Friday, October 31, 2008

HALLELUJAH: The list of this year's Messiah Choruses

And the glory of the Lord
O thou that tellest good tidings
For unto us a child is born
Glory to God
His yoke is easy
Behold the lamb of God
Surely He hath borne our griefs
And with His stripes
All we like sheep
He trusted in God
Let us break their bonds asunder
Hallelujah
Since by man came death
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen

Sunday, September 21, 2008

G&S and Reluctant Dragon

At our rehearsal on Tuesday, September 23rd we will also begin to determine who is interested in singing in our repeat performance of choruses from Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and John Rutter's Reluctant Dragon for the Trinity Artist Series at 5 pm on Sunday, November 9th.

Everyone who sang this past June for the Thursdays at Twilight concert in City Park is welcome to return, and we are certain to have a few openings for newbies, too!

Video of our performance of the Rutter is available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=961xdT5YDJw
Look for parts two and three in the related videos list to the right...

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Welcome!

Welcome to SYMPHONYCHORUS.Blogspot.com – blogging our way through the new choral season! This is a work in progress and, I’m sure, will develop and grow as I learn how to use this medium to communicate with you all. I also need to establish a regular schedule for my posts. Note that there are several ways to subscribe to be notified when I have posted new material, or when others have commented.

 

Here is the list of choruses we are doing in the Bach:

(Please get two large paper clips and seal shut Cantatas II and IV. You are also encouraged to use smaller paperclips - or some other system of your choice – to close up the arias in between our choruses and chorales.

 

Bach Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio)

Cantatas I, III, V, VI

 

First Part

1. Coro: Jauchzet [7'40"] (DaCapo)

5. Choral: Wie soll Ich dich [1'03"]

7. Choral: Er ist auf Erden (sop) [2'57"]

9. Choral: Ach, mein herzliebes [1'13"]

 

Third Part

24. Coro: Herrscher des Himmels [1'53"]

26. Coro: Lasset uns nun gehen [0'39"]

28. Choral: Dies hat er alles [0'43"]

33. Choral: Ich will dich mit Fleiß [0'49"]

35. Choral: Seid froh [0'44"]

24. Coro da capo: Herrscher des Himmels [1'53"]

 

Fifth Part

43. Coro: Ehre sei dir [5'56"]

45. Coro: Wo ist der neugeborne [1'40"]

46. Choral: Dein Glanz [0'45"]

53. Choral: Zwar ist solche [0'47"]

 

Sixth Part

54. Coro: Herr, wenn die stolzen [4'58"]

59. Choral: Ich steh an deine Krippe [1'02"]

64. Choral: Nun seid ihr [3'26"]

 

10 Choral: 15 minutes

7 (6) Coro: 25 minutes

 

I do not yet have Ms. Miller’s cuts for Messiah. I will post them once available.

 

In our first two rehearsals we have looked at

Chorus No. 1 (Jauchzet) mm. 1-137

You should know pitches and rhythms (including performance of the trills) and be comfortable with text and pronunciation.

 

Chorale No. 5 (Wie soll ich) We have not yet added text text, but you should be able to perform your part independently or in small groups on the syllable “loo”

 

Chorale No. 9 (Ach, mein) see No. 5 – syllable “da”

 

Chorus No. 26 (Lasset) we read this and learned pitches on “da”

 

Chorus No. 45 (Wo) see No. 1, above

 

Chorale No. 64 (Nun seif) see No. 9 and No. 5

 

We also read several Messiah choruses.

 

On Tuesday, September 23 we will read choruses in Messiah that we have not yet sung and attempt the following in the Bach (not necessarily in this order):

 

Chorus No. 1 (Jauchzet) mm. 1-137

reivew pitches and rhythms (including performance of the trills) review pronunciation.

ADD the “B” section: mm. 138-201

 

Chorale No. 5 (Wie soll ich) reivew pitches; add text

 

Chorale No. 9 (Ach, mein) review pitches; add text

 

Chorus No. 26 (Lasset) reivew pitches; add text

 

Chorus No. 45 (Wo) reivew; polish

 

Chorale No. 64 (Nun seid) review pitches; add text

 

 

If you are looking to purchase a recording of the Bach, I recommend the John Elliot Gardiner performance on DG:

http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Christmas-Oratorio-Gardiner/dp/B0000057D5

If you have additional recordings to recommend, please do so by leaving a comment!

 

If you would like to listen to a performance of three of the cantatas on the web, check out the Collegiate Choral:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17525876

(note the related link to a full online performance of Handel’s Messiah, too)

The Bach is a rather relentlessly un-musical affair, led by Robert Bass. The Handel is Philadelphia Singers Chorale prepared by David Hayes and conducted quite nicely by Richard Hickox.

 

Note all the neat related material on all these NPR pages:

RELATED NPR STORIES

Jan. 4, 2006
The Eternal Genius of Handel

Dec. 17, 2002
Facts About Handel's 'Messiah'

Apr. 13, 2001
Handel's Messiah

Feb. 23, 2000
Handel