| Melissa Justice Islara Vasquez Toni Stewart | Melinda Ewalt Jasen Ewalt Linda Pannell | Alison Fain Jane Fain Liza Adams (Maybe?) Need DEPOSIT! Elizabeth Perkins |
| Rebekah Guthrie Tina Franks Genoveva Valle Patricia Valle | Ginger Swan Rachel Hicks Holly Sawardecker Mary Sawardecker | Jess O’Leary Lindsey Tuller Kristina Banks Meredith Foster |
| Delia Charest Erin Pair Jackie Roche Sarah Labriola | Whitney Sims Marybeth Verchot Katie Movelle Sam Pace | Patrick Williams Jason Leger Luke Boone Andy Smith |
| James Desta Wes Edgar John Howard David Berg | Martin Shultz Charles Henry | Chris Carter Anthony Concepcion Tommy Nelson Chris Josof |
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
New York Rooming Grid
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Great Teaching
I witnessed some great teaching yesterday.
I am fortunate this semester to have Margaret Heron as my "assistant" in Women's Chorale. Yesterday, she achieved a breakthrough of sorts with the choir and I was quite impressed.
She correctly identified the problem, took her time with teaching the solution, reinforced what she saw was good, refused to accept anything that wasn’t exactly what she wanted, created strategies on the spot for solving what might be a contributing factor and did it all with a smile.
There is so much that impresses me about Margaret:
1. She's built a program where there was none
2. She consistently out-performs programs that have better resources and/or schedules
3. Her students exhibit respect and discipline after they leave high school
4. And more.
Margaret, thanks for being the teacher that you are. The choral program at UAB has benefited in multiple ways because you are who you are.
We:
- are proud to have you as a student,
- will be honored to have you as a graduate
- credit you with helping us build a program here through your outstanding teaching
I am fortunate this semester to have Margaret Heron as my "assistant" in Women's Chorale. Yesterday, she achieved a breakthrough of sorts with the choir and I was quite impressed.
She correctly identified the problem, took her time with teaching the solution, reinforced what she saw was good, refused to accept anything that wasn’t exactly what she wanted, created strategies on the spot for solving what might be a contributing factor and did it all with a smile.
There is so much that impresses me about Margaret:
1. She's built a program where there was none
2. She consistently out-performs programs that have better resources and/or schedules
3. Her students exhibit respect and discipline after they leave high school
4. And more.
Margaret, thanks for being the teacher that you are. The choral program at UAB has benefited in multiple ways because you are who you are.
We:
- are proud to have you as a student,
- will be honored to have you as a graduate
- credit you with helping us build a program here through your outstanding teaching
ACDA Program Fall 2005
Cantate Domino
From Due motetti
Sándor Szokolay b. 1931
Kondairaren Ihauterian
Soinu
Dantza
Javier Busto b. 1949
Ave Maris Stella
Edward Grieg (1843-1907)
Over hill, over dale
Four Shakespeare Songs (1984)
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi b. 1963
“When I . . .”
I. When I Bring
II. When I Sing
III. When I Bring
Vytautas Miśkinis b.1954
Ever In My Life
Vytautas Miśkinis
If I Can Help Somebody
arr. Raymond Liebau b. 1937
From Due motetti
Sándor Szokolay b. 1931
Kondairaren Ihauterian
Soinu
Dantza
Javier Busto b. 1949
Ave Maris Stella
Edward Grieg (1843-1907)
Over hill, over dale
Four Shakespeare Songs (1984)
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi b. 1963
“When I . . .”
I. When I Bring
II. When I Sing
III. When I Bring
Vytautas Miśkinis b.1954
Ever In My Life
Vytautas Miśkinis
If I Can Help Somebody
arr. Raymond Liebau b. 1937
Press Release: Fall 2005 Concert
OCT. 20, UAB CHOIRS PRESENT FIRST CONCERT IN OUTSTANDING SEASON
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) choirs invite all music lovers to an evening of world-class choral music at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 20, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Admission is free. Call 205-934-7376 for more information.
Three choirs from the UAB Department of Music will present the concert: the UAB Concert Choir and UAB Women’s Chorale, directed by Philip Copeland, D.M.A., and the UAB Chamber Singers, directed by Jeff Reynolds, D.M.A. On the program are selections featuring mostly modern music, including the Duruflé’s Quatre Motets and Halsey Stevens’ “Magnificat,” said Copeland, director of UAB choral activities.
