00

Some of you have wondered about our Christmas elf.

He now has a name: Noel.

Here is a picture of him:

He visited us last night and did this:

Online at the ACDA website

2009-12-21T11:24:00.000-06:00

Found this today.

Great job today

2009-12-16T22:36:00.000-06:00

For your continued enjoyment:

12/16/2009 Performance Details

2009-12-15T16:34:00.000-06:00

Here are the details for tomorrow morning:

1. Show up at 10:30 a.m.
2. Wear your concert dress (tuxedo, dresses)
3. Bring a black folder. I'll supply you with two pieces you will need:

Pinkham: Gloria in excelcis deo (for morning only)
What Sweeter Music (for evening concert)

4. We are singing three pieces tomorrow at noon:

The Three Kings
Videntes Stellam
Pinkham: Gloria in excelcis deo

5. We are singing many pieces tomorrow night (Show up at South Highland Presbyterian at 5:30 p.m.)

Death dissolves
Esti dal
Nunc dimittis

Ubi caritas
What Sweeter Music
Jesus Christ the Appletree

The Three Kings
Videntes Stellam

6. Directions to Harbert Center for morning performance are here.

7. Directions to South Highland Presbyterian Church are here.

Map to Rotary

2009-12-15T12:47:00.002-06:00

Found this here.

The elf

2009-12-11T07:49:00.001-06:00

An elf from the North Pole visited our home this morning. He turned our milk green. Claire wanted to have a meeting upstairs in her room so that the elf would not hear her. Catherine began to talk in a language that only the elf would understand. Caroline began to speak in iambic pentameter.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Tetris God

2009-12-08T12:46:00.002-06:00

Too cool.

iPhone users - you have to see this

2009-12-08T10:44:00.000-06:00

Found this awesome article today via Twitter.

The video is awesome as well and I have it on my iPhone now:

Recording session on Monday only

2009-12-04T09:23:00.001-06:00

Monday, 1:30 - 3:00
December 7, 2009

Bluff Park Methodist Church CONFIRMED

The Many Moods of Advent and Christmas

2009-12-01T10:23:00.003-06:00

Choir,

Here is the program for our performance on Wednesday, December 16th at South Highland Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m.

Link to full translations here.

Waiting

Death may dissolve me
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
(b. 1963)

Esti dal
Zoltan Kodaly (b. 1951)

Nunc dimittis No. 2
Vytautas Miškinis (b. 1954)

Charity and Beauty

Ubi Caritas
Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

What Sweeter Music
John Rutter (b. 1945)

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)

Still, Still, Still
arr. Norman Luboff (1917-1987)

Association with Royalty

The Three Kings
Healy Willan (1880-1968)

Videntes Stellam
Emanuele Vianelli

Christmas at the Alys 2009

2009-11-26T09:22:00.003-06:00

UPDATED:
Choirs Arrive: 1:00 p.m.
Starting time: 3:00 p.m.

Here is a link to learn everything you need to know about Christmas at the Alys 2009.

Picture for Christmas

2009-11-21T11:33:00.001-06:00

More testing and a fun Saturday morning.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cool pic by Walt Stricklin AKA Nancy's Hub

2009-11-17T22:18:00.006-06:00

Christmas Press Release

2009-11-16T13:55:00.003-06:00

DEC. 6, THE UAB DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC TO PRESENT HOLIDAY FAMILY FAVORITE, “CHRISTMAS AT THE ALYS”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will join with the Hueytown High School Chamber Choir in presenting “Christmas at the Alys,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 6, at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Admission is free. Call 205-975-2787.

“Christmas at the Alys” is an annual celebration of the season presented by the UAB Department of Music.

This year several well-known works associated with the holiday spirit will be included on the program, including Maurice Durufle’s “Ubi Caritas,” Elizabeth Poston’s “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” and Healy Willan’s “The Three Kings.” Other works to be featured will include traditional favorites of the Christmas season, such as “Fum, Fum, Fum” and “Carol of the Bells” by the Hueytown Chamber Choir. The choirs will unite on “What Sweeter Music,” a work by English composer John Rutter that has quickly become a standard among fine choirs across the world.

