choir this week

When you Believe...

I think everybody in choir loves this song now. The singing was great, even if it was just a run through.

***
Understanding liturgy....

Why do we sing ALLELUIA?
Notice it comes before the GOSPEL.
The mass is broken up into the liturgy of the WORD and the liturgy of the EUCHARIST.
The Alleluia acclamation WELCOMES and GREETS the Lord who is about to speak to the assembly through the GOSPEL.

Hence, the standing posture.

Cantors should be commanding and fiery....ala John the baptist heralding the WORD!

*****
In my decade of organ service, there are TWO musical climaxes during mass.
A mini-climax at the ALLELUIA and a big climax at AMEN after the priest sings through him, with him and in him.....

Notice that again, this corresponds to the liturgy of WORD and EUCHARIST.
*****

Ta-da!
I hope this will end "mousy" alleluias.

It is always a dilema to open mouth or to close mouth.....
Sometimes people hear it as a criticism and then then the 'who do u think u are' defense kicks in.
To close mouth means the continual ignorance of our youths to liturgy.

****

Speaking of youths....

I wonder if the youths LISTEN when father gives a sermon.
Someone was sms-ing a very long sms....well maybe it was an important sms....
Still.
Ah....the 2 aunties looked over and I wondered if they were going to say something to that youth.....unfortunately, the 2 aunties decided to mind their own business.

****

Cantoring is not quite the same as speaking.
Diction matters.
I seriously think we should make the cantor listen to themselves on tape recorder.
Sigh....
This is going to come across as criticism again....notice in this case I have long decided to close mouth.
But I am glad P opened mouth....merci:-)

Little J can play more simply.
If only he play more simply, the coordination between the two would be better.

Leading the congregation in.
We can practise more on this.

*****
Speaking of taping...

I used to tape myself and listen before all my recitals and public playing and exams. Jeez, I am my worst critique.

I digress....
point is, singing with shape and contour.

Back to WHEN YOU BELIEVE....
I have the hardest time making my students play in phrases.

So I do understand that this is going to be tough, the choir badly needs to sing in phrases and shape the phrases with beautiful contours.
1. Shape

2. Work out breathing spots. This will really tidy up the singing. ( it is like watching SSO violinists having uniform bowings)

3. Work out the stress points...
Eg. Many nights we've prayed with no proof anyone could hear ......(dipthong + let the voice roll out rather than flat out) breathe
In our hearts a hopeful song....breathe....we barely....understood....(sing lightly)

And we work through, line by line. This will entail score preparation and each and every member of the choir pencilling in the details. Oh well....then again, I am known to be a slave driver.

4. Not deflating on the held notes. Review Francois's lesson on prolonging the last vowel rather than let the sound die?

Shall we watch that video again?