We started on the third choral movement, Fechit Potenciam (He has shown strength with his arm). Alto Charlene requested that we start work on this difficult movement. Not only are there lots of runs and lots of words, but the choir only sings the same words at the same time near the very end. We struggled, but we managed to get through it. It made us feel good to go back to the first movement (Magnificat – My soul magnifies the Lord) and sing it straight through. It sounded good.
We also practiced the second choral movement (Omnes generations – All Generations) and got through it with just a few stops and starts. We are definitely making progress. We went over the first Interpolation (Vom Himmel Hoch – From Heaven he came) and again practiced the German and Bach’s wonderful chorale arrangement of this hymn.
At the end of each rehearsal we practice the shorter anthems. We concentrated on Mary’s Boy Child, a spiritual arranged by Jester Hairston. It has lots of syncopated rhythms, and is lots of fun to sing. Both Ernest and I remember Jester Hairston, a wonderful musician who visited high schools all over the country. He made it to both Banning High and Glendale High where we both got to sing while he directed and introduced us to his music. It seems that he had the goal of saving and sharing this music. For both of us, the day he visited was an unforgettable experience. We never forgot his warmth and enthusiasm for music. He made us all love it too. Saving and sharing is also the goal of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, which aims to save and share the languages, music, histories and cultures of southern California Indians. For further information, check out their website.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Third Rehearsal
Tenor Charlie came back to us for our third rehearsal. During the summer people travel and some are always missing. We were all glad to have him back!
We got through all of the first movement of the Bach and it actually sounded like music! It isn’t perfect yet, but its definitely progress. We started the second choral movement and made progress on that too.
We began work on one of the Interpolations. Bach added these to the Magnificat text for performances at Christmas. The first one is based on Martin Luther hymn Von Himmel hoch (He came from Heaven). It is in German so we get to sing yet another language. The first and second sopranos sing together on this movement, the only time this happens. It also is the easiest soprano part in the entire piece. We sing the melody very slowly and the altos, tenors, and bases sing more difficult, moving parts.
Ernest announced that the Banning City Council will present him with a proclamation congratulating him on his honorary doctorate on July 14. We would have to start our rehearsal late that night since this is on a Tuesday. The Chorale immediately wanted to go and sing! This should be lots of fun.
At the end of the rehearsal we went over a beautiful carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem” arranged by Stan Pethel. It tells the story of shepherd children who travel far to see the baby Jesus in the manger. It is so wonderful to rehearse this music. We get to actually perform it only once, but it is during the rehearsals that we get to know it well and develop a real understanding and love for it.
We got through all of the first movement of the Bach and it actually sounded like music! It isn’t perfect yet, but its definitely progress. We started the second choral movement and made progress on that too.
We began work on one of the Interpolations. Bach added these to the Magnificat text for performances at Christmas. The first one is based on Martin Luther hymn Von Himmel hoch (He came from Heaven). It is in German so we get to sing yet another language. The first and second sopranos sing together on this movement, the only time this happens. It also is the easiest soprano part in the entire piece. We sing the melody very slowly and the altos, tenors, and bases sing more difficult, moving parts.
Ernest announced that the Banning City Council will present him with a proclamation congratulating him on his honorary doctorate on July 14. We would have to start our rehearsal late that night since this is on a Tuesday. The Chorale immediately wanted to go and sing! This should be lots of fun.
At the end of the rehearsal we went over a beautiful carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem” arranged by Stan Pethel. It tells the story of shepherd children who travel far to see the baby Jesus in the manger. It is so wonderful to rehearse this music. We get to actually perform it only once, but it is during the rehearsals that we get to know it well and develop a real understanding and love for it.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Second Rehearsal
Cherry and Judy, our second sopranos, both came to this second rehearsal. Everyone was so glad to see them! They are so important because the Bach Magnificat has first and second soprano parts all the way through! It is SSATB instead of the usual SATB. Second sopranos have a very important part in this piece. A new Tenor, Polly, tried us out too. We'll have 3 female tenors in our growing section.
We broke into sections, SSA practiced together in one room and TB practiced in another. We got together and got all the way through the first movement! It was fun to begin to see how it all fits together. Our accompanist, Joan, was back too. Having her play the accompaniment helps a lot.
Everyone in the Chorale signed a wonderful card congratulating Ernest on his Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cal State, San Bernardino.
Come by and join in the fun!
We broke into sections, SSA practiced together in one room and TB practiced in another. We got together and got all the way through the first movement! It was fun to begin to see how it all fits together. Our accompanist, Joan, was back too. Having her play the accompaniment helps a lot.
Everyone in the Chorale signed a wonderful card congratulating Ernest on his Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cal State, San Bernardino.
Come by and join in the fun!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Pass Chorale Artistic Director Receives Honorary Doctorate
Pass Chorale Artistic Director, Ernest Siva was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts by California State University, San Bernardino in a beautiful commencement ceremony on June 20. Read more about it at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center blog.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
First Rehearsal
The Pass Chorale came together for the first rehearsal of the Christmas Concert season. Two new tenors and one new alto joined us! New music was handed out, and everyone was excited to learn that our major work would be the Bach Magnificat.
