Please return extra music

I've reviewed my plan for the season and have decided that we'll do Moon River next year. We can also return Welcome, Welcome Winter, Spacious Firmament and Come, Gentle Spring to Trix to be filed away. We have plenty of music to fill a 2-hour concert! We have one new song to learn and the rest is reviewing and cleaning up, so we should be fine. Please review the songs that are already online by downloading the recordings of your part and singing along.

Next Monday, please put those 4 pieces in your numbered folder (where you pick up your name tag).

Hand back:
1. Come, Gentle Spring
2. Moon River
3. Spacious Firmament
4. Welcome, Welcome Winter

Music we’re doing on May 3rd:

1. All the Little Rivers

2. Banks of Newfoundland

3. Chorus Hebrew Slaves 

4. Farewell to Nova Scotia (words only)

5. Hallelujah

6. The Hockey Song

7. In My Life

8. Jamaica Farewell

9. The Magic of Winter

10. Nella Fantasia

11. O Canada

12. Shenandoah 

13. Song for Canada

14. Song for the Mira 

15. They Call it Canada 

16. We Rise Again

17. You’ll Never Walk Alone

and these Small Groups and Solos

19. Edelweiss

20. This Land is Your Land

21. Northwest Passage

22. Gordon Lightfoot Medley

23. Home

24. Big Yellow Taxi

25. Somewhere

Prayer Breakfast Event March 26

The Newmarket Prayer Breakfast is Wednesday, March 26th, this year.

A few years ago, the YRCC lead the singing of O Canada and performed a couple of our songs at the Prayer Breakfast. Herbie Kuhn (the "voice of the Raptors") was the MC, and it was fun working with him.

This year the keynote speaker is from an organization called Hockey Helps the Homeless.

If you're interested, you can visit the website here.

Time Signatures With 6 Beats

Robin asked a good question at rehearsal last night. She wanted to know about the time signature for Banks of Newfoundland. How does it work?

The Banks of Newfoundland is in 6/8 time. That means that there are 6 counts in each bar and 8th notes count as one beat. When you count, you count 123,456. I conduct it in 2.

I showed you how 6 counts are supposed to be conducted, and it's just too messy. (Even when a song is slower, I don't use it. I'll do two sets of 3.) Also, the rocking boat feel of the song is the result of the emphasis on beats 1 and 4. Starting your ahs on beat 4 pushes the boat into the water. The soaring of the birds works the same way. I give you beats 1 and 4, and most of the time that's all you need.

In this sample diagram, you'll see what you mostly have in Banks of Newfoundland in the third bar, 2 dotted quarter notes. ( 1 quarter = 2 eighths, a dot adds half of the note value, so 2+1=3 beats, and 3+3=6: math!)

We have an example of  a 6-beat bar in Spacious Firmament too. Spacious Firmament switches between 4/4 and 6/4 time.

Look at section C on page 3. At the top of page 3, the time signature changed to 6/4. The second bar of C is in 4/4 and then it goes back and forth between 4/4 and 6/4 in that section.  

In 6/4 time, there are 6 counts, and quarter notes count as 1 beat. That works well with the 4/4 time where the bar has 4 quarter notes. So, a quarter note always gets one count. An eighth is half of a quarter (count: 1and 2and 3and 4and). A half note is equal to 2 quarters so it gets 2 beats. A whole note gets 4.  It's just the length of the bars that are different. Some have 4 beats and some have 6. Here, the song is slow and I conduct the 6/4 bars as 2 sets of 3. So, beat 4 is a down beat, and you get each beat counted out. 

Here's a simple review of 4/4 time showing the values of the quarter, half and whole notes. 

With 6/8 time, you just keep counting to 6. If you want one note to last a whole bar, it'll be a dotted whole note. 1 whole = 4 quarters, plus the dot adds half the value of the note, so 4+2=6. You'll see one in the last bar of Spacious Firmament. 

Feb.24 Review, and Preview to March 3rd.

After a weekend of Olympic excitement and Canadian national pride, we started our rehearsal off with our beautiful O Canada, a cappella. It's always great. Tenor and Bass could be stronger. But, we were missing some people.

We continued with They All Call it Canada, But I Call it Home, which Sapphire had just finished recording for the website. I still have that chorus ear-worming in my head. We learned pages 8&9, so we can now sing most of the song, since that part repeats. Take note of the Sign at the top of page 8, when we get to the D.S. al Coda, that's the spot we go back to.

