If I Can Help Somebody

Here is a collection of our posts on "If I Can Help Somebody."

Student Reaction: James
Student Reaction: Marybeth
Student Reaction: Chris Reid
Student Reaction: Jennifer
Student Reaction: Holly

It is motivating to the choir director to see the choir contemplating the text and examining their own lives. I am the director of very special people.

Here are my posts on the work:
August 31, 2005
January 17, 2005

If I Can Help Somebody (source of the sermon)
If I Can Help Somebody (choir singing Liebau piece at Grado, Italy competition. 5 MB download)

The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.:

Every now and then I guess we all think realistically (Yes, sir) about that day when we will be victimized with what is life's final common denominator—that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don't think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, "What is it that I would want said?" And I leave the word to you this morning.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. (Yes) And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. (Yes)

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. (Yes)

I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. (Amen)

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. (Yes)

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. (Yes)

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. (Lord)

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. (Yes)
Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. (Amen) Say that I was a drum major for peace. (Yes) I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. (Yes) I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. (Amen) And that's all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,
Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,
If I can spread the message as the master taught,
Then my living will not be in vain.

Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, (Yes) not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.

Covergirl Classic Red

Katie Movelle, our appointed lipstick artist, informs us that the women's lipstic color of the year is:

Covergirl Classic Red

Thank you, Katie, for your valuable service.

Desta. Busted.

desta
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Welcome to the blog world, James!

Great to have you aboard!

Answer: your big mouth.

Question: how did you find my blog?

Desta the Invisible Shares More IICHS Thoughts

I haven't given up yet, but I still can't find Desta's blog. (found: 9/15) He wants to share with the choir, however, so he sent me an email containing his blog posting so that I can share it with the group. I'll excerpt part of it here and then link to it when I - if I - find it.

Today in choir, I had a personal revelation: I am a bad person.

We talked about the meaning of this song we're singing in which the text is exerpt from a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech. It is entitled "If I Can Help Somebody."

Dr. C-land asked us if we'd thought about it, and since I had just earlier before class (and frequently before), I raised my hand. I started talking, not even really knowing what was going to come out of my mouth, and apparently it was moving. But then I stopped and thought about what I'd said, and I realized I'm a huge hypocrite, and it made me sad.

The thing that hurt the most was the memory of something else that had made me feel horrible about myself . . . And it was then that I had realized I'd become exactly the person that I hated with my very being . . . . Why was I the way I was? I was thoroughly ashamed to be me. To be human. To be alive.

Why is it in our nature to do more harm than good, to destroy more than we create? Why are we so corrupted? This world sickens and disheartens me. No one is true to themselves or those around them anymore, and it does naught but get worse as time passes. Why is it we all claim to want peace, love, happiness, and fellowship when everything we do seems to work against these things?

I remembered all that during class when we started singing through the song the second time, and I was honestly on the brink of tears. It sincerely took everything I had to hold it back and still keep singing with all my heart and soul invested in this beautiful music and its most powerful message - even typing this, these emotions come flooding back to me, and I can hardly believe I was able to avoid a breakdown.

I hope everyone who reads this takes it to heart, because it's the most profound and most important entry I've ever had on here. Please endeavour to understand the simple, yet infinitely complex, beauty of love, and strive to keep it alive. When love dies, so does everything that matters in life.

It is a great post, James, and thanks for sharing it. It looks like great music paired with great words has the power to confront us--the power to make us want to be better than what we are. It takes courage to look in that mirror, doesn't it? And it takes more courage to share what we find with our friends. Great example, James.

"There's nothing but the song and the song is everything"

YES.

That MBV girl is one smart cookie. She may have a ring in her nose but she gets it. She communicates it. She pauses a moment to collect her thoughts, but then the answer comes through loud and clear. I highlighted the part I love. Read the whole thing here.

The only thing that is really important that one person can do in his or her lifetime involves changing other lives, although I can't really give you a concrete factual reason why. Something inside of me vibrates and everything is one thing and I'm a part of it, blended in without me or mine.

I think that's why I like this piece; it's not only saying it, it's showing it. It IS it. When we sing it and we're really feeling it, everything simultaneously dissappears and is everywhere. There's nothing but the song and the song is everything and we're part of everything. It's truth, and everything is okay, and maybe we can touch somebody for a few moments with it.

It was inevitable: Google Blog Search

Check it out.

Technorati plus Bloglines

technorati
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Alrighty, here is how the technorati search appears in Bloglines, in case any of you are interested.

You can have technorati search for anything you might like to follow. Bloglines is the way I see if any choir blogs have been updated.

Enough . . . go study your music.

Welcome, John!

Welcome, John!

And, um, nice pic that you've chosen to show the world!

John is a blogger and likes to kill bugs. He also put my Technorati search to the test yesterday. I'd say it did pretty well, eh, John?

I'll post the way it looks from bloglines so you can see how it works.

And John's blue tongue makes a great contrast with Sharon Stone's red lips, doesn't it?

Red Lips

Yes, women. We wear red lipstick when performing. It might not look good on you individually but it looks good as a group. What worked in France was for someone (Delia?) to buy some red lipstick and everyone used it.

Anyone remember the shade?

Oh . . . It looks good for Sharon Stone, anyway. Product of Google Image Search.

Chanticleer in Huntsville Nov. 27

In the middle of their world tour, Chanticleer visits Alabama. I encourage you to try to make it . . . they are an incredible group and always give a fantastic concert.

03	Yokohama, Japan		Mitato Mirai Hall, 8:00PM
04	Fuji, Japan		Rose Theater, 8:00PM
06	Osaka, Japan		Symphony Hall, 8:00PM
08	Nagoya, Japan		Aichi Pref. Arts Theater, 8:00PM
09	Nagano, Japan		Hall TBA, 8:00PM
11	Tokyo, Japan		Opera City, 8:00PM
27	Huntsville, AL		Trinity Church Auditorium, 4:00PM
28	St. Louis, MO		Cathedral of St. Louis, 8:00PM
29	Cincinnati, OH		St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 8:00PM

RedFacedAndy Joins Blog World

Chris alerts us to Andy's blog here. He also gave Andy the name "RedFacedAndy." I like it.