“All of the music is incredible,” Copeland said. “We’ll be singing some of the finest choral works written by the world’s best composers.” Much of the music for the evening will be presented by the UAB Concert Choir in preparation for their concert at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Convention in February 2006. Directors of participating choirs must submit three years’ worth of recordings to be considered for the performance.
“It is an honor to be invited to perform at a concert of America’s choral directors,” Copeland said. It is the first time any music ensemble from UAB has been invited to perform at a national convention.
The choir returned in May from their first tour of France, where they performed in historic Notre Dame Cathedral and participated in the 34th annual Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tours. The choir won two awards at the competition: the Prix Du Ministère de La Culture, an award for best interpretation of a French choral work, and shared the top award in the Mixed Choirs Category. The UAB Concert Choir, with the Birmingham Concert Chorale, will present Handel’s “Messiah” in December and Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” in May at New York’s world-famous Carnegie Hall.
- www.uab.edu/news -
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) choirs invite all music lovers to an evening of world-class choral music at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 20, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Admission is free. Call 205-934-7376 for more information.
Three choirs from the UAB Department of Music will present the concert: the UAB Concert Choir and UAB Women’s Chorale, directed by Philip Copeland, D.M.A., and the UAB Chamber Singers, directed by Jeff Reynolds, D.M.A. On the program are selections featuring mostly modern music, including the Duruflé’s Quatre Motets and Halsey Stevens’ “Magnificat,” said Copeland, director of UAB choral activities.
“All of the music is incredible,” Copeland said. “We’ll be singing some of the finest choral works written by the world’s best composers.” Much of the music for the evening will be presented by the UAB Concert Choir in preparation for their concert at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Convention in February 2006. Directors of participating choirs must submit three years’ worth of recordings to be considered for the performance.
“It is an honor to be invited to perform at a concert of America’s choral directors,” Copeland said. It is the first time any music ensemble from UAB has been invited to perform at a national convention.
The choir returned in May from their first tour of France, where they performed in historic Notre Dame Cathedral and participated in the 34th annual Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tours. The choir won two awards at the competition: the Prix Du Ministère de La Culture, an award for best interpretation of a French choral work, and shared the top award in the Mixed Choirs Category. The UAB Concert Choir, with the Birmingham Concert Chorale, will present Handel’s “Messiah” in December and Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” in May at New York’s world-famous Carnegie Hall.
- www.uab.edu/news -
Monday, October 03, 2005
Courage and Learning from Others
I learned alot from my mentor. One of the things that impressed me most about him was how he deferred to others when he wasn't the expert in a certain area. Some directors pretend that they know everything; to me that isn't an honest position. If I don't know something, I tell you, and so did Dr. Jordan.
There is a danger in that, of course. When the director admits that he/she doesn't know something, there is a chance that the members of the group project a "lack of knowledge in one area" to a broader "lack of knowledge in all areas."
To me, it is far more damning to pretend that you know something and found to be wrong later. Or, to just pretend to know all things--or pretend to be something that you are not.
I love the book of Proverbs. Lots of "wise man" sayings, and here is one:
Proverbs 9:8-10
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
Here is the attitude I try to model:
1. What I know, I try to teach/project with humble confidence
2. What I am not sure about, I leave room for doubt and time for verification
In our rehearsals this week, I encourage you to work together for the good of the group! If you see someone who needs help, help them. If you are a leader in your section and need to correct someone, do it with incredible respect--the way that you would want to be treated. If someone corrects you, thank them. If you disagree over the matter, come to me.
Is it possible, in this day and time of strong egos, for us to be the kind of group that efficiently and lovingly works out problems?
What I've been reading
A couple of random things for those that drop by:
1. Choir member Keith Kendrick has a new blogsite. I've been subscribing to his site for some time. Somehow, I get all of Keith's posts on bloglines. . . even the ones that he deletes. Interesting, eh Keith? And I think you delete some of your best stuff. Seriously.
2. There is an article about academic blogging in The Chronicle of Higher Education. A few words from that article:
Now, this certainly is not an academic blog. This is a group building blog, I'd say. It is primarily intended for the members of our UAB Concert Choir and those that want to keep up with it. It's also for the purpose of supplying to the choral community various rants, thoughts, and textual translations.