We continued with In My Life at page 8. This next section is the dramatic version of the melody. The timing is really different and the accompaniment doesn't help us. We're ready to learn the ending! Can't wait!

The Banks of Newfoundland is now whole. We got the timing of the transition on page 3 (Birds Go) and at the bottom of page 5 (the ahs before the melody). We reviewed the ahs on page 5 too, and discussed the time signature. I'll write a post on it.

Nella Fantasia needs more review than I expected (ATB ahs), but it's pretty good. I love how it sounds with Mary Ellen singing the first verse as a solo! Sopranos don't come in until the top of page 7, but then you get lots of melody after that. Tenors and Basses please review this song. You can use both Sapphire's and Richard's recordings. Richard's are great because he sings your part, and with Sapphire's you get the key change information you need from the accompaniment.

Song for the Mira: we didn't get a chance to sing it, but it's going on line soon. We walked through who's singing what (see last week's post for solo assignments). One change that I'm considering is having solo 2 going all the way to solo 3. The choir doesn't come in until page 8. Which is where we were hoping to start today.

Edelweiss: this small group met after for a short run-through. Take note of who starts where and dynamics in general. The ending is big and loud. Some copies say soft.

Next Week, March 3rd

Edelweiss will meet at 6:30 
(This Land is Your Land will meet the following week, March 10)
Northwest Passage will meet at break. We could use a few more voices on this one. This group will meet at 6:30 on March 17.
Small Groups: check the calendar for your rehearsal times. You might need to plan extra rehearsals outside of Monday nights. 

1. Song for the Mira, pg 8-10
2. In My Life, ending
3. They All Call it Canada, beginning
4. Shenandoah, review
5. Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, review

February Blah Music: Stoke the Sadness

I'm falling deep into the February Blahs today.

The restless sleep from the storm last night is probably a big factor, the weather for sure is contributing, all the moaning and complaining is getting to me, I'm uninspired, and I'm just really dragging myself around.

So what does a girl do when she's feeling down? She cranks up the sad tunes.

My first 2 choices for today's soundtrack were Lord I Need You, and Say Something. I wrote about Say Something on my Musical Empathy blog because it's just that good. It gets me crying like nothing. Here's a link to that blog post. 

Lord I Need You is good for some eye cleansing too. "Without You, I fall apart" are perfect lyrics for falling apart. I think the song is supposed to inspire you to pull it together, but it just has the opposite effect on me. I guess I just stop listening to the words after that :-)

Here it is, if you want to try it yourself.

I'll switch over to some happy music before the kids come home from school. I've already got a Mozart playlist ready for a transition. I can get myself out of the blues, these February blahs, with music. But, for now, I'm letting music stoke the sadness. 

Family Day rehearsal, and looking ahead to Feb. 24

Family Day was wonderful! We had delicious treats, but we're going to have to get a new coffee maker. Our old one decided to retire last night. Debbie will also buy us a can opener ;-)

We sang Jamaica Farewell to give ourselves a moment of escape. Lots of people remembered it and it sounded pretty good!

We finished the Hockey Song. It's going to be great! What a fun song!

We started They All Call it Canada at page 6. We learned the whole chorus and it was beautiful. Some of us remembered it from Brownies, Guides, or Scouts.

We started Song for the Mira, but just did a read-through and tried out some of the soloists and back-ups. It's another river song. The Mira is a river in Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, to be precise. The song is very well-known and had been done by lots of famous Canadians. Look it up on YouTube.

We continued with In My Life, singing all the way through to the bottom of page 7!

The small group doing Edelweiss stayed behind to sing it once through. Again, lots of people remembered it and it's a great arrangement that people are going to love.

Next week:

6:30 Sapphire Recording

They All Call it Canada we'll start building on that chorus
Song for the Mira start learning at page 8
In My Life next section
Banks of Newfoundland see last week (we switched Jamaica in for it this week)
Nella Fantasia  make it our own

We'll have Edelweiss stay late again, but not too late. Maybe just to point out a few things and sing it once. I don't think it'll take too long to learn that one.

Monday, February 10th review and preview to Monday, February 17th, Family Day Rehearsal

Monday Feb.10

Aurora Resthaven went well- after we all got in and down to the activity room! Wow, was that room decorated! It was a fun event, and we were so happy to sing for and with that big crowd!

