NATS grocery list

This week has been spent working on Non so piu.  The main items of concern right now are the Dental T's, wide (but not pushy) mouth space and delivery, and bright tones.  Ive noticed that as I ascend into my range I get brighter and that's not necessarily a fall back for all songs.  I want my tone to become richer but not pushy or throaty.  There must be a happy medium.  I also must be conscious of what I am singing and be technical.  There is not reason why I should completely forget my diction while performing.  Thats just silly.  I must never ever sing on auto pilot.  I must also relax and let it happen and try not to control everything.  Also, I must not forget!! Review! Review! Review! and...push the tempo on Reward...don't let it drag. AND! Sell the story.  Be an actress.  Become the character in the song.

Untitled #36

This week has been very crazy! For most of the beginning of the week, I have been working on Non so Piu and reviewing Reward for NATS coming up very soon.  Everything is sounding and feeling pretty good for me so far.  The only concerns I have are that I will either be too heavy or too bright with Non so Piu.  Its easier for me in the upper part of my range if I have it brighter but it detracts from the song.  Also, the pronunciation or the dental T's.  I feel that I am missing them and I dont want to have to think very hard about it.  When I sing this, I want to be very much into the character and not so much concentrating on little technicalities.  There are also a few places where my notes arent as they should be and some of the words get mixed up.  Despite these, however, I am not worried.  I feel that this is a very strong piece and that it has alot of potetial.  I will continue work on this song and perfect it.  Last year at NATS I went without any expectations and I did better than I ever expected.  This year, I have high expectations for myself.  I view this as a learning experience and I also realize that sometimes no matter how much work you put into something there will be someone better than you.  If I dont meet my expectations.  I wont be crushed or upset, I will only take it in stride.

Untitled #35

This week I've been focusing on Aus Meinen and Non so Piu.  At the center of that has been basically just reviewing the lyrics and what notes I took on each piece last year.  I've been having trouble getting that momentum in my upper range lately for Non so Piu.  I don't want to push but I feel like I am when I get up there and when I don't push, I cant make it and it sounds just gawd awful.  I feel like some of this might me lack of sleep and such.  Also just because I getting back into the swing of things and once Ive been singing for a while and I'm rolling with the punches I'll get my groove back.  As for Aus Meinen, I feel like things have been going pretty well.  I remember the lyrics quite clearly and as far as singing it...I have no complaints (others might while I'm in the shower at 2am...ha!).  Singing it is so easy.  Its just not as difficult for me too keep it bright in the lower range and not let it get too heavy.  I feel like I connect with the lyrics and so far so good.  I'm not worried about this song at all.  Non so Piu... I am a little worried about however because I just don't feel a whole lot of confidence in my upper range yet.  It scares me.  Sometimes I open the door just a crack (metaphorically speaking) and I can see that creature in there so I slam it shut.  One of these days, I will tame it.

Elder Joseph Brackett

Elder Joseph Brackett

Joseph Brackett wrote the lyrics of the Shaker dancing song "Simple Gifts" in 1848, which has become an internationally loved tune, both through his original version, and many of its adaptations. The song was largely unknown outside of Shaker communities until Aaron Copland used the melody in his 1944 composition Appalachian Spring. Brackett was born in 1797 and died 1882 as a member of the Shakers at Gorham, Maine. His father's farm was the nucleus of the Shaker settlement at the time.

Mark Hayes- arranger

Mark Hayes

Hayes was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin on March 28, 1953 . After receiving a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Baylor University, he entered a career in composing and arranging music. He has written numerous choral arrangements of sacred music, and published several books of arrangements for solo singers and solo piano.