Andy has a wonderful tenor voice with some very nice color. He makes a quality contribution to the choir already and now he will share his thoughts with the blogging world.

Welcome, Andy!

You do get the red M&M reference, don't you?

Red?

Face?

Canterbury Methodist

Looks like Canterbury Methodist will be the church on October 16th. I've not found their website yet but we'll be there on that Sunday. Great church.

And . . Saturday. This Saturday. It looks like we will file on stage around 9:55 AM. That means we'll gather Saturday MORNING at 8:45 AM so start planning your sleep now. Get your Saturday alarm clock ready.

I'm excited about that performance. It will be our first of the year and I'm planning on fielding my best choir ever. Is that what I've got?

Busted? Well, not really . . .

Clay thinks he "busted" me by telling about my Technorati link. It's been there for months, of course . . . my bloglines subscriptions are all available to the right.

Here's the real secret, Clay: people tell me about the other blogs. "Betrayed by their own, as it were." Here is one email I got:

I've discovered another freshman blog (although I don't know if you've already discovered it)
http://merefoster.blogspot.com/

And here is one from a comment . . . Whitney has Desta's blog.

But it is true . . . Technorati is a pretty neat service. Try it out!

Oversight Corrected!

clopez
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Caroline Lopez Spears, the newly impregnated and former choir member, has a blog. And now, she is listed on our site in the former choir blog member space!

Welcome Caroline, and thanks for all those great vowels!

She couldn't stay hidden

Introducing a new blog: Meredith's.

Welcome, Meredith!

A few things I've learned about her while perusing her blog (one is a lie):

1. Being a music major pretty much controls her life.
2. She wants to learn rock climbing (hmm, reminds me of some baritone)
3. She just lost 60 pounds.

Other news:

1. I know James Desta has a blog, but I can't remember where I saw it.
2. It looks as though our Sunday October 16 concert will be at Canterbury Methodist Church. We'll learn "Praise to the Lord" (Christiansen) for the occasion. (Old members already know it)
3. I'm still smiling from the ChrisCarter-SarahLabriola-MarybethVerchot brief conversation in choir on Thursday. Hilarious.

Moving Fast and Accomplishing Much

Congrats to this year's choir--you are learning music quickly and sounding very good as you are doing it. We are moving faster than I expected and that means we will soon be masters of the music, the expression, and the message.

Congrats to you.

And thanks to Chris J. who alerted me to placing a conducting post on this blog instead of my other.

Much appreciated!

Cantate Domino

The Cantate Domino that we are singing is quite an interesting combination of two primary texts: Psalm 97 (portions) and the “Victimae Paschali Laudes.”

Click on the links below for more information and my sources for the translation.

The image to the right is from the Latin bible and it is Psalm 97, our primary source of the text.

Here is my translations of the text found in this work. The smart choir member copies this into her music.

Cantate Domino Canticum novum Quia fecit mirabilia fecit Psalm 97:1	Sing to the Lord a new song Because He has done wonderful things.
Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra: * cantáte, et exsultáte, et psállite. Psalm 97:6	Praise the LORD upon the harp; * sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.
Dic nobis Maria quid vidisti in via? Sepulcrum Christi viventis Et gloriam vidi resurgentis Angelicos testes sudarium et vestes Surrexit Christus Additional Information here And here. Historical information here.	Tell us, Mary Magdalen, what did you see in the way? I saw the sepulchre of the living Christ, and I saw the glory of the Resurrected one: The Angelic witnesses, the winding cloth, and His garments. The risen Christ is my hope:
Jubiláte in conspéctu regis Dómini: orbis terrárum, et qui hábitant in eo. Psalm 97:8	Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is; the round world, and they that dwell therein.

See Psalm 97 in it’s Latin context here.

CNN and University Education

Interesting post on this blog.

I'll put some of it here, it points to the contrast between how education operates and how CNN operated in bringing us Katrina. Compelling thoughts that may be more interesting to me than to you, but who knows . . . enjoy.

Education: Content comes nearly solely from instructors and "trusted" resources like publishers and "refereed" journals. And content from students would be suspect or written off as "cute" but not useful. Is there an equivalent of Citizen Teaching? If so it is the inspired individual's effort of placing a tutorial or resource on the net.

CNN: Content To Multiple Formats: As content was created in the CNN newsroom, it flowed to multiple formats. Content started as video feeds, became streamed video, text on the website and even a mention for a scroll at the bottom of the screen. Each piece of content was "tagged" as it came into the newsroom, timecoded, meta-tags were added with context and it could be viewed by CNN staff around the world in low-res format. The concept was to see each media object as being highly reusable and redeployable.

Education: Content primarily text, email, PDFs to print, hand coded/Dreamweaver-ed HTML, and.. PowerPoint. Media objects are un-reusable, un-findable, and in-redeployable and would never be available in this kind of time frame.

CNN: Digital News Gathering: The footprint and format for news production is changing radically as the size and mobility of equipment evolves radically. I watched newsfeeds coming from CNN reporters using satellite phones (after the cell network dropped). They were even feeding content that was edited on laptops in the field using Final Cut Pro.

Education: Not much to compare except we do not think of educational content being created "in the field" or with portable devices... while some are moving towards laptops in place of desktop computers, they are used primarily in the same vein (a laptop on the desk). We still print a lot of material or offload this printing to students-- we do not "think"/"operate" primarily in digital, and much of what we do digital is the digital equivalent of print.

