Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Many Thanks to our hosts, who have generously donated the use of their home for tonight's rehearsal.

Meet the composers: Josquin Des Près (c1455-1521) Martin Luther said of Josquin, "Josquin is the master of the notes, which must express what he desires; other choral composers must do what the notes dictate."

Josquin reached his artistic maturity in the service of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza whom he likely accompanied to Rome in 1484. Around 1501, it is likely that Josquin served Louis XII's court, by 1503, he was maestro di cappella there and the highest-paid singer in the chapel's history. There he probably wrote primarily masses and motets. An outbreak of plague in 1503 forced the court to leave Ferrara (Josquin's place was taken by Obrecht, who fell victim in 1505).

Josquin, who was by some accounts something of the 'prima-dona' is yet believed to be the greatest composer of the high Renaissance, the most varied in invention and the most profound in expression. He is especially noted for the expressive nature of his music, a trait that broke with the medieval tradition of more abstract music. Generally, his first period (up to circa 1485) is characterized by abstract, melismatic counterpoint and by tenuous relationships between words and music. The middle period (to circa 1505) saw the development and perfection of the technique of pervasive imitation based on word-generated motifs. This style has been seen as a synthesis of two traditions: the northem polyphony of Dufay, Busnois and Ockeghem, in which he presumably had his earliest training, and the more chordal, harmonically orientated practice of Italy. In the final period the relationship between word and note becomes even closer and there is increasing emphasis on declamation and rhetorical expression within a style of the utmost economy.

Marcelle (vocal coach) answers the question: "Why Can't I Sing?"
...Because you TRY

Marcelle says 'RELAX', and reminds you of your tongue.
I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT I WISH TO BE COMPARED TO A TONGUE!! (A summers' day, perhaps, but not a tongue....).
Relax your tongue, relax your jaw, relax your throat, relax your mind. Imagine that you have lost your mind, and languidly, relaxedly make sound. If you find your muscles tensing to phonate, stop & relax. If you find yourself tenseing to hit the high notes, relax.

That master of articulation, The Tongue, prefers to rest with the bottom teeth as a point of reference, as in the beginning of a yawn. The cricoid cartilage (lump below your adam's apple) needs to tip backward for you to hit high notes. If your tongue is not relaxing at the gum-line, it will get in the way of this natural motion and result in less-than-desirable tone. Check also that your jaw is relaxed. If you feel your jaw tensing or protruding, imagine unhinging your jaw & singing only with the top half of your mouth. Relax your unhinged jaw completely or you could create throat & jaw-joint tension (YUCK).

"Any use of muscle (other than to release energy) vitiates the tone by disturbing its overtones (divisional vibrations, called harmonics)." [Lamperti]

How about a bumper sticker: Phonation happens.

Chorus Members speak
Lynx Quicksilver, Tenor I, is a professional, experienced piano tuner with reasonable rates. Lynx is now offering private music lessons for guitar and electric bass. To make an appointment to have your piano tuned, or for music lessons, contact Lynx: Lynxsilver@aol.com or (510) 523-2799.

Tickets for "In Praise of Music, Berkeley Choral Festival" can be purchased at a 20% discount for you, friends of performers ($12/$20/$30/$40). Concert is Monday, March 4, at Zellerbach Hall. Proceeds to benefit the Musiacians' Pension Fund. Ask for a form or visit www.berkeleysymphony.org for more details.

Willard Middle School in Berkeley is looking for talented artists, performers and wacky extroverts to share their skills with Willard students, staff and parents at Willard's annual Spring Day celebration this May 30. Work with small groups of interested and interesting people. Past performers have included face painters, jugglers, yo-yo enthusiasts, and knitters. No hobby is too obscure, weird or outrageous. Sound like something you might be interested in? Contact George_Rose@berkeley.k12.ca.us for more information.

San Francisco's Hawaiian Chorus presents a free concert on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 3:00pm at Bethany United Methodist Church. 1268 Sanchez at Clipper in San Francisco. For more information, see Greg (bass).

Let Erica know if there are items you would like to see in "Nota Bene Bella".