10/28/14 Rehearsal Notes

Thank you to Susan Clay for hosting this evening.

In attendance: Susan Clay, Susan Chandler, Elaine, Sherri, Scott (and Jay for moral support).

Sympathies extended to Sara on her departure; decision made not to pursue a dedicated winter concert but, instead, to rehearse a stable of songs and present them during the Sunday services between now and the new year. Emphasis placed on highlighting duets, trios, or solo works with basic accompaniment that can be individually rehearsed and flexibly voiced as people come and go throughout the holiday season.

Nine spiritual songs suggested for this: Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming; Benedictus; Benedicta Es; The First Noel (Pachebel); Let the Spirit Come to You; Deep in the Dark; Winter Night/Lullaby; Hosanna; and In Stiller Nacht.

The ladies rehearsed Benedicta Es. The whole group worked on Benedictus and the First Noel/Pachebel. Susan Clay and Scott paired for Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming. Collectively, these four songs were agreed to be the ones to pursue for performance first.

Additionally, secular songs such as Sleigh Ride, White Christmas, I'll be Home for Christmas, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas were discussed but left alone for the moment. Consensus appeared to be that we could move on these fairly quickly at a later date.

It was agreed that we will meet at our regular place and time next week.

Have I left anything out or (worse) misrepresented something?

-Scott

Next Flash Mob Song with more people

Here's a list of the people Susan Clay and I thought  about.  Feel free  to add more:
The Spouses:
Jorge
Jay
Scott's wife-- forget her name---

and others
Scott Templeton
Linda Law
Kathy Gilchrist
Andi Nelson
 Heidi
Jeff Christmas
Ken Marsh
Bob S

POssible songs:

Give a little bit  ( of my life to you)

Rehearsal notes 10/20

In attendance:

Elaine

Sherri

Sara

Scott

Paula

Clay

We missed you Susan - hope you're feeling better - please let us know if you need anything!

And so…….

Elaine not here 11/3 - we are tentatively scheduled to sing on 11/9 so we might want to meet anyway…

Terre had suggestions but stressed that she does not want to stress us out: Possibly moving the Christmas/Winter night thing to a Sunday…? Possibly make it into a service? We could probably do as much or as little music as we want/ be in charge of the service as much or as little as we wanted… 

Possibly 12/7 or 12/21…

(Reminder: our Saturday night event tentative date was for 12/13)

Possible fallback or in addition to the Saturday event: do just a song or two from our Christmas/Winter list each Sunday as the holidays approach...

Completely up to us.

Last idea… work towards 12/13, as time goes on and we get closer to that date, we can see what pieces might be ready for any Sundays prior to 12/13 and to let Terre know what they are and that if she can work them in cool… maybe a couple of the more challenging pieces after 12/13… depends too on who is leaving when for any Christmas plans. 

Next week is Monica's concert - please attend if possible. We will not meet for rehearsal due to time conflict… Susan Clay's house Tuesday 10/28 6h15 instead. Susan will send out directions to those who need them via email.

Potential flashmob idea for February…

rehearsed:

Pachelbel Noël

Lo, How a rose e'er blooming

grey hymnal #256  Winter Night

I think that's all but if I can't for the life of me remem. any others. DOH!

Please advise/edit if any additions/corrections.

See you Tuesday if not before.

BTW I'll have red wine and fizzy water for anyone who cares for some. 

Of course don't forget that there are cats; they aren't shedding much just now but still you might opt for wearing something other than your new black velvet pantsuits :)

Christmas music evening brainstorming dinner/soirée

New date for Christmas event, hopefully: Dec 13

Tentative name of event: We Sing Winter


Potential songs which we had loads of fun playing with:

• Benedicta Es  (Sara Susan Susan)
• Deep in the Dark
• Song of the Angels
• Lo how a rose e'er blooming
• I saw three ships come sailing in
• Hosannah (Sherri and Susan Clay)
• Pachelbel's 1st Noël
• Christmas Song (Chestnuts) (Sherri)
• White Xmas (Sherri and Scott)
• I'll be home for Christmas
• Sleigh Ride.. Scott?

and don't forget we need sing-a-long songs - some of these could be singalongs…

Those not in attendance were much missed - not least because we had such good vittles to share.

Monday we will work on some more of these and "Song of the Angels" in particular b/c we're not singing again for UU Service until Nov. 9 or so….

Rehearsal notes 13oct14

We were: Elaine, Paula, Scott, Sara and 2 Susans.

We missed Sherri - hope you're feeling better chica!

We rehearsed:

Benedictus (dynamics, some clarification/review of parts)

Kosi R'vaya

Give Light (for faux flash mob on Sunday's prelude and for benediction with congregation of verse one only)

Don't forget dynamics on "Give LIght"

• as each part joins the existing group, drop to mp to highlight that part
• first verse after everyone is up front is "Give Love" (verse 5) - make it mf or a little lower, to leave room for us to go to forte on verse 6 ("Sing Out")
• last verse/7 will be pianissimo

We listened to a couple different versions of "Song of the Angels" so Scott could get an idea about it b/c we didn't have enough music or time to jump in on it.

PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE: Saturday get-together at Elaine's is at 6pm now instead of 7pm. Think 6-8 for the bulk of it.

Small chance some of us will do an additional piece for Sunday - to be decided; can work on it Saturday night as well if poss/desired.

Please bring ideas/favorites of Christmas songs so we can try to plan for the winter evening program that has been discussed once or twice. Also be sure to bring your WSSR books. 

See you all Saturday eve.

Scott:   thanks for helping with the blog!

Just  a few corrections:  ( it takes a village to get all the details, belive me!)

for  How Far Can Reach a  Smile  we are starting on G and Eflat


For Give Light
Verse 5  Give LOVE  is medium then

Verse 6  Sing out-- loud and strong

Verse 7  Live light  very very quiet.

AND    Party / planning meeting/ eating  and singing at Elaine's House  Sat  Oct  18th  7 p.

3315 Gettysburg Drive.    I will  send directions to any one  who requests.

Results of 10/6/14 Rehearsal

Thank you Susan for bringing me on with this. Below, please find my notes from this evening's rehearsal. Anybody jump in if you've got something different.

• For this coming Sunday (10/12) we are singing two songs: We Are (1051) from Eve's ordination service and How Far Can Reach a Smile. For the latter, my notes say sing it five times - first and fifth time no words but DO harmonize both times, second through fourth times lyrics and harmony. If I understood correctly we are starting on F and E flat.
• For 10/19 we are singing Give Light as a gradual progression - Sopranos first verse, altos join for second, bass joins for third, tenor joins for fourth, sing fifth normally, sing sixth louder, diminish back to normal for seventh verse. I understand we will try to sing first thing during the service for crowd placement. The idea was also floated to sing it with the congregation at the end.