While some of us were performing, the rest of us were singing the Hockey Song and Shenandoah. After break, when we were all together, we finished Shenandoah, reviewed the beginning of The Banks of Newfoundland, sang it all the way through (it was pretty good!), and started In My Life (we just learned up to 13, but sang all the way through).

Feb. 17 Family Day (nobody has to come early)

Banks of Newfoundland: we'll focus on the transitions between sections, now that we know how each section goes.
The Hockey Song: we'll put it all together
In My Life: we will continue with 13-22 and hopefully sing up to the end of page 7
They Call it Canada: we will do a read-through
Song for the Mira: we will do a read-through and think about who can do the solos
Song for the Mira Solos:
1 and 6 intro and conclusion (Janet, Trix)?
2 boys teasing girls (Tracey, Louisa, Kit)?
3 bonfires (Anne Marie, Daphne)?
4. witches and werewolves (Lauren, Debbie)?

***Don't forget to share some love with your choir friends past and present for Valentine's Day. You can send each other emails via our website. Test it out.

We'll have treats and coffee for Family Day with our choir family :-)

Review for Monday Feb 3 and looking ahead to Feb 10

Monday, February 3

1. All the Little Rivers: section E
2. Banks of Newfoundland: p3-4 by, p5 ahs, end
3. Hockey Song: section A, B
4. Shenandoah: beginning, p5/6
5. In My Life: first time sight-read

Monday, February 10

Small Group going to Aurora Resthaven for Valentine Concert (arr.6:45, sing 7-8, go to choir)
We're singing: Magic of Winter, Welcome Winter, You'll Never Walk Alone, Hallelujah, You Raise Me Up and sing-along songs from our songbooks.

All others rehearse with Sapphire and Anne-Marie starting at 7:30 as usual.

1. All the Little Rivers: review
2. Hockey Song: section C, E, G
3. Shenandoah: p6/7
4. In My Life: 5-13 (22 if there's time)
5. Banks of Newfoundland: beginning oohs, linking parts

Turned 50 today!

Tiara says 50 fabulous!

Snow Day

so I have my girls all day

Long-stemmed roses from my husband.

fabulous

Pete Seeger and the Power of Singing

A friend sent me a link to this article on Pete Seeger, an excellent obituary, knowing that I would like it, that I would be happy to have my own philosophy affirmed.

Singing is something that everyone can and should do. Singing in a crowd is magical and powerful. At choir, we know that and love to sing every Monday, and we especially love it when we go out singing and get a crowd to sing along with us!

Check out the video below. Powerful. This Land is Your Land.

Pete Seeger And The Public Choir by LINDA HOLMES January 28, 2014 on NPR.

He was a person who believed deeply that people should sing, in groups, with harmony, in public — and not just in church. He was a passionate director of probably thousands of pickup choirs, formed at the beginnings of performances and disbanded when they were over...And he believed that everyone should do it, that people should retain the ability to get in a room and sing, because it was good for you, and because it taught people to pitch in and be brave.

Monday, January 27th- rehearsal review and preview to next week

Monday, January 27th

We sang:
1. Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (reviewed all)
2. All the Little Rivers (section D)
3. Shenandoah (5-14)
4. The Hockey Song (last page)
NB Recordings of all except Shenandoah are already on the website

We talked about small groups and solos.
**Soloists who want to sing a solo song should see me as soon as possible.
Our theme is They Call it Canada, But I Call it Home (Canada, Canadian Artists, Home, Patriotism)
Small groups sign-ups are starting. We have 2 songs: Edelweiss and This Land is Your Land.
Small groups will begin to meet before choir later in February, after Sapphire has finished the recordings.
________________________________________________________
Next week: Monday, Feb. 3
(Sapphire will record Shenandoah and In My Life starting at 6:30)

We will sing:
-All the Little Rivers (section E)
-Banks of Newfoundland (wild sea birds)
-Shenandoah (intro and continue)
-The Hockey Song (beginning)
-In My Life (intro: read-through)
_________________________________________________________
Looking ahead to Feb. 10:
Feb 10 is the Aurora Resthaven Valentine Concert. A small number of us will go there from 7-8 with recordings to sing for half an hour and do a sing-along for half an hour. We can return to the Admin. Ctr. by break time.
Sapphire and Anne-Marie will start the rehearsal at 7:30 for everyone else.

Conducting: What is going on there?

Most people don't know what conducting is all about.

