Wednesday Recording Cancelled

Folks,

I think we've got all we are going to get this year. Wednesday recording session cancelled. Plan on recording more often next year!

Florilege 2006

Here are the choirs competing for the 2006 competition. Flyer is here. I think most of you know, I'll be joining Dr. Jordan as 2nd Tenor again for this shot at the competiton.

ALLEMAGNE / LIMBURG
CAMERATA MUSICA LIMBURG / dir: Jan SCHUMACHER

BELGIQUE / NAMUR
CHOEUR DE CHAMBRE ISHANGO / dir: Thierry LEQUENNE

DANEMARK / AARHUS
DET NY KAMMERKOR / dir: Anders GADEN

ETATS-UNIS / OXFORD
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPI CONCERT SINGERS / dir: Jerry JORDAN

FRANCE / SETE
ENSEMBLE VOCAL "HELIADE" / dir: Elene GOLGEVIT

GRECE / PATRAS
POLYPHONIC CHOIR OF PATRAS / dir: Stavros SOLOMOS

ITALIE / BORGO VALSUGANA
CORO DA CAMERA TRENTINO / dir: Giancarlo COMAR

ITALIE / CAGLIARI
CORO POLIFONICO DEL C.U.M. / dir: Ricardo LEONE

NORVEGE / OSLO
ENSEMBLE 96 / dir: Oystein FEVANG

PHILIPPINES / QUEZON CITY
PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS / dir: Mark Anthony CARPIO

RUSSIE / TULA
OZARENIE / dir: Olga BUKOVA

SUEDE / STOCKHOLM
STOCKHOLMS MUSIKGYMNASIUMS / dir: Helene STUREBORG

SUEDE / STOCKHOLM
VOCES NORDICAE / dir: Lone LARSEN

UKRAINE / JITOMIR
OREYA / dir: Alexander VATSEK

UKRAINE / ODESSA
CLASSIC CHORUS / dir: Grigoriy LIOZNOV

Wonderful Job. Thank you, choir.

Thanks to the people that were able to come tonight. It was a dreary night but you sang well--especially for such a poor acoustic!

Dr. Malcolm Portera was in attendance tonight and complemented me on your performance.

Who is he? He's my the chancellor of the UA systems--the person over Carol Garrison in the Alabama systems.

So . . . one never knows where a concert will lead you. Our concert last Sunday gave us the entry into tonight's concert and the boss of the University of Alabama systems was in attendance.

And I was proud.

Use Google Maps to get you there

Mountain Brook Club.

Type in your starting address.

UPDATE:

I drove out there just a moment ago and I have a couple of notes:

1. Watch the turn for Beechwood Road. It's a little tricky. Here's a pic of it:



2. A closeup--note the green bow:



3. The turn into the club is a little tricky--not well marked. Watch for the white wall on your right:



4. This is the building we are singing in. Park to the left of it (in a parking lot).



5. Here is the room. Looks nice!

Getting things done and the Yamipod

Found these two links today, wanted to tell you about them.

1. Getting things done. This is an article in Financial Times about a system of getting all your work done. Older students know that I advocate Steven Covey's philosophy about life and organization (Seven Habits of Highly Successful People); this Getting Things Done is a way of processing the incredible amount of tasks that come to us everyday. Am I perfect at the system? Nope. But I'm more organized than I used to be! I hope to re-read the book soon and get a few better habits over the summer.

2. Was pointed to the Yamipod software today. Currently free, a way of transferring files back and forth from your Ipod without all the ridiculous restrictions.

Recording during exam time

Here is the time:

Sections 1F, 5F -- Wednesday, May 3, 10:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Update: this is just the TIME of the exam period. There is no way I will be recording that long. Expect an hour. But everyone must arrive on time.

Something new!

PEFORMANCE: Sunday night! REQUIRED

I received a phone call today from the meeting planner of Protective Life Insurance Company. The CEO of Protective Life, Mr. Johnny Johns, heard us sing at the Episcopal church on Sunday and wants us to sing a few numbers at his Board of Directors meeting this Sunday at the Mountain Brook Club. (directions below)

For our services, he is a making a very generous contribution towards our European Trip next summer. Isn't that incredibly nice?

