Messiah 2009 Review Now Posted

Check it out in the Chorale Archives.

B'ham News 11-21 Review

Douglas goes solo in
Beethoven's No. 3




By Michael Huebner -- The Birmingham News
November 20, 2009

Justin Brown, conductor
Barry Douglas, pianist
Birmingham Concert Chorale
Jennifer Alymer, soprano; Aidan Soder, mezzo-soprano; Chad Johnson, tenor; Eric Owens, bass

After more than three weeks flirting with the moderns, the Alabama Symphony stepped back two centuries to the heart of the classical repertoire. Beethoven's middle piano concerto -- No. 3 in C minor -- stands at the juncture of classicicism and romanticism, and soloist Barry Douglas took full advantage in his free-wheeling interpretation, imbibing in a swinging pendulum of tempos and a heavy foot on the sustain pedal.

The virtuoso from Northern Ireland, who recently recorded this work with his own orchestra, Camerata Ireland, while conducting from the keyboard, had no trouble adjusting to the soloist role, often challenging conductor Justin Brown to stay with his tempo shifts. Brown has a sixth sense for such matters, so keeping soloist and orchestra on the same page was not a problem.

The Largo movement gave Douglas license to exhibit considerable grace, poetry and a lyrical touch before embarking on a swashbuckling, highly animated Rondo. The ASO responded by creating an instant rapport, riding the ups and downs of Beethoven -- via Douglas' flamboyant flips and growling arpeggios -- with assuredness.

With 150 from Birmingham Concert Chorale crowded on the Jemison Concert Hall state, Mozart's "Requiem" was nothing if not loud. Brown acted as the musical GPS, conveying his well-calculated musical vision by herding orchestra, chorus and four soloists into a cohesive whole. Choral phrasings in the fast-paced Kyrie were attention-grabbing staccatos. "Rex Tremendae" was deafening, yet the Philip Copeland-trained choir could sing with focused lyricism and respond instantly to dynamic shifts. Too often, however, the sopranos swelled to ear-splitting volume when the music simply called for focused power.

The vocalists formed a well-match blend, the gentle "Benedictus" reaching the high point of the Requiem's lyrical moments. Solos by bass Eric Owens in "Tuba Mirum" and soprano Jennifer Aylmer in "Lux aeterna" were the standouts.

Underlying the mass of voices, the ASO accompanied with just the right balance, the pair of clarinetists and trio of trombones turning in solid, yet understated performances.

Notes from Justin on Mozart Requiem

Notes from Justin on Mozart:

Introitus – in 8.

Bar 17 luceat – long 8^th not quarter

19  8^th note

32  8^th

43  first note ATB 8^th.

Rex tremendae – in 8.  All dotted 8^ths are double-dotted until Salva me, which is as printed.

Bar 11, breath before Rex.

Confutatis – (in 4 of course) – rhythms as printed except bar 13 tenors flammis double-dotted.

Lacrimosa

Bar 10 basses last note quarter with 8^th note rest.

14  last note 8^th

16  “s” on last 8^th note, then breath.

26  diminuendo to piano.

29  forte

Domine Jesu:  all phrases end with 8^th.  Note especially bar 11 first note, bar 61 (ATB), 67, bar 71 (SAT) and bar 75.

Bar 60:  Alto rhythm wrong – should be four 8ths, one quarter, two 8ths.  (Also Hostias bar 71)

Sanctus – in 8.

Bar 5:  last note dotted quarter

Agnus Dei

Bar 44 – equal 8ths. 

48:  stay piano, no cresc.

Found: Nice Pullover in Alto Section

I have it at my house! Give me a call: 205.335.5353

Planning Ahead - October 5 Rehearsal

We'll be going over this:

Mendelssohn:

p. 45-57 Mixed
p. 59-63 Mixed
p. 67-71 Mixed

Mozart Requiem:

I. Introitus-Requiem
II. Kyrie
III: Sequenz

• Dies irae
• Rex tremendae
• Confutatis
• Lacrimosa

IV: Offertorium

• Domine Jesu
• Hostias
  

Sept. 28 Rehearsal

In case you missed what we did tonight:

Mozart Requiem:

