Again, thank you for your energy and endurance through these two days in a row of extreme rehearsing! Coming from your busy and hectic lives, you generously share your body, mind, spirit, and voice in such abundance. What a gift you give! Though our preparation time for this project has been intense and brief, we are finding our way to make some truly glorious music. In listening to some of the pieces you are singing with Jeremy from out in the sanctuary and in listening to some of our Vaughan Williams on the CD from tonight's rehearsal, I can assure you that we are collectively creating a musical and spiritual experience that will be meaningful and memorable for those who join us on Sunday. Thank you for all you have contributed to make this possible!
As we mentioned tonight after rehearsal, you have exceeded all expectations and have enabled us to sing a concert with less than our usual amount of preparation time. Thank you and bless you!! Here, once again, are a few suggestions for moving forward in the next few days to allow us even more comfort, security, and connection:
1. Please listen to (at least) one complete run-through of DONA NOBIS PACEM with the streaming recording on our blog: http://firstplymouthchoir.
2. Please review your part to movement V of DONA NOBIS PACEM (pgs. 48-52) which we have sorely neglected. You may find the cyberbass site helpful: http://www.cyberbass.com/
3. Please review your part to BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC. This is not difficult, but we need to just be more familiar and confident. : )
Here are THREE additional opportunities to grow into the music:
1. I will meet anyone who would like to come (and take your suggestions of trouble spots) for an optional brush-up rehearsal on Saturday, beginning in the choir room at 10:30. We can go as short or long as those who come wish. Do not feel obligated to attend, but if you think it would help you, feel welcomed! : ) I will bring donuts even! Some of us can practice better in groups rather than on our own. If that is you, and you are free, join us. You will be out in time for Husker mania-- do not fear!
2. Sunday morning we will sing BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC and the third movement of DONA NOBIS PACEM for 10:30 worship. Singers should gather in the choir room at 9:30 a.m. This will give us another opportunity to spend some more time with these two pieces. : )
3. Tomorrow I will send you some notes about specific impressions, perceptions, and suggestions I have from reviewing our CD recording of the rehearsal. Please take the time to process these, and mark anything that pertains to your voicepart in your score. This enables us to have a VIRTUAL rehearsal, and gives you another way to interact with your scores. : )
Final concert logistics:
1. Concert dress is ALL BLACK, LONGSLEEVE. Please do not wear cologne or perfume or scented shampoo, or anything fragrant. Please do not wear flashy jewelry. Please do not wear colors other than black.
2. I will offer an OPTIONAL extended vocal warm-up in the choir room beginning at 2:30 Sunday for anyone that would find that useful.
3. Our warm-up rehearsal on Sunday begins promptly at 3:00 in the sanctuary WITH THE ORCHESTRA. Please plan to arrive by 2:45 to ensure that you will be ready.
4. We will use black folders during the performance.
5. Buy-one-get-one-free tickets are available until Friday (tomorrow), via Becky in the Abendmusik office:rebecca@abendmusik.org
Thank you again for sharing in this adventure. I look so forward to seeing and hearing how we come to the finish line. : )
Grace and peace,
TT