CNN: Content Repository: CNN operates a content and media repository that is quite impressive. The content objects are viewable, editable and sharable. Key levels of data is kept for how each object is being used and deployed. Digital Rights Management is tracked, to honor the appropriate use of each media object. I was struck by how easily every CNN staff person could access and work with this content repository.

Randomness and a Good Rehearsal

I'd say things are going very well thus far this year. The choir is sounding great and learning their music. The new people are all contributors and there is a good "feel" to this group. Music is learned quickly and mistakes are, in general, fixed in a timely manner.

My ability to find the weaknesses in the group is starting to pick up, and it is beginning to center around thin/spread vowels: particularly the EE sound but also in various pronunciations of words like then (thehn, not thin) and a few other examples I can't think of right now. As always, the biggest gain in quality from the group will be at the individual level . . . as a group we are doing well . . . it is when we fix individual mispronunciations or spread vowels that this choir will really begin to reach it's potential.

Some other things I really liked today:

• low C in the basses at end of Cantate Domino: fabulous.
• the sound of "orbis terra" when we sing soft
• leadership throughout the choir when they offered up their sections shortcomings on "If I Can Help" (i'm most worried about the Alto line on hep, hep, hep somebody)
• Andrew Granlunds facial expressions and energy when prompted

Things I wonder about:

• Does the choir have more volume in them during the huge place in If I Can Help
• Can we find enough dynamic variation in the same song . . . exploring p to f
• Am I going to have to speak to a choir member or two about coming in after the beginning of class

I'm also happy that most students are calling me when they are going to be late and when they are going to miss class . . . and they are doing it before they miss, not afterwards. NOW, if I can just instill in the group the ability not to miss or be late at all . . . I will have reached ChoirDirectorNirvana.

We Thanked Jesus That Night

Here's a brief movie of ITYJ from the Tours competition. A thrilling night, wasn't it!

Watch out . . . it is a big file (12 MB)

I just love this pic

IMG_6630
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I don't remember the occasion surrounding this photo, but it seems like Kevin always seemed to have this effect on Lauren--one way or the other.

Movies from Notre Dame

Let's see if this works. Click THESE LINKS to see a couple of movies after the performance at Notre Dame. (and then wait for the download)

Rebekah
Erin

Choirs that change the world

I was reading an old post of mine because it is one of the most visited on my site. I think that is because the graphic on the post is frequently brought up on Google's image search engines. Nevertheless, my sentiments are worth considering by the 2005-2006 UAB concert choir.

Now . . . go read it, and enjoy your Labor Day holiday.

MP3's of Basque Text Now Available

Just so you know, we are GREATLY IN DEBT to Maite Stephens, who helped me find a translation to this poem and made the recording. I felt quite lucky to have found someone who speaks Basque--to find someone so incredibly willing to help with recordings and translations is indeed a very special thing.

Thank you, Maite, for your wonderful help.

Now . . . on to the pronunciation and translation:

1st song: Kondairaren Ihauterian (Soinu) Ur goiena.mp3

2nd song: Kondairaren Ihauterian (Dantza) Ur kantari.mp3

Text and Translation:

Ur goiena ur barrena jaundonejoaneko akelarre itxurako illargiaren iturri, etxe honetan sar dadiela urarekin osasuna urarekin osasuna etxe honetan askatasuna.

Water from above water from below fountain of the moon with form of akelarre from Saint Johns' night, that it comes into this house with the water the health with the water the health in this house the freedom

Ur kantari su dantzari, biek atxiki behar elkarri.

Singing water dancing fire, both have to embrace each other.

We are singing the second and third movements of a 3 movement work. The whole poem is translated this way (so that you have the whole picture).

Through Maite Stephens, we received international help from the former director of the Official School for the Studies in the Basque Language in Bilbao, Spain. (It's a small world, after all!)

The title (Kondairen Ihauterian) translates to: In the carnival of History

The song translates to:

Water from above
water from below
fountain of the moon
with form of akelarre (the circled meeting of witches in the forest)
from Saint Johns' night, (this is the night of June 19th, when in many places across the country people go outside at midnight to make big fires)
that it comes into this house
with the water the health
with the water the health
in this house the freedom

The water kills the fire and
the fire the water,
they are both seeds of life
they are both life-givers.

Singing water
dancing fire,
both have to embrace each other.
Water from above
water from below
I put out the fire
that may be in the rock forest
let it be wood
let it be water
for I put out the fire
from above the water
from bellow the water
from the womb of the water.

***Kondairaren ihauterian is the title of a book of poems.
***The poem "Ur goiena..." derives from a basque folk song that talks about how in the Basque Country, at midnight, on New Year's Eve the town's people would go fetch the "first water" from the main plaza's fountain. They would drink it, because according tradition it was believed to have special powers.

The poem has a last part that says:

Suzko iturri
bizibideko ur
jaundonejaoaneko
akelarre itxurako
otoitz bizigarria.

Fountain of fire
water road of life
life-giving prayer
with the form of akelarre
of Saint John's night.

Meet Mandy

mandy
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Everyone, this is Mandy.

Daily Dose of Whitney

whitney
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Ok . . . here is today's Whitney.

Keith is SingingWell and BloggingToo

Somehow I've missed Keith's blog for awhile.

He likes martinis and diet coke and The Electric Company.

Welcome, Keith!

Note the updates in blogs to the right. And, if you have a moment, visit the other college choir blogs:.

Kilgore
Lambuth

I'm headed out this morning to record a woman speaking the text for our Basque piece. Should be interesting!

It didn't take long to find

Secretive choir girl who blogs quickly discovered by computer literate choir director.

I think we can help her with three things she wants to do before she dies:

1. sing at the met or on broadway
2. go to Europe and perform there
3. Get married and have a family

Who knows? With our current success at matchmaking and marraige forming within the choir we might take care of #3 within two years . . . . If we are lucky we'll take care of #2 next June or July and maybe we can get her an audition during our New York visit.

