Hello Chorus,

Less than two weeks until showtime!

I've updated the audio files with Sunday's rehearsal numbers. Yes, I did this while I was on "vacation" yesterday and today. I worked on them on a laptop, in the car, while Michelle was driving, and then again at my sister's house. You see how much I love you guys? I wanted you to have these files ASAP because they're the best yet. There are updates to the following songs:

• The Phantom of the Opera
• Once Upon a Dream
• It Might As Well Be Spring
• Hernando's Hideaway
• Hushaby Mountain
• Lullaby of Broadway
• Pure Imagination
• Almost Like Being in Love
• Singing in the Rain
• Sunrise, Sunset

I also posted under "Sound Bites" on the right column, Cory's inspirational speech about imagination.

Rain had a great suggestion that I thought I'd pass along. She said the we can use the audio recordings for more than just singing along to. She said she finds it useful to simply listen to them and suggests we even get out our music while listening to them because Cory says all kinds of things while we're singing that maybe we don't pick up on at rehearsal. You can jot down notes in your music accordingly.

And now (drum roll please), as promised, here are Cory's very complimentary words from Sunday's rehearsal. You should save them for when you're feeling low. I've transcribed them so that you actually can, if you really want to, "print it out and frame it in gold." At the end is a link to the audio file of Cory giving us these verbal gifts. Enjoy 'cause you know you're not going to hear this very often!

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Cory: Okay, so a couple of things. Karen will have this recorded onto the blog for all posterity. You may want to go ahead and print off a copy of the blog. I’m just telling you. That’s just how it is because these things rarely happen.

Germaine; you mean a list of the songs?

Cory: No. What I’m about to tell you. So, you’re going to want to go and print this off and probably have it framed in gold because this just doesn’t happen very often.

Number one, I don’t know who you all are, but I’d like you back on Thursday. And the group that was here last Thursday, I would like a gun because it was horrible! I’m like, ‘So…we’ll pull everything but three songs and have some very long speakers.’ This, on the other hand, this for most people would be worth sitting and listening to—for most people. Leslie actually said, "That seems really good. I think they sound better than they did at the Christmas performance." I said, "Oh please. That just kind of took all the wind out of my sails because at that point I said...I mean really? Is that…?"  Nicely done!

Basses: You are finally picking it up and actually coming into your own. It’s like watching this caterpillar who went into its cocoon and all of a sudden you’ve decided to become a butterfly and fly. Thank you. Thank you, sincerely, for flying. Finally. I mean, really. Nicely done (applause). Realize that Karen will have this on the blog, so you-all will have to…yeah.

Karen: Okay, but give me a few days because I’m going to be out of town for the next two days and I may not be able to work on it. I’m just saying.

Cory: The point of the matter is that she has this recorded, so I can’t go, "I never said that." Turn that off right now! Just kidding.

Tenors: Good. Good. Your resolves are much better, you’re not sounding wimpy up top, you’re giving it everything you’ve got. You’ve got some nice tone going on. You, including Joe, who’s not here, have a great blend between you four. It’s got a nice sound. You’re the Phantom of the Opera, which is a really actually a very high song for tenors, you guys are doing very well. It’s nicely done. You can be heard, which is huge for a tenor part, and you’re on note, like 98% of the time. There are still those times when you’re like, "Ooop. I’m not sure. I’m sorry. Huuaaah." I do notice those. Hit those. But, as a general overall whole, nicely done. It’s very, very nice. Very nice, really and sincerely. (applause)

Altos: On Sunrise, Sunset, honestly, the best you guys have every done it.  End of story. I heard your parts; I heard your resolves. At the very end, I heard it all. Great. You guys are bringing a nice warmth to your voices. You guys are really singing out. Katherine, great. Seriously great. It’s nice to hear the flip sides coming at me in conjunction to what I’ve going on in front of me. These are strategic placements, in all honesty. I just didn’t through you all up there. These are strategic and you guys are doing fantastic. Nice warmth. You guys are getting things out there and that’s great. You’re being heard. You’re letting the world know, ‘You know what? We’ve got an alto section!’ Very nice. Way to go. I’m proud of you. (applause)

Sopranos: Seriously, I know that for some of you this has absolutely felt like a root canal every single day without anesthetic. At all. You’re like, ‘he is trying to kill us.’ Uh…yes. Just kidding. You guys have worked on tone. You have worked on vibratos. As a full group of people, and as a section itself, you guys have done so much work together. And, whether you think that you guys have worked together or not, the sound shows it. There’s not one specific person that’s leaning forth. It’s not Gladys knight and her back up singers.  You guys have got a really great sound. You’ve worked on the warmth. Yes. I love the fact that Joan said a couple of weeks ago. She said “It’s hard to get warm and not add a vibrato with it.” Thank you for working on it. Thank you for, when I say, “Stop vibrato-ing on top, you sound like a 1972 Mormon Tabernacle Choir woman,“ thank you. Thank you for working on the tones. Thank you for working on your vowels. Thank you for doing exactly what you should do to be where you need to be and to be a great section. You guys have done phenomenal work and I personally appreciate it.

On Thursday, when I left, I thought, “I’m not telling anyone about this concert. I’m not telling anyone, including my mother and father, who wouldn’t remember it the next day anyway. I’m like, ‘I’m not telling them. I just am not.’

Tonight, there are glimmers. I can even say bright glimmers. And take that literally for what it is because those are huge, huge things because I don’t have glimmers frequently. And we have still got how many rehearsals? Three. Okay. If the remaining three are like tonight, and you guys continue to work on those things that I have asked you guys to do, your performance on the 21^st will surely be the pinnacle to this point in a year and a half of singing. Literally. It will be something to be proud of. So do it. Now, sopranos, I forgot to give you a round of applause. (applause)

You guys, it’s work. It is really work. And I have watched you guys. And, to be perfectly frank with you, I like nothing better than watching people look like they’re about to pass out. I love nothing more than seeing people go, “Oh my gosh, I’m ready to die.” And I love nothing more than watching two people in the same section going, “okay, how was that again?” and working it out so that they sound unison rather than  fighting each other. That to me as a director gives me the greatest joy ever. Nothing pleases me more than when you guys do a phenomenal job. And it’s because you guys deserve to do a great job.  This, again, is going to be something to see. If the next few rehearsals are like this and you come out of the gate on the 21^st raring like you should, if you spend this much time working on it, Christmas is going to be hard to top that. Let me just put it that way. You guys are doing a great job and I appreciate it.

All right. Now, with the inflation that I’ve just given to all of your heads, put the steel bands on because you guys, honestly, there’s still work to do, you all know.

Basses, there are parts there where you’re still not on note. You’re really close to where you need to be but I can tell that you’re still going nuuauuuunnnuunna. And, again you’re solid through the whole thing and all of a sudden you hit this four measure section and you’re like “I’m not really sure on that. Maybe if I just don’t sing he won’t notice.” FYI, I do notice. (Mark: It’s a fantasy) Yes it is. That’s using your pure imagination. Don’t go that route because, in all honesty, I hear it. I know.

Okay. Tenors, there’s still that part in Sunrise, Sunset where we just were, right before we begin “Oh Hear our Sabbath prayer,” you’re still missing that C. Fix that, okay? Altos, on Phantom of the Opera, you’ve got to give it a little more. You need a little more warmth.

And, I did not forget, but I was saving it for last: Amy. (applause) How much fun I’m having with you. And, in all honesty, I was very worried when Kathy left. Not because of you, but I was very attached to Kathy.

 
Download the audio file