3. I've felt a little guilty about not writing anything since last Friday, and then I read this post somewhere else:
1. Choir member Keith Kendrick has a new blogsite. I've been subscribing to his site for some time. Somehow, I get all of Keith's posts on bloglines. . . even the ones that he deletes. Interesting, eh Keith? And I think you delete some of your best stuff. Seriously.
2. There is an article about academic blogging in The Chronicle of Higher Education. A few words from that article:
But to dismiss blogging as a bad idea altogether is to make an enormous mistake. Academic bloggers differ in their goals. Some are blogging to get personal or professional grievances off their chests or, like Black, to pursue nonacademic interests. Others, perhaps the majority, see blogging as an extension of their academic personas. Their blogs allow them not only to express personal views but also to debate ideas, swap views about their disciplines, and connect to a wider public. For these academics, blogging isn't a hobby; it's an integral part of their scholarly identity. They may very well be the wave of the future.
Now, this certainly is not an academic blog. This is a group building blog, I'd say. It is primarily intended for the members of our UAB Concert Choir and those that want to keep up with it. It's also for the purpose of supplying to the choral community various rants, thoughts, and textual translations.
3. I've felt a little guilty about not writing anything since last Friday, and then I read this post somewhere else:
I've been getting a lot of email asking why I haven't been posting more. "Isn't this a blog?" one asks. "Aren't you supposed to be writing posts every day?"
Fathering, teaching, and writing duties have kept me from posting. Sorry for that - but there's more than enough to read out there, already. I'd like to save this space for when I've really got something to say. Being obligated to post every day would mean having to pull something out of my butt, no matter what. Imagine if people only wrote stuff down when they really felt like it? Because they had something they needed to share?
Friday, September 30, 2005
Found: Luke's Blog
Luke, welcome to the blog world.
Choir, welcome Luke.
Technorati is a great thing, eh?
He has the greatest opening post that I've seen:
And later, he says nice things about all of you:
A great guy, that Luke.
Choir, welcome Luke.
Technorati is a great thing, eh?
He has the greatest opening post that I've seen:
I had absolutely no idea what this "blogging" stuff was until my choir director introduced me. I think it's a really useful and interesting tool and a great way to communicate with not only friends but also the world. This will be a beginning to me making my mark in this world and letting my voice be heard, or read, by those willing to listen.
And later, he says nice things about all of you:
I have the privilege of singing with some amazingly talented people who all love music and want to be the best at what they can do. I anxiously await out first performance where I will no longer be sitting in the audience listening joyfully but rather standing on stage lifting my voice in unison and showing an audience how lucky I am to be a part of this choir. As cheesy as this entry may sound, I feel the need to express my gratitude and excitement. UAB Concert Choir ROCKS!
A great guy, that Luke.
Karaoke Night - Sesame Street
The cow singing Karaoke has stayed with me all week, I'm not sure why. And tonight I found a picture . . . the internet is a crazy place, isn't it? I found a site the seems to deconstruct Sesame Street.Here's the official description of the show:
Karaoke Night at Hooper's Store
Episode: 4031
Not currently scheduled.
It's Karaoke night at Hooper's and everyone is getting ready to sing! Telly is extremely nervous about singing and his friend Baby Bear tries to encourage him to participate. The two of them sit and listen as everyone sings their songs. Rosita makes a mistake but keeps going and Telly sees that this is okay. When Baby Bear gets up to sing he gets very nervous and Telly ends up helping his friend and singing along. When the karaoke machine breaks, everyone gets their instruments and they make their own music together, singing until late into the evening.
AND . . . Here's a site where all of the Sesame Street song lyrics exist.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
A prayer for Maggie
Choir,
Please toss up a prayer for Maggie, the daughter of Rob Bushway. I follow his daily blog because he is a leader in the Tablet PC world . . . and because I follow his blog I've followed the trials and tribulations of his daughter Maggie.
I am always moved by Rob's struggles-he obviously loves his daughter deeply and she is experiencing seizures that doctors have been unable to stop. He is a man of tremendous faith and wrote about their singing of hymns tonight . . it is a beautiful picture in a terrible time of pain. Pray for Maggie and Rob . . .