The details:

Group: UAB Concert Choir
Event: Board Meeting, Protective Life Corporation
Date: Sunday, April 30th
Time: 7:00 p.m. gather (place to be assigned from MBC)
Perform: 7:15 p.m.
Place: Mountain Brook Club, 19 Beachwood Road, Birmingham, AL 35213 (205.871.2116)

How to get to Mountain Brook Club.

So, friends, our last concert has not been sung . . . . yet.

A recruiting tool

Interesting, eh?

Like Whoa. MBV photoshops head on dog in 5 min.

Impressive, MBV.

Finding a way for Clay to extricate himself from doghouse will now commence.

Clay = Doghouse

Doghouse
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Can someone do me a favor and place Clay's head on this doghouse photo?

Choir @ St. Luke's

4-23 026
Originally uploaded by philipco.

Great performance today, choir!

As many of you know, one of my mission's for the UAB choir is to sing at at least one community worship service each semester. The reasoning is several-fold:

1. It is our way of giving to the community in a public way.
2. It is a way for you to experience another worship style.
3. It is a way of showing the community some of the great things we have going on at UAB in the music department.

In recent semesters, we have sung at a variety of places:

Spring 2006 St. Luke's Episcopal
Fall 2005 Canterbury Methodist
Spring 2005 South Highland Presbyterian
Fall 2004 Mountain Brook Baptist
Fall 2003 Trinity Methodist

I hope to schedule a time at a Catholic church in the fall and perhaps a Jewish Synagogue service on a Saturday night.

We have much to give, and much to learn.

MCAT Best Wishes

Best wishes to Lauren and Luke, who submitted themselves and their futures to the MCAT

Interested in taking it? Here's a sample.

Where you can find more samples.

And, when you are rich successful doctors, please contribute to Dr. Copeland's choral scholarship fund.

Mozart Fabulous

More thoughts later, but a brief review tonight:

Mozart was fabulous. All of the things I mentioned in the pre-rehearsal really came out incredibly well in the performance. My regret: Magnificat cue on 3, basses--My fault! Lindsey was tremendous, as were all of the soloists.

Our set was good, not great. Reasons? I have a couple of ideas, nothing for sure.

Chamber singers had some incredible moments. The music seemed to feature Andrew, at least from what I could hear from sitting behind him, and he sounded fantastic. Best I've heard from the low man.

The big picture: we just completed the final leg of a tremendous year. Messiah, ACDA, Mozart. Up next, Church on Sunday and CARNEGIE HALL on May 9.

President Garrison was in attendance tonight, by the way. I remember the word "spectacular" and "it looked great to have so many people on the stage." It was great to have her there.

Comforted

Keeping with the end-of-the-school-year insanity, I wanted to point you to this site today. I was quite comforted by the mostly normal photos of men exhibiting responsible choice in foot/toe wear. Quite savvy, actually.

You'll note that the men look to be from England . . . doesn't an English accent insure dignity and class?


Although the picture above could have been a photo of me in my office, I assure you it is not. My computer monitor is larger.


Favorite pic here.
And here.
And here.

So where is Kevin these days?

I've not heard from him lately and I wonder what he has been doing.

Upcoming Sunday's

This Sunday, April 23rd:

Saint Luke's Episcopal Church
3736 Montrose Rd
Birmingham, AL 35213

Click here and Google Maps will help you get there.

Time to arrive: 10:00 a.m.
Service begins: 11:15 a.m.
Music:
Exultate Deo (Palestrina)
Irish Blessing (Bernhardt)
Amazing Grace (arr. Sheena Phillips)
Abendlied (Rheinberger)

Sunday, April 30th
For all those that might owe me a favor!
South Highland Presbyterian Church
Directions to Church

Time to arrive: 10:15 a.m.
Service begins: 11:00 a.m
Music: 1st and 5th movement of Mozart Solemn Vespers.

I follow New Yorker critic Alex Ross via bloglines and I invite you to become familiar with him.

This morning he pointed me towards a moving article about the power of a recording made in 1938 of Mahler's Farewell Symphony. Highly recommended reading.

