Best wishes

Once again, it was a pleasure to work with everyone in the Young Voices. Please note that following the CEC Mass there are no longer weekly rehearsals. Very best wishes.

One last week!

Next week is our last week - singing at the CEC Mass, 6pm Saturday.

Rehearsal will be from 3pm starting in our regular room.

The verses will be split between soloists ("To the...") and the Young Voices ("I say 'Yes', my Lord") while everyone joins in the chorus. Some parts have been highlighted in green for soloists to pay particular attention as they are somewhat different.

Verse 1

To the God who cannot die,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
To the One who hears me cry,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
To the God of the oppressed,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
To the God of all that’s just,
I say "Yes", my Lord.

Chorus

I say "Yes", my Lord,
in all the good times,
through all the bad times.
I say "Yes", my Lord,
to every word You speak.

Verse 2

I'm a servant of the Lord,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
I'm a worker in the fields,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
I'm a pris’ner of their wars,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
Like a champion for Your cause
I say "Yes", my Lord. (CHORUS)

Verse 3

For the dream I have today,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
To be a healer of all pain,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
To come to love my enemies,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
For Your peace in all the world,
I say "Yes", my Lord. (CHORUS)

Verse 4

Like Job, unceasingly,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
Like Mary, wholeheartedly,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
Like David in a song,
I say "Yes", my Lord.
Like Israel for You I long,
I say "Yes", my Lord. (CHORUS)

Three Weeks To Go

This past weekend, the Young Voices focused our energies on the most recent addition to our hymn list: Sing a New Song.

Some of the things we worked on:

• Reaching a high note by imagining already being on top of the mountain - not climbing it
• Remembering that posture and breathing are important, as well as blending with the other singers next to you
• In order to have dynamics (loud and soft), we need to have contrast - in order to get louder, you have to remember to start softer

Next week we will be adding in the final numbers to our hymn list. In Bread We Bring You Lord will be fairly familiar, and one new hymn will be added that will add some bounce to our next rehearsal. We have three weeks left to the CEC Mass - see you at rehearsal!

We Sing New Songs

Last Saturday's session was led by Andre Ong, and both Andre and Andrew plan to be there for the session. Please note that this Saturday's rehearsal is from 4:00-5:30PM, as we do not have Catechism class. There will also be a break over the school holidays, which we will announce in detail next week.

We introduced Sing A New Song (composed by Dan Schutte), the lyrics are below:

Refrain: Sing a new song unto the Lord;
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord, singing alleluia.

1. Yahweh's people dance for joy.
O come before the Lord,
and play for him on glad tambourines,
and let your trumpet sound.

2. Rise, O children, from your sleep;
your Savior now has come.
He has turned your sorrow to joy
and filled your soul with song.

3. Glad my soul for I have seen
the glory of the Lord.
The trumpet sounds; the dead shall be raised.
I know my Savior lives.

It's more or less the theme of the choir this year - that we try new songs like In Christ Alone and Now We Remain, which the choir has not tried in the past.

There aren't great videos online, but here is the best link there so far. Andre worked specifically on enunciation, especially that we hear the "d" at the end of words like "Lord".

The Musical Grand Design

Last Sunday we had our first run-through of both of the hymns we are working on at this moment - In Christ Alone, and Now We Remain. Please look at our previous blog postings (or the side bar under "Video Links") for the YouTube videos that will help in preparation of these selections.

This week, we focused on three things:

1. The big picture, or grand design. We prepare not only one line or one verse, but look at the whole song to see where we will eventually be loud, so we don't get loud too early and have no where to go.

2. We also talked about the character of the voice, about how some of the verses needed a more serious, darker tone, and how we should think about matching the colour of our voices to the content of the lyrics.

3. The last thing we did was to see how sensitive we are to the conducting, that is whether we can observe small movements. We tried this by having the conductor direct using only his facial expressions.