Dies irae
Rex tremendae
Confutatis

Mendelssohn Sectionals:

p. 18-20 Women
p. 28-29 Women
p. 44-45 Women

p. 30, 32 Men
p. 38-41 Men

Mendelssohn Overview - color coded

I'm not sure this will help any of you, but it helps me keep it organized:

p. 18-20 Women
p. 22-26 Mixed
p. 28-29 Women
p. 30, 32 Men
p. 33-37 Mixed
p. 38-41 Men
p. 43 Men
p. 44-45 Women
p. 45-57 Mixed
p. 59-63 Mixed
p. 64-66 Men
p. 67-71 Mixed

Greece Update

GREECE UPDATE from Terre Johnson

We had a great response to our “show-of-hands” last week regarding our trip to Greece! The producers, MidAmerica Productions, were very pleased with it.

Don’t forget: make your initial deposit for the performance trip to Greece by October 1. You may bring/send a check made out to BCC, or use the Paypal option available through the Concert Chorale website.

Exciting developments: a well-known French children’s choir, the Choeur d'Enfants d'Ile-de-France ( Paris ) and their Director Francis Bardot, will be joining our performance for the children’s roles. Their director will coach our French in Greece .

A French language coach from New York will be provided for our rehearsals in the spring as we begin to learn Carmen.

We will receive deposits through Monday night, October 5, 2009.

Any questions can be sent to Terre Johnson at BCCtoGreece@gmail.com.

Two great recordings of Die erste Walpurgisnacht

Here's the one I prefer:

Get it from iTunes here.

Get it from Amazon an entire dollar cheaper. (MP3 download)














This one is also good:

Get it from iTunes here.

Cheap used CD's from Amazon here.

Revised Rehearsal Plan

Revising a bit:

September 14: Mozart Requiem (updated - only Mozart this night)

• Offertorium: Domine Jesu
  
• Offertorium: Hostias

• Introitus: Requiem
• Kyrie
• Communio: Lux aeterna
  

September 21: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht
September 28: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht

October 05: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht
October 12: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah
October 19: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah
October 26: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah

Text and pronunciation guide for Mendelssohn

Here it is:

Die erste Walpurgisnacht

Microsoft word document

Adobe pdf

Cut-off reached for Mozart Requiem

We'll not add any more additions to the BCC for the Mozart Requiem.

Only those that are members of BCC in October will be able to sing Messiah.

No Rehearsal Sept. 7

There will be no rehearsal on September 7 for the Labor Day holiday.

Rehearsals will resume September 14.

Messiah Choruses 2009

Conductor David Lockington has identified these choruses for 2009:

And the glory of the Lord
And he shall purify
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
For unto us a child is born
Glory to God
His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light

Behold the Lamb of God
Surely he hath borne our griefs
And with his stripes we are healed
All we like sheep have gone astray
He trusted in God
Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Hallelujah

Since by man came death
Worthy is the lamb that was slain

Looking ahead: Rehearsal Spring 2010

Since we have such a busy year, I'm looking ahead to the spring to make sure we have plenty of preparation time for the Bach St. Matthew. In order to make sure we are prepared, I want to call some bonus rehearsals now so you can plan ahead. Realize this: we are ending our season more than a month earlier than we did in 2008-2009. We have fewer rehearsals to master more music. For a printable version, click on "2009-2010 Schedule" in Important Links.

My plan so far:

Bonus rehearsals:

Saturday, January 9 9am - noon
Saturday, February 6 9am - noon
Saturday, March 6 9 am - noon

Regular Rehearsal plans:

Monday, January 4 Bach/Mendelssohn/Broadway
Saturday, January 9 9am - noon
Monday, January 11 Bach/Mendelssohn/Broadway
Monday, January 18 Bach/Mendelssohn/Broadway
Dress rehearsal only: January 21, 2010
Broadway performance: January 22, 2010
Monday, January 25 Mendelssohn


Monday, February 1 Mendelssohn/Bach
Saturday, February 6 9am - noon
Monday, February 8 Mendelssohn/Bach
Monday, February 15 Mendelssohn
Rehearsals with orchestra: Friday, February 19th 7-9 p.m.
Rehearsals with orchestra: Saturday, February 20th 1:30-4:00
Monday, February 22 Bach only