He's also recently discussed the failure of music education and what might be done to help the public-at-large find what many (most? some?) of us find when we hear great works of art.

Check Alex's blog out. I keep up with it through bloglines and I still highly recommend that as a way of following the blogging world.

Sometimes I pay attention to other types of music

Sometimes I pay attention to other types of music. Hard to believe?

Anyway, something pointed me to a piece by Emmylou Harris: Prayer in Open D (a cowgirl's prayer). I mentioned it in class the other day and got mostly blank faces.

Checkitout . . . only 99 cents on iTunes . . .

The text of the piece is nice, the music better. She has the ability to put real emotion into the way she sings so many of the words. Great nuance . . . and the use of the cello at the end is just incredible . . .

There's a valley of sorrow in my soul
Where every night I hear the thunder roll
Like the sound of a distant gun
Over all the damage I have done
And the shadows filling up this land
Are the ones I built with my own hand
There is no comfort from the cold
Of this valley of sorrow in my soul

There's a river of darkness in my blood
And through every vein I feel the flood
I can find no bridge for me to cross
No way to bring back what is lost
Into the night it soon will sweep
Down where all my grievances I keep
But it won't wash away the years
Or one single hard and bitter tear

And the rock of ages I have known
Is a weariness down in the bone
I use to ride it like a rolling stone
Now just carry it alone

There's a highway risin' from my dreams
Deep in the heart I know it gleams
For I have seen it stretching wide
Clear across to the other side
Beyond the river and the flood
And the valley where for so long I've stood
With the rock of ages in my bones
Someday I know it will lead me home

Flight Information, New York

Let's hope this is the last time it changes.

Here it is.

Also posted on my office door.

Texts to Contemplate

Exsultate Deo (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palentrina) 1525-1594

from Psalm 81:

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

3 Blow the trumpet in the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;

Abendlied, Op. 69, no. 3 (Josef Rheinberger) 1839-1901

From Luke 24:29:

Bide with us, for evening shadows darken, and the day will soon be over.

Auburn @ Carnegie Hall

I'm happy to say that William Powell of Auburn is one of the nicest guys you'll meet in the choral music profession. Here's the article about him conducting at Carnegie Hall this coming Saturday:

Professor conducts at Carnegie Hall

By Megan Smith
Associate Campus Editor

April 13, 2006

Performance date:
William Powell and a 31-member choir will perform at Carnegie Hall April 22.

William Powell, a University choral teacher, has conducted himself right to the top where all aspiring singers and musicians hope to be: Carnegie Hall.

In 2004, MidAmerica Productions invited Powell to lead a group of students to New York City and conduct a concert in Carnegie Hall.

“It’s got to be probably one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a conductor,” Powell said.

Powell will travel with 31 volunteer singers from the men’s and women’s choruses and the Concert Choir.

The group will leave April 19, perform April 22 and return to Auburn April 23.

The performers will open with Mozart’s “Missabrevis in B-Flat,” which has six movements, and will end with Franz Jospeh Hyden’s “TeDeum.”

The estimated time of the performance is 25 minutes.

As for the pieces selected, Melissa Sconyers, one of the singers attending the trip, said it has taken a lot of time and preparation to learn them well.

“I’m kind of nervous. It’s some pretty difficult music,” Sconyers said.

Powell said he’s been impressed with the amount of time and dedication the volunteers have put into the concert.

“I’m real proud of their work and the progress they’ve made,” Powell said.

Four soloists will contribute to the performance. Powell said they were selected from a talent agency in New York.

Powell said he has been preparing for this concert since last semester and officially began rehearsals Mondays and Wednesdays this spring.

Sconyers said while she’s excited about going to Carnegie Hall, she’s had to watch her spending closely.

“I’m using all the money I saved this summer for the trip, and I’ve lived pretty tight this year,” Sconyers said.

The cost of the trip per person is more than $1,000.

“Their commitment is truly a financial one,” Powell said.

Jeff Loddo, another singer attending, said he was interested in the trip because he’s originally from New York.

“When Dr. Powell said we could go to Carnegie Hall, I jumped on it,” Loddo said.

