From Chorister Maria:
Here is the web site for the Verdi Requiem on Cyberbass:
http://cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Verdi_G/verdi.htm
The really fast part in the last movement is at the bottom – Part 3. You can control the speed by adjusting the number in the speed box on the right. It is set at 100 so if you want to slow it down by half, set to 50.
Also – here is the link for the “Doritos Pug” Super Bowl commercial. Hear anything familiar!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lWb1V87x3o
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear NOVA Community Chorus Women-
This is a follow-up to the message I sent two weeks ago about concert dress. It is now just a month until our concert with the ASO. If you are going to order clothing from one of the sites below, you should place your order soon. It is fine to where something you already have, but be sure to look at the guidelines below. I am grateful to the women who have helped put these guidelines together and very thankful for the spirit of cooperation that I have seen.
[Admin] Links to original post, or .pdf file, January 23.
Two handouts from the January 25 rehearsal:
Verdi Requiem Worksheet 1, 2 page .pdf
Beethoven 9th Count-singing Drill, 2 page .pdf
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear NOVA Community Chorus Women-
I want to bring the appearance of our chorus women in line with the formality and uniformity of our chorus men. I asked a group of women to work on this, and they developed the following profile (.pdf) of appropriate concert dress. I think it will be a big improvement and I thank them for their good work.
Yours-DrW
Handouts from last night’s rehearsal:
First Rehearsal Welcome, (.pdf)
Schedule, Spring 2011, 2 pages (.pdf)
Verdi text and translation, 3 pages, previously posted on December 30, (.pdf)
Beethoven text and translation, 2 pages, (.pdf)
Also noted:
Verdi Latin diction, previously posted on December 30, (.mp3)
Gramophone article: Composer Eric Whitacre on why British choirs are best, direct weblink, or PDF of article
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 Guidance (.pdf)
Join the Chorus (.pdf)
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers,
Attached is the Verdi Requiem Text and Translation (.pdf) plus an mp3 of the Latin diction. Knowing that many of you cannot open attachments, I’ve sent this message to Kate who will have it up at www.novachorus.org very soon.
I have CDs of our December 12 performance of Judas Macabbaeus. It sounds fabulous! I will be in my office this Tuesday, January 4, from 1 -6 pm if you would like one. If you can’t make it, I will have them at our first rehearsal on 1/11. $10 cash or check made to NVCC Foundation.
Many of you have not registered for chorus. Please do so asap. Also encourage other good singers to join us. We’ll need all of us and more for the Ninth in April!
Remember, our chorus can only be as good as its members.
If you want to improve your singing, register for MUS131-01a Beginning Class Voice (MT, 6-7:15 pm)
If you want to learn more about music, sign up for MUS101-01a Basic Musicianship (Sat, 10 am -12:45 pm)
Both these classes are taught be me, and both are scheduled to sync with our chorus rehearsals.
Happy New Year!
From Stage Manager Fred: Wow, I forgot how useful the document “Performance Tips” found on our chorus web site is. There are key requirements and suggestions in these simple “Tips.” which we have refined over the years.
Admin: Here is a reminder that Frequently Used Documents are always posted on the right-side of the page.
The Performance Tips document (.pdf) offers all kinds of advice including performance dress code, dress rehearsal procedure and more. This should address questions for new members and serve as a refresher for seasoned choristers.
From Chorister Bill: www.singernetwork.org is a website for choral singers. In the two years that I have been using the site, I have found several interesting, helpful articles. Some of the articles are “open access”, others require that you be a subscriber ($19.95/yr) in order to open them.
SingerNetwork is just launching a video series on IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) for singers. IPA is a useful tool for choral conductors and singers, and this seems like a painless way to learn more about it. The series will be using examples from Handel’s Messiah to illustrate the information about IPA. The first video on IPA is “open access”; it is purely introductory. I do not know if the subsequent instructional videos will be “open access” or for subscribers (I suspect the latter). In any event, I thought I would pass this information along in the event that some of you might be interested.
From Chorister Peggy: Here are some links, as suggested by Dr. Whitmire at our last rehearsal:
Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_Spring
If you read nothing else, check out the heading “Premiere”.
Here a video in three parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uMfXh4OOx8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwt4DdsFL70&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SagTt5F3mY0&feature=related
Here’s an interview Stravinsky gave:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cczgj2vAGwU
Here’s an excerpt from a documentary about the work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SagTt5F3mY0&feature=related
And here is some other interview video of the composer himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlTxdN04-j4
And here’s some Stravinsky by Leonard Bernstein, a broadcast on the occasion of Stravinsky’s birthday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxadkbuCf4E
Info on the NVCC Naxos Music Library, as located on the Music Files page:
Go to www.nvcc.edu/library
Select “articles and more” and from the drop-down menu, select “more”
Under the heading “Fine Arts”, click on “Music and Performing Arts”
Click on “Naxos Music Library”
Enter your NVCC username and password
In the “Keyword Search” window type Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony (or other text)
Pick a recording and enjoy.