5th Sunday of Easter...

Feedback on the SCC choir's singing:

1. Descants
Because the descants are so high up, and it is easy for them to sound too piercing. I overheard from the congregation that the descants could lighten up.

2. The Our Father
The descants has one funny note that did not quite blend with the rest of the chord. Maybe need to check that one out. "Now and for-E-ver"....somewhere in that vicinity.

3. Kudos to Marie for playing spectacularly on the HOLY CITY.
When video is ready it will be posted here.

4. Creator Spirit....
The alleluia sounded messy.
a. Improve Diction: Ah-le-lu-ia.
Ennuciate and change mouth shape. If we half open and close our mouth on the a-e-u vowels, we sould like we are slithering through.

b. Mood
If we take it at a more MAJESTIC mood, maybe the singing won't sound so 'lazy'?

c. Feeling of pulse
Notice the bar-line is on 'lu'.
Perhaps it might sound neater with a slight stress on 'lu'?
Currently we sing it with an emphasis on 'ah' because it is the first syllable of the word.
Might need a second opinion on this.

d. Dynamics
For clarity of the polyphonic lines, each part comes in slightly stronger and decay on 'ia' so as to let other entry of voices be heard.
Currently we are singing 'alleluia' at the same loudness.
And all parts come in and maintain their loudness.
Hence, after 4 different parts have entered, the voices fail to blend because all the voices are equally loud.
After entry, the voice tones down, so that the next entering voice is brought out.
Hence: Sop-descants-tenors-bass respectively.

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I have seen a choir mistress show me her score preparation.
These include:
1. Rhythmic preparation
2. diction
3. breathing
4. dynamics
5. phrasing
6. articulation

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Honestly speaking, the more TRADITIONAL style hymns are the ones that we cannot run away with sloppy singing.

The more contemparory ones like: Rise me up, Servant Song, Love crucified arose.....
We can actually get by with minimum polishing.