25 February 2025
Dear Singers,
Thank you for your diligence and concentration last night! Before you read any further, I recommend listening to the Hummel Quoniam (p19) before you do anything else! At full speed it is a) Really quite thrilling, and b) Much easier to sing. I think you'll find this encouraging.....
Hummel Quoniam:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Pblcg7D296skiGBed8eRF?si=a9d67befbe6741b5
Important notices
MUSIC FESTIVAL Thank you 'Festival Chorus' for being prepared to sing in the festival. Not everyone could attend last night, but after singing-through the festival music it was unanimously agreed that we need more time to polish a respectable performance worthy of ECS. Our priority has to be rehearsing the concert prog with full choir, so we have withdrawn from the festival. Do not regard this as a failure, just over-reaching ambition! SO......
Next week (04.03.25) the rehearsal will be a full one for everyone, finishing at 21.15 - no one is leaving early!
WHAT WE DID ON 25.02.25
Well done everyone, thank you.
If you were unable to come last night, please make a priority of looking at the music we sang. The Hummel Quoniam is tricky, but manageable and we made good progress.
We also checked out the Kyrie, Gloria, Qui tollis, Credo (up to p35) & Agnus Dei. I commented that they were 'recognisable', which was cheeky - they were ok and on track.
Mozart - Dies irae This is going well. We create the energy for singing about the day of wrath and judgement by singing staccato (short) notes with strong consonants, not just volume. P16 bar 40, basses down to mf with a crescendo through tremor est futurus (lots of shaking), likewise S/A/T following.
Agnus dei (Have mercy, grant us peace) Nicely sung! We have to work on real legato (sustained and smooth) singing for this.
Lacrymosa The music sets the text so well, we have to express it appropriately. I really think we should sway as we sing!
Full of tears will be that day
When from the ashes shall arise
The guilty man to be judged;
Therefore spare him, O God,
Merciful Lord Jesus,
Grant them eternal rest. Amen.
WHAT WE WILL DO ON 04.03.25
Hummel:
Credo pages 36-44 (crucifixus)
Dona nobis (p74)
Sing through Quoniam - faster!
Hummel Credo:
https://open.spotify.com/track/24gg16XqhlgAVxVrhC4z42?si=9b4ab5bf1975408f
Mozart:
Rex tremendae p24
Check out Confutatis p36
WHAT YOU WILL DO ON 11.03.25 (Heads up)
I will be adjudicating at the Truro Music Festival so Matt will take the rehearsal, and Ian Curror will accompany. It will be Mozart only!
Opening Requiem and Kyrie p6
Sing through (with tweaking) Dies irae, Rex T, Confutatis & Lacyrimosa (p12-41)
Thank you everybody - we are just under halfway through our rehearsals and have covered most movements, and confident with about one third I would say. Don't forget the Workshop on Saturday 5 April (1.30-5.30) - a really useful opportunity to sing through a lot of the music. Details out soon.
Happy singing,
Peter