Our faithful accompanist, Joan, was unable to come to this first rehearsal, but one of our altos, Robin, was kind enough to play parts for us. We spent most of the rehearsal struggling through the first movement of the Bach. It is quite difficult, with lots of complicated runs. There are also five parts (two soprano parts) as opposed to the usual four. It will take lots of work, but that’s what makes learning this music so great. We work very hard on it and get to know it really well.
Toward the end of the rehearsal we got a look at some of the Christmas anthems we’ll be singing during the second part of the program. We sight-read through a Norwegian carol, “I am so Glad,” and an Austrian carol, “Still, Still, Still” that has string, flute, and oboe parts as well. We had lots of fun with a Jester Hairston arrangement of “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and a shepherds carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem.”
It was a good first rehearsal, good to be singing together again, good to see old friends and new.
There seems to be something special about Christmas music. Even in the middle of June, it gives you a good feeling. Join us and learn this wonderful music!
Our faithful accompanist, Joan, was unable to come to this first rehearsal, but one of our altos, Robin, was kind enough to play parts for us. We spent most of the rehearsal struggling through the first movement of the Bach. It is quite difficult, with lots of complicated runs. There are also five parts (two soprano parts) as opposed to the usual four. It will take lots of work, but that’s what makes learning this music so great. We work very hard on it and get to know it really well.
Toward the end of the rehearsal we got a look at some of the Christmas anthems we’ll be singing during the second part of the program. We sight-read through a Norwegian carol, “I am so Glad,” and an Austrian carol, “Still, Still, Still” that has string, flute, and oboe parts as well. We had lots of fun with a Jester Hairston arrangement of “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and a shepherds carol, “How Far is it to Bethlehem.”
It was a good first rehearsal, good to be singing together again, good to see old friends and new.
There seems to be something special about Christmas music. Even in the middle of June, it gives you a good feeling. Join us and learn this wonderful music!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Singers Wanted
Attention Singers
During the hot, hot days of summer you could stay cool by singing Christmas music! The Pass Chorale, a community chorus in the Pass area, will begin rehearsing for its annual Christmas concert on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
The major work we’ll be learning is the Magnificat by J.S. Bach. This is a beautiful work with wonderful solos and choruses. The text is Mary’s song of praise. Bach added special “interpolations” especially for the Christmas season.
In addition, we’ll be learning several Christmas anthems and carols. The concert is scheduled for December 13.
If you love Christmas music and have singing experience, please consider joining the Chorale. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, 7 – 8:30 pm, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams St., Banning. For further information, call Artistic Director Ernest Siva (951-849-4676.
During the hot, hot days of summer you could stay cool by singing Christmas music! The Pass Chorale, a community chorus in the Pass area, will begin rehearsing for its annual Christmas concert on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
The major work we’ll be learning is the Magnificat by J.S. Bach. This is a beautiful work with wonderful solos and choruses. The text is Mary’s song of praise. Bach added special “interpolations” especially for the Christmas season.
In addition, we’ll be learning several Christmas anthems and carols. The concert is scheduled for December 13.
If you love Christmas music and have singing experience, please consider joining the Chorale. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, 7 – 8:30 pm, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1320 W. Williams St., Banning. For further information, call Artistic Director Ernest Siva (951-849-4676.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wonderful Concert, New Season
We are all still singing the Haydn Harmony Mass in our heads. It is always a bit sad in the days after the concert. We put so much rehearsal into each major work, and then we only perform it once. Rehearsals are always wonderful learning experiences where we get to know a composer and his work very well. We all wish we could perform it again, but it is expensive enough hiring the orchestra and soloists to perform it once. I'm sure other community choruses feel the same. I think the audience really appreciated the Indian music too. And the grand finale was a salute to the Armed Services for Armed Services Day. It was touching as members of each branch of the service stood as their song was sung.
So it is on to the Christmas season now. You might think it strange to be talking about Christmas when its still spring. But the Pass Chorale will begin practicing music for our Christmas concert on June 16. We know that we'll be rehearsing several beautiful Christmas anthems. Our major work will probably be the Bach Magnificat, but Ernest always reserves the right to change his mind.
If you are interested in singing in a community chorus, please check out the Pass Chorale. We meet on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8:30 pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Banning. Christmas concert rehearsals begin June 16.
For further information email us or call Artistic Director, Ernest Siva at 951-849-4676.
So it is on to the Christmas season now. You might think it strange to be talking about Christmas when its still spring. But the Pass Chorale will begin practicing music for our Christmas concert on June 16. We know that we'll be rehearsing several beautiful Christmas anthems. Our major work will probably be the Bach Magnificat, but Ernest always reserves the right to change his mind.
If you are interested in singing in a community chorus, please check out the Pass Chorale. We meet on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8:30 pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Banning. Christmas concert rehearsals begin June 16.
For further information email us or call Artistic Director, Ernest Siva at 951-849-4676.
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