From Chorister Ellie: The information [previously sent] says Vocal Rep is 1 pm to 2:50 on Saturdays, but previous email said the women’s rehearsals for The Planets would be from 2-3 pm on Saturdays. What is the new schedule for those rehearsals?
From Dr. Whitmire: If both classes go, then Planets rehearsal would be 3-4 on Saturdays. I am sorry, but we’ll have to stay flexible until we know exactly what courses I’ll be teaching.
Dear Singers-
If you have not registered for chorus please do so now. We are doing big pieces and I need every voice. If you know good singers who would enjoy singing Handel’s Judas Maccabeaus, Holst’s The Planets, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the Verdi Requiem, have them join us.
Would you like to know more about music: rhythm, pitch, harmony, music reading, etc? Sign up for MUS101-01a Basic Musicianship. We meet Saturdays 10 am until 12:50 pm. It is a great class.
Are you taking voice lessons? Sign up for MUS 198-01a Seminar and Project: Vocal Seminar. We meet Saturdays 1:00 pm until 2:50 pm. You’ll have an opportunity to perform your songs before an audience with a wonderful pianist, Chris Hagan. Plus you received coaching concerning vocal technique, musical expression, phrasing, style, diction and more. It is a very rewarding class.
If you are interested in these courses, sign up now. If you know students who would enjoy these courses, let them know. We make keep/cancel decisions this coming Tuesday. Courses that are under-enrolled will be cancelled.
Dear Friends- Here is my final report on our concert tour of France. Feel free to use this material in the upcoming weeks as you see fit. I have attached photos as wells as You tube links.
Dr. Mark Whitmire (Professor-MUS, AL) led a concert tour of France from July 1 until July 12, 2010. The choir consisted singers from the NOVA Community Chorus (NVCC-AL) and from St. James’s Church, Richmond. The tour began with a service at the American Cathedral in Paris on July 4. In the following days the choir sang three concerts—at Chartres Cathedral, Rouen Cathedral, and at La Madeleine in Paris. Each concert was attended by large, enthusiastic crowds. The culminating event of the tour was the 11:30 a.m. International Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, where the choir sang the Solemn Mass in C# minor of Louis Vierne, with Notre Dame organist Olivier Latry.
Videos of rehearsals at Rouen Cathedral and Notre Dame can be found on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS0uuGd-Vh4
keywords: vierne kyrie notre dame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDP8POfJPEg
keywords: cantique rouen
[Photos on Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NOVAChorus/attachments/folder/2147013082/item/1931871548/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc]
Additional photos can be found on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=139434259416351&ref=ts
search: the Choir of St. James’s Church
Dear Singers-
I hope you are enjoying the end of a wonderful summer. We are just back from visiting family in Texas. I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks.
Below you will find info about an upcoming workshop led by Philip Cave. As you probably know, Philip is wonderful clinician. I am certain that you will enjoy this workshop if you are able to attend.
The Franco-Flemish Masters – Flyer (.pdf)
A one-day choral workshop led by Philip Cave
Music of the Franco-Flemish Masters
Josquin, Clemens, Crecquillon, Gombert & Rogier
Saturday 18 September 10:00am-6:00pm
All Souls Episcopal Church, Woodley Park, Washington DC.
Workshop General Enrollment: $50. Seniors: $35.
Full-time students <25 years: $25.
Soft drinks included. 5 minutes from Woodley Park Metro.
Limited parking available.
For further information, registration and directions, please visit:
www.chorworks.com
Welcome to the new NOVAChorus.org site – tastes great, less filling!
New functionality includes site search and post commenting. We are still working out some kinks from the migration, so patience is appreciated.
Otherwise, comments and suggestions are always welcome through the “Contact” page, listed in the menu bar up top.
From Fred: Kate has posted my MP3 files of the following parts of Judas Maccabaeus:
1 Overture
4 For Sion lamentation make
19, 20, 21 Lead on & Disdainful
25 & 26 Hear us O Lord & Fall’n is the foe
34 Hail Judea, happy land (You’ll probably recognize this tune)
48 & 49 Never bow down
58 Sing unto God
65 Hallelujah, Amen (yep, another Hallelujah Chorus – well… it’s Handel)
Download and enjoy.
PS: Look up Judas Maccabaeus in Wikipedia if you have not already done so.
A really interesting history lesson.
(7/28/2010) From Fred:
There were 30 copies of Judas Macabaeus were on the campus book stores this morning. I told the clerk we’ll probably need 70 more.
