Finally Here

Today we had our dress rehearsal with the orchestra. There were some rough spots as we got used to a different configuration, choir in back, soloists, orchestra, then the director. It is always so exciting to sing with an orchestra. We know most of these players, they come back to play each year. It is a thrill to put voices and instruments together. Tomorrow is the concert, and all of our work will come together at last. I know that after the concert, we'll be singing this music in our heads for days. I call it concert withdrawal. Here is our program.

Pass Chorale Christmas Celebration


Magnificat in D
BWV 243
With Christmas Interpolations
by
Johann Sebastian Bach


Patricia Cordova, Soprano
Veronica Angel, Soprano
Danielle Perrault, Alto
Jonathan Frias, Tenor
Ulises Espinoza, Bass

The Pass Chorale and Orchestra

Directed by Ernest Siva

13 December 2009
2:30 pm

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1320 W. Williams Av.
Banning, CA



Magnificat

For soloists, five-part chorus, and orchestra

Christmas Anthems
Joan Frost, Accompanist

I Am So Glad – Norwegian Carol.....................Arranged by Bradley Ellingboe
Philip Rehfeldt, Clarinet

Still, Still Still - Austrian Carol................Arranged by Mark Shepperd

How Far is it to Bethlehem? - English Carol........Arranged by Stan Pethel
Jackie Aronowitz, Flute

Mary’s Little Boy Child - Calypso Carol............Jester Hairston
Monty Joham, Bass
Mike Shea, Percussion

How Should a King Come?.................Carol Owens, Jimmy Owens, Tom Fettke


Carol Sing-along
The Pass Chorale, Orchestra, and Audience

Joy to the World
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Away in a Manger
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night, Holy Night

THANK YOU!
•Thanks to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for our beautiful concert venue.
• Thanks to our volunteers Pat Murkland and Jill Trick for taking tickets and handing out programs, and Jill Trick and Laura Trick for arranging our post-concert reception.
• Thanks to our wonderful accompanist, Joan Frost, for another great season.
• Thanks to our singers whose hard work and dedication makes this concert possible.
• Thanks to you for coming and supporting fine music in the Pass area!
• Thanks to sponsors Millie Plueger and Ernest & June Siva.

The Pass Chorale
The Pass Chorale is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Singers are volunteers, but instrumentalists and soloists are paid. Donations at concerts cover only a small part of overall expenses. We would really appreciate your support so we can continue these concerts. Donations can be mailed to: The Pass Chorale, P.O. Box 589, Beaumont, CA 92223.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

The Pass Chorale
Ernest Siva, Director
Joan Frost, Accompanist

It's Countdown to Concert Time

Our last rehearsals have focused on singing through the entire program, clearing up problem spots, working with soloists and generally preparing for the concert. It is a wonderful experience to sing this music. Director Ernest has the orchestra completed. We'll have two extra rehearsals, and then the dress rehearsal the day before the concert.

PASS CHORALE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 2009

The Pass Chorale is a community chorus serving the San Gorgonio Pass area. Their annual Celebration of Christmas concert is scheduled for Sunday, December 13, 2009, 2:30pm at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams St. in Banning.

The concert features the Magnificat by Johann Sebastian Bach, with Christmas interpolations. This is a festive work for soloists, 5 part chorus, and orchestra. It is based on the biblical text, Mary’s song of praise. The Magnificat follows the biblical text in Latin. The interpolations, in German and Latin, were added by Bach especially for Christmas performances.

Soloists are Patricia Cordova , soprano (winner of the 2009 Pass Has Talent competition), Veronica Angel, soprano, Danielle Perrault, alto, Jonathan Arana, tenor, and Ulises Espinoza, Bass. Soloists Angel, Perrault, Arana and Espinoza are all students in the choral and voice program at California State University, San Bernardino. We are pleased to have them join us for this performance. Soloist Cordova is a regular member of the Pass Chorale. The soloists, chorus, and orchestra are directed by Ernest Siva.

The second part of the program is a sampling of Christmas anthems featuring the Chorale, accompanist, Joan Frost, and the orchestra. The concert ends with the traditional carol sing-along featuring the audience, the chorale and the orchestra. It is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit!

