17 February 2026

Dear Singers

Welcome to Peter Adcock, and thank you for accompanying, good to have you on board, and looking forward to our concert together.

Thank you for a good rehearsal, we covered a lot, and I think it's safe to say we have 'broken the back' of the Libera me. We'll let it percolate and keep it on the boil with regular sing-throughs. 

I mentioned a lovely concert by the University Chapel Choir on March 28th at Mary Harris Memorial Chapel on March 28 - Bach Magnificat and Handel's Dixit Dominus. Lovely programme.

WHAT WE DID ON 17.02.26

I suggested that part of your practising routine could include (or just consist of, if time is limited) going over the words. We are discovering that (or perhaps being reminded of) the underlay is awkward in places - syllables don't change when they feel natural with the musical phrases. It's helpful to use the practice tracks and speak the words - pencil in reminders where it helps.

Opening Requiem/Kyrie pages 1-16: Good! Phrase endings for the 'Requiem....' and 'luceat eis' and 'et lux' must finish on the next beat - it's the only way 100 singers can accurately be together, and it keeps the singing rhythmic and with the pulse, even for these low passages.

'Te decet hymnus Remember: All Latin vowels are 'pure', without diphthongs when singing e.g. tair dair chairt 

You are beginning to make more noticeable musical distinctions between legato andsostenuto, and dynamic variation is beginning to happen. Tick!

Tuba mirum pages25 to 28 - First look at this, pretty straightforward, requires energy on every note, which will come over time.

Libera me starting page 138 to cover the last section on p139-140.. Good. Tenors look out in bar 328 - your pick up 'C'...

Advance warning about the tempo from pages 140 to 143 - IT WILL VARY! 

Well done everyone.

WHAT WE WILL DO ON 24.02.26..... 

A conundrum for our time: Final consonants - where do we place them? A journey of discovery.....

Dies irae pages 17-51 All rehearsal, getting deep into this!

NB: On p17 - All A, T & B sing the 2nd part please for now.

When we have sorted divisi, the 1sts can easily switch to the top G  

.....AND 03.03.26

This is the Lachrymosa, 4th section of the Dies irae, pages 60-75 + revisiting from the previous rehearsal.

.....AND 10.03.26

Sectionals so we can divide the choir into 1st & 2nd

Libera me pages 117-126 (recap of opening Dies irae)

This has a whiff of excitement about it now! Well done all.

Happy listening and singing.

Best wishes,

Peter