I found the rehearsal tracks that Mark recommended download as MIDI format. You can drag those MIDI files over to iTunes and they’ll play fine if you have a player such as Quicktime in your computer. More interesting is that iTunes will convert the MIDI files to MP3 files which you can copy into your iPOD or equivalent.
You can also go to Youtube.com and play 10 of our choruses on your computer in full up chorus and orchestra performances. It is clumsy at best to find them but you get an idea of the glorious sound when it is performed.
I am experimenting with the audio I have mined from youtube and hope to make MP3 files from them. If all goes well, they can be on our web site soon.
– MIDI Rehearsal tracks of Judas Maccabaeus are here:
http://www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk/Handel/Judas%20Maccabaeus/judas-mac2.html
Dear Singers-
I trust that you are enjoying a wonderful summer. I am just pack from France where 20 members of NCC joined my church choir for five performances, culminating at Notre Dame last Sunday. It was a wonderful trip.
Now I am on to the Fall and I know there are eager-beavers among you who want to get ready. As you know, we are singing Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus. We’ll be doing Judas twice with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic (Dec. 5, 12), and well as at the Holiday Concert (Dec. 9) in Schlesinger. I am really excited about the music, and it’s a wonderful Hanukah piece.
We are using the Kalmus edition of Judas Maccabaeus. It will be in the campus bookstore ($24.99). As always, I will provide rehearsals CDs ($10.00). In the meanwhile,
-There is a pdf of Judas Maccabaeus here.
-Rehearsal tracks of Judas Maccabaeus are here.
–Here are the selections we will be performing
The Planets by Gustav Holst
As you know, women of the chorus have been invited to sing “Neptune” in The Planets by Gustav Holst for two concerts (Oct. 17, 24 at 3:00 pm) with the WMPO. Rehearsals for The Planets will take place on Saturdays 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9 from 2 until 3 pm. The Dress Rehearsal with orchestra will be Oct.10 at 6 pm. I hope that as many women as possible will plan to sing this exciting piece.
I look forward to seeing you at our first rehearsal on Tuesday, August 24. In the meanwhile, enjoy the rest of the summer.
According to the NVCC Alexandria Campus Bookstore online, the sheet music for the Fall semester is:
JUDAS MACCABEUS BY KALMUS K06206, By HANDEL, Publisher: ALFRED, ISBN: 281859008731
Link to Alfred Music Publishing
Link to Sheet Music Plus
Please note that this information has not been confirmed. Order items at your own risk.
Regular NOVAConnect registration for all 2010 Fall semester sessions is under way. Classes begin on August 23.
Chorus is MUS 137 001A (subject MUS, catalog number 137, section 001A, class number 14285).
(6/21/2010) From Dr. Whitmire: Here’s a link to Jeff Beck’s performance at Bonnarroo of “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot.
(6/10/2010) From Fred: The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic mailing for this season contains the following concerts with NOVA Chorus:
(There is also this note: “Although the dates below have been requested, they are not yet firm.”)
October 17 & 24: Gustav Holst – The Planets (Womens’ Chorus, I believe)
December 5 & 12: Handel – Judas Maccabeus
April 10 & 17: Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
(6/5/2010) The Cathedral Choral Society is looking for additional very experienced singers (especially tenors and basses) for their concert with the American Guild of Organists on Monday, July 5 at 8:15 PM. If interested, please email Catherine Beaucham (cbeau7 [at] verizon [dot] net) The orchestra is large and many CCS people will be on vacation. Members of the Fairfax Choral Society will be joinin them, too. The music is a very beautiful mass by Paray. See below for the schedule of rehearsals.
Schedule of rehearsals, (.pdf)
(5/29/2010) From Chorister Grace: Perhaps some of the NOVA e-mail list would be interested in next year’s BCF schedule – looks like a great season.
Read the entire announcement, here, (.pdf)
(5/29/2010) From Fred: Summer sings are a lot of fun. No rehearsals. Hundreds of top singers around you (and a few beginners). Show up early (to get a parking spot under the church or nearby); check in/pay $10/rent music if you didn’t bring your own; find your vocal section; talk to the singers around you (“who do you sing sing with?….”).
Their web site is: www.newdominion.org/summersings.php
Apparently they didn’t update it with the information, below, as they usually do.
[Admin: The New Dominion Chorale website has been updated, with the schedule, (.pdf)]
Remember that you can also sing Carmina Burana on June 27th. at the National Cathedral with Reilly Lewis conducting. Go early to park and sit up in the front and be surrounded by one of the great organs in this area.
Reminder: Frequently Used Documents are always linked on the right side of the page:
Info for New Members (.pdf)
Dr. W’s Choral Singing Tips (.pdf)
Performance Tips (.pdf)
Join the Chorus (.pdf)
Please see below for previous postings regarding Summer or Fall 2010.