Suggested donation is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. All donations to the Pass Chorale are tax deductible.

Pass Chorale Director, Ernest Siva, grew up in Banning and has directed the Chorale for 14 years. He has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Education and Chorale Music from USC. He taught music in the public schools and American Indian Music ant UCLA. He is founder and President of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in Banning, a cultural center aimed at saving and sharing the music, languages, traditional arts and cultures of southern California Indian communities.

Fifteenth and Sixteenth Rehearsals

We've spent most of our time in these rehearsals on "woodshedding," as the music folks call it. That means making sure we are all secure on our parts. Ernest particularly likes isolating two parts and having them sing together, e.g., second sopranos and tenors, altos and basses, first sopranos and altos. This way we see how the music fits together. We also get an appreciation for all the parts. Often in these sessions we practice singing each other's parts. This also gives us greater appreciation for the entire work. At the end we put all 5 parts together.

We were having particular trouble with the last movement where we all sing something different, only joining in the last few measures. It is a matter of careful counting and knowing your part cold! At the end of the rehearsal, we did it correctly. Now let's hope we can do it again, at our next rehearsal.

Ernest has been busy lining up instrumentalists and soloists. There will be some students joining us from the Cal State San Bernardino choral program.

December 13 will be here before we know it. It is getting to be crunch time as we prepare for the wonderful Christmas program.

Fourteenth Rehearsal

I didn't blog about our 13th rehearsal because it was like a step backwards. We were missing several members, so we limped through most of the Bach. But our 14th rehearsal was wonderful. We began with the announcement that Soprano Pat Cordova won the Pass Has Talent contest. We were all very excited. Pat wasn't there so we'll have more details next week. We know there were many contestants, the contest has gone on for several weeks. Our member Pat won the Grand Prize. Congratulations, Pat! We are proud of you.

We started with our anthems, and they are beginning to really sound nice. We're still having a bit of trouble with the Jester Hairston, Mary's Boy Child. The syncopation and going back and forth for multiple verses is still confusing. We're improving though.

We also got all the way through the Bach. We're doing much better on the Christmas interpolations. All in all, a great rehearsal. We love this music!

Twelfth Rehearsal

We accomplished another milestone at our 12th rehearsal. We sang through our entire program for the first time! We are learning this music. Now, more and more, we'll be focusing on the finer points - dynamics, tempi, pronounciation, tone. There is still lots of work ahead, but we all felt good when the rehearsal ended!

Eleventh Rehearsal

We returned to action after a week off. We started with our Christmas anthems. The first was the Norwegian carol, "I am so glad." We worked on some of the trickier sections, and alto Robin gave us the name of a woman who knows Norwegian. We may be able to sing in Norwegian yet! The carol, Still, Still, Still is beginning to sound very nice. It is a gorgeous arrangement and a flute will accompany the choir (as well as keyboard).

We worked on the rhythms of the calypso, Mary's Boy Child, arranged by Jester Hairston. I remember hearing this carol every year when we were students at USC. The annual Christmas concert always featured two carols, sung by the Chamber Singers, directed by Charles Hirt. One was Mary's Boy Child. The solo part was highly prized, and I remeber Ernest's roommate, tenor John Fleming, did it more than once. The other was a soprano solo with choir, "Who will buy my sweet blooming lavender?" There was high competition for that solo too. I don't know of an arrangement for the Lavender carol, maybe it was Charles Hirt's own. Those two carols meant it was really Christmas again.

We then started the Magnificat at the beginning and got about half way through before the rehearsal ended. We'll start at that point next week!

Tenth Rehearsal

Accompanist Joan was back with us and we focused on the Interpolations in the Magnificat. We made great progress on both the text and the notes. We then went back to the beginning. It felt good to hear the piece gradually coming together. It is so wonderful when you feel like you’re actually making music. There were some moments like that as we practiced the SSA trio, Sucepit Israel (He has helped his servant, Israel).