Monday, March 1 Bach only

Saturday, March 6 9 am - noon

Monday, March 8 Bach only
Monday, March 15 Bach only
Monday, March 22 Bach only
Monday, March 29 Bach only

Monday, April 5: Bach rehearsal with Justin
April 6: Rehearsals with orchestra
April 8: Rehearsal with orchestra

Bach Performance: April 9 , 10

Rehearsal plan for fall

As I see it now, here is our rehearsal schedule:

August 17: Mozart Requiem
August 24: Mozart Requiem
August 31: Mozart Requiem

September 07: UPDATE - No rehearsal this night.
September 14: Mozart Requiem (updated - only Mozart this night)
September 21: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht
September 28: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht

October 05: Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht
October 12: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah
October 19: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah
October 26: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah

November 02: Mozart Requiem and Handel Messiah
November 09: Mozart Requiem
November 16: Mozart Requiem (with Justin Brown)
November 17: Mozart Requiem (@Alys Stephens Center)
November 19: Mozart Requiem (@Alys Stephens Center)
November 20: Mozart Requiem Performance
November 21: Mozart Requiem Performance

November 23: Handel Messiah
November 30: Handel Messiah

December 07: Handel Messiah
December 14: Handel Messiah (with conductor David Lockington)
December 15: Handel Messiah (@Alys Stephens Center)
December 17: Handel Messiah (@Alys Stephens Center)

More Website Additions

New additions to the website you might want to check out:

Now you can donate to the BCC via PayPal on the "Support the Chorale" page! It's also a convenient way to allow friends and family to easily contribute.

Information and payment capabilities have also been added for next year's "International Festival of the Aegean". Look over these details and make your first payment for the trip on this page.

Pictures of all Chorale Board members are now posted on the "Chorale Board" page. You'll also find email links to every Board member. Use this page to communicate to us!

Finally, if you haven't yet registered for the 2009-10 concert season, Jennifer and Dale request that you go online and do so before next Monday's rehearsal. If you desire, you can also pay your dues from this page. If you are not participating this year, please email Jennifer and let her know so we will know to quit bugging you.

See you next Monday night!

REGISTER & PAY ONLINE!

You now have the option of both registering for the new season and paying with your credit card via PayPal. They are two separate processes, and you may register without paying. The PayPal option is provided as a convenience.

Click here to go to the registration page on the BCC website.

Registration 2009-2010

Register for 2009-2010 Birmingham Concert Chorale HERE.

Dues are the same as last year ($80) and are payable soon.

First rehearsal:  August 17, 2009

Auditions August 10, 2009

As of right now, we have over twenty new people auditioning this coming Monday. Nancy Lewis and I prepared a short video to help get the new people to the audition place. It might help some of the old people find parking next Monday night as well!

August 10: Auditions for New People (sign up is here)
August 17: Everyone - first rehearsal (come early to register)

You can expand this little video to fill your whole screen. (lower right hand corner)


Finding the Audition - Birmingham Concert Chorale from philip copeland on Vimeo.

2009-2010 BCC will rehearse at South Highland Presbyterian Church next season

Greetings, all.

At the most recent BCC board meeting, the group voted to move our 2009-2010 rehearsals to South Highland Presbyterian Church.

The primary reason for the change:  Seating and Hearing Issues. 

1.  The choir room at Briarwood doesn't accommodate us as well as I'd like - the room makes us sound bigger than we are, resulting in overconfidence.  I also have trouble getting to individual voices in that setup . . We'll be in a large, flat room at SHPC . . . I'll have access to everyone . .

2.  Seating Issues:  We have to drastically modify our rehearsal seating for every performance.  With the new rehearsal space, I anticipate us rehearsing the way we will perform . . .

That's it!


Map to South Highland Presbyterian

Classic Arts Showcase

BCC member Rebekah Luguja recommends:

Classic Arts Showcase (great free online resource)
Video samplings of art, music, ballet, theatrical performances and classical films.

http://video.csupomona.edu/streaming/webcasts.html

Next Generation of Singers

For those who are afraid choral music might be waning in the next generation, here's hope:

http://videos.komando.com/2009/05/28/ps22-chorus/

Gala Pictures Posted

You're invited to view pictures from the May 21 Gala on the Chorale website. Just take the "Chorale Events" link on the main menu or click here.

