From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
Small Chorus Audition
I wrote previously that the audition for the Small Chorus in Cantata Academica would be Tuesday, February 5. I have moved the audition to Saturday 2/9, following the Women’s Rehearsal. The audition selection will be #12 mm 1-35 plus #5 for women. I will select the Small Chorus from those singers that are able to rehearse on Saturdays. The Small Chorus will rehearse 4:15-4:45 pm on 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9.
Cantata Academica Analysis (feel free to ignore if this sort of thing is not your cup of tea)
I have talked about some of the structural elements in #8
-The opening melody employs all 12 notes of the chromatic scale. (Britten tips his hat to serialism)
-The successive fugal entrances starting with the basses at reh square 27 begin on each note of the chromatic scale: G F Eb E F# A D Bb C Db Cb (B) Ab
-beginning at rehearsal square 29 the exact same series of pitches reappears, now in stretto (close succession).
-Moreover, opening 12-tone theme of #8 dictates the overall structure of Cantata Academic, as each movement has as its key or tonal center the successive notes of the theme:
I-G, II-F, III-Eb, IV-E, V- F#, VI-A, VII-D, VIII-Bb, IX- C, X-Db, XI-B, XII-Ab (G#), XIII-G
One of my singers said, “the notes seem so random.” I know what she means, but, as your see, thev are systematically structured and actually couldn’t be less random.
Muscles
I am expecting a load of donated books to be dropped off this Saturday at 2:50 pm. If there are able-bodied women who could help me transport them, I would appreciated it.
Tags: auditions, dr. whitmire, rehearsals