Tenor Charlie was back with us and reported that his slow-growing tumor will be monitored only, at this time. Evidently the risks of surgery are great and could affect the good ear too. At least we know he’s going to the best possible place for treatment. He said it feels strange to sing, but he’s game to do it. We are thankful.

We spent the last part of the rehearsal on a Norwegian carol, I am so Glad. We hope to sing the first verse in Norwegian, but we haven't attempted it yet.

We won't have rehearsal next week. Director Ernest is having a colonoscopy the next day. Believe me, he would rather be singing!

Ninth Rehearsal

Our ninth rehearsal seemed like our second or third as we started. Accompanist Joan couldn't be there so we had a wonderful substitute, Jolene. We started where we left off last rehearsal, with the last two movements. We worked hard on them last time and felt good when the rehearsal ended. This time, we were back at square one, as if it was all new again (difficult music is like that). We worked though it again, and we all broke into applause when we finally nailed it! Now, we'll see how we do next week...

We again worked on the German interpolations, we needed more work on those too.

Soprano Cherry passed around photos of her daughters (8 mos and 3). They were a smash hit. Ernest invited everyone to a showing of "Sing Birds," a Sean Owens film about the efforts of Cahuilla people to keep this music alive.

Tenor Charlie wasn't there, and we found out that he has a tumor (benign) in his left ear. He is on his way to the House Institute this week. That's the best place he could go. I've heard about them ever since I was a student at USC. I don't think there's a better place to treat him. We'll all be praying for him and cheering him on.

Singing in a chorus is about more than music, its about teamwork with fellow singers, almost like a team sport. We all have our distinct voices, but when they come together and actually make music (the director is rather like a coach), it feels like scoring a touchdown (football season soon)! We also come to care about our "teammates."

Eighth Rehearsal

Tenor Charlie was back with us, and we were all so happy to see him! He cannot hear in his left ear, but he wanted to try singing. He has missed it. He’s a bit behind because he’s missed several rehearsals, but he made great progress and we hope he’ll keep at it.

We rehearsed in the COOL room, the Fellowship Hall. Everyone liked it. We think this room is better in lots of ways, more comfortable and we can hear each other better.

We worked on the Magnificat, starting near the end again. The last section is particularly difficult and more like an instrumental work than a vocal one. Each part is different, and the rhythms are tricky for each. We tried each part separately, then put them together, two at a time. When we put it all together, the sopranos reached the end first. Not a good thing. We were all madly counting, tried again, and we finally all ended at the same time. This was our victory for the night.

We started at the beginning again, and it was wonderful to sing the first chorus, we now actually know it!

Singing this work is so inspiring and uplifting. Bass Tony reports that after rehearsals he sometimes has trouble getting to sleep. We’ve had that experience too. Talking with Soprano Judy after the rehearsal, we remarked about how universal this music is. There is a Bach Society in Japan that may be working on the Magnificat too. They have made recordings that are absolutely wonderful!

Seventh Rehearsal

Our new keys let us into the church, but a few seconds later, the alarm went off. We found out they had changed the alarms that afternoon and the old codes weren't viable any more. The alarm company called Deacon Bob who came and turned off the alarm and gave Ernest his new secret code to arm and disarm the alarm. We then turned the AC on in the sanctuary, but 2 hours later it still wasn't very cool. We decided to try having our rehearsal in the fellowship hall. It was cool, good light, tables to put our music on, we could hear each other well, and everyone liked it a lot.

We worked on the Magnificat, started near the end and, for the first time, sang through to the end. Now we've actually gone through the entire work, always an important milestone. Now none of it will be "new" anymore, we'll just work to make it better. Tenor Charlie has been missing because he developed a sudden hearing problem in one ear. We miss his voice and his wonderful sense of humor and hope he will be back with us soon.

Sixth Rehearsal

Our sixth rehearsal was HOT! Even though we turned the air conditioning on an hour ahead, it never was working enough to cool us off. Singing warms you up anyway, and with the ineffective AC, we were all singing and sweating, fanning ourselves with our scores when not singing!

