Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Announcements

Special Workshop with Bill Mahrt Oct. 11! Dr. Bill Mahrt, the Stanford (and West coast) expert on Gregorian Chant, has consented to give us a workshop on the Victoria "O Magnum Mysterium" Mass and Motet. Dr. Mahrt previously assisted us with the Pärt Te Deum several years ago, and is truly a wonderfully inspiring lecturer and conductor. Don’t miss this!

Practice CDs. Two types of audio practice CDs are available to help with this semester’s music. One is a CD of professional recordings (including the Victoria and as many of the small pieces as we could locate). The other has practice files organized by voice part, with one vocal part (S, A, T or B) emphasized over the others, to help with note bashing. Both types of CD will work in most standard CD audio players. If you haven’t already picked up copies of these rehearsal aids, please check the "information table" or ask Gabriele or Cristin about getting copies.

MIDI files for the computer-oriented. By popular demand, MIDI versions of the music files have been posted to the Bella Musica web page. The official link to these files is not yet in place, but for now you can access the file directory at www.bellamusica.org/musicaids/05-2/. (Many thanks to Jody Ames, Bella Musica web guru, for setting this up!)

Music List

Confused about what’s in your folder? Here’s a list of all music you should have on hand, in order of title:

Dadme albricias, hijos d’Eva. Traditional Spanish song, New York Pro Musica Series.

Der Winter kalt. Johannes Eccard, photocopy (3 pp).

El desembre congelat. Traditional Catalan song, photocopy (2 pp).

Hoy comamos y bebamos. Juan del Encina, "Cancionero de Palacio no. 357, photocopy (1 p).

Gaudete. Piaes Canciones. Different versions are available, with differences in the solo (verse) line. Preferred version has the title "Gaudete! gaudete! Christus est natus" and is arranged by David Lee. Photocopy (1 p).

Gower Wassail. Traditional Welsh song, photocopy of handwritten arrangement (4 pp).

Kedusha. Salamone Rossi. Two versions exist. The version entitled "Kedusha" has larger type and is much easier to sing from. (Photocopy, 13 pp.) However, a second version labeled "Hymne à 4 Voix/Chant de Sanctification" includes a helpful translation and pronunciation guide at the back.

La nuict froide et sombre. Rolland de` Lassus. Photocopy (3 pp). Note: we will sing this piece a minor 3^rd higher than written.

Missa O Magnum Mysterium. Tomás Luis de Victoria, ed. by Henry Washington. Chester Music.

Nun is der Winter gar so hart. Jobst vom Brandt [Brant]. Photocopy (2 pp). Note: we will sing this piece a major 3^rd higher than written.

O Magnum Mysterium. Motet by Tomás Luis de Victoria. Robert Shaw Choral Series.

The Praise of Christmas/All Hayle to the Dayes. Traditional English song. Two versions exist. We are using the harmony arrangement found in "5. The Praise of Christmas" (photocopy, 2 pp). However, we may include some verses from "80. All hayle to the dayes" (photocopy, 4 pp), so don’t toss it out yet!

Riu riu chiu. Traditional Spanish song. Photocopy.

So trinken wir alle. Arnold von Bruck. Photocopy (2 pp.) Note: We will sing this piece a major 3^rd higher than written.

Tourdion. Anonymous. Photocopy (1 pp).

Shameless Plugs

♫ Na Leo Nahenahe Fall Concert. Hawaiian choral music! Saturday, October 15, 2005, 8:30 p.m. at the Community Music Center, 544 Capp St (1 block east of Mission between 20th & 21st) in San Francisco. Admission $10/5. Ask Bella bass Greg Suzukawa for details, or visit www.naleosf.com/index.html.

♫ Choral Workshop with Composer Morten Lauridsen. Saturday Oct 29, 9:30am-12.30pm. Spend the morning exploring the choral music of Morten Lauridsen. The composer will give information on his compositional style and lead participants through the rehearsal and performance of his Lux Aeterna (Requiem Mass) and other compositions, in preparation for a free performance of Lux Aeterna on Weds. Nov. 2. $25 fee includes a free score of Lux Aeterna. St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 2390 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115. Plenty of free parking! (Note: Yes, this is the same piece Bella Musica performed last spring. This workshop could be a fun opportunity to get the composer’s point-of-view on his work.) Which leads to the Annual Requiem Mass at St. Dominic’s on Weds, Nov. 2, 2005 7:30 pm, Featuring Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna. Performed by St Dominic's Solemn Mass Choir and Orchestra and San Francisco Choral Artists. St. Dominic's Catholic Church (same address as above). FREE: No admission charge, but donations gladly accepted.

♫ Handel Dixit Dominus: Sorelle (aka Fweeter) in concert with the Gentlemen of the Pacific Boychoir. Conducted by Christopher Kula, with soprano and alto soloists Marcelle Dronkers and Elspeth Franks, plus James Meredith of Sonos on piano and organ. Also on the program: Schumann duets and a World Premiere from Bay Area composer Linda Schneider. Saturday, November 5 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 6 at 2 pm, Lake Park United Methodist Church, 281 Santa Clara Ave. in Oakland. (www.sorelle.org)