Sunday 2nd July 2017 @ St Margaret's
|
Audio clips below are NOT in concert order.
|
Please listen to all these recordings from our rehearsal on Sunday with the following "warning" attached. WARNING - the music you hear isn't as good as our 24th June concert or the rehearsals preceding it! All that has happened is that you've relaxed and the mistakes I brought you up on were a result of this. Use the next few days to review and revise our previous rehearsal recordings and the director notes attached to them.
However, one thing that ALL of you can do to improve our performance at St Margaret's is this: WORDS! WORDS!! WORDS!!! Enunciate ALL consonants and do so OVER THE TOP. Particularly the hard consonants (especially T). Work your lips and tongue and teeth! St Margaret's is VERY reverberant and, surprisingly, the piano can overpower the detail of the words very easily. SO Sing up, with confidence, in the knowledge you know what you are doing! |
Sunday 18th June 2017
|
Lyra - have more confidence, it sounds great!! Rachel - what an improved sound and so more confident! Well done! Make sure you take deep breaths and trust your voice. You can hit those top notes without any trouble. EVERYONE - what a GREAT SOUND! Sopranos - don't forget there are twice as many of you as all the other parts - don't sing REALLY loud as we won't hear the others! :) THIRD VERSE - a little quieter so we can get louder on the "sing" chorus. Try to keep your mouths in the same position for the word "Sing" as some of you were changing the shape which then has the effect of changing the vowel sound. THE LAST word LOVE - MUST BE MUCH MUCH QUIETER. - all of the Sopranos, please "whisper" this word in tune...
|
|
This has a fabulous and bright start! Again, Sopranos, you can afford to be a touch quieter so that the other parts can be heard more clearly. The speed might be a notch quieter. But the SOUND is EXCELLENT! And I can hear ALL the words. Which is excellent. Basses - sing louder if you can on the choruses. Middle section was much more successful, just make sure you always keep the words clear. PLeas start this section QUIETER so we have more contrast at the end of it. WATCH for the "Shout for Joy" ; there's only one bar's rest. Good slow down into the last chorus. Don't forget we won't slow down till the long note - Susan, like the descant!
|
|
This is a tricky arrangement in places (these notes based on the second recording, 7mins into this track). Sopranos. Good start, remember to "silently sing" along with the Altos. One point is that I will take it a little slower because in places it did rush.
Verse 1 is lovely. Sopranos - bring out "how awesome is the sight" - could be MUCH louder - its the tune - you need to sing louder than my Tenor part :) Watch for the modulation. Verse 3 - Sopranos, can we check the beginning of your solo? Just seemed a little shaky. The End - aside from a couple of shaky notes, this is very good. We do need to check the last last 6 bars or so. I think we should be a little slower. Might be easier with the strings. WELL DONE and THANK YOU for this. It'll work very well! |
|
Be careful not to hiss on the word "This". Don't put the "s" on until the very last moment! Make sure ALL "t"s are evident on the word "it"..... thanks. What a lot of energy! Love the first verse, lots of joy! When we repeat the verse (please remember we repeat the verse Sopranos!) I think we'll start it quieter then build to Sunday before dropping for the chorus after the repeated verse. The key change was great. This is FUN PIECE! Sopranos, at the end - if you can't hit the HIGH note sing the SAME note as "light" - OR drop to the G below. It would be a shame if the last note was not secure. BUT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PIECE. Can't wait to perform it with the band (by the way, the band arrangement might throw you - keep concentrating on what we've been practising!).
|
|
This is a beautiful piece with an excellent solo by Susan. You all came in really well - Sopranos please be MUCH more quiet, each of you. You are unbalancing the rest of the parts on this verse. There are twice as many of you as the basses, for instance - I can't hear the basses at all! I know its tempting to be confident when the tune is so lovely but please be controlled and drop your volume. Especially on "but you are with me" - this bit was too loud. If the Sopranos are able to control their overall volume this piece could be, potentially, the most professional sound we make in the whole of the concert. Lets aim for that goal! :) There's nothing else really problematic with the piece. Just Sopranos being too loud! This piece is about the contrast between loud and soft- and it is the soft singing that makes the most impact.
|
|
Great start. All the right words! We can always work harder at getting all the consonants spat out more effectively... however, I feel we were rushing a little, try to keep it a little steadier - it'll be easier to get the words out! It particularly got faster at "C" when the melody gets more passionate, and louder. When we get to the repeat of C after the instrumental, can we start a little quieter so we can build through the bars before D. Thank you. Likewise, when the Sopranos come in at "F" after Rebecca's solos - start quieter, so we can build by adding parts. This piece is very successful. Don't forget to come in at the end! Keep going till I direct you its the last time.... which will slow down in a little more of a dignified manner..... but this really does sound good. Well done!
|
|
The most important part of this piece is getting the start right. This applies more to the Bass part than any other. Once we start the song "proper" - really good start. Well done, the opening chorus sounds great. The verse also works well. The second chorus, I would like you to sing this quieter. Remember we repeat the verse! The verse can be a little louder than the previous chorus, leading into the instrumental. Please make sure that the next entry is both in tune and accurate in its timing. I'd also like this section to be MUCH QUIETER. This means the last choruses will be really good. PLEASE turn your pages quicker to the ending. The actual ending was EXCELLENT.