We started practicing the Bach in the order that will sing it, that means inserting the interpolations where they belong. We got through 4 choruses and 3 interpolations, even under less than ideal conditions. We hope that by the next rehearsal the AC will work better or the heat wave will be over!

The Fifth Rehearsal that was

After the chaos of last week, the Pass Chorale met for our fifth rehearsal. After lots of chatter about our mishaps, Ernest invited everyone to the Dragonfly Gala. Then we opened our music to the first movement of the Bach Magnificat. Yes, we did remember it, and even with our reduced forces (many away), it sounded good. We started practicing the music in its proper order, which means putting the Christmas Interpolations in the piece where we’ll sing them. In the score they are all in an appendix. Two of the interpolations are in German. We spent some time going over the words with help from Bass, Monty, who knows German well.

We ended our rehearsal on Fecit Potenciam, “he has shown strength with his arm.” It’s a difficult movement, but we kept at it until all parts could sing it at the same time. We actually went over time and didn’t have time for any of the anthems.

Fifth Rehearsal that wasn't

It all started when our car broke down at a restaurant where we were having a pre-rehearsal treat. We had planned to go from there to the church to open things up, turn on the AC so it would be cool when the rehearsal started. Luckily the restaurant was near the church, so Ernest scaled 2 fences and went to open the church. There was a sign on the door - "Keys changed, call deacon." Turns out this was just the beginning of our problems. We called the deacon, got the answering machine.

In the meantime, we called AAA to deal with our car. Ernest was supposed to be at City Council to receive a proclamation from the City of Banning congratulating him on his honorary doctorate and recognizing his contributions to the community. I had to stay with the car while neighbor Pat took Ernest to the meeting. Meanwhile, we had to notify Chorale members not to come since we couldn't get into the church. My cell phone battery was low so I called Vice President, Steve who came down to the restaurant, got our roster and went back home to make the calls.

The AAA folks arrived and worked on the car. They couldn't solve the problem, it was after hours for the car dealer so we couldn't get help from them, so we decided to leave the car there and deal with it in the morning. When our neighbor and Ernest got back from the ceremony we went by the church to leave a sign on the door in case any chorale member showed up.

After that we could relax a bit. It was good that we can call on neighbor Pat and VP Steve to help us out of this dilemma. On to the next rehearsal. We would rather be singing Bach!

Fourth Rehearsal

We started on the third choral movement, Fechit Potenciam (He has shown strength with his arm). Alto Charlene requested that we start work on this difficult movement. Not only are there lots of runs and lots of words, but the choir only sings the same words at the same time near the very end. We struggled, but we managed to get through it. It made us feel good to go back to the first movement (Magnificat – My soul magnifies the Lord) and sing it straight through. It sounded good.

We also practiced the second choral movement (Omnes generations – All Generations) and got through it with just a few stops and starts. We are definitely making progress. We went over the first Interpolation (Vom Himmel Hoch – From Heaven he came) and again practiced the German and Bach’s wonderful chorale arrangement of this hymn.

At the end of each rehearsal we practice the shorter anthems. We concentrated on Mary’s Boy Child, a spiritual arranged by Jester Hairston. It has lots of syncopated rhythms, and is lots of fun to sing. Both Ernest and I remember Jester Hairston, a wonderful musician who visited high schools all over the country. He made it to both Banning High and Glendale High where we both got to sing while he directed and introduced us to his music. It seems that he had the goal of saving and sharing this music. For both of us, the day he visited was an unforgettable experience. We never forgot his warmth and enthusiasm for music. He made us all love it too. Saving and sharing is also the goal of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, which aims to save and share the languages, music, histories and cultures of southern California Indians. For further information, check out their website.

Third Rehearsal

Tenor Charlie came back to us for our third rehearsal. During the summer people travel and some are always missing. We were all glad to have him back!

We got through all of the first movement of the Bach and it actually sounded like music! It isn’t perfect yet, but its definitely progress. We started the second choral movement and made progress on that too.

