Hi Everyone,

GREAT job last night! I'm very pleased with how the program has come
together. It was clear to me that everyone has been working hard with
their cds and learning their music! It made a huge difference for
everyone to sing lighter so they could hear the other sections better
as well.

Before I get into specific notes, I've made some changes to the
program order since we are going to be reprinting it. The NEW order is:

Anchors Aweigh
The Navy Hymn
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean
Service Medley
The Water is Wide
We Saw the Sea
Away from the Roll of the Sea
We Be Three Poor Mariners
A Whale of a Tale
The Mermaid
INTERMISSION
Fogarty's Cove
Skye Boat Song
Cape Cod Girls
Sea Shanty Sing-Along: Paddy Doyle, A Hundred Years
Hoodah Day
Calm is the Sea
What Shall we do with a Drunken Sailor

As you can see it's mostly the second half that I have changed
around. Please reorganize your folders so the music is in this order!

Some specific Notes:

Anchors Aweigh: Great job! It was much more blended and balanced last
night, and I could hear all four parts clearly which is what we need.
Try to look up more in this one and be a bit "cheerier," it is the
opening piece to our concert!

The Navy Hymn: This was also very solid last night. Remember we need
to think a little more about the over all line, and less about each
note, as this will help it flow better.

Columbia, Gem: Much better! The verses were much more solid and
together and the refrain was very well-tuned and polished.

Service Medley: Over all very nice, once again, double check those
two areas that have been a problem: the rhythm of the word "high" in
the Coast Guard, and the bass notes in the end of the Merchant
Mariners. Otherwise very nice. Do be aware though that during the Air
Force song at the beginning, the basses and baritones have been doing
a crescendo on "hear our thunder," but the tenors haven't. It would
be nice to have a bit of a crescendo there, but I need less crescendo
from the lower parts and more from the upper parts. (the crescendo
would be during that rising line, both times it happens)

The Water is Wide: VERY nice! Can always use more dynamics and inner
voices, make sure to bring out your moving parts.

We Saw the Sea: This one is getting there! Musically it is fine. Some
comments that were made last night were that too much acting is
coming from the ladies and nothing from the men! So ladies, if you
can tone it down a bit that would be great, we don't want to be a
distraction from the men, and men, please bring it up a few notches!
There's a lot you can do there, it doesn't have to be gestures but
facial expressions can add a lot.

Away from the Roll of the Sea: Great job bari and bass on the melody
lines, it was very lullaby-like and the rhythms were together!
Tenors, if you can give us a bit more on your "oo's", especially a
the beginning. Don't be afraid to be expressive with them. Right now
you're there but not doing much with your lines.

We Be Three Poor: Over all very nice! Watch out for the transition
between verses. Remember we hold the last note for 2 beats, then 1
beat of rest, then the pick up. Please circle that and be ready.
Always think stronger on the chorus.

A Whale of a Tale: Getting better! Once we got some balance issues
worked out it was much more solid on the 2nd run. The clapping
however can be stronger now because we have the soloists using the
mic. The 2nd time it was toned-down a little too much, and kind of
wimpy, so it lost it's coherency. Everyone please review this one,
make sure you have it memorized so you can clap freely. Be clear on
all the words, your humming notes and the clapping. Use your CDs!!

The Mermaid: Very nice! I've decided to end the first half with this
piece. Good job small group!

Fogarty's Cove: I've decided to put this as the opening piece for the
2nd half. It's going very well. Occasionally the "do" parts overlap
the melody, but over all it was nicely balanced. Basses and tenors,
make sure you are right there and ready to go after the baritones
opening. We have to sing strong immediately, we can't slide in there
otherwise it looses it's punch and energy that the baritones have set
up for us.

Skye Boat Song: This piece is going ok, we just need to do A LOT more
listening, particularly on the chords that end the phrases. Everyone
needs to watch more at the end so we are together!!

Cape Cod Girls: Good! I need a bit more sound from the tenors at the
beginning, and everyone can be stronger and more energetic during the
refrain.

Hoodah Day: Over all very nice, those of you singing the verses, make
sure you know your words very well so there aren't any surprises!

Calm is the Sea: Everyone needs to look up more on this piece and
watch me. We have a tendency not to be together sometimes. Make sure
you are observing all of the breath marks, remember they are
different for verse three. Also remember the last phrase has to be
quieter than the rest!!

Drunken Sailor: I've decided to end the program with this because it
is absolutely stunning!! It was particularly strong the 2nd time we
ran it. Tenors, sing out at the beginning, think more of a mf or f
there. The basses and baritones are doing a nice job of supporting
you, so don't be afraid to sing out, you have the melody!! PLEASE
PLEASE PLEASE mark, circle, highlight, whatever you need to do to
remember those two places where the rhythm changes!!!! Please try to
look up there. The far majority of people are getting it but all it
takes is a couple of people to plow ahead and it makes that whole
section sloppy. Basses, double check your notes in the "poop poop"
section. For everyone, when we have all those different staggered
entrances, all through the piece, make sure you are very strong and
present on your entrances. Over all VERY good work, this is a
challenging piece and we didn't get the music until late!! NICE JOB!!

In general, we could use a lot more looking up. It's a lot better for
the audience to have some eye contact with the choir, rather than
watching us sing while we're buried in our music. You know the music,
there's no need to be looking down every second!

THANK YOU to all of you for your hard work, I've really enjoyed
working with you so far and I'm looking forward to TWO awesome concerts!

Brittany