Practice Notes for Pro Arte/Cavalieri Westminster Canterbury Concert
May 1, 2022, 4:00 PM
Refer to Feb. 14th post for recordings
Tolepe Menenak – Review exact notes and rhythms. Memorize breathing instructions. Be sure to correctly align words and syllables with pitches, particularly on the “Aneer Nenowa” verse. Cavalieri, work on open supported sound on verse 2. Try practicing on an open ‘Hoh’ sound. Keep the same open shape when singing with the text. Everyone needs to have this completely memorized.
Algonquin Prayer – To sing this as well as possible, everyone needs to have this completely memorized. FYI, the composer just might be present. Cavalieri, please work on the same supported openness we ask for on Tolepe. On last page, check pitches on part divisions.
For the Beauty of the Earth – Have this piece fully memorized. Memorize where breath markings occur. Memorize dynamic markings. Cavalieri – same instruction as above on the sections you sing.
Song of Creation – Keep working on the rhythmic aspect of this. Strong diction/consonants will help this. Everyone should have the text fully memorized. No tripping over any of the many words! 😊
Birdsong (Pro Arte) – work on getting this memorized. You may be surprised by how much is already in your memory. Try singing it along with the recording from Lexington. Review held note values at the end of each phrase.
In Time of Silver Rain (Cavalieri) – Please memorize. Mind your breath control - think ahead and get good low breaths before each phrase, very open tall vowels especially on higher notes, let them float, keep the air moving steadily. We would like to keep hearing beautiful legato phrasing and following of the indicated dynamic markings as well as possible with a small ensemble. Crescendo and Decrescendos are especially important to phrasing.
Call It God – Review texts, notes and rhythms on verses especially. I’m confident we can get this memorized as well. The challenge will be keeping track of which verse follows each refrain.
The Peace of Wild Things (Pro Arte) – Each singer knows best where they need to work most within this piece. Being able to sing your part on your own with the other parts without faltering is the goal. Continuing solfege work can help with this. Be ready for tempo changes throughout the piece. Dynamics. Try singing from memory with one of the recordings.
Where the Light Begins – Same general instructions as The Peace of Wild Things.
This Land is Your Land – Study and memorize how your part moves around in the score. Continue securing your notes. Try singing this from memory with the Lexington recording. Study the places that are the weakest in your memory.
Lexington Concert video here.
Treble/Concert practice notes
Two Native American Songs – Keep working on flute-like tone quality by practicing with the tall ‘oo’ vowel sound. Concert Choir – Keep practicing your own parts on p. 6.
Tolepe Menenak – Everyone needs to keep studying breath markings on the refrain. Breathe at the end of each musical line only. As far as pronunciation, all of the ‘e’ vowels are pronounced ‘eh’. Concert choir – study melody on verses, especially the second line of the “Aneer” verse. Altos be sure to study your part on verses 3 and 4, as well as parts on the refrains that follow 3 & 4.
Song of Creation – Keep drilling text memory. Keep making this as rhythmic as possible through the use of strong and clear consonants.
Wind on the Hill – Keep working on your rhythm as mm. 23 and 43. Be ready for the ritardando (slowing down) at mm. 24, 35 and at the end. Be sure to shorten the tied quarter note in m. 30 to an eighth note to make space for a breath. Study dynamics (mf, mp, f, etc.). Feel the movement of the music.
For the Beauty of the Earth – Keep working on text memory. As Mr. Pete says, be sure you know how each stanza begins that will help you remember the remainder of each stanza. Make sure breath markings are memorized as well so we can sing beautiful phrases.
Heaven – This is in good shape! Keep practicing it so it stays that way.
Siyahamba – Keep reviewing your own part and the languages. Parts 2 and 3 need to study the rhythm and text alignment at mm. 5 and 6. All three parts need to study rhythms on the second line of music, paying attention to rests (2&3) and ties (1). A lot of repetition of the text will help you commit it to memory.
This Land I Your Land – everyone sings the melody. Study where the melody moves throughout the piece. You will see the abbreviation ‘mel.’ wherever it occurs in the music. – eg. m. 26, bottom part. Everyone drops out at m. 71 and enters again at m. 106 to the end. Work on memorizing.
Rhythm Reader and 333 Elementary Exercises – take time to review some of the exercises and concepts from the beginning of the books.