Hello! Sorry this is so late.
For practice on 27 March we worked quite a bit on vowel unification, for both Ecce Crucem Domini and Ave Maria basically making sure that the choir blends together and sounds like one voice. It means we need to make a conscious effort to listen out and sound exactly the same as our neighbours, in terms of tone and colour. And an exercise for this would be "mee-mae-mah-mou-moo" on the same note for warmups.
Specific:
Ecce - In general, sops need to be more relaxed, less sharp and nasal and forced. Altos need to put in more energy and effort. Both of us should sound tall, dark and hollow, less bright, and have more space - drop jaws for "ah" vowels. When both the sop2s and alto1s sing "fugite partes adversae" their parts are meant to fit together, meaning we have to make EXTRA effort to match each other and have vowels and consonants that are absolutely together, meaning clean, precise rhythms. There will be some (intentional) clashes so stick to your parts! For "radix david" and "alleluia" there must be an audible change in dynamics. Decrescendo should only begin on "vid" Some changes have been made to part B, I think, where we sing Crucem and then go to glissando-ing. Note: do NOT slide before Mr Tay signals. Also, changes have been made to the sop line at Mysterioso, on page 4. Check with your SLs for specifics and remember to channel this dude
General things to remember:
1. Vowel Unification (see above)
2. FOLLOW MR TAY - scores memorised or not we follow his beat and conducting. No matter what the composer has written, it is IMPERATIVE that whatever the conductor conducts, we follow.
3. Balance. yin/yang. equal mixture of tense and relaxed, etc.
4. Performance prep - will make a separate post on this.
5. If something has been said before, take note, do it, and don't waste time by having everyone repeat it again. If we do repeat something, it should only be so that we can make the second repetition better! (which we can, and we will.)
6. As a chorister you have a responsibility to the rest of us to be dependable so that we can rely on you and trust that you'll do your best! It's also our duty to sing well regardless of the performance, competition, or rehearsal -this is out of respect for the music.
Loosen up, guys. Don't be so tense during rehearsals, yeah? (: And don't overstrain yourselves with too many octet practices. Drink lots of water, the weather's been pretty crazy, take care of yourselves!!!
Love,
Anthea
