2009 Festival Director's Notes
Junior Choir Pieces
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.
Primary Choir Pieces
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.
Combined Choir Piece
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.