Second session

The choir in preparation

Overview
Our second session had two focus areas:
1. Basic breathing technique for singers
2. Here I Am, Lord

Breathing Technique
First is how long we can make a breath last - knowing how long a phrase of music is and making sure we don't use up too much breath too early. We can practice this just by reading a long sentence slower and slower but with the same number of times we take a breath.

The second thing is not singing from the throat or from the upper chest area (like Superman!)but all the down in the belly/diaphragm.


Singing from the diaphragm

A website that has been recommended to me is Vocalist, and you can find the specific link HERE.

Here I Am, Lord by Daniel Schutte

This hymn was selected because the acclamation before the gospel for the Children's Mass will be from Samuel, and the lyrics for this hymn seem to match up pretty well. The audio clip for today is a little large at 2.8MB, and as there is a limit to the amount of downloads per day - if you can't download today, please try again tomorrow.

Download here

Lyrics:

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Who shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord. If You lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne My people's pain.
I have wept for love of them,
They run away.
I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You Calling in the night.
I will go, Lord. If You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, 'Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord. If You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.


See you all next week!

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog of the Children's Choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang.

This site is scheduled to be updated weekly, on the days immediately after our regular Saturday rehearsals. It is meant to be a way for parents to keep in the know about how our sessions are going, and the ways the choir members can prepare for the next rehearsal. Photos of the choir will also be posted here on occasion. Thank you for your participation and support.

APRIL 23 FIRST SESSION

We focused mostly on working on simple choir exercises. Only half of the members got the exercise sheets (the others shared) because it was the first day and we didn't know how many people were going to turn up. The response was very encouraging and we will have additional exercise sheets for those who did not get them last week.

Main points:

• Not to shout when trying to sing loudly
• Learning to watch a conductor while also looking at the printed lyrics (not at the LCD)
• Sitting straight, with the shoulders back - the start of good singing posture

We also tried out the chorus of the song "City of God" by Dan Schutte. The following Monday, the cantor group headed by Andre Ong recorded this chorus and it is available for download at the link below:

Download here

Let us build the city of God.
May our tears be turned into dancing.
For the Lord our light and our love
has turned the night into day.

My thanks to Andre and the group, as well as to Geraldine who is helping to coach the choir. See you all next week.

Andrew Filmer