Archive for the ‘Summer 2013’ Category

Vocal Repertoire

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire:
SINGERS

PLEASE NOTE THIS 12-WK FALL CLASS

If you are a singer who would like to improve your performing skills, register for Vocal Repertoire.

Mus19801a Seminar and Project: Vocal Repertoire
(74673) Saturdays 2:00-4:30 pm

Topics will include vocal technique, musical style, and expression.

The course will include one individual 25-minute coaching session with Dr. Whitmire.

Class will meet
Sept.14, Sept.21, Sept.28, Oct.5, Oct.12, Oct.19, Oct.26, Nov.2, Nov.9, Nov.16, Nov.23, Dec.7 (10:00 am until 12:30 pm on 12/7 only)

The course will be limited to twelve students.
Register now.

Christine Hagan will be the accompanist.

If you have any questions, contact
Dr. Mark Whitmire
703-845-6097 or mwhitmire@nvcc.edu


Shuttle Service

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

From Peggy: A new service for those who travel to campus via public transportation. You need a student ID which you can get at Bisdorf when you register if you don’t already have one. See this link to the college web site for more info.
http://www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/maps-directions/shuttle/


Beginning Class Voice

Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- I need about ten folks to sign up for Mus131o1a Beginning Class voice. They need to be paying students. This is an important class and I don’t want it to be cancelled. If you decide you don’t like the instructor (me) you can drop and get a refund. If you can do it, act immediately.

Also, I have received the ok to offer my vocal seminar as a 12- wk class. This is for more experienced singers who would enjoy coaching and working with an excellent accompanist (Chris). More info to come.


Haydn Mass

Friday, August 16th, 2013

From Fred: If you were not able to buy CDs from Mark of this mass on Friday you can at least listen to a performance of it on line.

I downloaded the audio of this mass a few weeks ago from youtube.com and edited it into 1 file per movement (.mp3 files). I found it very useful to listen to it while reading through the score, especially how the solos are woven into the choral parts. So – I sent it to Kate who loaded them onto our chorus web site at: http://www.novachorus.org/music-files/

This is from a performance directed by Bernstein.
There are 6 movements = 6 files. The entire work is 45 minutes long.

From Admin: Movement Kyrie | Gloria | Credo | Sanctus | Benedictus | Agnus Dei

[Admin: All music files will be posted to the music files page (see menu bar above) as they become available.]


Office Hours

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- My schedule has changed. I will not be in tomorrow. I will be in on Friday. If you plan to come get materials let me know so we can make arrangements. Yours -DrW


Brahms Music

Tuesday, August 13th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-

Here is a PDF of Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzer. If you plan to print for yourself, use this so you will have translations. measure numbers and other markings.

Please be sure to get your Haydn Mass in time of war at the bookstore. We will rehearse it at our first rehearsal.

[Admin: All music files will be posted to the music files page (see menu bar above) as they become available.]


Fall Music

Monday, August 12th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-

I hope that you are enjoying the final days of a great summer.

I will be on campus this Thursday from 1-4 pm. I will have rehearsal CDs of

Brahms: Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer (including German pronunciation, and a great recording) -$5

Haydn: Mass in Time of War (including a great recording)-$5

I will also have sheet music for Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer (including translations) -$5

Sheet music for Haydn: Mass in Time of War is in the campus bookstore.

If you want to learn your music online instead go to

Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer
http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Brahms_J/brahms_neue_liebeslieder.htm>

Mass in Time of War
http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Haydn_J/haydn_war_mass.htm

If you want to print Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer for yourself, go to
Sheet music (.pdf)

Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer has 7 choruses and 8 solo movements. I plan to use an auditioned group for the solo movements. This will give experienced singers a small group- or possibly solo opportunity, and make the task of learning the music and German more manageable for newer singers. Altos may audition for soprano solos and vice versa; tenors may audition for the bass solo and vice versa. All Music Majors must audition. 3-sop, 4-bass, 5-alto, 6-sop, 9-sop, 10-ten, 11-sop. 13-sop/alto

Please note the Revised Fall Schedule:

Tues, 10/15/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus Concert with Christine and David Hagan
Schlesinger
Brahms: Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer

Sunday, 12/01/13, 5:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal with Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Bishop Ireton High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse)
(This is Thanksgiving weekend; please make every effort to adjust you plans so that you are present)

Saturday, 12/07/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Bishop Ireton High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse)

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Church of the Epiphany
Haydn: Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse)

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Schlesinger

Please register now if you have not done so. If, for any reason, you cannot sing this semester, please let me know. If you know good singers who would like to join us for this great season, please invite them. I look forward to seeing all of you at our first rehearsal on Tuesday, August 27.

Yours-DrW

[Admin: All music files will be posted to the music files page (see menu bar above) as they become available.]