We began work on one of the Interpolations. Bach added these to the Magnificat text for performances at Christmas. The first one is based on Martin Luther hymn Von Himmel hoch (He came from Heaven). It is in German so we get to sing yet another language. The first and second sopranos sing together on this movement, the only time this happens. It also is the easiest soprano part in the entire piece. We sing the melody very slowly and the altos, tenors, and bases sing more difficult, moving parts.

Ernest announced that the Banning City Council will present him with a proclamation congratulating him on his honorary doctorate on July 14. We would have to start our rehearsal late that night since this is on a Tuesday. The Chorale immediately wanted to go and sing! This should be lots of fun.

At the end of the rehearsal we went over a beautiful carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem” arranged by Stan Pethel. It tells the story of shepherd children who travel far to see the baby Jesus in the manger. It is so wonderful to rehearse this music. We get to actually perform it only once, but it is during the rehearsals that we get to know it well and develop a real understanding and love for it.

Second Rehearsal

Cherry and Judy, our second sopranos, both came to this second rehearsal. Everyone was so glad to see them! They are so important because the Bach Magnificat has first and second soprano parts all the way through! It is SSATB instead of the usual SATB. Second sopranos have a very important part in this piece. A new Tenor, Polly, tried us out too. We'll have 3 female tenors in our growing section.

We broke into sections, SSA practiced together in one room and TB practiced in another. We got together and got all the way through the first movement! It was fun to begin to see how it all fits together. Our accompanist, Joan, was back too. Having her play the accompaniment helps a lot.

Everyone in the Chorale signed a wonderful card congratulating Ernest on his Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cal State, San Bernardino.

Come by and join in the fun!

Pass Chorale Artistic Director Receives Honorary Doctorate

Pass Chorale Artistic Director, Ernest Siva was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts by California State University, San Bernardino in a beautiful commencement ceremony on June 20. Read more about it at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center blog.

First Rehearsal

The Pass Chorale came together for the first rehearsal of the Christmas Concert season. Two new tenors and one new alto joined us! New music was handed out, and everyone was excited to learn that our major work would be the Bach Magnificat.

Our faithful accompanist, Joan, was unable to come to this first rehearsal, but one of our altos, Robin, was kind enough to play parts for us. We spent most of the rehearsal struggling through the first movement of the Bach. It is quite difficult, with lots of complicated runs. There are also five parts (two soprano parts) as opposed to the usual four. It will take lots of work, but that’s what makes learning this music so great. We work very hard on it and get to know it really well.

Toward the end of the rehearsal we got a look at some of the Christmas anthems we’ll be singing during the second part of the program. We sight-read through a Norwegian carol, “I am so Glad,” and an Austrian carol, “Still, Still, Still” that has string, flute, and oboe parts as well. We had lots of fun with a Jester Hairston arrangement of “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and a shepherds carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem.”

It was a good first rehearsal, good to be singing together again, good to see old friends and new.

There seems to be something special about Christmas music. Even in the middle of June, it gives you a good feeling. Join us and learn this wonderful music!

Singers Wanted

Attention Singers

During the hot, hot days of summer you could stay cool by singing Christmas music! The Pass Chorale, a community chorus in the Pass area, will begin rehearsing for its annual Christmas concert on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

The major work we’ll be learning is the Magnificat by J.S. Bach. This is a beautiful work with wonderful solos and choruses. The text is Mary’s song of praise. Bach added special “interpolations” especially for the Christmas season.

In addition, we’ll be learning several Christmas anthems and carols. The concert is scheduled for December 13.

If you love Christmas music and have singing experience, please consider joining the Chorale. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, 7 – 8:30 pm, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams St., Banning. For further information, call Artistic Director Ernest Siva (951-849-4676.

Wonderful Concert, New Season

We are all still singing the Haydn Harmony Mass in our heads. It is always a bit sad in the days after the concert. We put so much rehearsal into each major work, and then we only perform it once. Rehearsals are always wonderful learning experiences where we get to know a composer and his work very well. We all wish we could perform it again, but it is expensive enough hiring the orchestra and soloists to perform it once. I'm sure other community choruses feel the same. I think the audience really appreciated the Indian music too. And the grand finale was a salute to the Armed Services for Armed Services Day. It was touching as members of each branch of the service stood as their song was sung.