He wrote these words in November 2004:
Written on the airplane on the way to Pittsburgh
Hopeful
My soul is worn
Yearning for sleep that doesn't come
Yet, my weariness is
Nothing like hers.
The conversations she has in her heart,
Pondering it all.
What has God whispered to her
During those dark, lonely nights.
The peace in her eyes is but a hint.
Surely, God has heard the
Cries of her heart,
And has answered her.
What does she say to Him
During those dark lonely nights?
The whisper of her heart
To God's ear is surely the
Sweetest of all sounds.
A greeting from the past
Dear Dr. Copeland and Concert Choir,
I wanted to let you know that I miss everyone and the experience of singing with you. I am very proud of the UAB Concert Choir and excited about its' future. I am considering auditioning and hopefully joining you again in the Spring. I feel as though a big piece of my life is missing and I am almost positive that it is singing in a Choir full of amazing people and fantastic singers. I hope everyone is putting forth their best and enjoying every moment of it. Singing in a Choir like this and with a director like you is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and it took not being a part of that for me to realize just how important it is to me. Choir is like an escape from the world. It is a haven for expressing individual talent as well as meshing those talents into something awesome. Once again, I hope to join you again soon and best wishes for this fall.
With Love and Support,
Amanda Gorsuch
I wanted to let you know that I miss everyone and the experience of singing with you. I am very proud of the UAB Concert Choir and excited about its' future. I am considering auditioning and hopefully joining you again in the Spring. I feel as though a big piece of my life is missing and I am almost positive that it is singing in a Choir full of amazing people and fantastic singers. I hope everyone is putting forth their best and enjoying every moment of it. Singing in a Choir like this and with a director like you is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and it took not being a part of that for me to realize just how important it is to me. Choir is like an escape from the world. It is a haven for expressing individual talent as well as meshing those talents into something awesome. Once again, I hope to join you again soon and best wishes for this fall.
With Love and Support,
Amanda Gorsuch
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Er Ist's Diction Recording
Thanks, Martin, for helping us sound more German.
Here is a recording of Martin speaking the language for us. Listen close.
Here is a recording of Martin speaking the language for us. Listen close.
Cathrine and Claire
Pam, a wonderful person that helps us out at our house, took this picture of the twins. I think it is fantastic.
I Woke Up Haunted: Nightmares for Choir Directors
I awoke this morning thinking about my altos: Why couldn't they sing with energized consonants in the manner that I wanted? The "Dracula Talk?"
Q. Were they refusing to do what I was asking or just not able to do it?
A. I don't think that they would do that, would they?
It must be a matter of fundamentals--basic concepts that I expect the choir to be able to execute on demand. What I forget is that there are a plethora of new people in choir. I haven't locked these concepts into the choir--yet. Expect some concentrated effort on that particular technique in the upcoming rehearsals.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Caroline and Cheerios
I can't leave out Caroline, of course. Her favorite meal, at least twice a day, is cereal.
Cheerios are her top choice, but other varieties will suffice.
I'm not surprised she loves cereal--we have the same blood type (o-) while the twins are o+. I am a cereal lover, too. My favorite of all time: Kellogs Raisin Bran. Close second: Frosted Mini Wheats.
And now I'm hungry.
Cheerios are her top choice, but other varieties will suffice.
I'm not surprised she loves cereal--we have the same blood type (o-) while the twins are o+. I am a cereal lover, too. My favorite of all time: Kellogs Raisin Bran. Close second: Frosted Mini Wheats.
And now I'm hungry.
My Beautiful Twins
Pause choir talk for a moment.
I'm a father very much in love with his daughters. Here are Catherine and Claire; they love each other.
Actually, we've entered a phase when the girls are incredibly affectionate and loving towards each other. Leigh and I feel very lucky to have such wonderful girls.
I'm a father very much in love with his daughters. Here are Catherine and Claire; they love each other.
Actually, we've entered a phase when the girls are incredibly affectionate and loving towards each other. Leigh and I feel very lucky to have such wonderful girls.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Thinking about 2008
The UAB Choir made a great showing this past summer at the Tours festival. One of the results from participating in that festival was the invitation to perform at other competitions.