At a concert, don't the musicians, or choristers, already know their music? They're not really looking at the conductor, they're looking at their music. So, why does there have to be some conductor standing there waving their hands and a baton around and generally looking weird? And, doesn't the sheet music say, start here and stop here and get louder then get softer, etc? What's the point?

This New York Times article, The Maestro’s Mojo, by DANIEL J. WAKIN, from April 2012, looks at what conductors do, using 7 conductor interviews to break down the process. Right hand and left hand, the face and body are each looked at separately to see what they do, how the conductor uses them. There is the right hand with or without a baton which gives the upbeat and the downbeat and keeps the tempo, and facial expressions and even breathing can be used to communicate with the musicians.

I learned the basics of conducting in High School, and have read more about how to conduct since then, looking for rules for what to do to show a group of musicians what you want from them. But, in the end, as the title suggests, there is an intangible element that the conductor brings to the art. Some of that is done deliberately, with tempos and volumes interpreted differently by each conductor, little things changed to make each performance unique. And, some of that is just conductors expressing themselves, their mojo, and the way the others respond to that.

I'd say most of how to conduct is learned by standing in front of a group and figuring out what they respond to, working with them, and then taking that group out in front of an audience. You've got to put yourself out there, be willing to look strange with exaggerated body language, and do whatever you can to get the music to deliver a message through the musicians to the audience. The different experiences depend on how much of themselves the conductors can put out there and what message they have to deliver. For me, it also helps to think of my baton as a magic wand :-)

As Mr. Conlon (James Conlon, music director of Los Angeles Opera) put it: “You can discuss gesture and physical comportment endlessly, but ultimately some intangible, charismatic element trumps it all. Nobody has ever bottled it. To which I say, ‘Thank God.’ ”

Jan. 26th Extravaganza Details

Please put your music in order in your binder, and consider leaving everything else at home.

1. The Magic of Winter
2. Welcome, Welcome Winter
3. You'll Never Walk Alone
4. Hallelujah

1. Spacious Firmament
2. Nella Fantasia
3. Haydn:Come, Gentle Spring! from The Seasons (Spring)

I suggest you arrive at around 2:30. 

You can wear your uniform right away or plan to change there. It's up to you. 

York Region Community Choir - Large Dressing Room Top Floor

York Region Community Choir sound check 14:55- 15:15 (20 minutes only for walk-up and set-up)
Mass Choir Assembly 15:55-16:10 (15 minutes)
Mass Choir Rehearsal 16:10 -17:10 (60 minutes)

Note:
--Please provide your own volunteer to watch your stuff while you are singing. (we have not arranged for a volunteer)
--Do not bring anything other than your music to the stage.

Sri Lankan Choir - Large Dressing Room Top Floor
York Region Community Choir - Large Dressing Room Top Floor

FOOD-PLAZA SUITE ONLY
Dinner orders available by 17:00 in the Plaza Suite. Choir representatives to pick up the orders from Food Coordinator.
OTHER FOOD/DRINKS AVAILABLE TO BE SERVED
Water, Coffee (Decaf not available), Tea (Orange Pekoe, bring your own herbals or specialty tea), Sugar, Splenda, Milk, Cream
Grapes
Crackers and Cheese
Cookies

If you didn't order the sandwich, you'll want to bring something to eat. There will be time after the mass chorus to go out quickly if necessary (5:15-6:00 probably). We'll be there from 2:30 until quite late, I'm guessing 10:00 pm. They'll have water for us, but you might want to have your own water bottle too. There will also be some snacks (see above)

CONCERT ORDER - tentative

Opening Remarks

Roselawn Public School
McConaghy Choir and Aurora Evergreen Choir
Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church Choir
Sri Lanka-Toronto Choir
  
 Intermission

French Choir
York Region Community Choir
Male Choir Harfentoene
Police Choir
Combined Male Choirs

Closing Remarks
Mass Choir

Choral Extravaganza Sunday, January 26th, 2014

Have you sold any tickets yet? 

If not, pick some up on Sunday or Monday. The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is a big theatre and we want to see lots of people in the seats. Tickets are available online but it's better if you sell tickets to your friends and family. Whenever we sell a ticket, some of the funds come back to us. 

New Beginnings

Isn't New Year's Day just another day? 

Why start new projects, begin new diet and fitness regimes, turn over a new leaf, on New Year's Day? Did writing down your resolutions work last year, or the year before? Did those new year wishes come true?


