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."
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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.
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.
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