In June, I received an official invitation to sing at the 22nd Annual Bela Bartok Festival this summer 2006. Here was the invitation:
Isn't that nice? I wish that we had the funds to do something like that every summer at a reduced cost to students.
Unfortunately, the Bela Bartok competition is not held in 2007 but it is in 2008. So, I'm looking ahead to then. This year's freshmen would have just completed their junior year. Who knows, Erin Pair might still be around ruling the choir with an iron fist by then.
Just something to keep in our minds as we keep pressing forward to the tasks at hand!
In June, I received an official invitation to sing at the 22nd Annual Bela Bartok Festival this summer 2006. Here was the invitation:
Dear Mr Copeland,
I congratulate you again for your excellent production on Florilege Vocal Tours 2005. I would like to recommend our next competition for your attention. The Bela Bartok International Choir Competition has an important place and a great respect in the international music life. I’m sure it will be a new challange for your choir to participate on our next BBCC in Debrecen/Hungary.
Please visit our web-site: www.bbcc.hu
Hoping for your attention: József Balogh, Secretary of the BBCC
Isn't that nice? I wish that we had the funds to do something like that every summer at a reduced cost to students.
Unfortunately, the Bela Bartok competition is not held in 2007 but it is in 2008. So, I'm looking ahead to then. This year's freshmen would have just completed their junior year. Who knows, Erin Pair might still be around ruling the choir with an iron fist by then.
Just something to keep in our minds as we keep pressing forward to the tasks at hand!
Basque Mythology: Akelarre
Thanks to Katie Movelle (Queen Strange) for the following:
From: http://www.buber.net/Basque
"Basque Mythology: Akelarre
[Akelarre literally means «field of the he-goat»]. The Akelarre is a plain of Zugarramurdi situated in front of the entrance to the cavern called Akelarren-leze «cave of Akelarre». It is believed that, in that spot and in that cavern, the witches of old met. In the vestibule of the cave, at a small height above the floor, a hole opens in the wall like a window, which, as the the neighbors of that locality say, is the hall where the devil, in the figure of a he-goat, received the witches. In the flat floor of the entry and of the vestibule, which preserve the remains of prehistoric homes, the devout of Aker -- or spirit in the form of the he-goat -- met to pay him their worship: adoration, offerings, telling of accounts, acceptance of orders."
Friday, September 23, 2005
Scively gets it . . . again.
Once again, Jennifer Scively is moved by the same text that moves me:
Her favorite line is my favorite line:
It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt;
She remarks: Our songs teach us about ourselves, help us better understand the world around us, and connect us to the divine.
Yes . . after I sing that line in my head, I am definitely connected to something else, whether it is my past . . . or my parents . . . or my children . . . or my future. There is a timelessness in those words. My new songs are teaching me new lessons . . . and the songs I give to my students teach them things that I was taught.
Thank you, Mr. Rabindranath Tagore for teaching me through your words and Mr. Miskinis for the great sounds.
Ever in my life have I sought thee with my songs
It was they who led me from door to door,
And with them have I felt about me,
Searching and touching my world.
It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt;
They showed me secret paths,
They brought before my sight many a star
On the horizon of my heart.
They guided me all the day long to the mysteries of the country
Of pleasure and pain, and, at last,
To what palace gate have they brought me
In the evening at the end of my journey?
Her favorite line is my favorite line:
It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I ever learnt;
She remarks: Our songs teach us about ourselves, help us better understand the world around us, and connect us to the divine.
Yes . . after I sing that line in my head, I am definitely connected to something else, whether it is my past . . . or my parents . . . or my children . . . or my future. There is a timelessness in those words. My new songs are teaching me new lessons . . . and the songs I give to my students teach them things that I was taught.
Thank you, Mr. Rabindranath Tagore for teaching me through your words and Mr. Miskinis for the great sounds.
Anyone Interested in a T-Shirt?
I'd like to do a long-sleeve t-shirt this year if you guys are interested.
We've done blue, we've done green. Pick a color and a design and I'll get moving. If we use a new york theme we can include the Women's Chorale.
your ideas?
We've done blue, we've done green. Pick a color and a design and I'll get moving. If we use a new york theme we can include the Women's Chorale.
your ideas?