Don't we have the potential to change any day? Can't we start in the middle of the day or in the evening instead of the morning? Can't we start a new project on a Tuesday or a Friday? A new start can happen at any moment.


It's funny how we like to save starting for a special moment. The special moment comes, the clock strikes midnight, what happens? 

I think we're wishing for something magical to happen, for some good luck fairy to wave her wand to cast a spell that will change things, make them better. Midnight will strike and I'll be magically thinner, richer, happier.


This new year can be different, but what are you willing to do to change things? Or, are you simply wishing?

I wish you happiness in the new year. And, I will wave my wand and do my best to give you some happy moments every Monday night. 

I love that choir is on Monday nights. Every Monday is special and holds the potential for magic. 

Conducting the Audience

Today, I started a new sing-along technique.

It actually began this past Monday, at the Barton. We were singing with the seniors, and I had handed out the shakers and drums as usual, but this time there was a little group of seniors who were really into it and I started to conduct them!

They really got a kick out of it, so I tried it again today with our mixed audience at Hillary House (National Historic Site/Museum in Aurora). It was excellent! It sounded great and added a new level of interactivity to our performance.

The added bonus is that I can easily ask them/tell them to keep the instruments quiet while we're performing our pieces, and when we're doing a quiet song. I even added them to our Calypso Christmas and Mele Kalikimaka.

I wish I had thought of it before, but better late than never!

Still in our performance season!

Tonight: The Barton 7:00 pm (and our holiday party 8:00 in our room)
Saturday afternoon: Hillary House 1:00 pm (we still need altos)
Next Monday: Aurora Resthaven 7:00 pm (limit reached but tenors and basses welcome)

Remember choristers:

• We always wear black and white. Informal means you can have short sleeves and short skirts.
• Have your music ready and in order. Bring all your music and the sing-along book. 
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early to warm up and to confirm the order of the music, and soloists.
• Keep the sing-along book if you're performing again.
• Hand in your binder and all music and the sing-along book after your last performance.
• Our last performance is Dec.23. After this, Trix will have all the binders and all the music (except the 3 pieces of Choral Extravaganza music, if you think you'll work on it over the holidays)!

The Spring Season starts Monday, January 6th, 2014. 

You will get your binder back with all the spring season music in it. Sapphire and I will be recording accompaniments and parts over the holidays, so that they'll be going up on the website in January.

Check the calendar for details and maps.

Show Tomorrow, Saturday, December 14th!

TOMORROW!!! 

(not really like this but, it's how it will feel, right?)

So Incredibly Excited!

12:45 choir arrives 
1:00 set-up done, everyone in the sanctuary
warm-up
review of 2/3 songs (just bits)
reminders (smile, don't let mistakes show, no faces, watch and listen)
pep talk
doors open at 1:30. 
We wait in the chapel for our big entrance
2:00 we sing!

The snow will be manageable
the audience will be brave and kind and huge
nobody will notice anybody's mistakes. 

That's the plan!

Choral Extravaganza Preparation

Those YRCC members who have signed up for the Choral Extravaganza on January 26th should already have their mass choir music-3 pieces that we're going to sing (with all the other 8 choirs!). When you're handing in your binder at the end of this season, you can keep those 3 pieces to look at them over the holiday.

We will start rehearsing them as soon as we're back in January and there are 2 additional Sunday rehearsals.

You can begin looking at your music, and becoming familiar with the words, where you sing, etc. I'll give you links to recordings of the songs here.

Nella Fantasia (In My Fantasy) by Ennio Morricone and Chiara Ferrau arr Audrey Snyder

The publisher's page (click on "closer look" and then click on the sample audio.) There is a short sample of the arrangement. 

A choir performing it

Spacious Firmament by Tobin Stokes

The publisher's page (you can listen and read along on the music right there)

(a Children’s choir will sing the beginning and end)

Haydn: Come Gentle Spring

A choir performing it

If you haven't signed up do so asap and you too can get your music in advance.

Concert Sunday night in Richmond Hill

I'm sharing this invitation I received from Richard, the director of the Choral Extravaganza (and of the Auoroa 150th Choral Concert we participated in). 

I think Sapphire and Jonathan might also be involved in this.


Hello everyone,

I would like to let you know about our performance of the Messiah (the Christmas parts) by Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church.  I have been the music director for 8 years now, and this is one of our biggest projects so far.  We have some very good soloists from within the choir, as well as a guest soprano: Susan Ryman (She performs regularly as soprano soloist with the Men of Note Choir and the Harfentoene German  Male Choir).

