Wow! We sound ready! It was so exciting to hear our songs last night: we're ready.
I know some of you are wondering if I heard you miss a few bars or get them wrong. I didn't. The beauty of a choir like ours is that we don't all have to be in top form every time. So many of us got it perfect enough of the time to make the whole choir sound perfectly wonderful. Awesome, maybe miraculous? Try your best, and know that the times you're perfect, you lift the others up when they are not. Maybe that's a choir lesson that's really a life lesson.
Stanley and Mona, Anna, and the Canon of Hope group came early, along with a few of the One Voice soloists. So inspiring!
We had a very brief warm-up and talked about the concert and next week's run-through rehearsal a bit. You need to be there next Tuesday, or let someone know that you're missing but will be there at the concert. We will do blocking, that is, logistics, how and where we stand and sit and walk, and where microphones and music stands and chairs need to be. We will run through the whole concert (maybe not all of all of the songs) so that we can be sure that it works, the music flows, the people can move easily, and gracefully. We will sound and look good, and polished but comfortable and fun.
1. Mele Kalikimaka: Wooo! Fun! Second time through we all remembered our parts and it was great. This is a high energy and cute song. Relax and have fun, smile, move a little. We'll have colourful leis on the front row! That will make the audience smile and you need to smile back. Stand tall and enjoy yourselves.
2. Shine Hanukkah: Yes! The storytelling parts are a little serious. This is a big story and we want to inspire everyone to Shine! Shine your brave little lights. Light wins. Front row sopranos sing in the descant line, first sopranos on top, seconds on the bottom. You must come in strong on beat one, all by yourselves. All other sopranos sing in the regular choir place, top of the choir bracket.
3. Breath of Heaven: Stunning! I love this so much, and adding the bass clef folks was a good call. It's so much bigger now, so full and rich. Gender inclusivity wins. Still, there are lots of places where we focus on the female voice, where Mary is alone. Remember, tenors and basses, where you sing and where you don't. Remember to close to an N on the last Heaven. No wide open mouths on the last note!
4. White Christmas: You know this so well! Lauren will sing the special introduction, which very few people know. Then everyone comes in for " I'm dreaming..." We might sing that twice. It's written with a repeat but we might not need it. We'll have the words in the program, but I hope you don't need them. When you can sing looking at the audience, they'll feel invited to sing with you.
5. We Three Kings of Orient Are: Bass Clef voices will sing the verses, all together, not as solos. Everyone joins in the chorus, "Star of Wonder", including the audience. Again, try to sing this by heart, looking at the audience, and harmonize! Some of our audience members might know parts from choir days past. We're giving them the chance to stretch those old choir muscles.
6. Somewhere in My Memory: We did it! It's so good, such a good song for the holidays-light and love, everyone home with me in my memory- because we hope to recreate those feelings every year. Remember to start off soft, wistful. But tenors and basses, when you come in at the bottom of the second page, "Somewhere in my (page turn) memory..." it has to be strong but not loud, confident and clear. It's marked mp, but come in mf.
7. Christmas Waltz: I love dancing almost as much as I love singing, sometimes more. This song makes me want to move, and really, be twirled around a dance floor. What a wonderful feeling! This fast waltz is a happy finale song, has a "Happy Holidays" message, and I hope it makes people move in their seats and then inspires them to stand up from their seats for a big standing ovation!
8. You'll Never Walk Alone: Always powerful. This is our encore song, after the standing ovation.
9. One Voice: Big opening number. Singing inspires more singing. Just do it. I haven't totally decided on the soloists yet. Let's have all the potential soloists come early next week. The last bit where all three sing is tricky. Sopranos please sing your melody on page 4 nice and strong. I don't want to ask everyone else to hold back there.
Next week, Tuesday, November 28th
RUN-THROUGH REHEARSAL AT TRINITY AURORA
Put your music in concert order. We don't want to have to wait for people to find their music, especially not next Sunday! You can use stickie notes or flags but the audience can't see them. The concert order is on the website under Members: Concert Order. There's a printable PDF that you can download if you like that.
Come early. 7:00 latest so that we can get in position and warm up and start by 7:15. If everyone is there and we can start on time, we might not have to stay late. Be prepared to stay late though. It happens sometimes. Bring your water bottle and a snack?
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