A Rehearsal to Remember

Hi Chorus,

Sunday night's rehearsal was one for the books. I dare say it rivals the Halloween party for entertainment value! I'm so sorry a few of you had to miss it. Truly.

First, let me announce that I have uploaded new audio files for the following songs:

• Angels We Have Heard on High (too bad we didn't have a video of that one)
• Born Where the Shadows Lie
• Come, Shepherds, Come
• How Great Our Joy
• Listen!
• My Wish For You This Christmas
• O Holy Night
• Silent is the Night
• Sing We Now of Christmas

But wait, there's more. I also uploaded three files of Cory telling stories about his trip to Detroit, and a fourth file of him explaining what happened to his gum during "Angels We Have Heard on High," which still cracks me up!

But wait, there's still more. The basses won the Stunning Section Award and, I don't know what Jared fed that darned thing, but it has taken on a life of its own and has been seen in some very interesting situations. Fortunately, we can document this with pictures. Observe:

It started out innocently enough, with Jared, proud section leader, posing with the award.

Then things started getting a little weird. The award jumped down his shirt.

The award decided to play "Hide and Seek," and hid behind Harold.

But, the Stunning Section Award is fearless!

It wanted a chair of its own...

Or is it trying to give a talk?

Maybe it could fill in for Teresa, whose fingers caught fire.

Dan managed to hold it for a few minutes. He looks thrilled.

It also let Dave take a turn...

And Mark...I think it's getting a little too friendly with Mark.

And it's definitely too friendly with Paul! Should I be jealous?

Dan was thrilled when it returned to him!

Strangest of all, the award decided to get a dental checkup. No cavities!

Once Upon a Wintertime

Hi Chorus,

As promised, here's a link to Once Upon a Wintertime

Enjoy!

Oh, and for those who missed it or weren't there, we pulled, "He is Born" last night, so please take it out of your binders.

Congratulations, Tenors!

Our latest recipients of the coveted "Stunning Section Award" is the tenor section! And here's the really amazing thing: they won it with two of their members missing. Way to suck it up, tenors!

Since we didn't get a recording of last week's rehearsal, I asked Cory what he wanted me to put on the blog for the chorus. Here's what he said (it will sound familiar):

"Just remind them to practice, practice, practice!! Sops need to make sure to have a nice warm tone and get those tones nice and round. And support the upper notes. Altos need to keep the tone warm, but not dark. And they need some more vibrato. Support your notes and sing out. Tenors same thing as altos. Basses more volume, without going dark and heavy. Watch your pitch. They are running flat. Stay on top of the note. Don't hang on the note. That's it in a nut shell."

See you all Sunday--6 pm sharp! Karen

Music Quote

Paul and I just finished watching, "The Music Never Stopped," a movie based on the true experiences of a young man whose brain was damaged by a tumor and how music helped heal his brain and served as a link for his memory. I highly recommend it as a reminder of the incredible power of music and its effect on people's brains and souls. As a chorus, we bring this kind of amazing power to those who listen. Here's a quote I found while doing a little research about the power of music (author unknown):

 

I AM MUSIC

Servant and Master am I; Servant of those dead and Master of those living. Through me, spirits of immortals speak the message that makes the world weep and laugh, and wonder and worship. I tell the story of love, the story of hate, the story that saves, and the story that damns. I am the incense upon which prayers float to Heaven. I am the smoke which palls over the field of battle where men are dying with me on their lips. I am close to the marriage altar, and when the graves open, I stand nearby. I call the wanderer home, I rescue the soul from the depths, I open the lips of the lovers, and through the dead, whisper to the living. One I serve as I serve all, and the king I make my slave as easily as I subject his slave. I speak through the birds of the air, the insects of the fields, the crash of water on rock-ribbed shores. I am even heard by the soul that knows me in the clatter of wheels on city streets. I know no brother, yet all men are my brothers: I am the father of the best that is in them, and they are the father of the best that is in me. I am the instrument of God. I AM MUSIC. 

November Rehearsal Schedule

IMPORTANT: There will not be rehearsal on Thursday, November 15, as Cory will be out of town. Instead, we will have rehearsal on Sunday, November 18, starting at 6 pm and going until about 9 pm. This is a mandatory rehearsal.There will, of course, be no rehearsal on Thursday, November 22, due to it being Thanksgiving Day. We will discuss on the 18th, whether or not we will have a rehearsal that next Sunday, the 25th, so stayed tuned. I will be updating the blog with the new information as soon as I get it.

What is a Musette?

I know you're just dying to know.

My research shows that a musette could be one of a couple of different musical instruments. The first, and most likely definition in our song (He is Born), is the Musette de cour, or baroque musette. This instrument is like a complicated bagpipe. The words "de cour," refer to its being used by French aristocracy or associated with the French court in the 17th century. It was used widely, in small productions and even in operas, where it was typically played by shepherds in pastoral scenes. Here's a picture:




The other kind of musette is the oboe musette, or piccolo oboe, which is simply a high-pitched, soprano oboe. Here's a picture of the oboe musette:

So, now you know. Go impress your friends. :)

Congratulations, Altos!

This week the alto section won the "Stunning Section" award. Don't they look excited to win this award?