Loddo said having the opportunity to sing in Carnegie Hall is a dream for him.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” Loddo said.

Sconyers said since she has never been to New York, she wants to experience the Big Apple and be able to sing.

“I’ve never been to New York before, but I know being able to actually perform the music itself is unbelievable,” Sconyers said.

Powell said he hopes all the rehearsals and energy put into the concert will show to the audience.

While the process has been stressful and overwhelming at times, Powell said it has all been worth it.

“I am extremely honored to have been invited, and we’re looking forward to going there and doing our best and representing Auburn,” Powell said.

Mary Ellen Duncan, soprano soloist in NY

Found this today about the soprano singing with us in New York:

Dicapo's premiere got some extra drama when Allison Keil, the soprano cast in the leading role of Anna Maurrant, ruptured a vocal cord on Friday afternoon. As a result, Mary Ellen Duncan sang and spoke the role from the side of the stage, while Ms. Keil, at the center of the action, pantomimed Mrs. Maurrant's loneliness; her love for her children, Willy and Rose; and her affair with the milkman, Steve Sankey (Richard Gennaro), which leads to their deaths when her husband walks in on them. Oddly enough, this dual casting didn't prove as distracting as one might expect. Ms. Keil has a compelling stage presence, and the poignancy of her enforced silence gave her character an added vulnerability and authority. And Ms. Duncan acquitted herself well.



More about her here.

An interview

Melissa Justice, of our Women's Chorale, gave me some questions in the form of an interview. I thought I'd share my answers with you:

Questions:

1. How many years have you been teaching Music? At UAB?

I'm completing my fifth year at UAB and have been employed as a music educator for a total of 10 years.


2. Can you tell me a bit about UAB's various choirs?

There are four choirs at UAB: Concert Choir, Women's Chorale, Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir.

3. Does UAB have a nationally recognized choir program?

We've made huge strides in the last several years; our concert this past February at the Regional Convention of the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) put us on the map. It was the first time any UAB music ensemble has performed on the national stage.

4. UAB will be traveling to New York soon. Do the UAB choirs go on trips often? To competitions?

UAB choirs have traveled to England and performed major works and competed in an international choral competition last summer--the Florilege Vocal de Tours. It was a very exciting event and we were pleased to win the top score in the mixed choirs category and win the Prix du Ministere de la Culture, an award given for best performance of a French composition. As far as our frequency of travel, I'm trying to go on an international trip every two years.

5. How were you selected to conduct in New York?

By word of mouth, really. The UAB Concert Choir sang in Alabama's Collegiate Choral Festival a few years ago and word of our performance reached an Alabama native who worked with a company called MidAmerica Productions. They called last spring and asked if I'd be interested in conducting at Carnegie Hall. Who could turn that down?

6. Did you have any decision on the selection of work to be performed?

I let the New York people pick the work, actually, and I'm glad they did. We decided that we would honor Mozart with the concert since this is the 250th anniversary of his birth.

7. How many UAB students will be attending this trip?

About 40 UAB students are planning on making the trip.

8. If one is interested in joining choir how do you go about becoming involved?

Contact me! (plc@uab.edu) I put the singer through a brief audition. It's easy.

9. Are their scholarships avilable?

Scholarships are available, but not in large supply. That's my number one goal at UAB right now: to find ways to increase the choral scholarships in our department. We are achieving so much--but we could easily be one of the top programs in the nation with scholarship dollars.

10. Is there any other information you'd like to give students about UAB choir, the trip, or anything else?

College choir is a special opportunity; if a person sings, there will never be another chance to sing in a group like choirs at UAB. I hope to take all three groups to Europe next year for an international choral competition. It's a great time to join up!

A great dress rehearsal

It was a great dress rehearsal last night.

It looked really impressive to have the stage full of orchestra and singers--it sounded even better.

There were some really outstanding moments and I think it will be even better on Friday. The main task for our choir--get your heads out of the music. There are a FEW people that are watching me all the time--and it is impressive. All UAB Concert Choir people need to be the leaders in every section. Look over the music, watch me for cues, lead with vigor.

Mozart's Solemn Vespers (K. 339) is a truly great work. The quartet sounds marvelous and Lindsey sounds particularly incredible.