What a great night!

Thanks to all of you for your kind gift and presence at our celebration.

A great night!

This blog post brought to you by HOT TAMALE - the official candy of NASCAR Racing.

Joyful Exuberance!

Alabama Symphony: Beethoven played with joyful exuberance
Posted by Michael Huebner -- The Birmingham News May 15, 2009 11:08 PM



ALABAMA SYMPHONY
Justin Brown, conductor; Janice Chandler-Eteme, soprano; Margaret Jane Wray, mezzo-soprano; Jay Hunter Morris, tenor; Timothy Jones, bass; Birmingham Concert Chorale

Friday, Alys Stephens Center
Repeats May 16 at 8 p.m.

Taken in large doses, Beethoven can be joyful, stimulating and intoxicating. It can make you forget about waterboarding, wars, politics and financial devastation, if only for a few hours. It can also be unforgettable, especially with the right mix of musicians.

Such was the case Friday at the Alys Stephens Center, when the Alabama Symphony completed its three-year cycle of Beethoven symphonies under the expert guidance of Music Director Justin Brown.

The pairing of the eighth and ninth symphonies on the final 2008-09 MasterWorks program leaned toward the joyful. Symphony No. 8, composed during one of the most difficult times in Beethoven's life, exudes ebullience, playfulness and classical freshness, and Brown's reading exemplified this spirit. Punchy accents and suave lines were congenial partners. Concise spurts and flourishes played to the composer's Haydnesque side while giving a nod to the Romantic era.

But the jubilation of this concert was heightened with Symphony No. 9 ("Choral"). In the three opening instrumental movements, Brown molded phrases like soft clay or blown glass. At times he looked like a jockey, prodding the orchestra with circular motions and driving momentum. At other times, he drew out achingly lyrical lines. In the familiar "Ode to Joy" finale, the low strings -- only 11 strong -- boomed out the theme with power and conviction.

Bass Timothy Jones announced "O Freunde" with startling intensity from the back of the stage, where the four soloists were situated. The other vocalists -- Janice Chandler-Eteme, Margaret Jane Wray and Jay Hunter Morris, matched Jones' with fiery solos of their own. An energized Birmingham Concert Chorale was as focused as it could be, given the thorny octaves and impossible leaps Beethoven provided.

Yet through quick tempos and momentum building emerged warmth and light, the "Ode to Joy" performed with religious fervor. And joy.

mhuebner@bhamnews.com

News Article on This Weekend's Concert

http://blog.al.com/mhuebner/2009/05/beethoven.html

Board Nominations Now Being Accepted

As announced at the last rehearsal we have several positions opening up on the Chorale Board for next concert season.

Details regarding serving on the Board are described in the Member Handbook.

If you are interested in serving, please respond by emailing concertchorale@yahoo.com. We will have an election for new board members on May 4th, so please let us know of your interest as soon as possible.

Your BCC Board

Annual Solicitation Campaign

Our Solicitation Campaign kicked-off on March 23rd, and as of April 20, we have received about $1500 in donations. For this time in the campaign, this is a good response, but it is far from our goal of $8000.

As a reminder, this is one of the four major ways that we raise money for the BCC’s expenses. The others are dues, funding from the ASO and the Five Star Celebration/Silent Auction. In order to keep our dues at a reasonable level; we must be successful in the other three areas. We can really help ourselves by being diligent on the Solicitation Campaign.

Solicitation Packages are still available so you can ask your friends, neighbors, relatives and companies for a contribution if you have not already done so. All we are asking is that you solicit at least two people for contributions. If you have not made a donation, please consider doing so, and if your company is one that matches contributions, please do the necessary paper work to obtain it.

For packages or more info, see Wayne Hay or Bruce Burson.

From BCC Member Yaniv Attar: ASO On the Road

ASO On the Road at Lawson State Community College
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Yaniv Attar, Conductor
FREE Admission

Featuring The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, Aaron Copland's Variations on a Shaker Melody, George Gershwin's Strike Up the Band, and selections from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

The concert will take place at the Arthur Shores Fine Arts Building Gym of Lawson State Community College's Birmingham West Campus at 3060 Wilson Road, Birmingham, AL 35221. For more information, call the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Box Office at 205.251.7727 or Geri Albright of Lawson State Community College at 205.929.6315.