Brahms Files

Thursday, August 8th, 2013

From Fred: Chorus, here is some info I found useful and answers some questions that came my way:

1. We will sing the “New Love Songs” by Brahms, not his Love Songs that we sang a few years ago. There are 15 love songs in total, 7 for chorus and 8 for solos or duets.

2. I have attached the songs for chorus. All are in MP3 format. I downloaded them from youtube.com and have enjoyed listening to them and rehearsing them.
Chorus 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 15

3. The sheet music for this is NOT in the campus bookstore at this time (but the Haydn Mass is).

4. Details about the following information is available on our web site, novachorus.org. It is in the Email that Mark sent us on 6/13/13. There is a PDF file of the Brahms sheet music attached to his Email. You can either download and print the file yourself or buy it from Mark for $5. You can also buy it from Sheetmusicplus.com for $7 plus shipping (about $5). Mark also included links to youtube to hear a performance and cyberbass.com to get your note learning files. The Haydn Mass info is also in his Email.

[Admin: All music files will be posted to the music files page (see menu bar above) as they become available.]


Chorus T-shirts

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

From Chorister Ellie: If anyone has been meaning to get a NovaChorus tee shirt, now is a good time because CafePress is offering a 15% discount. Use the promo code “AUG15.” New products: 3/4-sleeve shirts for women, and a luggage tag! The chorus gets $1 from any purchase under $20.

http://www.cafepress.com/novachorus or link from novachorus.org

Ellie

PS: if you see another product on Cafepress that you’d like to get with the NovaChorus logo, just let me know and I’ll add it.


Senior Citizen Registration

Friday, August 2nd, 2013

From Fred: Senior Citizen Registration is on the first day of classes, Wednesday, August 21.
First class for chorus, MUS 137, is Tuesday, August 27 at 7:30 PM in Tyler 130.
Alexandria Campus info # is 703-845-6200.


Music Files

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

From Jane: I downloaded an mp3 of Haydn’s Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse) for $7.99 from www.songlearning.com.  You can also get Brahms Neue Liebeslieder for $15.99 (postage included)–no mp3 of this one.  I really like these learning CD’s/mp3’s from Hammond Music Service.


Recital

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

From Christine Hagan: Matt’s recital is going to happen on Thursday at 6:30 in Room 130 (the chorus room). If you have time, would you send a notice to the chorus to see if a few folks might come and support him. He just wants to get it over with; can’t say as I blame him. Thanks!


Fall Season

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful summer. But I know that some of you are already eager to start working on (or at least thinking about) our Fall season.

Attached you will find the music (.pdf) for our first concert. Below you will find links to rehearsal tracks and recording.

Tues, 10/15/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus Concert with Christine and David Hagan
Schlesinger
Brahms:  Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer

Sheet music (.pdf)

Two sites with your notes for Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer
http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Brahms_J/brahms_neue_liebeslieder.htm
http://cvi.free.fr/midi/Brahms/BRAHMS065/

Or Google this for very cool files of Nos. 7, 12 and 13:
“Brahms – Neue Liebeslieder No.13 – Midi files by Choeur au boulot …”

Recording of Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaxhLSN66j0

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Church of the Epiphany
Haydn: Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse)

Sunday, 12/15/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Bishop Ireton High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse)

Three sites with your notes for Mass in Time of War
http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Haydn_J/haydn_war_mass.htm
https://sites.google.com/site/haydnmassintimeofwar
http://s119247422.websitehome.co.uk/midimusic/Haydn/Paukenmesse/paukenmesse.html

Recording of Mass in Time of War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFUm4uO_qeI

Music can be purchased at www.sheetmusicplus.com
Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War/Paukenmesse)
Item number: OU.9780193367920
$13.95 $11.16 Oxford University Press (20% off)

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Schlesinger

I looking forward to seeing everyone at our first rehearsal on Tuesday, August 27.

[Admin: All music files will be posted to the music files page (see menu bar above) as they become available.]


Recital

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

From Chorister Cindy: My recital date is set for June 21st, 8pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church,1417 West Braddock Road, Alexandria.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to do this before I have the baby.  Please let the folks from NOVACHORUS know and pass the invitation along to anyone else you know who might be interested.  Thanks!