In addition, we refreshed our skills in quickly memorizing, and looking forward when we sing, so that we don't sing into our printed music. As always, we also took time to understand the context of the lyrics.

Remember, all those interested in singing a solo line or verse in Now We Remain are very much encouraged to try out and volunteer!



(Not the best video out there because of its rather abrupt ending, but it's good that it has lyrics attached.)

The Music Bucket

Today we had an unusual session as attendance was low (probably due to Wesak Day). We worked on these skills:

• Concentrating on listening and hearing actively and equally
• Adjusting to the sound of the person next to you
• Aiming your voice to a place in the centre, which is like a bucket collecting all the sound
• Planning and shaping a musical phrase
  

We used the video clip of In Christ Alone (see link in previous post, below), slowly turning down the volume at the same time as singing louder. This way, bit by bit we replace the recording.

Please let your friends in the choir know that sessions are on as usual - but we will take some time off during the school holidays in June. We are preparing for the CEC Mass in mid-July.

Please also note that next week our venue may be changed to the RCIA Room. We will place a notice and hopefully have someone on hand to make sure everyone is informed.

Congratulations, and Looking Forward

Congratulations to the Young Voices Choir for their contribution to today's mass. We are looking ahead to the CEC Mass in July, as well as a possible visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Here are another helpful video for a song we aim to sing:

Young Voices for April and Beyond

Please note that we are aiming to sing on Sunday April 26 for the final hymn, Jesus Christ is Risen Today.

This week we had a preview of a selection we hope to sing for the CEC Mass in July. Volunteers are encouraged for the verses.





Here are the lyrics:

NOW WE REMAIN
by David Haas

Refrain

We hold the death of the Lord deep in our hearts.
Living, now we remain with Jesus, the Christ.
1. Once we were people afraid,
lost in the night.
Then by your cross we were saved;
dead became living,
life from your giving.

2. Something which we have known,
something we’ve touched,
what we have seen with our eyes:
this we have heard;
life giving Word.

3. He chose to give of himself,
became our bread.
Broken, that we might live.
Love beyond love,
pain for our pain.

4. We are the presence of God;
this is our call.
Now to become bread and wine:
food for the hungry,
life for the weary,
for to live with the Lord,
we must die with the Lord.

Today's session also focused on sustaining long notes and phrases. The skills involved are:

1. Knowing where to breathe
2. Pacing one's breath (controlling the speed of air)
3. Breathing in quickly
4. Practicing longer sustained notes

We also mentioned that while singing extended notes we have to watch that the quality of sound is still good.

Lastly, here is an excellent video for students to sing with when they are at home, though some of the lyrics are different.

SCHEDULE

Young Voices is gearing up for its first project: the second Sunday of Easter, which is closer than one might think.

Next week, March 7: rehearsal is on as scheduled.
Week after, March 14: no rehearsal due to CEC camp project.
March 21: special day as there are no cathechism classes. Rehearsal aimed at 3:30-5:30.
March 28: rehearsal TBC.
First week of April: no rehearsal due to Martin Jalleh event.
Second week of April: Holy Saturday.
Third week of April: Young Voices sing at mass.

Please have a look at the video from last week's posting, it will be the main focus of the next rehearsal.

Welcome to our first session!

We use slightly different lyrics:

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

We also started on solfege, or the syllables connected to the notes of a scale:
DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO

There's a good introduction at this link, though we don't use the hand signals. What we add to that, however, is a reference back to DO:

DO RE MI DO MI DO MI

DO RE MI FA DO FA DO FA

DO RE MI FA SO DO SO DO SO

Try it out! And see you next week.

Welcome to the 2009 Programme!

Beginning February 21, 2009, the choir returns with a new name: Young Voices. With an expansion of the programme led by Andre Ong and Andrew Filmer, further singing skills will be open to all young people of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang.

A week before (Feb. 14), all students of the CEC will be provided information sheets and registration forms.

Check back here as the programme commences for further information. Updates and links will be provided to allow students to connect to their weekly sessions.