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Capital Crescendos Notes for Feb 28, 2019, week 6
First hour was sectionals.
Second hour was full band Rehearsal:
Bazaar
We started with the Bazaar scale and Motive Study Sheet, first playing the scale several times, looping it at different tempos to get the modality in our heads. Then we played the Motive exercises – the first two bars looped, as this phrase is one that is repeated throughout Bazaar, and then looping the second two bars for syncopation. Continue to pracitise this on on your own.
Percussion is key – they need to be (and were) solid, keeping a steady tempo. At Bar 12, we need to come down quickly to pianissimo (pp) at the start of bar 13, building over the next 4 bars.
At bar 34, the Trumpets are in, not loud, but firm. They enter on the pickup to bar 33 and you need to hear them. If you can’t, play more quietly.
At Bar 42, the tenor sax and low brass have the lead, and need to be strong and deliberate, and again, need to be heard. Pay attention to dynamics at bar 46 to 50 – need to start at p to end up at ff.
In the last bar, the bongo will lean on the first note, with the tympani having the final roll – don’t move until the reverberations have finished and Sheila directs us to put down our instruments. Not like the guy above! (Aren’t we lucky to have Sheila?).
Salute to Louis Armstrong
Note key changes at bar 31, 35 and 59.
Opening tempo is 72 – gentle and laid back.
Bar 13/14 is a tricky transition, with the Oboes, Trumpets and Altos needing to be together.
Bar 22 – there is a rest on the second beat for everyone except percussion, who continue to keep us moving forward.
Bar 31 – Transition to St Louis Blues was smooth – has a different feel to it.
At bar 55, mark your music as mezzo piano (mp), then at bar 59 (key change) mf.
At bar 63 ,Hello Dolly tempo changes and will be faster.
At bar 79 listen – if you can’t hear the low brass (trombones, euphonium), you are playing too loud. Everyone, except those folks, should mark their music p.
At bar 91, we should be mp, at bar 93 mf, and at bar 95 f
Watch Sheila for the rit. at bar 97.
There are two fermatas at the end. One at Bar 98 on the third/fourth beat, and then a final one on bar 99 where Steve is going let ‘er rip.
Next Rehearsal – Full band for two hours
Next week we be will working on Willow Tree, Washington Post, The Entertainer and Queen.
**Also, bring along your Broadway Favorites book – we will be playing Cabaret and Get Me to the Church on Time. Please let us know ASAP if you do not have this book and need copies.
Music Links –
1. Hymn to Freedom. https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp &type=audio&productID=10759013
2. Best of Queen. https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=2476683
2. The Willow Tree. https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10910764
3. Bazaar. https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10790908
4. Salute to Louis Armstrong. https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=2476687
Administrative:
Angela mentioned that she was working with the Greely theatre company who are doing Shrek the Musical. She said the leads have great voices – better than one usually expects from amateur theatre, and the person playing Shrek is Gordon Tait. End of March.
If you haven’t got the book Broadway Favourites, (Solo and Band Arrangements correlated with Essential Elements Band Method), arranged by Michael Sweeney (yellow cover), please let Sheila or Kathryn know. You can order the book from St Johns’ Music, but you sometimes have to bug St John’s to get them (they forget to call you). We believe we are missing one Flute, one Oboe, and one Euphonium book.
If you are going to be absent, please let us know by sending an email to Kathryn (cc Sheila).
Downloading an app to help with listening and practising. For those who have an iPhone or iPad, you can download Voice Record from the iStore. This allows you to download the links on to your phone or iPad so you can listen easily while walking, busing or contemplating. You are also able to slow down the tempo of the pieces so you can practice with them, speeding up to tempo as you get the notes, phrasing, and dynamics locked in. A sheet on how to use this was provided by Sandy Wilkes (Bass Guitar) and will be on the desk for the next few weeks, if you want to consult it. For other phones (Android), Sandy McIntyre (alto sax) told us about an app called AudiPo which we believe will provide the same capacities.
Community Concert – Still working on details. Update will be given next week.
Important Dates to Remember
February 28 – last day to order and pay for a band shirt.
March 14 – No Band Rehearsal
April 11 – Tentative Community Concert – TBD – venue and time – Suggestions are welcome and should be forwarded to Sheila or Kathryn.
April 14 – Spring Concert – Woodroffe United Church. Time to be determined