The choir has been rehearsing since June.  They tell me Handel's melodies have been going through their heads for months now.  We would like to share this glorious music with you, so we can all get into the Christmas spirit.  Please come on Sunday night at 7 pm to Richmond Hill's Presbyterian Church at 10066 Yonge St. (just North of Major Mackenzie on the West side). We hope you can join us for refreshments after the performance.  Tickets are only $15 (free, if you are 18 years or younger).

Hope to see you on Sunday,
Richard Heinzle

YRCC members representing us well

This is an excerpt from the Aurora Horticultural Society newsletter:

"Our annual Potluck dinner will be held on November 22. Please arrive between 5:30 and 6:30 pm with your potluck dish. Dinner will start at 6:30 pm sharp.

There will be entertainment by York Region Community Choir Trio (Heather Vickers, Michael Wasylenky and William Reid), as well as prizes to be won in a 50/50 draw and a bucket ruffle!
See you all there!"

They also had our beautiful concert poster in the newsletter!

This picture was taken by Bill when they rehearsed at his house before the show. The feedback after the show was very positive! We're so lucky to have such amazing talent in our midst!

Thank you for representing us so well, Heather, Michael and Bill!

Monday, December 9 at Trinity Anglican in Aurora

6:30-7:15 will be set-up and first sound checks with microphones

Starting at 6:30 (if you're later on the list you can arrive later):

1. Sapphire
2. Somewhere My Love
3. Jane, Lauren and Trix
4. 12 Groovy Days
5. Janet and Todd and the Kevins
6. The Kevins
7. Kristen
8. Silent Night
9. Farewell to Nova Scotia

Starting at 7:30 Concert Order Run-through (we'll see if this order works)

1.       In Our Town in December

2.       Song for Canada

3.       Farewell to Nova Scotia (sm. group)

4.       Red-haired Boy (instrumental)

5.       Hava Nagila

6.       Calypso Christmas

7.       Mele Kalikimaka

8.       Silent Night (sm. group)

9.       12 Groovy Days (sm. group)

10.   Flight of the Bumblebee (Sapphire's solo)

11.   Somewhere My Love (sm. group)

12.   Magic of Winter

1.       Welcome, Welcome Winter

2.       Come Emmanuel

3.       Somewhere a Child is Sleeping

4.       Mr Santa (sm. group)

5.       I Believe (Janet, Todd, Kevin)

6.       Ordinary Miracle (Kristen's solo)

7.       On Eagle’s Wings

8.       You Raise Me Up

9.       12 Songs of Christmas

10.   You’ll Never Walk Alone

11.   So Long, Farewell (encore)

Tonight: CARP Social 6:30- 9:00

Here is the information about the CARP Social from their website:

CARP Newmarket Aurora Chapter 44 Presents:

Christmas Season Drop In Social

Featuring Live Entertainment by

Voices of Joy Choir

John Lemme

&

York Region Community Choir

Wednesday December 4, 2013

Lions Hall, 200 Doug Duncan Dr, Newmarket

Drop in anytime between 6:30 and 8:30 pm.

Festive Food and Refreshments will be served

Free to CARP members and guest

RSVP

- See more and learn about CARP on their website by clicking here. 


This looks like it will be a fun and entertaining evening. Plan to be there early to see the other singers.

Location: The event will be in the Lions Hall 1-  Newmarket Community Center, 200 Doug Duncan Dr.
Right by the skating rink at Riverwalk Commons behind Main St. There's lots of parking.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:pm.  

We are schedules as the final act so we should be ready to perform around 8 pm. Be there by 7:45 at the latest. Some of us will be there the whole night. We are welcome to come and enjoy all the festivities of the evening.   

We will be there as early as 5:30 pm to start our setup.
There is space available to hang coats and we will have space available to store purses in the kitchen area.

Wear your formal performance uniform: black to the floor, white to the wrists.

November 25th and December 2nd!

Wow. It's almost December!

We have 2 performances this week! Tomorrow at Doane House, and Friday at the United Way Craft and Gift Sale! 
I'd love to see a couple of extra people at both events, especially tenors and basses.

Somewhere my Love is coming along well. We met at 6:20, and will meet again at 6:20 next week.
12 Groovy Days is excellent. The end is Groovy! We'll meet again at 6:50 next week.
Farewell to Nova Scotia is excellent. They're meeting again next week at 9:30.