We will, of course, be working on this again today!

A good book

Seems like the subject of marriage is in the air again

I saw this article that advocated some of my beliefs.

An excerpt, obviously written to women:

A person’s twenties are about definition and getting Mr. Right to notice you while you prove to the world you can take care of yourself. At the beginning, though society allows you vote, you cannot drink and getting into forbidden places through ingenuity becomes sport.

Your twenties are about test driving your emotions, test driving men and defining self. The adjectives used to define Mr. Right at 20 generally include smart, tall, fun, handsome, ambitious, great car . . . At twenty, a year is a very long time and for most women, the person she is at 20 is drastically different the woman she becomes by 30.

By thirty, Mr. Right grows up, puts on a few pounds and has better things to do with his time than drink beer, work out and live just for the moment. Now a woman you realize substance exceeds aesthetics . .

The new adjectives now reflect your own maturity and include more concrete ideals such as integrity, a passion for living, principles, goal-oriented, considerate and loving. By thirty, you realize it’s not whether he wants you, it’s whether you want him. At thirty you sometimes forget what year it is because time now goes by so fast.

Organist on Crack

No one in my church choir seemed to be aware of this.

I couldn't help but think of it at the end of the Hallelujah chorus during the easter service. Have you guys heard it before?

Dr. Gainey was the first to share it with me last Christmas.

Happy easter! Mozart dress rehearsal tomorrow night!

Blogging @ Easter

IMG_0324
Originally uploaded by philipco.

We've been hunting Easter Eggs today. And playing at the park. And, after marrying after the age of 25 or 30 not 20, I highly recommend children for all my students.

Easter hunt picture here.

Park picture here.

Claire smiling here.

Honoring others - Martha Shaw and the Shorter Chorale

At 1:30 today (on Good Friday) the Shorter Chorale visited South Highland Presbyterian Church and gave a very emotional performance of great choral music.

Their director, Dr. Martha Shaw, is a former student of John Jennings who is the former director of South Highland's music ministry. I took the job after John's retirement a few years ago; his wife Joyce still plays the organ.

Dr. Shaw brought about 30 of her 50-member choir over to Birmingham today to sing a tribute to Dr. Jennings. That's right . . . thirty people gave up a day out of their busy lives to sing a concert for one man. There were others of us in the small audience, but the concert was for a solitary individual.

It is one of the nicest things I have ever seen in my profession.

There is a debt that nearly every conductor owes to her mentor . . . for Dr. Shaw it was John Jennings. My own debt is well known.

The deed speaks as much about Martha Shaw as it does John Jennings. Once, a guy named John made a tremendous impact on a young student in his college choir. Years later, the student acknowledged that experience by honoring her teacher with a concert.

I won't forget it.

I'm sending the choir a note that contains the following message:

Dr. Shaw and Members of the Shorter Chorale . . .

Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . for your emotionally and musically satisfying performance at South Highland Presbyterian Church today. It was a special concert and one could not help but be moved by your heart-felt singing of wonderful music.

You invested yourself in your performance today and it was touching. You obviously have a great love for your teacher and she obviously has a great love for hers.

All of your faces where expressive and a few were absolutely radiant. I wish my choir could have seen you sing. You proved today that choral music is as much a visual art as it is an aural one. I actually feel as though I "got to know" the group . . . just from watching you sing.

My best wishes to you and your director for many wonderful years together . . . .

plc

OK, I guess I'm honor bound to out Chris

Next up, Mathias777.

Jenny Returns

jenny will return to us next fall!

my quote for her:

"I travelled to Idaho for my education and found out that the best place for me was right next door."

welcome back, jenny. I hope Idaho treated you well.

It's Clay

Clay is the baritone soloist for the Mozart. Congratulations to all those who auditioned--it was a tough choice.

Favorite TV Preacher

This was my favorite TV Preacher in college. And for some reason, I think Clay will like this video.

I admit, this isn't the normal quality post about choral music.

Forgive me.

I approve of Holly's rant

A great piece of writing here.

My favorite line: If we wanted an opinion we could watch the news.