For more information about the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's upcoming season, please visit their web site.

Fall 2009 Auditions

Greetings again.

We've set starting dates for the BCC in Fall 2009. Here are our singing plans for 2009 - 2010.

Auditions for new people: Monday, August 10, 2009 5 - 10 p.m. Sign up for your audition time here!

First rehearsal: Monday, August 17, 2009 7 - 9 p.m.

Some information about auditions for Birmingham Concert Chorale:

This is what it will be like:

1. we'll sing a few scales, maybe "My Country 'Tis of Thee"
2. you will sing a few notes back to me
3. a little bit of sight reading. Nothing hard! I promise.

Update! Our new rehearsal space is at South Highland Presbyterian Church.

The Fear of All Music Lovers

CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION

An Invitation from BCC Member Gerda Carmichael

Birmingham Art Association and First Presbyterian Church

Sacred Art Gallery

presents "Journey of the Creative Spirit"

Gerda Carmichael - Stain Glass

Elizabeth Hubbard - Raku Pottery

Pam Truitt - Acrylics & Texture

Kay Williams - Acrylics

Opening Reception Friday, April 3rd, 2009, 5:30-7:30 pm

Located at 2100 Fourth Avenue North, Downtown Birmingham

(Works will hang through May 29th)

9th on YouTube

New member Keith Kendrick gives us this video of the Beethoven with English subtitles.

Here's how Keith put it:

Found this link on YouTube of the 9th with english translation... have been using it to practice because it shows the choir up close... so you can watch their mouths. Plus the enlgish translation helps it make a little more sense in real-time... such as, "Even a worm can feel contentment." LOL. I wrote that on the quote board at the coffee shop:

Next Monday Night-Special Meeting

NEXT MONDAY - APRIL 6

Rehearsal begins @ 7:30, regular place at Briarwood

Why? Read below:

As Philip announced last night, the Cultural Alliance will be having a meeting April 6th from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. that is open to members from groups like the BCC to discuss funding opportunities. In the past, the Cultural Alliance has been a source of funding for non-profit groups similar to ours. The BCC needs to get “plugged in” to both grant and annual funding opportunities as these funds become available. Many non-profit organizations will be pursuing this funding.

Please make plans to attend this meeting being held in the lecture hall at the Botanical Gardens. When you enter the front door of the Botanical Gardens office building, the lecture hall is to the left. Sufficient parking is available.

Again, the date is April 6th from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., followed by regular rehearsal beginning at Briarwood at 7:30 p.m.

See you Monday!

Your BCC Board

The C# vs. C Natural question

Although I understand the reasoning behind the C# vs. C Natural question, I can't find any evidence that the C# needs to be changed.

No score that I can find has it listed as a C# and I can't find any discussion about the note.

Here are a few pictures of scores I DID find--the last one is the Beethoven manuscript:








If anyone finds anything different, please let me know. For now, it stays C#.

plc

Beethoven Ninth IPA

As promised:  IPA to Beethoven Ninth (chorus)

Female Singer Needed

Hi everyone! This is Chorale member Jeremy Brunson. My mom is working on a short film and needs a good woman's voice to replace hers in the song that she wrote for the ending. Her description was a "good sultry voice". The song is really short and I could assist with the recording if needed. There is no pay involved, just a special thanks and copy. If interested, email annie@film-composer.com or myself (jeremybrunson@gmail.com). The link to the movie is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIlcVPuUlzs

Thank you!

recommendations for bach and beethoven

A reminder of the recordings Justin recommended for Bach/Beethoven:

I always find it difficult recommending recordings, because my favourite recordings tend to be very different from each other, and certainly can’t be used as a guide to what to expect. For example, for the Bach I love Harnoncourt’s latest one on Teldec, but I also love the old Karl Richter on Archiv. However, I’m neither as fast as Harnoncourt nor as slow as Richter.

