2012 Festival Director's Notes

Some general notes:

• Pronounce words fully. Diction is done with the tip of the tongue and the teeth.
• Tall vowels throughout.
• Pay attention to the dynamic markings in the pieces.
• Sustain and grow (crescendo) over long notes.

Mary, Mary

• No "chew" on "what you gonna call...." Make sure it is "whaT Yo..."
• Maintain mouth shape when singing the melismas, such as p.3 m.9 "ho– – –ly," being careful not to let the moving notes sag.
• Remember the mp each time the theme is sung in unison: p.3, p.4, p.6, p.8
• Rounded "oo" at p.5 and p.7 (Part I)
• The arranger cleverly added tenuto markings on penultimate syllables or words of measures. Every time there is a tenuto marking, back off of the second syllable or word:
                            <       >                              <       >
• e.g. p.3 m.5 "Ma – ry."   p. 5 m.26 "guide us."
• Part II last 3 measures: staggered breath to sustain to the end.

Yesu Kwetu ni Rafiki

• All singers sing "What a Friend...." All singers sing "Yesu...."  Page 8: Part I sing "What a Friend..." Part II sing "Yesu..."
• Learn pronunciation according to the guide on the inside cover.
• When possible, flip the "r" in "rafiki."
• Someone to improvise shaker and djembe parts?
• Take the ‘t’ out of the word "often." p.4 m.26.
• Split Part I at p.11 m.120 – 122 for the three-part ending.

This Is The Day

• p.3 m.13 & 14: the ‘s’ sound in "rejoice" should be placed exactly with the stomp in m.14.
• Crisp rhythms! Use the energy of the syncopated phrases to drive the rhythm.
• p.3 mm.23-24: be careful not to hold the phrases ending on eighth notes too long.
• Create contrast in the B section keeping it smooth and lyrical.
• Generous crescendo at the transition from section B back to A: p. 6 mm.55-56.

All Things Work Together For Good

• Hope you’ll have a flutist!
• Be careful to sing the word "good" with choral sound.
• Generally, 4–bar phrases in one breath.
• Split the group for the 2–part ending.

A Love Round

• Keep it buoyant.
• Maintain "ah" space when singing "love."
• Avoid "sh" in "Christian."
• p.4 m.43 It will help the high note if the children work to take any vocal weight off the word "for" leading up the octave for "God."
• Crescendo on "God" m.44
• Consciously attack "God" each time with a hard "g."

Do Unto Others

• Instead of the stick part, let’s have the children clap the stick part in the last two bars only (mm. 51 & 52). I’ll give them something fancy to do on the last beat they clap.
• Sing "do" & "you" with rounded "oo" vowels.
• Try to keep the "r" color out of "others" & "fair."

Thank you, CFCG for having me! I look forward to being with you and making music together. RT