Rehearsal/Homework Notes from September 15th

Hello, hello! Kallie here! Here are some rehearsal notes from the past few weeks. I've gone over where vocal parts split and some Finnish pronunciation tricks. You should be looking at all of the music in your folders so we don't lose any momentum! :) 

Closer to the Flame

As Claire mentioned in the previous post, this piece needs to be memorized for this Tuesday. When I have to memorize something it helps me to write the words down on a piece of paper a few times and separate the piece into smaller sections rather than try and remember everything at once.

This piece changes between a two and three part split. Make sure you know which part is yours!

          - Beginning to the end of page 4 it is a two-part split

          - Bar 21 to bar 60 is a three-part split

          - Bar 62 to the end is a two-part split

***Remember to make more of those cool alternative rhythms like the altos have on bar 19, or the sop 2's on bar 32.

Girl of the Branches

We are performing this piece in three separate sections.

Section 1: Beginning to bar 30

• The piece begins as a two-part split until bar 18 where it changes to a three-part split
• Sometimes the sop 2’s notes are above the sop 1’s notes (bar 22, bar 27) and it might feel like you’re singing something wrong. Be ready and confident in your own part!
• Remember where you see a comma above the bar is where the composer wants you to breath.

Section 2: Bar 87 to bar 165

• Bar 87-93 is a solo

Section 3: Bar 167 to the end

• We are starting where it says Tempo Primo. Scratch out the little 3/8 bar with the one note.
• Sop 2’s please sing the alto part for the first four bars. It is then a full three-part split on bar 171 (page 14).

Hanget Soi

This piece can be tricky to get your tongue around, but once you’re comfortable with the rules of Finnish it gets much easier!

• A’s and Ä’s. A regular “a” sounds like FATHER. The “ä” like you see in kevät, is brighter and sounds like CAT.
• Consonants happen in the back of the throat and are vocalized rather than explosive. The Finnish word “kevät” would sound closer to “geväd”

          - T -> D

          - K -> G

          - P -> B

          - The Finnish consonant is right in the middle of those two English consonants.

• Two vowels together get equal value. Remember that the transition to the next vowel should be seamless, melting into the other rather than two distinct sounds.

          - Soi -> soh-ee

          - Kuo -> koo-oh

***Remember! XYE Mentors love, love, LOVE Finnish so if you have any questions about pronunciation, feel free to ask us! 

     

Happy Practicing! 

Kallie