Silent Night: some individuals were rehearsing with Sapphire at break-Thank you. We will all meet at break next week. Now, I really have to work on memorizing my words!

We had a quick physical warm-up and warmed up our voices singing 12 Songs.
12 Songs of Christmas is finished! Hooray. You might want to review the section at 180, page 18.
In Our Town in December was pretty and we figured out back-up soloists.
Calypso Christmas is great! What a fun song! Remember to watch me at the end for when the altos and tenor/basses change notes.
Mele Kalikimaka is excellent too. Fun and cute.
Somewhere a Child is Sleeping is wonderful. Remember to come in soft at 28 on pg 6. When neither soloist is there, I think we'll have just the sopranos start at the beginning. We tried with everyone and it becomes a bit too repetitive. Also, keep in mind that the climax, the loudest part is right after the second ending at the bottom of page 9 and over to page 10 : "So we might love each other in peace and harmony."

Next week, we'll have to review everything else for the concert. The following week will be the run-through and sound check at Trinity Anglican in Aurora.

December 2nd
Banks of Newfoundland
Hava Nagila
Come Emmanuel
So Long, Farewell
Song for Canada
You'll Never Walk Alone

December 9th
***All small groups and soloists arrive early, starting at 6:30, to work with microphones and where to stand, sit, etc. If you're later on the list, you don't need to be there at 6:30.

Tentative order of soloist/small group sound checks:
Sapphire
Somewhere My Love
Jane, Lauren and Trix
12 Groovy Days
Janet and Todd and the Kevins
The Kevins
Kristen
Silent Night
Farewell to Nova Scotia

Sandra in our thoughts

Today and tomorrow, we will have Sandra on our minds, in our thoughts and prayers, as she gets together with family and friends in Calgary to say goodbye to her father, who passed away on Friday.

Here is a link to the web page where you can read about the wonderful man who clearly had a great influence on our Sandra. I was not surprised to learn that he was musical, kind, active and generous like Sandra.

The executive, on behalf of the choir, has made arrangements for flowers to be there tomorrow as a symbol of our love and support for Sandra, and our sincere condolences to her, her son Joseph, and her whole family at this difficult time.

Choir members who wish to offer individual condolences can send a message through that website as well, and you have access to Sandra's contact information on the choir website in the members only section.

November 18 and November 25

6:20 Somewhere My Love
6:50 12 Groovy Days
9:30 Farewell to NovaScotia
Small Groups, same schedule next week

Lauren was sick and asked me to make a couple of announcements, which I forgot! Sorry!
1. The next group of equipment volunteers is:
Kit
Gerry
Sophie
Robyn

2. We are hoping to decorate our concert space this year. Jane is willing to order poinsettias for us. Individuals will buy poinsettias and take them home after the concert. So, we get to have them decorate our concert space, and then they decorate your home for Christmas! Isn't that a great idea?! Once we know that enough people are on board, we'll be able to set prices and give details.

Warm-ups were quick, so that we could get to work.
1. Magic of Winter was our vocal warm-up. We paid special attention to dynamics. We reviewed the alto and tenor parts of the whole song.
2. Welcome, Welcome Winter: we did quite a bit of review here too.
3. Banks of Newfoundland: we learned the last bit of ahs and put it all together! Remember that most of the time, you're singing background and it's soft. There's that really long note. Nobody can do it alone. We're a team, so we do what's called staggered breathing. You take a breath, then somebody else does, then someone else. Listen to your neighbours so that you're taking your breath when they're not.
4. So Long, Farewell is easy-peasy. The last note: Sopranos divide: S1 is on the G, S2 is on the D. Tenors can divide the same way an octave down. Altos and Basses will sing the E. And, it says it should be soft, but we're going to be loud. I like a big ending and it's a nice chord :)

Next week: 

We need to go over our Christmas stuff for our upcoming performances. I'm hoping we can sing through each just once or twice.

In Our Town in December
Mele Kalikimaka
Calypso Christmas
Somewhere a Child is Sleeping
12 Songs of Christmas (we still have to learn pg 13- the end)

It would be good if we could review Banks of Newfoundland.

Please note that the orders for our performances are up on the website. 
Go to Members Only and then to "Seniors' Performance Orders", even though they're not all seniors events. Remember, Doane House is November 28, the United Way Craft Sale is November 29 and the CARP social is December 4th. I'm getting excited!!!

