[Choir] this weeks rehearsal, etc. news

Tue May 10 12:48:35 CDT 2022

Ginny, I agree.   Many times the language is an integral part of the music.  Think of all the religious songs from the early days sung in latin.  And recently, I’ve been helping the Onion River Chorus sing a Ukrainian religious hymn in Ukrainian.  I think it helps to better understand a culture when you sing in their language.  

George

> On May 10, 2022, at 11:50 AM, Vamarie via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
> 
> I also am lyrically-oriented. As a writer, I'm very much into the words.
> 
> I love the fact that we sing in other languages, even if it's challenging sometimes. I feel that enriches our connection to the whole big world outside of Vermont.
> 
> Ginny
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lani Seifert via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
> To: tom at tomschersten.com <tom at tomschersten.com>
> Cc: Donia Prince <ucm.music21 at gmail.com>; UCM Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
> Sent: Tue, May 10, 2022 11:32 am
> Subject: Re: [Choir] this weeks rehearsal, etc. news
> 
> Thanks Tom,
> I tend to be a whiner!  Thus the email. ��
> (squeaky wheel, and all).
> Lani
> 
> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 11:28 AM tom at tomschersten.com <mailto:tom at tomschersten.com> <tom at tomschersten.com <mailto:tom at tomschersten.com>> wrote:
> Lani,
> 
> Thanks for broaching the subject of words and understanding words.  Every Choir director I’ve seen in action has included diction in their coaching the choir.  So, we singers need to keep thinking about diction because it can always get better.
> 
> Beyond that, I like the idea of the congregation having access to the words.  No matter how good our diction gets, there are people whose hearing is not as good as most people, and it’s not just volume; it’s also pesky initial and final consonants.
> 
> I struggle singing songs not sung in English, which also usually involves producing sounds not part of my native language.  My eyes have tracking issues, so needing to sing unfamiliar words and sounds is an extra layer of processing beyond seeing all the notes and words in a timely fashion.  Nevertheless, when I need to sing a song not in English, I do it without whining.
> 
> Tom
> _______________________
> 
>> On May 10, 2022, at 11:04 AM, Lani Seifert via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> I’m interested to hear from other choristers.
>> Lani
>> 
>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 11:03 AM Donia Prince <ucm.music21 at gmail.com <mailto:ucm.music21 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> Yes I have also thought of that, and if you are willing to make those slides that would be wonderful!
>> 
>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM Lani Seifert <lani.seifert at gmail.com <mailto:lani.seifert at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> One other thought on the lyrics issue.  Perhaps they could be projected as other things are throughout the service?  This would save paper.
>> I’m happy to work on this.
>> 
>> Lani
>> 
>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 10:54 AM Lani Seifert <lani.seifert at gmail.com <mailto:lani.seifert at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> Hello,
>> I’d like to start a conversation about “lyrics”.
>> 
>> I think an important part of choral singing is the lyrics.  The music is important too, of course.  What is the point of singing anything other than “la la tra la” if the lyrics cannot be understood by the listener?
>> I just listened to Gift to Sing and could not understand a word.  No closed captioning offered either (that I noticed).  And the singers were NOT masked, as we are.
>> 
>> I’d like to offer the suggestion that we print out the lyrics to whatever we are singing and offer it to the congregation.  The order of service seems to have a little extra room, or it could be a separate sheet.
>> 
>> This also relates to my complaint about singing Muusica in Estonian, or what ever it is.  Who understands it?  Probably nobody in the congregation or the choir!  Why not sing it on bah,bah bah or la, la, la?
>> 
>> Thanks for reading my rant.  Please respond with any thoughts on this subject.  Otherwise, lets give up real words, and go with nonsense syllables.  No one will notice the difference!
>> 
>> BTW, I am happy to take on the chore of writing out the lyrics, and of course would welcome any help on that.
>> 
>> Lani
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 9:28 AM Donia Prince via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> wrote:
>> Hello all!
>> 
>> Thanks everyone for your beautiful singing and presence last Sunday!
>> 
>> A couple of reminders:   
>> We will be having a rehearsal this Saturday.  We have moved it to 9-11am in order to accommodate those who plan to attend the big action at the statehouse regarding reproductive rights which begins at 11.
>> 
>> At rehearsal Thursday I will be collecting any contributions any of you wish to make to offer our volunteer tech crew a gift from the choir.  Cash, or checks made out to me.  We are thinking probably some sort of dining gift certificates, but if anyone has other ideas let Lani know.
>> 
>> As usual we could use some of you to sign up to support hymn singing at church this Sunday.  Not sure yet what the hymns will be.  here is the sign-up link:  https://rsvp.church/r/H7RtmXNs <https://rsvp.church/r/H7RtmXNs>
>> 
>> If anyone wants to try out singing Gift to Sing with the whole recording, here it is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPHXJEtU7A&t=1s <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPHXJEtU7A&t=1s>
>> 
>> Finally, as written on the schedule handed out earlier, we will be having a rehearsal on Saturday, June 4th from 10-11, in lieu of the Thursday rehearsal.  (We might have an optional Thursday one as well if people are interested. ). Following that rehearsal we'll have a potluck end-of-year gathering outside at the benches.
>> 
>> See you Thursday!  We will work on Grace and Mercy, Gift to Sing, and a little on Place in the Choir.
>> 
>> Donia
>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
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> 
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