Thursday, June 25, 2009

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!

Monday, June 22, 2009

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.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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!

Monday, June 8, 2009

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.