The Choir Wire

New Musical Terms

2011-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Music Majors and even Musical Minors read on--a little light relief!

NEW MUSICAL TERMS

(by Tom Hurd on piano-teachers@yahoo.com)

ALLREGRETTO

When you're 16 measures into the piece and realize you took too fast a tempo

ANGUS DEI

To play with a divinely beefy tone

A PATELLA

Accompanied by knee-slapping

APPOLOGGIATURA

A composition that you regret playing

APPROXIMATURA

A series of notes not intended by the composer, yet played with an "I meant to do that" attitude

APPROXIMENTO

A musical entrance that is somewhere in the vicinityof the correct pitch

CACOPHANY [aka CACOUGHONY -psl]

A composition incorporating many people with chest colds

CORAL SYMPHONY

A large, multi-movement work from Beethoven's Caribbean Period

DILL PICCOLINI

An exceedingly small wind instrument that plays only sour notes

FERMANTRA

A note held over and over and over and over and . . .

FERMOOTA

A note of dubious value held for indefinite length

FIDDLER CRABS

Grumpy string players

FLUTE FLIES

Those tiny mosquitos that bother musicians on outdoor gigs

FRUGALHORN

A sensible and inexpensive brass instrument

GAUL BLATTER

A French horn player

GREGORIAN CHAMP

The title bestowed upon the monk who can hold a note the longest

GROUND HOG

Someone who takes control of the repeated bass line and won't let anyone else play it

PLACEBO DOMINGO

A faux tenor

SCHMALZANDO

A sudden burst of music from the Guy Lombardo band

THE RIGHT OF STRINGS

Manifesto of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Violists

SPRITZICATO

An indication to string instruments to produce a bright

and bubbly sound

TEMPO TANTRUM

What an elementary school orchestra is having when it's not following the conductor

TROUBLE CLEF

Any clef one can't read: e.g., alto clef for pianists

VESUVIOSO

An indication to build up to a fiery conclusion

VIBRATTO

Child prodigy son of the concertmaster

My next Audition Piece? Cheap Flights For 50p ! :-)

2011-04-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

If I didn't know I would fail fer sure, I'd try this piece fo rmy next audition....enjoy this performance!

SF State Chamber Singers off to New Orleans

2011-03-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

After an admirable grassroots fundraising effort, David Xiques and the San Francisco State Chamber Singers are on tour in New Orleans. What a wonderful opportunity, through ACFEA tour consultants! The Creative Arts Department may not have a surplus in their budget but, they make us all proud for pulling this off. Jerry Brown, you should hear and see what these students can do! They are great ambassadors for the City by the Bay. Check them out on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFEegAfm88
Laissez les bons temps roulez Allo!
Bon Voyage.

Can't stand to sing?

2011-03-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Singing while seated? ...hm.. not advised, certainly not in performance! But what if you are just taking a wee "rest" when the soloists are in the spotlight? So long as you don't squeak on the risers, and can lean against the back wall, not a problem with most choral directors, correct? Well, not exactly kosher either. Someone gets up too soon, the distraction quotient is high. It just feels wrong. For those of us lucky enough to be able to stand, we may just have to tough it out until the 3rd movement of the B-9! But what about singers who have mobility issues due to diabetes or a recent hip surgery or simply cannot make it through the entire work without a break on the feet.

The only solution I have found so far is to bring your own collapsible seat --okay if you are discreet but really, only for rehearsal and then, none too workable. This new product may be just the ticket! "The Full Measure Rest"

Full Measure Rest with seat back

The only device enabling a singer to continue with a chorus when disability or infirmity prevents standing for a full concert

The Dreaded Axe Man

2011-02-28T19:46:00.001-08:00

You know the problem. You can't quite place it but, in the middle of rehearsal, your throat starts to tickle, then, seize up. Your section leader is giving you "the look"! You have hydrated before the warm-up, you don't have a cold and of course you are not wearing any cologne or smelly hair products. BUT your throat is affected. It can only be...

ADM (Axe Deodorant Moment!). One of your lovely tenors has been thoughtful enough to wear deodorant but it stinks! he meant well, but didn't think the 'Desert Cactus' scent of his new shower gel/deodorant/hairgel would be anything but enticing! He needs help.

We need to remind all choristers not to wear scented products. For some people who are especially chemically sensitive, they simply cannot produce a sound and may become very ill. Take heart though! It is possible to have good hygiene, be fresh for concerts and rehearsals and not choke everyone around us. Look for "fragrance-free" or "unscented" products rather than relying on the words "natural" or even "organic" on product labels. Watch out for "aromatherapeutic" products: they can irritate the vocal cords despite their claims to only using "natural" scents- to your throat, scent is scent.

To make it even more of a challenge, not all unscented products are truly "scent-free"- they use irritating chemicals to mask the sometimes unpleasant odour of the truly fragrance -free ingredients. So, what to do? I have a line of products, mostly from Europe but also locally made in Santa Rosa, California that are unscented and pure with no added fragrance. The SVR deodorant is extremely effective, even under the lights of a 3-hour perfomance. The Logona "FREE" body and hair wash from Germany is gentle enough for people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). For touring choirs, or, just to have a kit ready for production week at the local concert hall, I am developing a line of ChoirGear Kits from Gaia Earthworks with travel size unscented, gentle personal care products for men and women.

In Health and Harmony,

Georgia on my Mind

2011-02-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

A beautful sound! Found while trawling for Cherubic Hymn: the wonders of the internet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pObK-uXvI8&feature=related

Silks, Scents and Songbirds

2011-02-18T18:55:00.000-08:00

In the world of choral singing, the emphasis is on the notes, the Latin, the Italian, (oh, the "dental T"!) or German, and don't forget the French, mon dieu! You are preoccupied with the leaps, the time signature, phrasing, breathing in just the right spot! So why would I write about Silk scarves, songbirds, and shampoos? Because it all helps us perform better if we feel better.

Natural products that will not irritate fellow singer's throats do exist (lads, we all know you can be the culprit!), you can find comfortable, natural fiber, black concert clothing and, elegant jewellery, free of distracting bling!

My mission is to help you perform in comfort and ease, knowing you look and feel as good as you sound. Here's a preview of products I have personally tested to help you do just that.


Colorful accents for Concert Apparel-Pure Silk Scarves- from The Silk Bedroom-

The Songbird Suite (necklace shown) by Birdland Creations

Custom made Cufflinks by Glen Ellen Artisan jeweler, Birdland Creations

I hope to develop the Choir Wire with your comments as an online resource to help you SING, PERFORM and CONNECT with other lovers of vocal music!

In Health and Harmony,

Sing, Perform, Connect

2011-02-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

"Choir Gear", the online resource for singers, is in transition from a retail site to "The Choir Wire" - an online dispatch to connect you with opportunities to learn, to perform, and to partner with other singers to expand audiences for choral music. Stay tuned!