Notes from May 18, 2010

Just a reminder that we will not be rehearsing at Evangelical UCC on the 25th, but will be rehearsing with the Principia choir and orchestra on Monday the 24th and Thursday the 27th on their campus in Elsah. Rehearsal will run from 7:00pm to 10:00.

Elsah is about 12 miles north of the Clark bridge on the Great River Road. The exit from the River Road is clearly marked, so go east into the village, bearing right on Mill Street. At the 4-way stop make a right, and proceed up the hill to the school. Make a right and stop at the Gatehouse where the guard will give you a map if you don't already have one. Go to the Davis/Merrick building and then downstairs to the choir room. After warm ups with the college choir (and perhaps a review of an item or two) we will go to Cox auditorium to join the orchestra.

If you didn't get one at Tuesday's rehearsal, Principia has a campus map available at http://www.principiacollege.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/page/Principia_College_Map.pdf. This map is a bit confusing as North is at the bottom, but if you think of yourself as entering from the bottom, it makes sense. Parking is available around the flag pole between Cox and Davis/Merrick.

Notes from April 20th, 2010

Getting down to the nitty-gritty now, and for next week we have a few items to grind out. For example:

• Yet Doth the Lord (#5, Track 2, measures 18-55 and 90 to the end; emphasis on intonation and phrased breathing)
• Cast Thy Burden (#15, Track 9)
• Oh Lord Thou Hast Overthrown Thine Enemies(#19A - choruses within recitative)
• Thanks Be To God (#20, Track 11, measures 28-63, and a general review of the second half of the movement)
• Woe to Him (#24, Track 12, measures 10-26 for rhythmic accuracy, and large interval jumps)
• Sopranos - measures 14 & 16
• Altos - measures 13 & 15
• Tenors - measures 12 & 15
• Basses - measures 15 & 17
• He Watching Over Israel (#29, Track 13, dynamics and breathing: premeditated not desperation)
• Behold God the Lord (#34, Track 14, entrances and exits for crispness)
• And Then Shall Your Light (#43, Track 16, arrival points and climaxes)

Notes from April 13th, 2010

Hello again. Hope you got your taxes filed with refunds forthcoming.

And speaking of expectations, for the 20th, we will emphasize:

• Help! Lord (#1, Track 1, measures 22 to 35 and 48 to the end)
• Lord, Bow Thine Ear (#2, small interludes within the recitative)
• Blessed are the Men Who Fear Him (#9, Track 3)
• As God the Lord of Sabaoth (#10, small interludes within the recitative)
• Baal We Cry to Thee (#11 - Track 5)
• Call Him Louder (#12, small interludes within the recitative)
• Baal! Baal! (#13 - Track 8)
• Thanks be to God (#20, Track 11, mainly measures 65 to the end, but we will work the whole thing)

Notes from April 6th, 2010

Sorry about the delay in getting this posted - we had a few other things to cover.

From now to the performance we will be working on complete movements. For the 13th, we will emphasize:

• Yet Doth the Lord (#5, Track 2)
• Though Hast Overthrown (#19A - phrases within the recitative)
• The Lord Hath Exalted Thee (#23 - phrases within the recitative)
• Woe to Him (#24, Track 12)
• He Watching Over Israel (#29, Track 13)
• Behold God the Lord (#34, Track 14)
• And Then Shall Your Light(#43, Track 16)

Notes from March 30th, 2010

Happy April. May all your allergies dry quickly.

Here is what Nancy wants to emphasize next week, although be prepared to review each of these choruses in there entirety.

• Help! Lord (#1, Track 1, measures 36 - the end)
• Yet Doth the Lord (#5, Track 2, measures 25 - 58 and 106 to the end)
• Blessed are the Men Who Fear Him (#9, Track 3, measures 42 to the end)
• Baal We Cry to Thee (#11 - Track 5, measures 1 - 32)
• Baal! Baal! (#13 - Track 8, the whole thing)
• Thanks be to God (#20, Track 11, measures 65 - the end)
• And Then Shall Your Light(#43, Track 16, entire movement)