Wow! That was fun!
We started with a bang, and a boom-boom-boom. African Noel, the small group that met at 6:30 is going to be excellent. We're doing it differently this time (obviously) and it's going to have a roots/folk feel: call and response, and a cappella, with only percussion accompaniment. I am happy to report that we have a beautiful djembe to use! Jenn has lent me hers to use next week, as she's going to be away, but she'll be able to play it when we rehearse closer to the concert date. I've never played such a beautiful drum. And, I'd like to see a few more instruments used, so please come and join us next week if you'd like to play one of mine or have one of your own.
When we were all assembled, including a few more new people trying us out, we did a brief warm-up with some stress-buster stretches and rhythm exercises.
1. Shine Hanukkah: we did the whole song! It's fun and pretty easy. Watch for dynamics (loud and soft) and timing (there's a slow section). At the beginning, the tenors and basses sing verse 1 alone, the melody (so that's the first line, not theirs). Verse 2 is everone, as written (SAB).
2. For Unto Us: You're going to love it, really. So far, we've just done the parts where we're all singing together, "and his name shall be called... prince of peace". We did all of them, page 3, 5, 7, and 9. If you've been absent, or if you feel a little nervous about this song, please do a little homework and sing with a YouTube recording of your part. So, we were told that you can go to settings on YouTube and slow down the speed of the recording (or speed it up, not). I tried it and it works! I took a picture of my screen, and you can see I've got my cursor on the settings symbol below the recording, not YouTube's main settings. You choose Playback Speed and you can go half as fast (.5) or slower (.75). It's a little distorted, but pretty cool! Remember to reset it to "normal" or you'll hear another video slow and its trippy.
3. Angels Among Us: I re-imagined this to be an easier piece, and was inspired by the way we tackled Song for a Winter's Night last year. So, we're having 2 soloists do the bulk of the work, and we're eliminating the oohs. The choir comes in to sing the chorus twice and then the coda (the bridge and ending). We did all that. Now, please consider being a soloist. You can listen to a recording (not the original one, it's weird) Try this: a solo version by Demi Lovato. One soloist will sing the whole first verse, then we all sing the chorus. Then another soloist will sing the second verse and we all come in at the chorus again, and go to the coda to the end. Easy-peasy.
4. O Holy Night: Another one with soloists. Our arrangement is magnificent, outstanding, inspiring. We stood up and sang it all the way through. Lots of us have sung it before. Watch out for a few things. We do have oohs and ahhs in this and different timing from what you're used to. The soloists we tried out were Amy on the first solo at 30, Amy and Linda on the second one at 43, and Amy and Linda and Sharon at 52 and again at 110. We have all parts recorded. Find them here. (you have to log in to the website).
5. Various Themes on Fa-la-la: We made it to the ending! It's so much fun, I love it. We have recordings! Again, you'll need to log in to the website, and the link is here.
We talked about:
Orange Shirt Day. A number of us had our orange shirts on. It's good to wear the shirt, but then please also do some learning, some reading, listen to music, visit an art gallery, support indigenous artists. Let's work at being better neighbours and allies.
I remembered the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and wished everyone a Happy New Year, but forgot that now it's the most important Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. I wish you a meaningful and easy fast and Shanah tovah.
Next week: Tuesday, October 7th
6:30 African Noel with percussion
- Angels Among Us (if soloists are ready-if not, then In the Bleak Midwinter)
- For Unto Us A Child is Born
- Let There Be Peace on Earth
- O Holy Night
- Somewhere In My Memory