So it is on to the Christmas season now. You might think it strange to be talking about Christmas when its still spring. But the Pass Chorale will begin practicing music for our Christmas concert on June 16. We know that we'll be rehearsing several beautiful Christmas anthems. Our major work will probably be the Bach Magnificat, but Ernest always reserves the right to change his mind.

If you are interested in singing in a community chorus, please check out the Pass Chorale. We meet on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8:30 pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Banning. Christmas concert rehearsals begin June 16.

For further information email us or call Artistic Director, Ernest Siva at 951-849-4676.

Pass Chorale to sing songs first sung centuries ago in the San Gorgonio Pass

BANNING — Every spring, the Pass Chorale performs a great classical work, accompanied by a full orchestra. This year, the Chorale is adding different classics to its May 17 concert: traditional American Indian music, including songs from the region’s Cahuilla and Serrano nations.

It’s a natural progression for the Pass Chorale artistic director, Ernest H. Siva of Banning. Siva, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and choral music from the University of Southern California, also is a Cahuilla and Serrano elder and a longtime culture bearer. He often shares traditional Indian songs with others as leader of the nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, which saves and shares Southern California’s American Indian cultures, languages, history and music and other traditional arts.

Siva likes to tell the Chorale concert audiences that great music is like architecture, each composition to be savored in its details and artistry. The two dozen members of the Chorale, who hail from across Inland Southern California, have been practicing more than four months for this year’s planned performance of “Harmony Mass” by Franz Joseph Haydn. Siva’s wife, June, who sings soprano, said, “As the name implies, this Mass for soloists, chorus and orchestra is full of wonderful melodies and harmonies.” The Chorale plans performing this seldom-performed classical work as a special tribute to the famous Austrian composer on the 200th anniversary of his death in 1809.

The program’s second half will feature music that is older — much older. The Chorale will perform songs of American Indians of the Southwest, especially the local Cahuilla and Serrano nations. These include songs that teach, such as the “Little Bear Song” of the Serrano, and lullabies such as the Cahuilla, “Coyote’s Waiting,” sung in their original Indian languages.

These traditional songs from the First Cultures were among the music first heard in Inland Southern California countless years ago. Director Siva also arranged two songs, a Zuni Sunrise Song and a Cahuilla Bird Song, as anthems. The original versions of both will be sung first. No matter that his “tribal regalia” at the concert will be his Chorale director’s tuxedo. Siva said he sees an opportunity for all to share and enjoy this traditional music, part of our national heritage.

The concert is planned for Sunday, May 17, 2009, 2:30 pm at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams St., Banning, CA 92220. Tickets are adults, $15; seniors and students, $10; proceeds help support the concert expenses, organizers said.

For more information call Ernest Siva, 951-849-4676, or e-mail siva@dishmail.net. The Pass Chorale is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been sharing great music since the 1950s with audiences of all ages. The full orchestra that joins the Chorale in its winter and spring concerts is comprised of professional musicians from throughout Southern California.

Concert, May 17

The Pass Chorale Spring Concert is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2009, 2:30 pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams, Banning, CA. Our featured work celebrates the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Josef Haydn. The Chorale and Orchestra will perform one of his last works, the Harmony Mass. As the name implies, it is full of beautiful melodies and harmonies. But wait, there's more! The second part of the program features songs of American Indians of the southwest, especially the local Cahuilla and Serrano tribes. Artistic Director arranged this music for chorus. This is a rare opportunity to hear this music, part of our national heritage.
We hope you will join us at the concert (there's a nice reception afterwards too)!
Suggested donation: Adults - $15, Students and Seniors - $10
Further info 951-849-4676.

Singers still wanted

We have begun rehearsals of the Haydn Harmony Mass. We've only had a few rehearsals and we have several new singers that recently joined. There's still time to get in on the fun. In addition to the Haydn mass, we're learning some American Indian music from California and the southwest. We have a great time learning this wonderful music. Please consider joining us. We welcome all parts, sopranos, altos, tenors, basses! Call Ernest Siva or email for further info.