If I Can Help

We are making great progress on this work. You can read a previous post about it here and listen to a recording of Ole Miss singing it here.

Oh . . . And here is the best version of the last page of the work.

Selecting a few soloists for the work will become a primary concern in the next couple of rehearsals. If you are interested, work on it. Now.

MLK Concert Details as I know them below. My source for info is the Alys Stephens Center website, but this is what I know right now.

Reflect & Rejoice: A Community Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Leslie B. Dunner, conductor
Sunday, January 15, 2005; 3 p.m.
Jemison Concert Hall

Minor Changes

Great rehearsal today, even though we missed the following:

• Sean: Sister had baby--congrats, Sean.
  
• Sam: Hurricane problems
• Maggie: Hurricane problems
• Chris Reid: Hurricane problems

Work memory on "If I Can Help Somebody." We will practice test this week and do it for a grade on Tuesday. We perform this piece quite soon, so it is important that we learn it now.

Great work so far . . .

Pray for the hurricane victims

What a scary couple of days it has been for some of our neighbors.

See here for more dramatic pictures.

Katie Posts Paris Pics

Katie posted her Paris pictures here. She's got some good ones. Looking at them makes me miss Katie, Megan, and Zach this year.

Schedules and priorities change, I know, but I still miss them.

Looks like we might get Katie back when she can find time in her schedule. I'm certainly hoping that is soon.

Creativity x Craft x Emotion = Art

I've pointed you to lifehack.org before and I invite you to visit again. The name, "life hack" sounded silly to me at first but the content presented on the site has always been top-notch. I'd like you to look at a brief article posted yesterday on creativity, and what makes you creative.

Of course, it draws from another article as the main source, one from this blog that I've never visited before. He found it from Slacker Manager, a blog I used to read alot.

All that aside, take a look at the "formula" required to make art:

Creativity x Craft x Emotion = Art

It is interesting for me to contemplate how you and I fit into that equation to bring art into what we do as a choir. My first thought about how it effects us:

1. The choir is both a corporate and individual representation of creativity. Each singer brings their own creativity and musicality to the organization; the musical work is forged by the conductor into a unified, creative and personal interpretation of a piece of music. Hopefully, that interpretation builds upon dramatic elements found in the text and musical foundations provided by the composer.

2. I teach you the craft of singing in a great choir, the craft that my previous conductors have taught me. I transfer the principles that I have learned to you about how to effectively render a piece of choral music. Your responsibility is to observe what is being taught and master it. Learn from the conductor who is in front of you and the singers around you who are bringing energy, crispness, and dedication to the task at hand. We are all still mastering the craft--I'm still learning it myself, of course, and I always will be.

3. We are both responsible for the third element, emotion. It's the most elusive! Performance pressures often rob us of the joy of an emotional experience while we sing in a concert. It's why we must practice performance in the rehearsal. It's why we need to dwell on each piece of music and text and connect it to our previous and future life experiences.

The music we have in front of us this semester is of the highest quality. It represents many emotional and dramatic possibilities for us as creative artists that are masters of their craft. Don't miss the opportunity that you have in this choir to experience something few have experienced. Learn your notes now, in rehearsal and on your own. Get past that so that we can get on to producing emotional art to our listeners.

Amen.

Brainstorming: Wireless Internet

To my students: I've posted the following question to the Tablet PC community and am developing some ideas to answer it in the space below.

The question: My department chair has asked me to come up with reasons an instructor might benefit from wireless technology in the classroom. This is a precursor to paying for it out of departmental funds. It is a good question and one that I would like help in answering. Do you have ideas that could help me?

My current brainstorming:

Here are some of my thoughts and perspective on the wireless need:

1. Forward Thinking Institution. Today, wireless technology has become a part of American culture, and it has become expected among forward-thinking institutions of higher learning. It's clear that there are both immediate and long-term from wireless services.

2. Live demonstration of online material. Live demonstrations of online material—pointing our internet-savvy students to online resources is important.

3. Removes the barrier of the tethered connection. In my primary classroom, the “place the teacher stands” is quite far away from the place to hook up the internet via cable. To hook into the internet, I'd need an ethernet cord about 25 feet long. To move around, I'd need a 40 foot cord. Wireless access removes this hindrance.

4. Facilitates efficiency. I use internet resources in all my classes. My choir blog has been an incredible resource for some time now and I recently started a conducting blog for the purpose of facilitating assignments, messages, and other uses. One of the ways I can use the wireless connection is to post immediately during the class to the blog—it would be a facilitating tool for communication and accuracy. Anything I can do to increase my efficiency and decrease the number of things I have to do “when I get back to my office” makes me more effective.

5. On the spot assignments. For conducting in particular: assignments are sometimes created “on the spot” based on the way the daily class evolves. (choir too, for that matter) The ability to make an assignment and immediately post it is an incredible thing.

6. Prior attempts. I’ve been needing wireless for some time, just in my office, to maximize the use of technology that I bring to UAB with me. For a short time, I set up a wireless router in my office in order to have the benefit of access. However, the router isn’t designed to work on a system like UAB’s. Although I had it successfully installed once, I could not do it again, and it is something that UAB cannot help me with.

7. Productivity. It is difficult to use the notebook to it’s potential when I don’t have the internet access. The wireless feature helps me be more productive in the office and on the campus.

8. The no-brainer argument. If the internet has potential uses in the classroom, then the best way to get it to the computer—wireless-- is a no-brainer. The ability to use it, and be more mobile—not tethered to some wire, is the way that it should happen.

9. Online based scholarly activities. More and more of my scholarly activities are online based. The need for instant information, whether it be classes or meetings, is enhanced when I have the internet at my fingers.

10. Efficiency in meetings. Use of internet resources can benefit one in meetings: fact checking, email searching, etc.

11. Use in library. The ability to reference internet resources in the library on a wireless computer is attractive. Computers are often hard to access when deep in the stacks of books.

