So We Can Be on the same page...

Another great suggestion was made to compile the tips and practise points raised during our mass rehearsals and publish them for the purpose of each of us making the appropriate markings in our own music.  (highlighted to suggest that it's actually not just a suggestion)
Here's some great stuff from our wonderful choir secretary.  With much thanks to Toni.  

• Not sure what a musical symbol means?  Google it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_symbols

I wish that brilliant tip came from my own brain but alas, it did not :)

• General info for concert day – 3:00pm rehearsal, count on staying in Hamilton till concert time at 7pm.  Dress comfortably in all black including black socks because we might go shoeless.

• 'Christ Is Risen'                                                                                        - 6/8 timing = swing rhythm; song starts on the 6th beat                          -sing ‘RIS-ON’                                                                                           – note different ending on v. 5...’go tell of his goodness’                          - don’t know yet what ‘sing only 2nd time’ means on v. 1 and ch. 1, but will find out from the Getty’s 

• 'Kyrie Eleison'                                                                                              – pronunciation of ‘Kyrie’, ‘Christe’ and ‘Eleison’                                   - ooh (bar 45 – 48) = ‘ew’ not ‘oh                                                            - emphasize ‘mercy’, not ‘have                                                                - rall. (Rallentando) in bar 83 = means slow down                                   - (fermata) in bar 84 = pause                                                                  - notice that ‘Kyrie Eleison’s’ grow, i.e. 1st one is ‘p’ (meaning piano = soft), 2nd is ‘mp’ (mezzo piano = medium soft) and so on til 2nd last one is ‘ff’ (fortissimo = very loud), last one is back down to ‘mp’ 

• 'When Trials Come'                                                                                  - note that the choir doesn’t sing until the 3rd verse                             - ‘ah’ – drop jaw                                                                                      - pay attention to crescendos < (gradually becoming louder) and decrescendos > (gradually becoming softer) 

• 'Hear the Call of the Kingdom'                                                                  - memorize – no music for this song for the concert                                                                                       

• ‘North Winds’                                                                                         – 12/8 timing; listen to S practise track explaining bars and bar #’s if necessary; Theme A – sing ‘ah’ syllable and end in ‘ff’; 20 bars of instrumental music between two sections; Theme B – sing ‘oh’ syllable, end with loud ‘hah’

• ‘The Perfect Wisdom of Our God’                                                         – timing on bar 42 

• ‘To See the King of Heaven Fall’                                                            – 15 bars between verses 

• ‘Holy Spirit’                                                                                            – bar 86/87 – should only hear S @ the end