Please, as much as possible, review parts on your own, with the recordings online, or however you can. We don't have much time left. 

November 11th review and preview for November 18

Small Groups
6:20: Somewhere My Love
6:50: 12 Groovy Days
9:30: Farewell to Nova Scotia
**same schedule next week

Warm-ups
scales going up and down, using your hands to help you to open up as the notes get higher, tongue twisters

1. 12 Songs of Christmas: we sang through and learned up to pg.13
2. Magic of Winter: we sang through and it was really pretty! 
3. Banks of Newfoundland: we started learning from the beginning and went to the bottom of page 4!
4. So Long, Farewell: we sang through to see how it goes and it will be fun and charming

Next week

1. Welcome, Welcome Winter: review
2. Magic of Winter: dynamics and enunciation
3. Banks of Newfoundland: next ahs and then put it together
4. So Long, Farewell: clarify parts and learn harmonies
5. 12 Songs of Christmas: pg 13 to the end

Looking ahead:

Monday, November 25: We will review Calypso Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka, Somewhere a Child is Sleeping, and generally prepare for our performances at the end of that week on November 28 at Doane House and on November 29 at the United Way Craft Sale. 

Monday, December 1: Our last learning rehearsal. The next one will be a run-through for the show at Trinity Anglican in Aurora. 

November 5th review and November 11th preview

Somewhere My Love met at 6:20
12 Groovy Days met at 6:50
Silent Night met at break
Farewell to Nova Scotia met at 9:30

Same schedule next week for small groups, except for Silent Night (You can rehearse on your own for a while, and I suggest you memorize the words. All we have to do to perform it is decide the order to sing in and we're good to go!)

Warm-ups were brief

1. Come Emmanuel- we had to review the ahs and remind people to sing "wai 'in" and "commmmm". Also, Sopranos have to be careful to sing softly so that we can hear the other parts.

2. Song for Canada - we reviewed the ahs and I suggested you listen to the recordings for timing. In particular, the recording of me singing it so you can hear where the words go. The timing can be tricky.

3. Banks of Newfoundland- we started with the last page and it was awesome! The sound you make in 6 part harmony is just beautiful! Please take some time to listen to the recording of this piece and your part before next Monday.

4. Magic of Winter- we learned from 5-20. So pretty (and not hard)!!!

5. 12 Songs of Christmas - we just sang through the whole thing again.

6. So Long, Farewell - we just looked at it, noting that we'll be jumping around in the parts.


Next Monday:

Banks of Newfoundland from the beginning, and reviewing the end. Please take some time to listen to the recordings

Magic of Winter we'll try to finish it. You can listen to this recording too, but it's pretty easy.

12 Songs of Christmas let me know which parts you'd like to review

So Long, Farewell We'll sing it through, sight-reading. Please mark you parts in pencil on your music so you know when to sing. See below.

Welcome, Welcome Winter Let's see how much we remember and learn the ending



Here's how So Long Farewell is going to be divided: 
Please mark your parts in pencil, ready for next Monday!

2-6  Altos only
6-17   Part l: SA              Part ll: TB
23-57  Part l: Ladies         Part ll: Gentlemen
57-62 Part 1: Sopranos      Part ll: Altos
63 Ladies
65 Gentlemen
68/69 Ladies
69/70 Gentlemen
70-90 Part l: Sopranos         Part ll: ATB
95-103 Partl: Ladies             Part ll: Gentlemen
103-109 Part l: Sopranos     Part ll: ATB
Last note: G: S1   C: T and S2   E: A B

Our Pretty Concert Flyer: Dec.14 at 2:00pm at Trinity Anglican in Aurora

Singing with Spirit

This morning, the YRCC sang at church for the first time ever. We have sung in churches many times. We always have our public performances in churches, preferably Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora, because the acoustics are great. So, we're used to sounding amazing in a church. But, what we're not used to is being at church together, in the context of a church service- the minister, prayer, readings from the Bible...

We sang for our friends at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Aurora because they asked us to help make their Anniversary Sunday special. We've sung for a couple of other events for them in the past. They always give us free use of their space when we're bumped out of our free space at the regional administrative centre, and a few of our members attend St.Andrew's.

This morning, we sang On Eagle's Wings and You'll Never Walk Alone better than we've ever sung them before. It was awesome, truly awesome. The difference between our warm-up and our performance was huge.

I'm sure that we were all feeling something this morning, something powerful and moving. It came through in our performance.