12. Potential to use Instant Messaging in Lectures. When the professors have access, students can IM questions or comments to professors that they might not want to raise in front of their classmates: “James is cheating.” “Can you explain that concept again?”

13. Mobility is Liberating. I’ve had wireless access in my home for sometime now. The mobility it gives is quite liberating. Once you have it, you can’t do without it!

14. Would pay for it myself. Of course, my conversation on this topic originally began with a statement that I would pay for the wireless access myself. I think it is valuable enough to personally fund my own access.

That's my brainstorming for now. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments.

Er Ist's

See the translation and the page where I found it. Note to people in voice lessons: Always know the translation of your foreign language work. Be able to tell me what recordings you’ve listened to of someone else singing the same work!

The Link:
http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=11642

UPDATE: Martin speaking the text.

The poem and translation:

Frühling läßt sein blaues Band
Spring lets its blue ribbon

Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte;
flutter again in the breeze;

Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
a sweet, familiar scent

Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land.
sweeps ominously through the land.

Veilchen träumen schon,
Violets are already dreaming,

Wollen balde kommen.
and will soon arrive.

Horch, von fern [ein]1 leiser Harfenton!
Hark! In the distance - a soft harp tone!

Frühling, ja du bist's!
Spring, yes it is you!

Dich hab ich vernommen!
I have heard you!

I have this advice: see how a line of the poetry makes you feel . . . what images do the words inspire? Write down the images; see if the composer has captured something similar when you think about the melody and the harmony. Begin to bring emotion to the words and how you say them . . . how you should look when you say those things and what exactly you are trying to communicate. Then . . . you are well on your way to becoming a great musician and effective interpreter of words and music.

NewChoirMemberBloggers

Great singers that blog, who could ask for anything more?

The new ones that I know about:

1. Marybeth Verchot. That's right, I've been reading her blog for months and she didn't know about it. Watch out, this choir director knows how to use the internet. Marybeth is finally in the EXACT right place at the EXACT right time. Great last sentence in that Aug. 18 blog, MBV. Welcome!

2. Chris Josof. Two blogs and a low D. Here is the first. Here is the second--with pictures. Welcome Chris!

3. Jacki Roche. Welcome, Jacki! . . . But don't mouth off to this lifeguard. In her words:

some people at the pool are really rude to the lifeguards. Which I don’t think is a very good idea because what if you drown? That lifeguard that you were just rude to and talked to with no respect may save you… but then again… may not.

Choir notes:
Excellent beginning today. Big sounds. If I can help somebody is going to be quite thrilling. Read here about some background on my favorite pieces ever.

UAB Concert Choir Fall 2005

UAB Concert Choir Fall 2005

Soprano 1

1. Erin Pair


2. Lindsey Tuller


3. Sarah Green


4. Samantha Pace


5. Ashley Arrington


6. Meredith Foster

Soprano 2

1. Maggie Hendricks


2. Jennifer Scivley


3. Kristina Banks


4. Jackie Roche


5. Marybeth Verchot


6. Shelly Ann Edge

Alto1

1. Lauren Askew


2. Rachel Hicks


3. Katie Krauss


4. Katie Movelle


5. Holly Sawardecker


6. Maggie Malone


7. Jessica O’Leary


8. Jessica Marshman

Alto 2

1. Whitney Sims


2. Lauren Davidson


3. Diedra Brown


4. Meghan Granlund


5. Electa Taylor


6. Lauren Stephens

Tenor 1

1. Patrick Williams


2. Josh Noland


3. Sean Fleishman


4. Andy Smith


5. James Desta

Tenor 2

1. David Berg


2. Anthony Concepcion


3. Wes Edgar


4. Stephen Han  


5. Jon Hood


6. Thomas Nelson

Bass 1

1. Charles Henry


2. Chris Reid


3. Clay Rector


4. Evan Long


5. Luke Boone


6. Martin Schultz


7. Jason Leger


8. Keith Kendrick

Bass 2

1. Chris Carter


2. Andrew Granlund


3. John Howard


4. Chris Josof

Great News for Clay

Great News for Clay

Blogger has a tool that allows bloggers to type posts in Microsoft Word and then post to their service. That will keep you from losing your posts . . . and ease your frustrations.

Here is a link to it.

I posted this post with it, as a matter of fact.

UAB Choir Dates, updated

Possible Saturday Retreats:
Saturday, August 27th
OR
Saturday, September 10th

Saturday, September 17th
Scholars Symposium

Tuesday, September 20 (posted 8/10/2005)
Alumni Awards Luncheon (@ THE CLUB)

Friday, October 7th
Smolian International House, 3pm

Saturday, October 8
ACDA Saturday Sing (Opportunity to makeup tardy)

Sunday, October 16th
Probable Church Service (UAB Choir Members will miss their Sunday morning commitments)

Thursday, October 20th
Fall Choir Concert

Thursday, November3
College Choral Festival 10:00 am. 3pm

UAB Final Exams Dec. 8th - Dec. 14th

Monday, Dec. 12
Messiah Rehearsal
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Messiah Rehearsal
Rehearsal w/ASO - Jemison Concert Hall

UAB Final exams end on Wednesday, December 14


Thursday, Dec. 15
Rehearsal w/ASO - Jemison Concert Hall

Friday, Dec. 16
Performance: 8:00 Jemison Concert Hall

Saturday, January 14
UAB Honor Choir Performance

UPDATED: 11/22 addition:
January 15, 2006; 3 p.m.
Reflect & Rejoice: A Community Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Alys Stephens Center

February 22-25
UAB at ACDA Convention (Charleston, WV) Exact dates will be provided later. I expect that we will leave on Saturday, February 18 and return to campus on Friday, February 24.