Holly seems to have different political views from the majority of her profession. I welcome her to my world.

Tom Smith

I've respected Tom Smith for many years. Here is today's newspaper story on his retirement, and here is a website that seems to be the gathering place for the celebration of his career.

AU choral music director Smith adds coda to 34-year career

Thursday, April 06, 2006

DAVID WHITE

News staff writer

AUBURN - Thomas R. Smith says close to 2,500 Auburn University students have sung and played for him since he became Auburn's director of choral activities in the fall of 1972.

He has led hundreds of concerts and thousands more rehearsals as director of the Auburn University Concert Choir, a by-audition-only chorus of about 100 voices, and also of the University Singers, a show choir of 36 dancers and singers and nine instrumentalists.

But Smith, 62, is nearing his last rehearsal and last concert as Auburn's choral activities director.

He's retiring May 31. And some of his former students have organized an alumni concert and are asking former members of the Concert Choir and University Singers to gather in Auburn May 27-28 to rehearse and sing for Smith one last time.

"He has touched so many people's lives, and we just want him to leave with having this as a memory," said one of the organizers, Dale Farmer.

"He truly cares about people. He always strives for excellence in everything he does. I don't know of any other person, ever, in my experience that is loved as much as he is, and respected as much," said Farmer, 51, a flight attendant who is back at Auburn working on a doctorate in music education.

Smith, 62, said the heart attack he suffered last fall was a wake-up call, one that told him he needed less stress in his life, along with more exercise.

Smith has chaired Auburn's music department since 2000 and he said he's always put pressure on himself to get a performance ready and perfected.

"Having to measure up to your own expectation is a lot of pressure. And that part, I won't miss," Smith said. "I like when the perfection comes, and you can experience it, but I will not miss the pressure of having to get it to that point."

Smith said he's looking forward to spending more time while he's healthy with his wife, Gayle, and their adult son and daughter and 14-month-old granddaughter.

He plans to remain the choir director of Providence Baptist Church near Beauregard, a post he has held since 1974. And he's open to new musical challenges.

But Smith said that, just as most Concert Choir members never again sing with a group that good once they leave Auburn, he likely will never again direct such a quality choir, and he'll miss that.

He said some of his favorite memories with the Concert Choir include:

Singing at the National Cathedral in Washington in 1999.

Performing "Belshazzar's Feast," by English composer William Walton, with the Alabama Symphony in Birmingham in 1990.

Performing Giuseppe Verdi's "Requiem" with the Alabama Symphony in Birmingham in 1989.

Performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Columbus, Ga., in 1992.

The annual spring tours, on which the Concert Choir and University Singers fill three Trailways buses for three days of concerts at churches, schools and other places in Alabama and neighboring states.

Smith said about two-thirds of his singers over the years have been nonmusic majors. So why do they, and music majors, sing in choirs when they get to college?

Creating good music is one reason. But Smith said creating a sense of family is another.

"It provides them an opportunity of a place to belong, and they can combine their talents with all these other folks and produce something that's more powerful than any of them can do on their own," smith said.

"There are certain lessons that you learn through music that are going to be applicable to any field, wherever you are: The discipline that it takes, the application of oneself to a task, learning how to work with other people, coming together and putting all those different personalities into one group," Smith said.

"It's so important in singing in the choir that, in order for the music to be unified, the group has to have a sense of unity and oneness," he said.

More than anything, Smith said he's going to miss working with students, and ``the opportunity to relate to them, to be a mentor sometimes, sometimes to be a friend."

"Sometimes, you're a teacher. Sometimes, you're a golf buddy," Smith said. "There are just so many aspects of those things."

Hester Tippett Maginnis, 32, a homemaker from Helena, was in Auburn recently watching Smith conduct a Singers rehearsal once more, before he leaves.

"It saddens me," she said. "He's always just been a huge part of my life."

"I love music. And he was really a father figure, too. He had an open-door policy. Any time we felt had had trouble, we could go in and talk to him," said Maginnis, who sang in the Concert Choir and Singers in 1991-95.

Ken Thomas, 41, the choral music director at Auburn High School, also sang in both groups. He said Smith stands out because of his love for music, love for people and unselfish spirit.

