News from Rehearsal April 29, 2008

Notes:

• Dress Rehearsal Saturday, 1st Church of Christ, Longmeadow -please arrive by 9:45am and bring your patience as we work to maximize space (and to locate parking, some is a short walk to the church). Rehearsal ends at 1:30pm
  
• If you can help set up risers at 9:00am, please let Stephen know.
• Please return CD order forms to Hugh with payment by Sunday afternoon.
• Please return Banquet forms to Stephen with payment also by Sunday afternoon so he can give the Log Cabin the final count.
• Call for Sunday is 1:00pm; again, plan to come early to locate nearby parking. Please leave parking closest to the church for our members and guests with mobility issues. NOTE CHANGE IN TIME.
  

Please run through any spots about which you may still be unsure before Saturday.

News from Rehearsal 04/22/2008

What a great rehearsal - we worked on parts of selections on our spring recital, then ran through everything. Kudos to the soloists in the Vaughan Williams, especially those who had only moments to prepare to sing for all of us!!

Continue to work on those spots that still hold you up, including text and notes. The Psalm 150 and Serenade to Music challenge us the most with pitch and rhythm; the madrigals have some unusual or unexpected rhythms. We have only 1 regular rehearsal and a dress rehearsal left, so all individual attention is appreciated to create the best experience for our audience.

Dress Rehearsal Notes
Speaking of the dress rehearsal, remember it is Saturday, May 3 at the First Church of Christ, Longmeadow. Arrive early, and bring your stellar patience. Logistics will require some careful attention, but the benefits of the acoustics and beautiful piano will make up for choral space issues.

Wanted: Phone Tree Volunteers
If you would like to help create a phone tree to add phone notifications to our email notifications for any last-minute emergencies, please contact Stephen.

News From Rehearsal 04/15/2008

A big thank you from the Springfield Symphony Chorus to composer Jerry Noble who joined us at the beginning of rehearsal to hear our preparation of the Psalm 150 commissioned for our chorus. Jerry commented that some parts sounded hard, and clarified some of our questions. It was wonderful to work with Jerry, and he is looking forward to the public premiere in May. We do, too!

By the way, wonder what a timbrel is? Check it out on Wikipedia.

Election Updates:

1. The By-Laws were voted as amended in rehearsal with one edit voted in during the amendment process (increasing the quorum at meetings in which voting occurs from 25% to 51%). These will be posted on the web site very shortly in their final form.
2. Congratulations to our new Assistant Librarian, Donna R! Thanks for stepping up to the plate, and already putting up with humor regarding space in your basement! (Exactly how much did you say you have?)
   

Continue to work on all recital music, including the Psalm 150 - we have only two regular rehearsals and a dress rehearsal left until our first spring recital. Everything is coming together well, and a little work on the part of all members will assure a pair of beautiful recitals to close a very successful SSC year.

Don't forget the banquet is May 13; if you would like to sing, do a skit, or otherwise participate, please see Will. Please plan on attending this wonderful event where we are able to sit back and enjoy each other's company and celebrate the year!!

A cymbal available from http://www.shofartallit.com illustrating dancers in a Russian-Eastern European Jewish style under text from Psalm 150.

News from Rehearsal 04/08/2008

Again, we were able to touch most of our recital music. The program order is:

1. Beethoven Chorus from Christ on the Mount of Olives
2. Mabry Three Madrigals
3. Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music
4. Intermission
5. Noble Psalm 150
6. Part Magnificat (Chamber Chorus)
7. Special "Something"
   
8. Stroope Sure on this Shining Night
9. Hampton Praise His Holy Name

The three pieces on order came in; if you did not pick them up tonight, be sure to do so next Tuesday.
Remember to review all recital pieces, particularly the Noble piece, pages 15 - end.

Nikki's sheep and shepherd reference illustrated.

News Post-Retreat

Thank you to everyone who attended the retreat - our hard work really moved us forward in our recital preparation! If you weren't there, you missed some really talented choristers auditioning for solos in the Serenade.

We have now touched every piece on our recital program. Please continue to review pieces, especially the Psalm 150 and Serenade to Music so we can focus on shaping the music rather than plunking out notes. We have only 4 regular rehearsals left!

Reminder: Rehearsals will begin at 7:00pm until the recital.

Tuesday, April 15 is voting day! We will vote for a new Assistant Librarian (visit our web site for what this position entails, and ask Jeanne any questions you may have), and vote on the By-Laws revisions. Please forward any repairs, typos to Jeanne or our President.

News from Rehearsal 04/01/2008

First of all, thank you to the UMASS Fine Arts Center for finding us a place at the very last minute so rehearsal could continue after circumstances beyond our control eliminated our normal space as an option.

REMINDER: Retreat this Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm. First Congregational Church, East Longmeadow (at "the" rotary).

Work for outside rehearsal: Noble piece, review it in its entirety. Vaughan Williams: review choral sections.