Italy

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Dr. Templin,
I thought you would want to know that eighteen members of the NOVA Community Chorus are going with me to sing in Italy next month. They will be joining a semi-professional choir that I direct in Richmond. They are all seniors- mostly retired. They come from all walks of life— foreign service officers, federal government employees, lobbyists, journalists, etc. Where are they singing in Italy? Il Duomo in Florence, St. Mark’s in Venice, and St. Peter’s in Rome. The same group has previously sung with me in France (Notre Dame), England (Westminster Abbey), Germany (Leipzig Gewandhaus) and Spain (1992 World’s Fair.) There are few choirs, if any, that have sung in all of these prestigious venues. The fact that they are all seniors makes sit all the more interesting, I think. As you know, the Alexandria Campus serves a large population of seniors who do much to enrich the campus community and the college.
Yours,
Mark

Members of the NOVA Community Chorus at Notre Dame Paris in 2010


Mozart Requiem in the National Cathedral

Monday, May 27th, 2013

From Fred: I highly recommend taking this opportunity to sing the Mozart Requiem in the National Cathedral. Just going to The Cathedral is an event in itself. Going to The Cathedral to hear someone else sing the Mozart Requiem is a bigger event. Going to The Cathedral to sing the Mozart Requiem yourself (or pretend to sing it) is really big. Add to all of that: Reilly Lewis, their organ, that 6 second echo, looking up at that structure when you are not singing. I’ve done it and I hope you will, too.


Summer Brahms

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

From Fred: We should expect the Brahms German Requiem to be in German, as I expected. Here is the response to my sales pitch for using English by the President of the host group, New Dominion Chorale. Think of it as an enjoyable learning experience.

—–

From Ed McMahon: Hi –
I believe Mr. Tucker will be doing the Brahms in German as he listed it with its German title.  Please do come.  We rent scores with the correct words for $2 and we all enjoy the Sing even if we’re not expert in the pronunciation.  It’s an easy way to become familiar with the German version since you all know the music.

Hope to see many of you  there.


Summer Sings

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

From Fred: It’s time for the wonderful Summer Sings again. Every Tuesday night in June (see below).

You can participate in these performances with 200 – 300 other singers from the Washington, DC area’s big choruses without rehearsals. If you have not sung a particular work, just come, sight-read the music and enjoy being immersed with other singers who have. It only costs $10. You can park for free under the church if you arrive early enough (before 7:00 will probably do) or park on the street or in a paid parking garage not far away.

I sent a note to New Dominon Chorale asking them to use the English language version of the Brahms Req.

I’ve attached a copy of their flyer (links) so you can send it to friends of yours who sing too.
Here is a link to youtube with NovaChorus singing the Mozart Requiem:
youtube.com/watch?v=Am2vMf4RqUM&list=PLB70DECB333F975B4

I hope to make most of these and will carpool with other singers.


Summer Class

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Message to singers who are taking my summer class starting tonight

Tonight’s rehearsal will be at 7:00 pm in Bisdorf Rm 427. Please bring a boombox if you have one, as we will begin by working in sections with rehearsal CDs. -DrW


Berkshire Choral Festival

Thursday, December 27th, 2012

From Chorister Grace: Please share with the NOVA chorus members – the video about BCF runs about 8 minutes.

The 2013 summer programs include a week at Sonoma University in California and a week in Edinburgh, Scotland in June, as well as a choice of four one week programs in Sheffield, Massachusetts in July.

The apprentice program and Berkshire Scholar program are limited to the Massachusetts venue. Apprentices attend all four weeks in Massachusetts and receive a small stipend. Berkshire Scholars attend one week tuition-free – only expense is transportation to/from the venue.

There is no audition requirement. Applications received after January 1st are accepted on a space available basis, but each week in Massachusetts accepts 200 singers, and many singers are accepted after initial acceptance letters are sent late in January. Due to space constraints at Greyfriars’s Kirk the week in Edinburgh was limited to a smaller group in 2012, and probably will be again in 2013. BCF also provides information on local attractions for non-singing partners and facilitates non-singers in group outings if desired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IAXEDVef-s


Berkshire Choral Festival

Saturday, July 14th, 2012

From Chorister Grace: …I just returned from a fabulous week in Edinburgh – conductor Joseph Cullen is one of the leading choral conductors in Great Britain and it was a tremendous privilege and pleasure to spend a week working with him.  Our 158-member chorus – from half a dozen countries and 20+ states – did Mozart’s “Great Mass” and Handel’s “O Sing unto the Lord” – performing at Greyfriar’s Kirk in Edinburgh with the Scottish Festival Orchestra.

The 2013 schedule is posted at http://www.choralfest.org/hear/performance_schedule_2013.php, and includes a week in Sonoma, California (a new venue for BCF) and a week in Edinburgh, both of those in June, as well as four one week vacations in Sheffield, Massachusetts in July.  Music for the various weeks includes the Mozart Requiem, the Bach Mass in B Minor, works by Vaughn Williams, Britten, and Vivaldi.  The final week in Sheffield is a week of blues and spirituals and the performance will also feature Sweet Honey in the Rock.

BCF offers scholarships for those who may not be able to afford full tuition and also offers a “young scholar” program as well as a apprentice conductor program.

I should also mention that this year’s week in Salzburg in September is still open for registration.  The conductor is Gary Thor Wedow, who is a lot of fun to sing with (I did the Bach Mass in B Minor with him several years ago).  Information about this remaining 2012 week is at https://www.chorus.org/salzburg.php.

See you soon!