For archived Spring 2010 information, please see to the right-hand side of the page, under Archives.
(5/24/2010) From Fred: Yes! There is still another opportunity to sing Carmina Burana. This time there are NO rehearsals. NONE! Just show up and sing it. (Bring your music.) There is plenty of seating.
It is on Sunday, June 27 at 5:30 pm in the National Cathedral (awesome).
J. Reilly Lewis (Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Bach Consort, etc.) will conduct it.
Bring your friends. Cost is only $10 per person. Be early. Get a good parking place.
Check it out at: cathedralchoralsociety.org/CONCERT6.htm
Check out Reilly Lewis at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Reilly_Lewis
There is underground parking plus street parking in the neighborhood.
See cathedralchoralsociety.org/COMINGtoCathedral.html for driving directions, Metro, underground parking etc.
From Chorister Peggie: Here’s info on two excellent early-music choral workshops. I can vouch for the quality, as I’ve participated in similar ones in the past.
Voix Humaines, One-day Chorworks workshop, Saturday 5 June, All Souls Episcopal Church
The fam’d Italian Masters, Chorworks Summer Workshop, July 6 – 11th, (pre-workshop day Monday 5th), Washington National Cathedral & Cathedral College
For more information: http://www.philipcave.net/2010/junejuly.html
From Admin: Those wishing to submit picnic pictures for posting on this site, please contact the Admin. Click on “Contact” at the top of the page. Thank you.
(5/13/2010) Dear Singers-
We have been invited by the Alexandria Symphony to join in their performances of Carmina Burana. Due to space limitations, we can only have about 30 singers. Our first rehearsal was last night and not all our spaces were filled. We presently have space for:
1 soprano, 3 altos, 2 tenors, 2 basses
If you would like to participate in this great opportunity, let me know ASAP. First come-first served.
You must be available for all rehearsals and performances:
Rehearsals are 7:30-10:00 pm in Schlesinger
Wed. May 12, piano rehearsal with conductor
Mon. May 17, orchestra and chorus
Wed. May 19, dress rehearsal
Sat. May 22, concert 1 at 8 pm
Sun. May 23, concert 2 at 3 pm
(5/6/2010) Dear Singers- I am sitting at my desk paying bills. I feel compelled to write a big thank you to all of you whose donations keep this boat afloat. As most of you know, we rely almost entirely on donations. We spent $6000.00 of money that was donated, mostly by you. Some gave $10, others $700 – together we got the job done. Your donations paid for our accompanist, faculty soloists, guest musicians, concert recordings, transportation of choral risers, printing posters and programs, the vocal scholarship, a large donation to the WMPO and more. I am grateful and thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful folks.
(5/6/2010) Dear Singers- Carmina was a blast! I enjoyed every moment. That’s why we work so hardÑso that the concert can be a big payoff. You sounded fabulous! And what outstanding performances from Rex Gori and our very own Terri LaGoe and Estee Herndon.
What a great year this has been. It seems as if every concert has reached a new musical height: Brahms Requiem, Rutter Gloria, Italian Opera Choruses, Carmina Burana. Wow! No wonder we are exhausted.
We have enjoyed such a beautiful blend of veteran members of the chorus and the finest group of first-year members that we have ever had. I need every single one of you to be back in the Fall (and bring a friend who sings as well as you do). We have an equally exciting program: Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Holst’s The Planets [women], Beethoven’s Ninth, Verdi Requiem and more.
I will send precise dates as the schedule firms up over the course of the summer. I will also send publisher information as I know many of you can’t wait to get started.
Don’t forget, the Annual Chorus Picnic is this Saturday at 3:00 pm at the Wulff’s. I hope to see you then.
Dear Singers-
We meet tonight in Schlesinger at 6:30 pm. When you arrive, quietly take your places in the audience seats. We will take photos of the band first, then we’ll take the stage for photos and a brief warm-up.
Congratulations to Shellie Grant is graduating in Music this month! Is anyone else graduating? If so please let me know right away.
As you know the 2010 Honor’s Recital is this Thursday, May 6, at 7:30 pm in AT130. This year’s event honors some of our finest music students (including Brandon and Sam) and concludes with a reception honoring Dr. Barbara Ryland for her 38 years of faithful service to the college and 10 years of leadership of the Music Program. I hope that you can attend.
Please plan to attend the Annual Chorus picnic this Saturday at 3 pm at the Wulff’s place. It is always great fun.
Dear Singers- Here is a seating chart (3-page .pdf) for Carmina.