March 27-31
Spring Break

Friday, April 21
UAB Spring Concert
(Mozart Solemn Vespers) and other works

Sunday, April 30
UAB Choir at South Highland Presbyterian Church (Solemn Vespers)

May 6-10
RESIDENCY, NEW YORK

Tuesday, May 9
UAB @ Carnegie Hall (Performance 8:00 p.m.)

Audition Day Time Change

Breaking news: Audition times will be changed from what we mailed out, unfortunately.

Reason: All freshmen have to attend a session that day to discuss a book they were supposed to read over the summer.

We will have auditions at this schedule:

Tuesday, August 16th:

3:00 ALL MEN
4:00 ALL WOMEN

That's it!

Alumni Awards Luncheon

Choir,

I received this email today, so ADD another date on your Calendar. I'll update the list of dates on the blog.

we would like to have the UAB Concert Choir sing for the annual Alumni Awards Luncheon again this year. The luncheon will be on Tuesday, September 20th at Noon at The Club. You all did a great job last year and we would like you to do the same thing this year. One selection of your own plus the UAB Alma Mater at the end. You will only have approximately 6-8 minutes of singing this year. Please let me know if you are able to participate in this again this year.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me.

Thanks!

Susan Kelley
University Events Specialist
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
(205) 934-0771

The Trip of a Lifetime

This is the article that I've been working on. Some quotes have been slightly altered for punctuation and clarification:

The Trip of a Lifetime

In May, the UAB Concert Choir brought international acclaim to Birmingham. On a campus better known for surgery rather than singing, 36 talented student musicians worked together to bring home two prominent awards from the Florilege Vocal de Tours, one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for choirs: the top award in the mixed choir category and the Prix du Ministère de la Culture, an award for best interpretation of a French choral work. On a trip that featured performances in the historic Cathedral of Notre Dame and the more modern Chapelle Sainte Rita, the UAB Concert Choir brought honor to the city of Birmingham and the state of Alabama.

The choir is directed by Philip Copeland, assistant professor and Director of Choral Activities at UAB. Of the 36 students who traveled to Europe, 18 were music majors and 15 were in their first year of choir. This was Dr. Copeland’s second trip to the festival, held each year in Tours, France. His first trip came in 1988 as a singer under the direction of Jerry Jordan and the University of Mississippi Concert Singers. “I have never forgotten the profound thrill of singing on the Tours stage in a choral competition; it was an experience that I wanted to give my students at UAB.”

Two other music faculty members accompanied the choir on the trip: John Ray, assistant professor of voice and Director of UAB Opera and Dale Reynolds, instructor and accompanist. Dr. Ray noted that

“from the moment we boarded the bus in Birmingham, our Concert Choir represented UAB with a musical professionalism beyond their years. Each note sparkled, each word revealed depth of understanding, and each individual voice united in magnificent harmony. Our students took their singing seriously, and lifted listeners to ethereal planes.”

Choir competitions are rare in the United States but quite common in Europe. The Florilege Vocal de Tours is in its 35^th year of existence and is held every year in the city of Tours, France. Eighteen choirs from twelve nations participated in this year’s competition. The UAB Concert Choir was one of two university choirs from the United States invited to compete; five university choirs from the U.S. applied. Performance standards for the Tours competition are quite demanding: participating choirs are required to compete in two categories and must be prepared to sing as many as fourteen different selections. Part of the repertoire must be chosen from specified time periods of history.

Fourteen musical works, with all but one unaccompanied, takes an enormous amount of preparation and dedication. UAB Concert Choir members devote six hours of rehearsal each week to be a part of the ensemble on top of all their other schoolwork. “The music we sing is quite advanced in difficulty,” said Copeland, “It has to be when you are in competition with other great choirs of the world.”

Being selected to compete in the Tours event is an honor in itself. Choirs entering the competition submit listings of their achievements along with recordings, upon which organizers base their selections. Each invited choir receives free lodging and meals during the entire competition. “When the festival pays all meals and lodging for over 1000 singers for three days, you know they’re looking for some top performers,” Copeland says.

The competition’s generosity deferred a small portion of the trip cost and the students paid the rest. “It was difficult for most of our students to come up with the funds required for overseas travel,” Copeland said, “I think they will all agree that it was worth every penny.”

The choir and director felt they delivered their best performance on the evening of the first day. Delia Charest, a graduating senior at UAB, called the first evening’s performance the “concert of her life.”

“It was the best we had ever sung; we held the audience in complete awe and want for more—we could hear the audience breathe a sigh when our softest song was over. The uproar after we finished the spiritual was just amazing,” she said. “I’ll never forget what happened afterwards: people who could not speak any English came up to tell us how much we moved them. One precious little French man told us that the spirit was with us . . . all around us.”

Dr. Copeland recalls the same evening:

“Competition really heightens the natural joy of performing; it brings a new edge to the art. The choir experienced performances and audiences like they had never seen before. In the Saturday night performance, I could actually hear the audience holding their breath as we sang the most intimate moments of the work. As a conductor, I've been taught to stretch the audience and their emotions to the breaking point . . . . and I tried to do just that. There wasn't a sound in the entire auditorium as the sopranos held their note perfectly until the choir (finally) entered beautifully on the last cadence. It was a moment that I will never forget. And then—the spiritual. The audience went crazy following our performance of I Thank You Jesus—it was thunderous. Afterwards, the students were ecstatic about their singing and many wept as they hugged one another. It was very, very special.”

The choir competed in two categories and made it to the finals in both. “It’s clear from the judging sheets and comments that we were in a position to win the entire competition,” said Copeland. He continued, “I couldn’t be prouder of our students and I’m glad to have won this recognition for UAB.”

Many of the UAB students were surprised at how well they were received in Europe. Tara Howard described it this way:

“The people in France may not know how to smile while passing on the streets, but they sure know how to make great musicians feel appreciated. With their "chant- like" clapping, stomping, and screaming when you finish singing the best you have ever sung in your life, you can't help but feel completely satisfied and overwhelmed by the power of music as a universal language. I'll never forget the way it felt to perform at Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint Rita's Church and at the competition in Tours.”