"He has been a mentor, a friend, and of course, a teacher," Thomas said. "In working with my choirs, I always in the back of my mind think, 'How will Dr. Smith feel about what I'm about to present?' That's just how much he means to me, and to choral music in general."

Smith said he tried to lead by example, and by never asking someone to do something he wouldn't be willing to do, a practice he hopes his students will remember and follow.

"I'm just going to miss the relationship with the students. That is the No. 1 thing," Smith said. "And I'll miss the opportunity of making music with the Concert Choir and Singers."

"Both are totally different groups, but the choral quality, we've striven to make that the same for both," he said. "There's a high quality."

"It's been a joy," Smith said. Then he paused and continued, "It's been a joy. And I really am blessed to have had the opportunity to be in one place and do as much as I've been able to do over the years."

E-mail: dwhite@bhamnews.com

Speaking of Deep River

Here is a link.

Listen close and you will hear something interesting . . . and you may recall a story I told earlier in the year.

Don Giovanni looks to be very good

I caught a little of the ASO's rehearsal for Don Giovanni. Looks to be quite good with marvelous singers. Tickets here.

Don Giovanni by Mozart
In Italian with projected English translations
Friday, April 7, 2006 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 8, 2006 8:00 p.m.
Alys Stephens Center
$75, $58, $42, $28, $19 reserved seating, $10 students

What will it take to stop the notorious Don Giovanni from his pursuit of all women? Only intervention from beyond the grave can make Don Giovanni pay for his lecherous escapades! Mozart’s “perfect opera” is both comical and terrifying as it follows the misdeeds of the infamous seducer and his final doom.

Starring Philip Cutlip (Don Giovanni), Derrick Parker (Leporello), Madeline Bender (Donna Elvira), Kristin Lewis (Donna Anna), Brian Downen ( Don Ottavio), Michelle Areyzaga (Zerlina), and John Sauvey (Masetto).

Conducted by William Fred Scott
A Co-production with the Alabama Symphony

Finding Singers at UAB

It seems we are doing a good job recruiting singers from among our UAB ranks this year. At least five members of other ensembles in the music department have talked to me about joining Concert Choir next semester.

I love it.

I was in the band my first semester at Ole Miss and stayed in it for a total of four or five semesters--I don't really remember how long it was.

I joined choir in the second semester of my freshmen year and never looked back. I remember one of the pieces that we did that first rehearsal: Barber's Mary Hynes. It is quite difficult. I think I'll make it one of our works next year.

1. Mary Hynes
	She is the sky of the sun! She is the dart of love! She is the love of my heart! She is a rune! She is above the women of the race of Eve, as the sun is above the moon! Lovely and airy the view from the hill that looks down from Ballylea! But no good sight is good, until you see the blossom of branches walking towards you, airily.

Mozart not as poor as we thought

It seems Mr. Mozart may not have been as poor as we once thought:

The new documents, on display at Vienna's Musikverein, reveal that he earned about 10,000 florins a year — at least $42,000, in today's terms.

That would have placed him in the top 5 percent of wage-earners in late 18th-century Vienna, say experts, who were unable to prove lingering suspicions that gambling debts took a big bite out of Mozart's earnings.

"Mozart made a lot of money," said Otto Biba, director of Vienna's vast musical archives.

To put his earnings in perspective: Successful professionals lived comfortably on 450 florins a year, according to Biba, who said Mozart's main occupation in Vienna was teaching piano to aristocrats — a lucrative job that helped support his extravagant lifestyle.

Results

Soprano: Lindsey Tuller
Mezzo: Maggie Hendricks
Tenor: Patrick Williams
Baritone: yet to be decided (3/4 participants ill)

Very impressive auditions.

Great discussion on the Mozart Solemn Vespers (k. 339) is here.