The UAB Concert Choir frequently introduces lesser known choral masterpieces to classical audiences. For this concert, the choir will perform “Videntes Stellam Magi,” a work by Emanuele Vianelli, a composer with the Milan, Italy cathedral since 1998.

Touring nationally and internationally, the UAB Concert Choir has quickly gained recognition as one of Alabama’s finest a cappella choirs. In March 2010, the choir will be featured at the American Choral Directors Association regional convention in Memphis, Tenn. The choir was recently featured at the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2008, the choir won the Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy for their performance of a work by the Baroque composer in the Fleischman International Choral Competition in Cork, Ireland. It was UAB’s second international competition; the first was participation in the 34th annual Florlilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France, where the choir won two awards, the Prix Du Ministère de La Culture, an award given for best interpretation of a French choral work, and shared the top award in the Mixed Choirs Category.

About UAB

UAB is the first all-Steinway piano school in Alabama. The UAB Department of Music presents more than 150 concerts, recitals, master classes and lectures each year – many of them free – for more than 400,000 people throughout the region. The department features 17 ensembles. Visit the department online at www.music.uab.edu.

Three Kings

2009-11-16T09:53:00.001-06:00

Brian Denton gave us this:

Their sound is superb. Listen to the nuances they give (or not) and let's discuss in rehearsal.

Early would be a good thing

2009-11-11T21:23:00.002-06:00

Remember: First Baptist Birmingham NOT Bluff Park Methodist

Address:

First Baptist Church of Birmingham
2209 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35209

Directions

From I-459/Hoover and Pelham area

Take I-65 North to the Lakeshore exit. Take a right on Lakeshore. Stay on Lakeshore, passing Samford on your left. We are located just past Samford on the corner of Lakeshore and Hwy. 31.

From I-459/Trussville and Liberty Park area

Take Hwy 280 North from I-459 to the Lakeshore/Homewood. Take a left on Lakeshore. Stay on Lakeshore, passing Brookwood Village Mall on your left. We are located just past Brookwood Village on the corner of Lakeshore and Hwy. 31. Go under the Hwy. 31 bridge and we are on the right.

From I-59/20 and North Birmingham

Take I-65 South to the Lakeshore exit. Take a left on Lakeshore. Stay on Lakeshore, passing Samford on your left. We are located just past Samford on the corner of Lakeshore and Hwy. 31.

A bad dream

2009-11-10T08:37:00.002-06:00

Great creativity here:

Ben's Song

2009-11-09T17:03:00.000-06:00

WE is smarter than ME.

Get to work, you creative members of the Chamber Choir.

Ben's Song

The Misnomer

2009-11-05T13:43:00.001-06:00

Following yesterday's conversation about virile, viral, and virulent regarding "Videntes stellam" (confession time: I was confusing virulent for virile), Sadie and I had this conversation:

Me: I've decided to change my screen name to Dr. Vocabulary.
Sadie: Wow, that's a misnomer.
Sadie: Wait, do you know what a misnomer is?

Hilarity ensued.

Press release for Selma and Montgomery

2009-10-29T15:28:00.001-05:00

NOV. 15, UAB CONCERT CHOIR TO PRESENT FREE CONCERT
AT SELMA’S FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Concert Choir will present two free concerts at churches in Montgomery and Selma Sunday, Nov. 15. The choir will perform at 4 p.m. at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2130 Bell Road, Montgomery, then at 7 p.m. at Selma’s First Presbyterian Church, 301 Broad St. Call the UAB Department of Music at 205-934-7376 or visit www.music.uab.edu.

Philip Copeland, D.M.A., conducts the 42-voice a cappella choir. Audiences will be amazed by the musical artistry and technical accuracy of the UAB students as they sing works frequently featured in international competitions of choral music. Copeland has selected a diverse program for the performance that includes stunning music from five centuries and five nations, including Latvian, Latin and Hungarian works as well as several spirituals and hymns.

On the program is Toivo Tuula’s “Auringon Noustessa,” a work that celebrates a promised freedom from oppression. Also featured is Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s arrangement of “Death May Dissolve Me,” a work from William Billings, the United States’ most famous early American composer. The work also features the spiritual poetry of Isaac Watts, known as the “Father of English Hymnody,” whose hymns “Joy to the World” and “O God Our Help in Ages Past” are well known to church congregations.

