May 13, 2008

Dear Choir member:

This is it! We have one more rehearsal for Five Mystical Songs. We’ll start at 7:00 this Thursday, with strings and baritone soloist John Kendall Bailey joining us for an on-time downbeat (ok—we’ll take some time to warm up, but we’ll get into the music fairly quickly).

Our rehearsal last week went pretty well. If you have a chance to look at the music before Thursday—or even if you left the music at church and won’t see it before rehearsal—pay particular attention to beginnings and endings of musical lines (…and the stuff in between as well!). While your part doesn’t have an orchestral reduction, you do have cues, especially from the solo voice. Use those to get ready for the next entrance. The piece will sound different with the strings, but I think you’ll notice that they often support your lines. I hope that you will enjoy our rehearsal and presentation in worship as much as I will.

Our call time on this Sunday (May 18) will be 7:30am. Did I mention that this is earlier than usual? We are singing at both services; 7:30 will give us time to robe, warm up, and start an entrance or two. I know it’s early, but, as I said last week, I’m looking forward to the company!

Upcoming dates:

Thursday May 15: 7:00 rehearsal with orchestra and baritone John Kendall Bailey
Sunday May 18: 7:30 call for 8:00 service, followed by break and 10:00 service
Thursday May 22: 7:30 rehearsal
Sunday May 25: 9:00 call for 10:00 service
Thursday May 29: 7:30 rehearsal. A prospective bass section leader will be visiting us.
Sunday June 1: 9:00 call for 10:00 service
Thursday June 7: 7:30 rehearsal (our last for the summer)
Sunday June 8: 9:00 call for 10:00 service. Choir Recognition Sunday.
Sunday June 15: 9:15 rehearsal for 10:00 service. First Sunday of Summer Choir.

Upcoming repertoire

May 18: Five Mystical Songs – Vaughan Williams (at both 8:00 and 10:00 services)
May 25: Benedictus es, Domine – John Rutter
June 1: I heard the voice of Jesus say – Thomas Tallis (his Third Tune with somewhat more contemporary words that continue the spirit of Five Mystical Songs)

Looking Ahead

Saturday May 17
8pm. Voices of Musica Sacra, John Kendall Bailey, director. Fauré Requiem and other works by Fauré, Duruflé, Saint-Saёns, and Cantaloube. $20 adults, $15 students/seniors, children 5-12 free. Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church [Lynn Finnegan is singing in this group; the director is our soloist for the Vaughan Williams]

Sunday May 18
8am and 10am. Choral service with Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Orinda

7:30pm. Voices of Musica Sacra, John Kendall Bailey. (Repeat: see 5/17). Piedmont Community Church, 400 Highland Avenue, Piedmont

Yours in Christ

bob