In the Beethoven, no one is as intense and moving as Furtwängler. The best choral singing is on his Luzerne 1954 recording (various labels). However, Karajan 1962 (DG) is also very fine, and there are exciting modern ones from Mackerras (EMI), Gardiner (Archiv) and (especially) Harnoncourt (Teldec) – but these also tend to be very fast and/or lightweight, whereas Furtwängler is very spacious and profound.

the gladys update

Updated info from Cathy Pierce about Gladys Knight:

Gladys Knight and her husband will be sharing their testimonies and she will also be leading (and singing with) the Saints United Voices Choir.

You are invited to attend with us:

Saturday, March 21, 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Sunday, March 22, 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm:

Tickets are free but must be ordered by tomorrow's deadline (Tuesday).

I made a mistake about the location.  It will be at the Bessemer Stake Center:
831 Briarwood Drive
Bessemer, Alabama   35021

Directions from Birmingham:
Merge onto I-65 S    2.8 mi
Take exit 250 to merge onto I-459 S toward Tuscaloosa    15.4 mi
Take the exit onto I-20 E/I-59 N toward Birmingham    3.6 mi
Take exit 110 for Visionland Pkwy    0.3 mi
Turn right at Visionland Pkwy    0.3 mi
Turn left at 9th Ave SW/AL-5/AL-7/US-11 Destination will be on the right
Please let me know as soon as you can so I can request the tickets before the deadline.  I hope you can come!

Cathy Pierce  :)
cathy.pierce@gmail.com

updated 2009-2010

Here is the updated version.

Announcements from 3/9/2009

First of all . . . a great rehearsal.

Here are the announcements:

Birmingham Chamber Choir Concert
Sunday, March 15
Southside Baptist Church
4:00 p.m.

Gladys Knight at this church on March 21/22:
More information: cathy.pierce@gmail.com

UAB Opera Performance
The Magic Flute
Friday, 3/20 7:30 performance.
Saturday, 3/21 7:30 performance.

2009-2010 plans

Here are the plans for 2009-2010 as i know them.

Joshua Smith Recital

Joshua Smith, baritone
William DeVan, piano
Hill Recital Hall
Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Joshua Smith, son of BCC member Lee South returns home to perform Schubert's best known song cycle, Winterreise.

Come hear this great Birmingham singer perform world class music!

VHBC Elijah Information

What: Mendelssohn’s Elijah

When: The 2nd Annual Shepherd Memorial Concert on Sunday May 3 at 7:00 PM

Where: Alys Stephens Center

Who: Southeastern Chamber Orchestra with soloists Bill Bugg, Mildred Lanier, Stan Nelson, Gloria Parvin;

singers from: Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Vestavia Hills High School Honor Choir, South Highland Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church of the Ascension, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Bluff Park United Methodist Church, Mississippi University for Women, Birmingham Concert Chorale, Birmingham Chamber Chorus

How: BCC members who have sung Elijah before are invited to sing, as there is no time available for part rehearsal;

you should:
1. Notify Terre Johnson that you would like to sing at terre@vhbc.com,
2. Attend rehearsals on Sunday nights in April EXCEPT Easter Sunday from 7-9 at VHBC
(for GPS or Mapquest, 2600 Vestavia Dr, Birmingham 35216)
3. Plan for rehearsal on Sat. May 2 from 1-5, then dress on Sun. May 3 from 3-5:30, concert at 7.

Miscellaneous info: You will be given a marked photocopy, originals are on file at VHBC. Dress will be same as BCC.

BCC singers helped to make last year’s Mozart Requiem a great success. Please consider singing again this year and supporting the Shepherd Scholarship Fund.

Beethoven's 9th Part Help

The same site that has Bach's St. Matthew's also contains part learning help for Beethoven's 9th!

Link to Bach's St. Matthew

It's a long way off, but here's a link to a great website that contains part learning help for Bach's St. Matthew Passion!

Updated praise from Justin about Carmina

Chorus,

I want you to know what a privilege to prepare things with you and for Justin & ASO. It's especially honorable to work with a guy that speaks this way about us:

"And by the way, congratulations again for Carmina. That was a real high-point for everyone, the feedback keeps coming in.

You certainly deserved the 5 star review, and I wish Huebner had written more about the chorus. They really did a tremendous job."

Recommended recordings

Here's the word from Justin on recordings for future works:

I always find it difficult recommending recordings, because my favourite recordings tend to be very different from each other, and certainly can’t be used as a guide to what to expect. For example, for the Bach I love Harnoncourt’s latest one on Teldec, but I also love the old Karl Richter on Archiv. However, I’m neither as fast as Harnoncourt nor as slow as Richter.