A bit of the background:

The Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, K339 (Solemn Vespers for a Confessor) were written in 1780, the year after Mozart had reluctantly returned home to take up the role of court organist to Hieronymous Colloredo, the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg. It was not a happy time for Mozart. Now in his twenties, his days of instant recognition as a child-prodigy were over, and his last trip to Europe in search of wealthy patronage had proved fruitless. To make matters worse, his mother, who had travelled with him, had been taken ill and died in Paris, and Aloysia Weber, with whom he had fallen head over heels in love, had jilted him. Salzburg cramped his style; it was too provincial and there was no opera house. As if that wasn't enough, Archbishop Colloredo, sought to clip his wings and introduced liturgical reforms, forbidding the customary use of operatic conventions in church music, and demanding a much more direct and succinct mode of expression. It is all the more remarkable, then, that this period of discontentment for Mozart should be marked by an outpouring of such joyful masterpieces as the Coronation Mass and the two wonderful sets of Vespers, of which the The Vesperae Solennes de Confessore is the second and perhaps best known.

Mozart Looms

It won't be long now!

We have dress rehearsal a week from tonight! And we pick the soloists tomorrow. Exciting times.

I know we have a lot of school left but it feels nearly done for me.

I don't think I'm supposed to say that.

As far as the Mozart, I've gotten through all the movements with Women's Chorale and Birmingham Concert Chorale. Much to do this week with UAB's choir!

Looking forward to tomorrow . . .

The Deer in Front of the School

pictures 013
Originally uploaded by philipco.

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

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

Spring Break

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

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

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

Places I've been lately:

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

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

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

And then . . . summer.

A Little Vocal Jazz

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

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

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

Check it out!

Dulce lignum, dulces clavos

Don't miss this blog on Easter music.

A portion:

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

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

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

Does anyone remember Fernando Richardson?

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

Mozart Solo Auditions Moved

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

Reason: opera performance on original audition date.

Practice!

All Three Days

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

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

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

Titles of Keith's last four posts:

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

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

the scream

the scream
Originally uploaded by philipco.

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

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

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

ACDA Plaque

ACDA Plaque
Originally uploaded by philipco.

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

One of My Purposes in Life

This captures one of my purposes in life very well.

MP3's of Recording Session March 15

Cantate Domino from Due motetti
Sándor Szokolay b. 1931

Ave Maris Stella
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

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

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

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

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

Kondairaren Ihauterian: Dantza
Javier Busto b. 1949

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

You guys really get to me sometimes

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

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

Thanks, Jennifer. You are a special girl.

Mozart Auditionees

Here is what Erin gave me, organized by part:

UPDATED

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

Registering for Concert Choir Fall 2006

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

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

Nick Cummins is a Cursed Man

And he has shared his curse with me.

The name of the curse? LOST.

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

Nick Cummins is a Cursed Man.

And now I am cursed.

The week ahead

Tuesday: No Rehearsal

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

Thursday: No Rehearsal

Tentative New York Rehearsal Schedule

Look here for tentative rehearsal schedule for New York.

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

Music Ed Classes

More changes

"Learning Lab"

New Choir Schedule for Next Year:

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

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

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

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

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

What's new:

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

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

What was the last thing I said?

From Allen Simon at ChoralNet:

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

Do you remember the last thing I said before ACDA?

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

It could have been: "Look like champions."

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

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

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

He doesn't blink that often, either.

It seems to be a public TV fundraising concert.

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

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

Wonderful words: Magnificent! Polished! Powerful!

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

Dear Philip,

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

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

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

Again BRAVO!

Sincerely,

Dale Peterson

Minister of Music/Composer in Residence
Auburn First Baptist Church

Mozart Solo Auditions

Date of Audition: Thursday, March 23 after choir

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

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

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

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

Keeping my students up to date

Yo, students . . . .

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

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

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

In other news . . .

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

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

Flight information to NYC

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

Arts and Humanities article

uab-france-article1_Page_1
Originally uploaded by philipco.

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

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

Thanks, Virginia

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

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

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

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

July 2007

Check this out as a possibility for 2007.


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

Glee Clubs Visit Birmingham

Two glee clubs are visiting Birmingham.

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

The second is the Harvard Glee Club:

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

Heard Birmingham-Southern Today

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

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

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

Visiting All-State

IMG_0244
Originally uploaded by philipco.

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

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

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

Carnegie Hall Ticket Info

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

vanity alert

Spotted this today.

Travelin' Light

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