Waldesgespräch- Robert Schumann

Character Study:
I.Before
1.The events that have occurred prior to this song that have led me to this point is that I have gone into the dark forest on a hunt.
2.  My thoughts and feelings before the song begins are eagerness and confidence.
II.  During
1.  I am a wandering huntsman.
2.  I am young and handsome, smart, confident, and valiant.
3.  The other character involved is the witch Lorelei.
4.  Lorelei is a temptress sorceress who calls sailors and ships to their death on the rocks.  She is very beautiful and seems to be sweet.
5.  I am in the dark forest.
6.  I am speaking to Lorelei.
7.  Yes, we have seen each other in the woods.
8.  Right now I think that Lorelei is just a harmless beautiful maiden and I am telling her that it is getting dark and cold and that I will take her home.
9.  My thoughts throughout this song are that I am going to be a lucky guy and get to take this beautiful maiden home with me.
10.  N/A
III.  After
1.  My thoughts and feelings as the song ends are dread and fear because I have just realized this beautiful young lady is the treacherous witch Lorelei and that I have been cursed.
2.  The events that will occur as a result of this song is that I will most likely die or become her slave.

Lyrics and Translations:
Es ist schon spät, es ist schon kalt,
It is already late, it is already cold;
Was reit'st du einsam durch den Wald
why do you ride alone through the forest?
Der Wald is lang, du bist allein,
The forest is vast, you are alone;
Du schöne Braut! ich führ' dich heim!
you beautiful bride! I will see you home.

Gross ist der Männer Trug und list,
Great are men's deceit ad cunning;
Vor schmerz mein Herz gebrochen ist,
my heart is broken with sorrow
Wohl irrt das Waldhorn her und hin
the straying horn sounds here and there
O flieh'! du weisst nicht, wer ich bin.
O flee! You know not who I am.

So reich geschmückt ist ross unt weib
So richly adorned and both horse and lady
So wunderschön der junge Leib;
so wondrously beautiful is your young body
Jetzt kenn' ich dich--Gott steh' mir bei!--
now I know you--God be with me!--
Du bist die Hexe Lorelei!
you are the Sorceress Lorelei!

Du kennst mich wohl--von hohem stein
You know me well--from a high cliff
Schaut still mein schloss tief in den Rhein
my castle silently gazes deep into the Rhein
Es ist schon spät, es ist schon kalt
It is already late, it is already cold
Kommst nimmermehr aus diesem Wald
never again shall you leave this forest.

Untitled #34

This week I have been working on my composer bios, IPA's, translations, and character studies for my voice folder.  My primary focus as far as the music has been Ici Bas.  I plan to sing this on recital for Tuesday night.  The main concern was that I may have been singing too heavily with this song.  Ive been practicing and warming up with lots of buzzes and some bright E's, I's, and Ah's.  When I warm up I haven't of course been only focusing on the higher end of my range.  I've been trying to also focus on the lower end of my range so that I can keep it forward and bright and not so heavy and chesty, but I try not to spend too much time down there because its very exhausting for me after a while.  I don't want to hurt myself.  As for memorization, it wasn't difficult for me to get back into it at all.  I was happy to realize that I wouldn't require any work on that.  I'm glad to focus mainly on the musical/technical aspects of the song and really work on perfecting it.  Another concern of mine is the french pronunciations.  I feel like most of the words are correct but I feel that as time has passed since I've sung it, some of the vowels or pronunciations have fallen by the way side.  I would like to check back with you on Monday to be sure things are 100%.

It's good to be back!

So I just had a three day weekend and I didn't have to work. Yay! I decided to take this time to organize, regroup, and do something fun with the family.  First, I did all of my homework that is going to be due shortly and practiced some piano and worked on my voice folder.  During our studio meeting last week, I took a lot of notes so I decided to type them up.  I also looked up all of my songs off iTunes, bought an mp3 player, and a speaker system that clips to you belt so that I can listen to my music at work (good for swing choir music too).  Im not allowed to wear head phones to work because its a safety hazard.  I also bought some tabs and a black binder.  After I had most of my resources gathered such as; music, notes, table of contents, syllabus...etc. I began putting it together and organizing it.  I also had time to bust out some of my old notes for some of the songs I have done from previous semesters and sat down and reviewed them.  I really want to take these songs to a whole-other level.  I believe that I can perfect them and that there is something more to be obtained from getting a chance to review literature I've experienced in the past.  I am super excited to get started.  I want to see what I can really do with these puppies!