In the Beethoven, no one is as intense and moving as Furtwängler. The best choral singing is on his Luzerne 1954 recording (various labels). However, Karajan 1962 (DG) is also very fine, and there are exciting modern ones from Mackerras (EMI), Gardiner (Archiv) and (especially) Harnoncourt (Teldec) – but these also tend to be very fast and/or lightweight, whereas Furtwängler is very spacious and profound.


Mendelssohn – I only know the Dohnanyi with Cleveland, which is not hugely exciting but pretty solid.

Looking at next year

Check out plans for next year.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddd3868b_149gfd22rdz

We'll begin work on it sooner rather than later!

NOTE: parts, especially the Bach, are subject to change. Last word I got was that it would most likely be in the Jemison Concert Hall with everyone.

Carmina Gets 5!

Alabama Symphony's Carmina: Bawdy and Beautiful
Michael Huebner -- Birmingham News




Justin Brown, conductor; Ilana Davidson, soprano; Leon Williams, baritone; Steven Stolen, tenor; Birmingham Concert Chorale; Birmingham Boys Choir; Choirs from Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University and University of Montevallo.

Friday, Alys Stephens Center. Repeats Saturday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m

Nearly eight years have passed since fortune last visited the Alabama Symphony with "Carmina Burana," just about the right interval to bask in its guilty pleasures.

On Friday, a nearly full house at the Alys Stephens Center heard an artfully sculpted reading of Carl Orff's secular oratorio that brought 250 musicians to the stage and choral balcony. An effort that combined five choirs and a small army of extras to the orchestra, it reaped the power, joy, delicacy, lust, love and bawdiness of this familiar score, at the same bringing the community together.

At the helm was ASO Music Director Justin Brown, conducting without a score, his arms often driving cues like a propeller. He was confident and commanding, at times narrowing the focus of the large forces to chamber music proportions. "O Fortuna" built intensity in a slow simmer. "Tanz" was filled with rhythmic vitality. The wall of choral sound at the work's beginning and end wasn't just loud, it had character. Likewise, brass and percussion sections turned in balanced and full-bodied, but not deafening, performances.

No "Carmina" performance could work without a good baritone soloist, and Leon Williams fit the bill, not only for his pure, rounded voice, but for his dramatic expression and engaging humor in tavern and love songs. Ilana Armstrong, a light soprano with a sweet tone, sang beautifully in "Steti Puella," though she occasionally could get lost under the orchestra. Tenor Steven Stolen hammed it up with with his crackling falsetto and drunken musings. The Birmingham Boys Choir added a touch of tenderness in "Amor Volat Undique."

Not to be overlooked was Zoltan Kodaly's "Hary Janos" Suite, which started the program. Punctuated by fine solos on viola, cimbalom and clarinet, it ranged from a sweet and serene "Song" to a rambunctious Hungarian dance in "Intermezzo."

mhuebner@bhamnews.com blog.al.com/mhuebner

Call Time: 7:30 pm

The revised call time for Friday and Saturday night is 7:30 pm in the Hulsey Recital Hall. Give yourself time to find a parking place and (if new) the Recital Hall.

Thrilling Rehearsals

Some of you may be walking away exhausted from our recent rehearsals but I am skipping away quite energized! It's going to be a special performance.

Heed these words from Lester Siegel, director of the Birmingham Southern choir:

The chorus needs to own this piece--it's their night, and they should be proud of their sound and the dedicated effort they're putting into it.

Now . . . put more into it and make it your own. How best to do that? Study your scores when you have a moment . . . look over words so that you can look up and make a connection with Justin. He's giving us exactly what we need if we bother to take a look.

Next Regular Rehearsal March 2

Upon completion of Carmina Burana performances, our next regular rehearsal will be Monday, March 2. Review the full remaining season schedule online at: http://concertchorale.org/addendum/schedule.html .

Concert Week Schedule

A reminder that all rehearsals concert week are in the Alys Stephens Center. You can check times and dates online at http://concertchorale.org/addendum/schedule.html. Also, ALL REHEARSALS THIS WEEK ARE MANDATORY! This is a standing Chorale rule that has been reinterated for Carmina week by Maestro Brown.