The UAB Concert Choir frequently introduces lesser known choral masterpieces to the classical audience of Birmingham. In this concert, a work from English composer Cecilia McDowall and Lithuanian composer Vytautas Miškinis will be included. Other works to be featured include the famous 16th century composer William Byrd’s “Haec Dies,” a standard among fine college choirs across the United States. “Esti dal” by Zoltan Kodaly, one of Hungary’s best known composers, also will be included on the program.

Touring nationally and internationally, the UAB Concert Choir has quickly gained recognition as one of Alabama’s finest a cappella choirs. In March 2010, the choir will be featured at the American Choral Directors Association regional convention in Memphis, Tenn. The choir was recently featured at the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2008, the choir won the Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy for their performance of a work by the Baroque composer in the Fleischman International Choral Competition in Cork, Ireland. It was UAB’s second international competition; the first was participation in the 34th annual Florlilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France, where the choir won two awards, the Prix Du Ministère de La Culture, an award given for best interpretation of a French choral work, and shared the top award in the Mixed Choirs Category.

About UAB

UAB is the first all-Steinway piano school in Alabama. The UAB Department of Music presents more than 150 concerts, recitals, master classes, and lectures each year - many of them free - for more than 400,000 people throughout the region. The department features 17 ensembles. Visit the department online at www.music.uab.edu.

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/uabnews TEXT: www.uab.edu/news TWEETS: www.twitter.com/uabnews

Seeing things for what they are

2009-10-26T04:40:00.000-05:00

I've given lots of time and energy to the "France" question for about a year now. My personal experience with Paris and the Tours competition as a performer and conductor drives me to want to do it as many times as I can.

I've looked at the possibility of going in May 2010 and I've come to the decision that it just won't work for us this year.

The primary reason: we can't go and be the choir we are. There are too many people who, for whatever reason, can't go. We can't hope to compete on an international level without a nearly full complement of singers.

I propose this:

We start planning for 2011. Dates for the festival are May 28 and 29. Cost will likely be the same as it is now or a little more.

What say ye?

Fantastic TED talk on conducting and leadership

2009-10-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

A fantastic viewing and commentary on great conductors.

Ryan will be a great choir director one day . . .

2009-10-22T09:25:00.001-05:00

if he keeps going to all of his classes, that is.

He's reviewed the video from yesterday's rehearsal and made keen observations. I'm guessing the exercise took about two hours for him (or more). He's watching and listening like a choir director and I really admire that.

I am thrilled to have such a passion for excellence from so many of you in the group. We are working together to make something as good as it can be. It is motivating to me and inspiring to others. There are other choir directors that follow this blog - I know they long for this type of passion from their choir members.

In my response to Ryan, I told him this:

There is a "time" to fix things and a time to let them go (for now). On a Thursday before a Saturday performance I am likely to make a few small fixes but ignore most of what you have here - not that I doubt any of what you heard but because of "when" it is in the mindset of the choir. We have a certain momentum going into Saturday and picking apart everything today/tomorrow will lead to a worse performance, not a better one.

From a group perspective, that is my approach - we are gathering momentum and heading towards an exciting performance. However, individuals can make many of the small changes he talks about here without me addressing it to the group as a whole. I encourage you to read his comments and fix what you can (a few responses from me accompany his words):

Abide With Me -
1) 1st chord on the word "Abide", we still have the tendency sometimes to sound a bit country and lazy like "Uh-bide", needs more "AHH"
2) Sometimes we over do the accents & sfp at the beginning of phrases.
Ex: Help of the helpless, Through cloud and sunshine, or In life, in death.
3) In measures 21-22 (1st system top of 4) it sounds like we are stabbing the song, haha, if that makes any sense...by that i mean, it seems like we are trying to have such crisp consonants and sing each note so precise that we are overdoing it and it's making us have a bit harsher sound than we do throughout the majority of the piece, not as smooth as other sections of the song. (That could also be because you took us faster over that section than you did any other, idk.)
4) Since we are at mf for the majority of the piece, when the men get to measures 40-43 (the entire Amen section, minus the last one) we are clearly not at a mp, we are singing too loud.
To me, it seems the climax of the song is in measure 37-39 "in life, in death, o lord abide with me"
and after that it should come back down. I think by the end of the song, we have made our statement that we can't make it in life alone without the help of this higher power and that we are at rest now, knowing that no matter what happens, we are in the presence of the lord and that he will take care of us. The women do a good job, of keeping "peaceful and prayerful" but it sounds like the men are still looking for an answer, as if we aren't at peace by singing as loud as we are. You need to bring us down. (this is Ryan stepping into my area of interpretation - he can change it when he is standing in front of the group)
5) overall, i think that i a solid piece. i think we balance really well on it.

