Please make every effort to look at your parts in the scores and to listen to the recordings online. Only one more rehearsal – please be there if at all possible.  

After a vocal warm up, which included work on rhythms for Viva la Musica (Erod).  We looked at the following pieces:

• A Life Lived With Grace
• In v1, a small group from each part to sing Bars 1-12. Rest of choir join in Bar 13 – watch the page turn. Note first and second time bars.
• In v2, altos, tenors and basses sing quietly the ‘Ooh/ah’ accompaniment. Breathe at Bars 27/28 and in middle of Bar 31
• In v3 in sops and bass parts, sustain the dotted minims in Bar 47 and the semibreves in Bars 50 and 51  

• Viva la Musica (Erod ) Blue book p167
• Note how parts fit together and the 1^st and 2^nd time Bars. Observe dynamics
• Men – watch out for quaver rests at beginning of Bars 4, 6, 10, 18
• All parts – sing rhythms crisply
• Final Bar 19 – sing all parts f, with accents and together

• Gloria (Vivaldi)
• Add some dynamics markings – Bar 41 crescendo, Bar 46 decrescendo, Bar 64 crescendo to give more shape to the piece
• We sang this piece through. Be sure to join phrases ‘gloria in excelsis’ when they occur eg Bar 32, Bar 39 to Bar 40, Bar 68 and ‘excelsis Deo’ in Bars 53 to 54.
• Sustain the semibreves in Bar 43 – 48, if necessary take staggered breathing within, but not between bars

• Cantate Domino
• To be sung unaccompanied.
• First time through, sing in unison, then sing as a Round
• Men start at fig 1, altos start when men reach fig 2 and sops start when altos reach fig 2.
• For ending – men sing the Round twice through and continue 3^rd time but stop at the rest after fig 3. Altos sing Round twice through and continue 3^rd time but stop at the rest after fig 2. Sops sing the Round twice through and continue 3^rd time but stop at the rest after fig 1. Mark these up in copies! Watch Mary!

• A song for you
• We revised this piece from last term – notes, rhythms, parts and entries and dynamics. Listen to recording.
• Remember, if singing any accompaniment parts, keep volume down, but if singing the tune, sing out
• Note solo at start and finish. Watch Mary!

• Gloria Fanfare
• We revised all sections with the 3-part harmony for confidence and prompt entries
• Bar 27 – sing in legato style with long vowels and short consonants
• Note no breath/break in Bars 37/38
• Bars 43 /44 – stagger breathing to sustain the 8 beats
• Be prepared for page turn pp7/8

• Celebrate with Music
• We didn’t practise the singing but Mary added places for clapping.
• Clap the first beat only of the bar in Bars 13 & 14, 48 & 49, 60 to 70, 79 & 80