7 October 2025
Dear Singers,
An intense and brain-heavy rehearsal last night. Thank you for your concentration; we're getting the hang of the Spanish.....
A lot is happening over the next few weeks:
Saturday 11/10: Francisco Correa launches his Songs from beyond tour with a concert in St Luke's Campus Chapel, 79 Heavitree Rd, EX2 4TH @ 7.30
Saturday 18/10: Study Workshop for Navidad & Criolla with Francisco (and Me) at The Mint, Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3AT from 1.30 to 4.30. Refreshments provided
Tuesday 21/10: Sing for your supper from 6.00 before the rehearsal. Order your food next week - cost £7.50 towards choir funds
Saturday 15/11: Our choral workshop. Navidad Nuestra - the Christmas Story in Latin America at The Mint, Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3AT from 1.00 to 5.00. Open to anyone who fancies a sing and exploring the repertoire.
MUSIC:
Updated scores of the Misa Criolla were issued last night. Please transfer any markings from your original scores and return them next week.
We are NOT SINGING the Fantasia on Christmas Carols this term. Please return your scores. The £1 you paid for this will cover the cost of the new Criolla edition.
You will soon be issued with music for an extra 3 short pieces, which we will start working on soon.
WHAT WE DID ON 07.10.25
Navidad no. 5: We focused on the words, and tidied up some music on the way. The best way to improve this is to speak the words out loud, slowly, getting up to speed as confidence grows. Remember to keep the vowel sounds bright - smile as you speak!
Misa Criolla Kyrie: Good work here, well done. The challenge here is to keep the humming sustained without letting it fla
NN no 6: This started really well, and the rich chords held their notes confidently. Altos and tenors divide - we will sort this officially next week so that a good balance is achieved.
We ended the evening by singing through NN movts 1 & 3, with words. We will do more of this to keep everything 'on the boil'
WHAT WE WILL DO ON 14.10.25
Navidad: No 2 This seems tricky but isn't! Look/listen carefully and you'll spot that the melody is shared between the tenors and sopranos, and the altos & basses have patterns that repeat. The best preparation is just to listen to get the flavour of it, and we'll pick it apart next rehearsal.
Criolla: Gloria - sectional rehearsals
Re-visit and Sing through: NN nos 5 and 6
The workshop with Francisco is not about being 'oven ready', but developing our sense of the style and any language issues. I am confident that the following are 'presentable':
NN: 1, 3, 5 & 6
MC: Kyrie & Gloria
We can also make progess with other movements just like a rehearsal.
Many thanks and happy singing/rehearsing. I hope to see some of you at the concert on Saturday.
Peter