Saturday, April 25, 2009

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:

Saturday, April 18, 2009

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.