9 September 2025
Dear Singers,
Thank you for another great rehearsal last night. We are still settling into our routine for this repertoire - mixing 'learning by rote' and reading the score. I am keen to develop the immediacy and contact we have without scores. We need them for the text, but if the music is as much by heart as possible, it makes following words easier and helps overall confidence. There were some moments of good choral sound in places, and the impromptu rendition of Those were the days by Mary Hopkins (1968) was very special! As we're here - it is an old Russian melody, and her version was produced by Paul McCartney. Just for fun, those old enough, have a trip down memory lane...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozCoq4osSwk
WHAT WE COVERED ON 09.09.25:
Navidad Nuestra:
Number 1 from memory, then looked at the scores
Number 5, starting with just the tune from last week then getting into parts as in the score. It went well.
Missa criolla:
Page 59, the ending of the Agnus dei, focusing on sustaining a good warm choral sound with plenty of tone - which we managed.
We talked about practice tracks (see below) and links to recordings. I post a mix of Spotify and youtube if I can find good recordings on both, so you have a choice.
This recording is recommended by Francisco (our guitarist) as being closest to our performance, with a strong and confident chorus. Some parts differ from our scores (eg solo takes some of the chorus parts) but every recording does in some respect. These issues will be sorted as we progress and we have final versions including instrumental sections etc. We will all know what we are doing......
Spotify:
Youtube: This is a live performance which follows our scores:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdSYpTbSYQg
REHEARSAL TRACKS
These are so useful for practising at home and getting familiar with your lines. Two were mentioned last night. I have listed them here with step by step instructions for accessing what you need, and some guidance. I recommend Choralia for the flexibility of the learning tracks, it's free BUT you have to keep closing down the adverts. John Fletcher has a small charge and no adverts.
Choraline is the 'market leader' and most established but you have to pay, and navigating the site is more involved as they offer so many services. The two below are simpler and more direct.
John Fletcher Music
https://johnfletchermusic.org/
Sign up £4.40 for 4 months use (no adverts)
Search 'Ramirez' - there will be 4 options covering both pieces. For Navidad nuestra select the 'Lawson-Gould' one (matches our publication)
Select 'Click here for sound files'
Select 'Download' Only select Dropbox if you have an account and prefer to download to that
Select 'Or continue with download only' (small text at bottom)
Go to your Downloads file and select the piece to open the individual movements
Select the movement, and then your voice part to reveal a small box with a quaver note in it! This is your track control.
You will hear your part played electronically, no voices, but it's clear enough
Choralia
Free, with adverts but much more flexible for practising purposes
On the homepage click on the 'mp3' symbol, top left
Enter Ramirez in the search, 3 pieces are listed
Select the piece you want by clicking on the loud speaker symbol on the right
Scroll down for your voice part and the movement you want. NB The Misa Criolla Gloria is split into 3 parts: Gloria a dios I (pages 10-14);
Señor, hijo unico (pages 15-17);
Gloria a dios II (pages 18-24) and select
Advanced warning - in the Navidad, the alto part is listed as 'High'. Must be a typo!
Be prepared to remove an advert!!
The track page offers the following:
Track stop/start (at the top)
Tortoise & Hare - speed change. Slide towards the tortoise to slow it down - very useful!
Horizontal speaker symbols - You can change the balance between your part and the backing
Vertical speaker symbols - Select your part to come from L or R (useful with headphones)
WHAT WE WILL DO ON 16.09.25
Navidad nuestra:
1st movement (Anunciacon) with words
3rd movement (El Nacimiento) SECTIONALS
Misa Criolla
Kyrie - with text
End with last page of Agnus dei
Concert programme
The concert will feature the following items, subject to change depending on progress and if other interesting pieces come along!
Navidad
Misa Criolla
Venezuelan carol (in last year's Christmas booklets)
Huayno - a Peruvian folksong
Instrumental items, including Il condo passo
Fantasia on Christmas carols
+ possibly extra carols
Happy singing!
Peter