These instructions reference this week's mandatory rehearsals in preparation for the concert, but we also know the weather may interfere with those rehearsals. In general, GRCC follows the VCU evening class weather alerts. If VCU evening classes are cancelled, GRCC rehearsal is cancelled as well. We will also try to send an email either way. We hope we can rehearse on Monday and Tuesday, but no matter the weather please have your student practice using these instructions. Thank you for your help with this!
GRCC HOME PRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS - 2015-2016 SEASON
for Mandatory Rehearsals January 25 & 26 at Grace & Holy Trinity
and January 31 performance at Winfree Baptist Church
All Choirs need to memorize Bach Cantata #80 this week - Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
Pronunciation reminders:
NO American "R"! Beginning R should sound "dd" as in "gross" (gddoss) or "Reich" (ddishe) Ending R should sound "ah" as in "wär" (veh-ah) and "sehr" (zeh-ah)
ie = ee as in "see"
ei = i as in "hi"
"W" sounds like "V". "V" sounds like "F".
"U" sounds like "oo" in the word "book".
"Ü" sounds like "ew" in the word "few".
I found two recordings of Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott that are not Bach's Cantata, but that will help you with the German pronunciation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGVXZePjmis
Above is a choir from Meldorf singing Martin Luther's original version of the hymn, so the rhythm is different, but the words are clear with good pronunciation. They sing the four verses of the hymn, but we are only singing verses, 1, 3, and 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOm1_ta4rGI
I hesitate to give you this link because the singer uses a pop style, so DO NOT copy the scooping and spread tone. However, her pronunciation is good and the text is printed as she sings, which could be very helpful in memorizing it. Again, there are 4 verses sung here and we are not singing the second verse. She sings "alt" as a one-syllable word, but it is printed and sung in our scores as "alte" - two syllables.
Cavalieri Choir - Be prepared for January 25th rehearsal
Memorize: Spoken Fugue, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern in German and English
Review Where're You Walk and Lord Don't Move the Mountain
Pro Arte Choir - Be prepared for January 25th rehearsal
Memorize: Ich will den Herrn - same rules for German pronunciation! Know the round so you can sing it by yourself in a round with two other people. Watch out for the first and second endings on page 7 and LEARN THE 2ND ENDING AND PAGE 8 WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ROUND ON THE FIRST PAGE!
Review: Song of the Stars dynamics
Wade in the Water - mezzos secure pitch and steady rhythm in "opening oohs" - All steady beat!
Evening Prayer - All secure intonation on the second page! Semi-chorus sing first time through.
Cantare Choir - Be prepared for January 25th rehearsal
Memorize Bach Cantata # 80 - 1, 5, 8. Secure parts in 8 and 1, rhythm in 5, and words in all
Memorize "Non nobis domine" up a step in E Major. Use the handwritten version in E Major.
Latin "o" sounds like "aw" - "Nawn nawbis daw-mee-neh" Also, same rules about Rs in Latin as German - sing "Glaw-dee-ah" for Gloria.
Review: Living in a Holy City - Continue to review for accuracy, especially p. 7-8
Prayer of Desmond Tutu - Mezzos singing alto line: Secure notes measures 10-19!
Me Nyame Ye - Sopranos and altos, secure pitches measures 5-6
Concert Choir - Be prepared for January 25th rehearsal
Memorize Bach Cantata No. 80 - All learn soprano line for all 3 movements in German
Memorize We're Walking in the Air - EVERYONE NEEDS TO PRACTICE MORE TO SECURE YOUR PART ON THIS SONG!
Soprano: Colin, Sophie, Cameron, Faith, Noelle, Lillian, Kari
Altos (top notes when divided): Austyn, Lea, Nina, Kamirra, Raven
Altos (bottom notes when divided): Brock, Lauren, Kaylan, Wesley, Xander
Continue to solidify your part and have memorized these four pieces:
May God Be Merciful to Us - Know your part to the end. All sing 1st verse in unison.
Verses 2 & 3 these choristers sing Voice part 1: Faith, Kamirra, Nina, Noelle, Austyn
Verses 2 & 3 these choristers sing Voice part 2: Lauren, Wesley, Sophie, Lily, Léa, Kari
Verses 2 & 3 these choristers sing Voice part 3: Brock, Kaylan, Cameron, Colin, Xander, Raven
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Evening Prayer,
Mattaponi Song of Gratitude - Learn first five unison lines only in solfege and with text
Treble Choir - Be prepared for Jan. 26th rehearsal
Memorize Bach Cantata No. 80 - All learn soprano line for all 3 movements in German
Memorize Parade - Part 1: Nevaeh, Mia, Maria, Part 2:, Kylie, Tani, Matthew, Part 3: Marlena, Alina, Esme
Ven Dura - in unison, memorize words
Review: Shalom Aléchem. He's Got the Whole World, Let Us All Sing! - Secure memory
Me Nyame Ye Soprano: Kylie, Marlena, Mia, Maria, Nevaeh; Alto: Tani, Matthew, Alina, Esme
Home practice preparation for Winfree Baptist Church Jan. 31 performance
ALL GRCC CHOIRS
Program - 60 min. of music - updated January 11, 2016
Me Nyame Ye Traditional Ghanaian Praise Song
All Choirs sing in procession
Parade - A Spoken Fugue 1 min Lawrence Eisman
Treble & Cavalieri Choirs
Let Us All Sing 1 min Dr. Seuss
Shalom Alechem 2 min Goldfarb/Kalendar
Ven Dura 1-2 min Sri Lankan Folk Song
Treble Choir 5 min
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands 2:30 min Spiritual, arr. Hezekiah Brinson, Jr.
Treble & Concert Choirs 2:30
Mattaponi Song of Gratitude 3 min Sharon Sun Eagle
May God Have Mercy Upon Us 2 min Tallis' Canon, arr. Crystal Jonkman
We're Walking in the Air (Theme from The Snowman) 4 min Howard Blake
Concert Choir 9 min
Evening Prayer (from Hansel & Gretel) 3 min Engelbert Humperdinck
Semi-chorus: Dorcas Afolayan, Nina Bartlett, Nyla Harris,
Kennedy Johnson, Jack Rigdon, Madeline Rigdon
Concert & Pro Arte Choirs 3 min
Wade in the Water 1:40 Traditional Spiritual
Song of the Stars 4:15 Imant Raminsh
Ich will den Herrn 3 min? Georg Philipp Telemann
Pro Arte Choir 9 min
Where're You Walk 4 min George Frideric Handel
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern 3 min Michael Praetorius
Lord Don't Move the Mountain 3:40 min Spiritual, arr. Hope Armstrong Erb
Cavalieri Choir 11 min
Non nobis Domine 1 min William Byrd
Prayer of Desmond Tutu 2:20 James Whitbourn
Living in a Holy City 3:15 Stephen Hatfield
Cantare Choir 7 min
Cantata BWV 80 Ein fest Burg ist unser Gott 8 min. Johann Sebastian Bach
1. Anhang: BWV 80b (Chorale setting of first movement)
5. Choral
8. Choral
All GRCC Choirs 10 min