2009 Festival Director's Notes

Jubilate Deo arranged by Doreen Rao

When first learning this piece, have your choir sing the entire melody on "loo."
A great visualization I often use it to show the shape of a light bulb and then tell the children to try to create that kind of space inside their mouth as they sing.
Think "tall vowels" and be sure to pronounce the words like this: Yoo-bee-lah-teh Deh-oh Ahl-leh-loo-yah
We will sing this piece first in unison, then sing it twice as a four part canon, then end as written.

Behold, God Is My Salvation by Jody W. Lindh

Since this piece is syncopated, be sure to treat the rests with as much importance as the notes.
Page 5, measure 40 – 46, be sure to sing mp so that there is a definite contrast from Measure 32 – 36 where the dynamic level is mf.
Page 6, measure 65 – end, keep the eighth note constant throughout the changing meters.
We will sing the divisi from measure 48 – 52.
Page 7, measure 82, add a slight crescendo while sustaining the word "earth".

Dry Bones arranged by Becki Slagle Mayo and Lynn Shaw Bailey

We will add the beginning scripture introduction prior to performing the piece.
Be sure to sing the eighth notes using a swing style.
Page 4, system 2, measure 16 – 31...be sure to Point to the body part being sung about each time you see the letter P.
We will add the other suggested movements during our rehearsal.
Page 7, system 4, measure 60 – end...have children speak in a loud whisper.

Christ Is Born! by Michael Bedford

Page 6, system 1, measure 3...sing Chri–hist, i–his born in order to better feel the moving eighth notes.
Sing the chorus on page 6 and 8 with a feeling of a light bounce in the voice.
During the verses on page 7, beginning in measure 11, sing in a more legato style in order to connect the melodic line and provide a contrast to the beginning and ending sections.
This will be very beautiful with the added handbell accompaniment.

Come, Come! by Michael Bedford

Stress TALL vowels in this piece by having children sing: Cohm, O Gawd, now cohm. etc.
Be sure to observe the dynamic contrasts found in measures 6, 7 and 9 – 13.
Be sure to sustain the dotted half notes while the handbells play in measures 4, 6, 10 and 11.

God Bless Families by Natalie Sleeth

Page 3, system 2, measure 5...be careful to sing: fam-i-lies rather than fam-a-lies.
Whenever an "ooo" vowel is sung, be sure to give the children the illusion of having enough space in their mouth for a hard boiled egg. (Words like do, through, etc.)
Page 5, system 3, measure 28...we will do a slight retardando, then return to the original tempo in measure 29.
Page 6, system 4, measure 42 – end...we will sing the divisi.