Thursday, September 22, 2005
3 weeks late for my 1-year anniversary
Somehow I missed my blogging-for-one-year anniversary. First post was on September 3, 2004. So, I'll pause for a moment and note that I've made 279 posts from then until today.
(pause)
Thanks to all who frequent this site.
It is interesting, probably only to me, to review what I said in that first post about blogging:
2. With the "comments" section, you can talk back to me (and discuss with others, of course) about the subjects I bring up.
3. I hope to use the vast online resources as well as my own webpage to help all of us learn more and reference information to make our music more meaningful to us.
Some of the goals have changed over times--nearly everything evolves, doesn't it? I've redefined the purpose of this blog . . . and will try to come up with a list of what I am trying to accomplish here these days through the blog.
For Jonathan
A master's student at Illinois State University is quite interested in blogging for choirs. I'm helping him out a bit with some of my thoughts and I told him that he should contact some of my students to get some of their thoughts on the matter.
From his email:
This is a link to my notes/slides from the National ACDA Convention presentation. The one this past summer talks more about the Tablet PC, my latest technological passion.
Enjoy!
From his email:
Of course for our research project I need a certain number of article sources and I have not been able to find any that relate specifically to music education. I have found plenty about educational uses for blogs but none that pertain to Mus. Ed. I guess i am sort of stuck.I'm giving him this link to a presentation I did on, among other things, blogging benefits for choirs. Warning, it is a large 10 MB file. (presentation i did last summer)
I have shown to our choral director some of the blogs that you gave hyperlinks to. She seems very excited about the prospects. Since I am one of her grad. assts. I am sure that will be one of my projects shortly.
This is a link to my notes/slides from the National ACDA Convention presentation. The one this past summer talks more about the Tablet PC, my latest technological passion.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Basque Text Again
Blogger was doing some funny things last night and I had trouble posting.
Here is what I had up for a short time yesterday:
Here is what I had up for a short time yesterday:
Here is the recording I played in class today. (At least, my plan was to go over this in class today)
Listen closely and put pronunciation guides in your music.
Again, here is the link to the translation of the work and you will note that all the pieces that I have translated are in the column to the right.
What I Did Saturday Instead of Sing
How many of you have been to a triplet birthday party? Leigh and I took our triplets to a birthday party on Saturday since we couldn't sing. The boys on the right celebrated their third birthday.
Claire doesn't look to happy to be there but she perked up later. The cake, from Edgars bakery, was delicious.
Claire doesn't look to happy to be there but she perked up later. The cake, from Edgars bakery, was delicious.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Today-Impressive
I was impressed with your work today, choir. The progress seemed slow at first on the Busto #1 but it was really coming together at the end.
On the Busto #2 things were really clicking on the last run-through. Memorize it! Get away from the music ASAP.
New formation for the Over Hill was quite interesting. If you watch Chanticleer in concert, they change formations for every number--or at least, that is what I remember from their last concert. They group themselves into whatever makes the most sense for whatever song they are performing--and it is extremely effective.
Mr. Berg was an observer for this part of the rehearsal and seemed to agree. We'll tweak what we did today and perhaps experiment with other formation possibilities with our music.
Have any ideas?
I'm listening . . .
On the Busto #2 things were really clicking on the last run-through. Memorize it! Get away from the music ASAP.
New formation for the Over Hill was quite interesting. If you watch Chanticleer in concert, they change formations for every number--or at least, that is what I remember from their last concert. They group themselves into whatever makes the most sense for whatever song they are performing--and it is extremely effective.
Mr. Berg was an observer for this part of the rehearsal and seemed to agree. We'll tweak what we did today and perhaps experiment with other formation possibilities with our music.
Have any ideas?
I'm listening . . .
Monday, September 19, 2005
Choir Bio Fall 2005
I worked up a new choir bio today. This is our new official description:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Concert Choir
The UAB Concert Choir is the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The choir has developed an outstanding reputation across the United States and Europe with recent performances in France and an upcoming performance at the 2006 Southern Regional Convention of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).
The choir recently returned from their first tour of France, a trip that featured performances in historic Notre Dame Cathedral and participation in the 34th annual Florlilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France. The choir won two awards at the competition: 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.