Dziedot -
1) Sopranos could sing with a bigger sound
2) In measure 12, half of the men saying "mah-nye" like eye, instead of "mah-nee" like key
3) Tenors are sitting a little too heavy on "aiz dziedot" in measures 14-15, they could lighten the sound up a bit.
4) Measure 17 is not locking in. Sopranos are not getting to the High F quick enough, sounds a bit screechy. Sounds like a few voices in other sections aren't sure of the 1st note in that measure either. Something to look into.
5)Measure 21, Soprano 1's. Sounds a bit thin and pitchy going from the High G to High Bb.
6) Dynamics! We don't do them at all in this song. our ff isn't too far from our p in this piece. We will crescendo, but we won't descrescendo, it's just all loud, and louder. (again, this is what I'm asking for, so don't change)
7) it's obvious that we know this song, we just need to use some musicality. this is pretty solid as well.

Aurington -
For this to be our least prepared piece, it sounds good.
My only opinions on this is that Sopranos need to blend and sound
like one voice in measure 2. (I've been thinking the same thing - Sopranos a little softer on that E)
Also, bass/baritones need to blend and sound like one voice in all the places
that we are isolated and singing by ourselves on the first page, sounds a bit weak.
* although i must say that starting in measure 17, where the basses come in with the melody,
then pass it off to the tenors, and the tenors to the altos, and the altos to the sopranos....
that section is sounding really good. The mens section on the top of pg 8 sounded a bit more
gelled today as well, was good but could be better though. (watch for individual voices sticking out on the tenor line)

Haec Dies -
1)Soprano 2's (Second group of them) sound better on their opening "Haec",
the most solid they have all year really...but it could still use more a bit more blend, space. and fowardness like the Sop 1's have. The Sop 2's sound a bit whimpy. They're good in every other section they sing, or at least from what i can pick out.
2) Soprano 1's "Dominus" from measure 20-22, sounds slightly pitchy and lacking some support.
3)Altos "In-e-a" measure 30-31, a little flat.
4)Basses entrance on "exultemus", measure 32 & m.34 , is flat, due to some scooping throughout the section. (I've not heard this but I don't doubt it)
5)Basses attack the 1st 2 entrances in the Alleluia section (m. 47. and m.53) with a little too much glottal, it causes the chord to sound jerky, hope that makes sense.
6) We tend to rush towards the end, it seems more obvious to me at the bottom of pg. 17 in the soprano 1's, because when we get to pg. 18, sometimes to soprano 1's line clashed with soprano 2's line...doesnt seem like they were in the same tempo. but only slightly.
7) good piece overall.

Regina Caeli -
1) Measure 23-24 is a key spot for us to go flat. It doesnt sound like we are getting all the way up from the A at the end of "laetare" to the the B on "regina", it's a unison note, and we aren't all singing the same B, that's for sure. Pitchy spot.
2) m.34-35, some bass or basses are flat on the A
3)m.39 altos and basses sound like they are saying "Qui-UH-quem" instead of "Qui-AH-quem" (excellent observation)
4)m.44, second beat of the measure, on "re", that chord sounds a bit weird and not lined up, it comes and goes very quickly, but it needs to line up for us to stay in tune for the rest of the song.
I don't think everyone is getting their notes there. We should hold.
5)m.52, when the altos come in, they sound slightly flat, idk, that could just be the recording on that one...but it doesnt sound all the way in tune.
6)m.60-61, make sure sopranos are singing those half steps right, sounds just under pitch, or maybe even wrong notes. either/or. idk.
7) strong piece, we just have to listen to each other and tune.

