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Dear singers,
Based on our first two rehearsals, we have the makings of a very fine group this term! Lots of good readers are making it possible for us to make sense of the piece, even on the first read-through. That's good news for those of you with less experience, or whose group singing is in the rearview mirror. We're all getting a glimpse of the possibilities, and it's very satisfying to go home feeling that way.
If things seem to be going by too fast, please understand that these first few weeks of reading through the movements are like reading a book jacket's summary of the plot: just an overview. Once we've seen everything that Dvorak has written for you, we'll really get to work. To use another metaphor, there are a number of layers to peel back on this onion!
One of the first of those layers will be the text. Expect to be pronouncing all the words together carefully, to be sure we're all getting comfortable with the German Latin pronunciation. As you know, I haven't spent a lot of time doing that yet—we all just jumped in at the deep end. After next Tuesday, expect to have some group drill on the words and their meanings!
Works from the Romantic era utilize all their many dynamic shifts to create the characteristic drama, so of course we'll need to be rehearsing and having fun with those, both gradual changes like decrescendos as well as sudden drops of volume or loud explosions.
As we work on these basic elements, we'll be sure to clean up any remaining pitch uncertainties. So far we've had an overview: don't worry that you won't have a chance to revisit questionable passages.
Notes, rhythms, dynamics, text; as we get those elements well in hand, we'll start to really make music. I say "start" because it's phrase shaping and other nuances that are the essence of musicality, so that the piece really communicates. You can start to make the text come to life even now by paying attention to the rise and fall of syllabic stress and release. I suggested underlining the important syllables—but do it lightly if you have a rented score. There's going to be a lot of erasing!
Finally, get ready for me to be working on balance between and within sections. This particular choir has never existed before, and will not exist after the performance! In that way it's a microcosm of life itself, and we want to make the most of this opportunity for beauty and a unified sound. That will take attention and commitment from all of us, and I can tell already that you're ready for that challenge.
I can't wait for next Tuesday! See you then.
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