Artists Incorporated

The BCC's own Barry Ivker invites you to see his and other local artists' work at Artists Incorporated. Visit their website at: http://www.artistsincorporated.com/.

The Morning After

You might find this interesting . . . a conductor talks about what it feels like the morning after a great rehearsal:

David Griggs-Janower gives us this wonderful summation of "the morning after" a great evening rehearsal or a long teaching day:

A conductor, like a teacher in a classroom, is always "on" in rehearsal. Up, vibrant, alive, enthusiastic, making people glad to be there, making them work hard. Making them appreciate the repertory, from the large-scale greatness to the extraordinary subtleties. From the beauty to the intellectual conception. The greater the piece (like Bach’s St. John Passion), the greater the sheer amount of wonderful things to discover.

And every second on the podium you are doing at least three things at once in three different time zones: preparing by your gestures what’s coming next; showing in your hands, face and body what you want the sound to be like as it happens; and listening and reacting to what you just heard. And also planning ahead as you hear it how to fix what wasn't right. And deciding which things to fix, and whether to stop or not and fix now, as opposed to later, while you are doing all those other things. Because music happens in time, time is intrinsically involved all the, uh, time.

You never get to stop and breathe while conducting. If you do breathe, there are 70 people sitting there waiting for you to say something. And if you let them relax, some momentum is lost, some edge. You also have to plan your stops, to allow the relaxation when it's necessary, but avoid it when rehearsal momentum is needed.

And so on Wednesday mornings I wake up absolutely exhausted.

Fortunately there are some heavy-duty drugs available: I drink two cups of coffee!

Read the whole post here.

Next 3 rehearsals

Our next 3 BCC rehearsals are:

Monday, January 12
Thursday, January 15
Monday, January 19

All at Briarwood from 7 - 9pm.

A possible Thursday, January 22 rehearsal will be determined later.

The earlier proposed Saturday rehearsal is cancelled.

Upcoming rehearsal plans

Monday, January 12:

• #8 Chramer, gip
• #10 Were diu werlt
• #18 Circa mea pectora
• #20 Veni

Thursday, January 15

• #22 Tempus
• #24 Ave formosissima
• #25 O Fortuna

We WILL REHEARSE on Monday, January 19th, even though it is Martin Luther King holiday.

Oh No! Rehearsal Schedule

The BCC will have a supplemental rehearsal for Carmina Burana on Thursday, January 15th in our regular rehearsal space at Briarwood. Time is the same as Mondays, 7-9 pm.

There is also a tentative additional rehearsal scheduled for the following Thursday, January 22nd, same time and place. The decision on need for this rehearsal will be made and announced later.

Please be aware these Thursday rehearsals are in addition to our regular Monday rehearsals, not in lieu thereof, and the earlier proposed Saturday rehearsal is cancelled.

Carmina Notes: January 5 rehearsal

Here are some notes from last night's rehearsal:

Primo Vera

• study the words on your own . . . we are fumbling and we have to know them well.
• i encourage everyone to write down the translations of the words they are singing.  plenty of resources for this - and here is one.
• nearly every phrase in Primo Vera has a slur over a break.  Our default will be to observe the Slur, not the break.
• Pay close attention to dynamics of each verse.
• Exception to SLUR rule will be at Circle 18.  Break between avivum/silve

Ecce Gratum

• 3 before Circle 25:  make sure the S of tristia comes on the 8th note:  Tri - sti - a.
• 2 after Circle 32:  Emphasize K consonant sound on qui, conantur, and Cupidinis

Floret:

• ms. 3 break after Floret
• carry silva-nobilis (m. 4-5)
• After circle 45, put the S of floribus on the &
• 8 after Circle 45, put quarter rest at end of both measures with half notes
• Circle 46:  S comes on the & of every Foliis.
• Two after Circle 47:  change from rehearsal decision.  Put the S of antiquus on b. 4 (don't carry like I said in rehearsal)
• Three after Circle 47:  sing like this:  me - u - sa.  The S is elided to amicus.  We will do the same in all places like that.
  

Rehearsal resumes January 5

Carmina doesn't wait!

See you there at 7:00 p.m.