One of the highlights of the trip was the opportunity to perform in the historic Cathedral of Notre Dame. To be considered for a performance, choirs must submit recordings and planned concert repertoire. “The performance in Notre Dame was very meaningful for our students,” said Dr. Copeland, “I was thoroughly impressed with their depth of understanding and spirituality regarding the concert.”

Performing in Notre Dame made a distinct impression on Erin Pair. She remembers that “her breath was taken away because of the vastness of the cathedral and the knowledge that millions of prayers are still lingering from all the people who were there before --- it was the most amazing feeling in the world.”

Charles Henry had a similar experience:

“It was difficult to fathom the beauty and majesty of Notre Dame. As we sang from the sanctuary steps, I kept thinking that we were singing the same language and scripture that had been echoed throughout those halls for centuries before us.”

Katie Movelle calls singing in Notre Dame the “singularly most incredible moment of my life.”

“The stained glass and stone angels behind Dr. Copeland’s head as we performed made God’s presence so much more real. When I returned to Notre Dame later in the week, I realized how privileged we were to have seen the back rooms and basements of the ancient cathedral.”

The concert following the Notre Dame experience was also noteworthy, but for a different reason. This concert, in the modern Chapelle Sainte Rita, was attended by about 250 music loving members of the community. The choir was well pleased with their performance and impressed with the spirit of the people who attended the concert.

Jonathan Hood, pre-nursing major, described the concert as “one of those experiences that will stick with me forever.“

“Our songs truly touched the people of this tiny French church. As we sang, it was apparent that God was working in that place. People were coming in off the streets in the middle of the concert. My entire trip was completely amazing but something happened in that church that I will never forget and I am truly thankful for the experience.”

It was what happened at the end of the concert, however, that everyone remembers. Holly Sawardecker relates the experience:

“At the end of the concert, the choir left the auditorium and headed downstairs into the holding area where we began congratulating each other on our performance. The girls took off their shoes and the guys removed their jackets. About 3 or 4 minutes had passed since our last note. Suddenly, Ms. Reynolds came in yelling “Get back out there NOW! They’re still clapping!”

“We couldn’t believe it. As we took the stage again, many of us looked out into the crowd. All eyes were on us and the clapping had become chanting. We were adored by complete strangers. They could see our surprise and smiled broadly as if to say ‘No, really, we want to hear more.’ Never before had we been received so enthusiastically!”

“Hurriedly, we got to the stage . . . those that were completely dressed took the stage first and the rest followed. It was an amazing experience.”

David Berg, freshman music major from Birmingham, called the adrenaline rush from the sustained applause “amazing.” Dr. Copeland had heard that people were clapping but dismissed it at first. “We didn’t have any more music to sing—we had sung all of the repertoire we had planned for the competition,” he said. “One of the students told me that they were still clapping but I thought they were just being polite. It was not until Ms. Reynolds came flying down the stairs a few minutes later that I realized that the audience was not going to leave unless we gave them an encore.”

The trip to France was not all about singing; it was also about experiencing another country’s unique culture and language. Students had an opportunity to tour all of the major museums and historic sights available to them.

Katie Movelle found that her French language skills sometimes failed her:

“Traipsing around Paris armed only with four semesters of French leaves room for unforeseen adventure. My favorite dining event was on the way to Sacre Couer. We stopped in LeBazaar Café and had the most convoluted conversation while trying to order two pizzas from a man who only spoke French and Spanish. Luckily, we were all patient and good-humored!”

Charles Henry identified with some famous visitors to Paris:

“I love a quote I found from Ernest Hemingway, ‘If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go the rest of your life, it stays with you...For Paris is a moveable feast.’

“And what a feast it was. The sights, sounds, smells and the ambience of being in a different world was electric. I can remember every second of every day as if I am still there. I may have left Paris, but I don't believe Paris will ever leave me. This was one of those life experiences that make you who you are, and I can't express enough gratitude to Dr. Copeland for making it happen.”

Any trip overseas is likely to change a person’s perception of the world, and this one certainly did for UAB students and faculty. However, this trip also succeeded in adding to the growing reputation of a music program making its mark on the international stage. “I’ve been astounded at the number of invitations from other international festivals and competitions since our participation in Tours. We certainly made an impression,” said Dr. Copeland.

Rebekah Smith summed up the trip this way:

“The best thing about the trip for me was being able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a group of people who share a passion for choral music. We came together to represent UAB and America on the world stage and had a great time doing it.”

tours-concert hall

tours-concert hall
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I thought this was a great view of the Tours auditorium where we performed.

the concert of our lives

the concert of our lives
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Delia gives us a great St. Rita picture of high quality.

Group Shot

IMG_0247a
Originally uploaded by philipco.

This is a great group shot and it has Joop in it. Linc looks a little distracted, however. Perhaps he is thinking about UAH?

Chaperones on Tour

notredame-chaperones
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Here is another.

Notre Dame pic

notredame3
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I'm not sure the choir has seen this one. Is the man walking in the right too distracting for a photo to put in a magazine?


There is another picture with the man cropped out of the photo on the Flickr site.

After Tours Concert

tours-afterconcert
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I think this is a pretty good picture after one of the concerts at the competition. I'm considering it for the article . . . what do some of you think about the pic?

a teaching moment

tours-teaching
Originally uploaded by philipco.

On stage at Tours

tourscompetition2
Originally uploaded by philipco.

i love this pic. i'll have to teach the bow and arrow conducting style to my class this fall!

tours-tvshot

tours-tvshot
Originally uploaded by philipco.

What a Group

tours-trapped
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I found this picture again today and wanted to share it with the group. Hilarious.

St. Rita Flyer

St. Rita Flyer
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Jessie came through with the flyer picture. Thanks, girl! Now . . . can anyone provide something else?