The UAB Concert Choir will combine with the Birmingham Concert Chorale and present Handel's Messiah in December and Mozart's Solemn Vespers in April. Other recent performances of major works include the Requiem by Maurice Durufle' and King David by Honegger, Gloria by John Rutter and Britten's Ceremony of Carols.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
We welcome Jenny to the blog world
It looks like the coast is clear, so we welcome Jenny Harmon to the blog world! Welcome, Jenny!
I know a little more about Jenny than I used to, but I still don't know her very well. What I do know is this: she is dependable, musically talented and a great sight-reader. I'm glad she's here and I look forward to the contributions she will make for many years.
Good luck with everything this year, Jenny!
another freshmen blog
found another freshmen blog, but the post admits a crush . . . .
so i'll wait a couple of days before posting the address in case the author wants to change it . . .
or perhaps, this is the way the person admits the crush to the person?
Friday, September 16, 2005
A change in plans
Choir,
For reasons that may be explained later, we will not be singing at the event tomorrow morning or on Tuesday at the noon hour.
Let your new plans be this: enjoy your weekend, show up at rehearsal on Tuesday at 1:00 ready to sing great music.
Thanks!
For reasons that may be explained later, we will not be singing at the event tomorrow morning or on Tuesday at the noon hour.
Let your new plans be this: enjoy your weekend, show up at rehearsal on Tuesday at 1:00 ready to sing great music.
Thanks!
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.
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.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Desta. Busted.
Welcome to the blog world, James!
Great to have you aboard!
Answer: your big mouth.
Question: how did you find my blog?
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
"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.
Technorati plus Bloglines
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.
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?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
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?
Monday, September 12, 2005
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?
Sunday, September 11, 2005
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!
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!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Oversight Corrected!
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!
Welcome Caroline, and thanks for all those great vowels!
Friday, September 09, 2005
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.
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.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
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!
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 | Sing to the Lord a new song Because He has done wonderful things. |
| Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra: * cantáte, et exsultáte, et psállite. | 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 | Tell us, Mary Magdalen, |
| Jubiláte in conspéctu regis Dómini: orbis terrárum, et qui hábitant in eo. | 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.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
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:
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
- 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
Sunday, September 04, 2005
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
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
Friday, September 02, 2005
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.
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:
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.
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:
| 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 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.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
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!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
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.
Leslie B. Dunner, conductor
Sunday, January 15, 2005; 3 p.m.
Jemison Concert Hall
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Minor Changes
Great rehearsal today, even though we missed the following:
Great work so far . . .
- Sean: Sister had baby--congrats, Sean.
- Sam: Hurricane problems
- Maggie: Hurricane problems
- Chris Reid: Hurricane problems
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.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
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.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
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:
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.
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.
Monday, August 22, 2005
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.
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.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
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.
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.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
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:
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
UAB Concert Choir Fall 2005
UAB Concert Choir Fall 2005
Soprano 1
Soprano 2
Alto1
Alto 2
Tenor 1
Tenor 2
Bass 1
Bass 2
Soprano 1
- Erin Pair
- Lindsey Tuller
- Sarah Green
- Samantha Pace
- Ashley Arrington
- Meredith Foster
Soprano 2
- Maggie Hendricks
- Jennifer Scivley
- Kristina Banks
- Jackie Roche
- Marybeth Verchot
- Shelly Ann Edge
Alto1
- Lauren Askew
- Rachel Hicks
- Katie Krauss
- Katie Movelle
- Holly Sawardecker
- Maggie Malone
- Jessica O’Leary
- Jessica Marshman
Alto 2
- Whitney Sims
- Lauren Davidson
- Diedra Brown
- Meghan Granlund
- Electa Taylor
- Lauren Stephens
Tenor 1
- Patrick Williams
- Josh Noland
- Sean Fleishman
- Andy Smith
- James Desta
Tenor 2
- David Berg
- Anthony Concepcion
- Wes Edgar
- Stephen Han
- Jon Hood
- Thomas Nelson
Bass 1
- Charles Henry
- Chris Reid
- Clay Rector
- Evan Long
- Luke Boone
- Martin Schultz
- Jason Leger
- Keith Kendrick
Bass 2
- Chris Carter
- Andrew Granlund
- John Howard
- 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.
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.
Monday, August 15, 2005
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.)
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.)
Thursday, August 11, 2005
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
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.
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
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