Death -
I really don't know what to say for this one, just because it' so much happening at once.
Um, i think again my biggest issue is the dynamics...i know we do get soft in some parts,
but overall it just sounds like we are singing loud for the most part overall. But then again,
it could just be the recording on my laptop...i would like to see more drastic differences between our ff, f, mf, mp, p, & pp's. (I've wondered about this myself) We stayed in tune. That's great. More work and molding to be done to this piece though, idk what, but it's def not to the place where it can be..for US that is. where exactly that place is, i dont know. But i think by experimenting with different dynamics we can find it.

Esti Dal -
1) Our entrances....making sure we come in strong and on pitch, but not loud.
It's a hard thing to do, and i think we are all scared of those "m's" from the basses entrance to the altos, the first pitch is always questionable for a split second and then it settles. I think it's a breath vs dynamic thing. People seem to asscociate quiet and soft with whimpy; the 2 arent related. The notes aren't being supported. It seems like an easy song and most of us think it is the easiest (singing one note, harldy any words.) To me, this is one of the more challenging pieces...for me anyway. Trying to keep the pitch up, while also trying to create this steady stream of sound to support the Sopranos who are soooo exposed. it's hard.
2) Sopranos from the beginning aren't blending, some people need to SING OUT.
They also have a few pitchy moments throughout the piece.
3)When the Tenors come in, in m.13, their "En" doesn't match the sopranos "en" which they sing a beat or so before the tenors, nor does it match the "en" the altos sing after them. I know you want it a bit brighter, and not too dark..but it sounds a little too bright and a bit throaty.
4) Beautiful song, if we put all the pieces together, again more concentration...even though this song is simple, it still requires our attention. Ps: we ended in tune. Idk if we dropped and then brought it back up. But we started on F# and ended on F# going into Nunc.

Nunc -
1) Good transition from Esti I think.
2) could use a bit more of the Alto2 note in 1st measure on "domine"
3)We were in tune up until m.9 on "lumen", it was just slightly under pitch,
then in m.10 we dropped on completely down the half step.
4)Soprano 1s need to watch pitch on "gloria" m.17 and again on "gloria" in m.19
5) All mens "et" in m. 18 could tune and balance much better.
6)m.81, the last big "nunc", we are oversinging, it's only f, we are def singing it at a ff, we need to back off, it's such a beautiful phrase, but we are pushing on it and making it sound forced. I only mean we dont need to sing so loud on the word "nunc" just because 4 of the 6parts singing in that chord are all singing the same note (D). so when we push on it, it doesnt really tune and sounds a bit gross. the volume on everything after that was perfect.
7)We ended in the original key as it is written.
8) I think that this is our best piece. or at least the piece we performed today. Just my opinion.

Revised France Payment Schedule

2009-10-19T11:09:00.002-05:00

Deposit of $250 per person with Application Form by November 1
Payment of $750 per person by January 1
Payment of $750 per person by March 1, 2010
Balance due on receipt of final invoice sent approximately 30 days prior to departure

Reminder: Don't Drink and Then Commit a Felony

2009-10-15T10:13:00.001-05:00

Sheriff: Drunk father, son rob home; son passes out

By The Associated Press

October 14, 2009, 7:10PM

CARTERSVILLE -- Officials say a drunk father and son burglarized a Cartersville home and were caught after the son was found passed out under the invalid homeowner's bed.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said today that 37-year-old Christopher Wright of Trenton, Ga., and his son, 19-year-old Caleb Wright, of Higdon, were arrested Sunday.

Harris said they broke into the home around 2 a.m. Sunday and took car keys, medication, about $200 in cash and $100 worth of jewelry. They were about to leave when one of the residents woke up, and they hid.

Christopher Wright sneaked out but Harris said Caleb Wright apparently passed out in his hiding place under the homeowner's bed.

The homeowner's wife found him around dawn and called a neighbor and police. The neighbor turned out to be Caleb Wright's grandfather. He turned the young man over to police.

Anyone want a Google Voice invite?

2009-10-13T22:31:00.002-05:00

I have three. Let me know.

Haec Dies Replacement

2009-10-13T15:20:00.001-05:00

This is what I picked out today.