I'd love to find a picture of that Jesus looking down from above.

Remember St. Rita

strita
Originally uploaded by philipco.

I'm working on an article about our trip and couldn't remember the name of the place we sang . . . and then I found the flyer.

Just so you know, the official name of the church was "Chapelle Sainte Rita" and it was in Fontenay Aux Roses.

Holly's description of what we remember:
At the end of the concert, the choir left the auditorium and headed downstairs into the holding area where we began congratulating each other on our performance. The girls took off their shoes and the guys removed their jackets. About 3 or 4 minutes had passed since our last note.

Suddenly, Ms. Dale Reynolds appeared at the door and said in a loud voice "GET BACK UP THERE, THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED CLAPPING YET----- SING SOMETHING ELSE!!!!"

We were stunned that they were still applauding--it just didn't seem like it could be true.

St. Rita's

I need St. Rita's pictures . . . and any other FANTASTIC picture from France. Can someone email me some great France pictures for possible inclusion into an article for the school?

Especially St. Rita's . . .

UPDATE: Let me clarify. ANY PICTURES! Not just ones of us singing.

Big Thoughts for Big People

I was impressed and humbled by this list of qualities that I found on this blog. See how you measure up:

* Eagerly start the day's main work.
* Do not murmur at your busyness or the shortness of time, but buy up all the time around.
* Never murmur when correspondence [or e-mail] is brought in
* Never exaggerate duties by seeming to suffer under the load, but treat all responsibilities as liberty and gladness.
* Never call attention to crowded work or trivial experiences.
* Before confrontation or censure, obtain from God, a real love for the one at fault. Know the facts; be generous in your judgement. Otherwise, how ineffective, how unintelligible, or perhaps provocative your well-intentioned censure may be.
* Do not believe everything you hear; do not spread gossip.
* Do not seek praise, gratitude, respect, or regard for past service.
* Avoid complaining when your advice or opinion is not consulted, or having been consulted, set aside.
* Never allow yourself to be placed in favorable contrast with anyone.
* Do not press conversation to your own needs and concerns.
* Seek no favors, nor sympathies; do not ask for tenderness, but receive what comes.
* Bear the blame, do not share or transfer it.
* Give thanks when credit for your own work or ideas is given to another.

Carnegie Hall Information

Thanks to Mark Ridings for creating this information sheet and my scanner for doing such a great job in turning into something I could edit.

Special Note: We will have a $100 deposit due on September 1. Start saving now! This trip isn't expensive if you break it down into days/weeks. Remember how much fun the Europe trip was? Worth every penny . . .

Update: This information available in a handout here.
Frequently Asked Questions handout here. (pdf file)

1. Music and Performance: We will perform Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore , K.339 on Tuesday, May 9 in New York's Carnegie Hall.

Conductor: Dr. Philip L. Copeland

2. All participants will have the opportunity to attend a post-concert celebration reception cruise in New York harbor featuring a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, with a buffet supper, music and dancing. The cost of cruise is included in package price. Other amenities in package listed below.

3. Itinerary: The itinerary below has been designed to allow for time for sightseeing, Broadway shows, shopping, etc. Feel free to schedule your trip as you wish. For information and to purchase tickets for Broadway shows available the days of the trip, go to www.playbill.com

Saturday, 5/6:
Travel Day (It is advised that participants don't schedule anything for that evening until airline tickets are issued and arrival time set).

Sunday, 5/7:
Rehearsal, 9 a.m. to noon (rehearsal place to be determined)

Monday, 5/8:
Rehearsal, 9 a.m. to noon (rehearsal place to be determined)

Tuesday, 5/9:
9 a.m. to noon, Dress Rehearsal with soloists and orchestra, Carnegie Hall
Concert time will be 2:00 p.m. '.. (It is advised that no sightseeing be planned until concert time is set). 5:30 p.m. Post Concert Dinner Cruise
Wednesday, 5/10: Travel Day

4. Trip Package includes: Four nights lodging at the four-star Grand Hyatt on 42nd Street in New York within walking distance of Times Square, the Theatre District, Macy's, Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Other amenities include: rehearsal and concert related bus transportation; a ticket to the observation deck of the Empire State Building; a 8 ~ x 17 replica of the Carnegie Hall poster which announces your concert; gift coupons for Macy's Department Store and Bloom's Deli, near the Grand Hyatt; and all tips, gratuities and baggage handling at the hotel.

5. Transportation: The current price (from Mid-America) is roundtrip flight to New York from Birmingham, (approximately $369) + $31 roundtrip airport-hotel transfer and $15 per ticket handling charge (This price may change).

6. Land Package Cost: Based on four people to a room, the cost is $969 per person. For three people to a room, the trip cost would be $1,080; for double occupancy, it is $1,239 per person. For single occupancy, the cost is $1,825 per person.
The costs for an extra night would be:
Quad occupancy: $89 per night Triple occupancy: $99 per night
Double occupancy: $143 per night Single occupancy: $280 per night

7. Complete Cost of Trip, per person, based on quadruple occupancy:
Total with All Transportation: $1384

Land Package: $ 969
Airline Ticket: $ 369 (round trip estimate)
Shuttle Bus to Grand Hyatt: $ 31 (per person, round trip) Ticket Handling Charge $ 15 (per ticket)

8. Package Payment Due Dates: $100 per person due 9/1/05 $200 per person due 10/15/05 $200 per person due 11/15/05 The balance of amount owed due 2/1/06***The first $500 in payments is non-refundable

ACDA Update

Other choirs on our Concert Session:

Georgia Southern Chorale (Rod Caldwell)

W.T. Woodson HS Select Women's Ensemble (Michael Erlich)

U. of Georgia Women's Glee Club (Mitos Andaya)

U. of Alabama (that is us!)

(being last is a good thing, fyi)