|
|
Rachel - good start, just be confident and don't rush. Paul you sing this well but you must come in quicker and not be late. We can't do that with the orchestra on Saturday - just sing Audrey's line in your head and then continue it. First chorus, very nice - just keep it the same, perhaps a little quieter. Make sure we remember to come in with the same beat in the verse. Men, please check the harmony "for darling look for me". Second chorus can be a little louder, as we did. "Wherever you're standing" - make sure you get it right AND please sing it quietly, Sops. All of this section needs to be quieter. Lovely key change, well done. Let the joy come out in this chorus! Well done Alison & Rachel - take your time and keep in tune (Al!) :) - BUT EVERYONE "I'll never be hard to find" - MUCH QUIETER!!! Lovely ending from ERui. Overall - very good - just think of the dynamics more and, soloists, make sure you're happy with your entries.
|
|
Good start Sops - Men, be more confident! Sops, you can afford to be a little louder to start with, as long as "I will lay me down" is quieter. Lovely duet, ladies. After the duet, be ready, guys - but don't come in too loudly! We can build on "and friends just can't"... lovely chorus, otherwise. Verse 2: Sopranos - put your Ts on the end of the words please! Barbara & Susan - be sure of your timings. The second chorus works very well. Top Sopranos - don't get confused as to which chorus you're singing!. Verse 3 - this worked very well. Good job B & S. When everyone comes - please be confident! From this point, it sounds lovely! 2nd Sops - not bad - just be more confident. Top Sopranos - be careful of the tuning! Which was somewhat flat..... AND WATCH ME AT THE END! Please learn the last page off-by-heart if you can - just so you can look up more. We want the audience to be wowed by the end of the first half, wanting to come back for more!
|
|
Lovely sound guys - again, Sops - a little less will result in more balance. Don't just belt the tune out - think about balancing with your fellow singers :) Love the drumming - but perhaps a little quieter to stop the reverberation around the church being to drowning. Overall this piece is excellent. We shall have fun on Saturday with this!
|
|
This piece requires you all to smiling! :) and lots of word-spitting. Very good start, guys. Men - be sure of your "C". For the choruses - little tip - giggle a little in your throat to make the note sound as if its moving forward. Really good work in verse 2. Mini-group - make sure you're singing towards the mics, for balance. MIDDLE SECTION - NO LOOKING DOWN - LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!! Pleas also make the words "because I'm" be obvious. AND make sure you look "happy" as you shout the last word!
|
|
Lovely words, everyone! You sang this confidently and with a sense of joy! However just make sure the high note on "ness" is slightly brighter and in tune. NOW I've made a mistake in teaching you this. The LAST as "you go by" are all FOUR BEAT notes not two beat notes... I'll remind you this on Saturday. BUT this a really good rendition of this song and nice to hear us all sing well in Unison.
|
|
Confident start, well done! Men - you must come in at the right time with your solo at the start. Please spit out the words as best you can, use your consonants to get them. Right - "love is all you need" at the end of the first song needs to be a little more confident. Otherwise good first song! Sgt Pepper's Lonely Club Band - very good! With A Little Help From My Friends - ladies, give it a bit more attitude :) "Do you need anybody" - Sopranos, please try to remember you aren't singing the tune. HOWEVER if you do, don't worry - at least you'll be singing something that fits :) Watch me at the end of this song to ensure you come off at the same time. Paul - really good solo for Imagine. Well done - sounds great. Sopranos - be sure of your entry - it's correct - just be sure! And Sops, please sing a touch quieter so you balance with the other parts. Don't forget there'll be a gap of one bar before the next song. Here Comes The Sun started very well, full of joy and life! Well done! Just make sure you know which verse you are singing! Good clear words. Make sure "alright" has a T on the end :) Watch me for the entry for Hard Days Night. I think, if you spit out the consonants a little more you'll make this sound really rhythmic. Men - make sure you turn before you need to. Who (sopranos) was singing in the men's solo bit? Please don't! Otherwise - another good song. Well done. Ticket To Ride - Men good start but please sing in tune - keep it bright! Lovely chorus! Spit out the words men, verse 2; lovely 2nd chorus everyone else. Bridge section - don't forget the word change!! Second time was good but the first was a little dodgy. The link to the next song is something we'll have to work on with the orchestra. The Long and Winding Road needs to be MUCH MUCH QUIETER. Sopranos you need to take the lead on this. All of you need to sing down a notch. At the moment its too loud - its needs to have contrast with the previous song. When I'm 64 will need much better words - sharper and more enunciated. Sopranos, don't forget you are not singing the tune where I've highlighted. Thank you. Once fixed, it sounded great BUT remember the last 64 is SHORT. Strawberry Fields - again - lovely sound well done! But please keep it quiet and reflective throughout. Yesterday - Paul, thank you for taking this solo BUT don't go too high on "hear" - if you need help, my Dad will help you out. I am sure you'll get it. Good entry Sopranos, well done, BUT TOO LOUD - come in quieter then build on the sound once in. Just watch my exaggerations! She loves you - listen for the note from the Bass. NOW THIS ONE CAN BE A LOUD START!! Lots of mouth - lots of words - lots spat out consonants please. No Oohs please. WATCH ME FOR THE SLOW DOWN AT THE END and BE READY for the reprise of "All You Need Is Love" - please be ready for the quick repeats. AND BE READY FOR THE FINAL "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE".
Overall - this sounds really very good. I'm being picky with my notes. Basically be sure of your words and be sure of how to get the words out in all the songs in this medley as well as your entries and you will do absolutely great. Well done!! |
Sundays 4th and 11th June 2017
| |||
Sunday 21st May 2017
Sunday 7th May 2017: Sectional Rehearsal.
The recordings below are of the each section of the rehearsal. I hope you find them useful to listen through. Do refer to the guidetracks for your practise.
