FEEL BETTER, GREGG!! WE MISS YOU!! Hi! Our next rehearsal is Tuesday, November 25th in the choir room at Newfield. We will be rehearsing (11/25): Tim will lead us in preparations for the first dress rehearsal on December 1st. This rehearsal will be with the orchestra. They are an outstanding orchestra whom, in effect, will be sightreading their parts. This is important for us to know because they will essentially be taking their cues from us, regarding the shaping of the music and phrases. Last rehearsal (11/18): Tom ran choruses from No. 9 "Blessed are the men who fear Him" through No. 24 "Woe to Him". This is the 2nd rehearsal of each (third reading). Reminder from previous rehearsal: Tim was asked after the October 28th rehearsal what key elements he wanted us to take from the rehearsal. "First, drama!" Drama of the language and the verse! When we express the many colors of the language, when we sing them expressively, the story jumps off the stage and surrounds the audience. "Dotted notes and eighth notes." Dotted notes and eighth notes are important, too! The tendency is to not give them their full intensity, or in some cases, their full length. Focus on the subdivisions as a string player would by giving them each a full bow (or close to it). Announcements * Rehearsals in the final week: Monday, December 1st, 6:30-9:30 PM; Wednesday, December 3rd, 6:30-9:30 PM; Friday, December 5th,, 6:30-9:30 PM. Everyone has an assigned seat, and it will probably be difficult not to disrupt the rehearsal once it begins if you arrive after 6:30. The first dress rehearsal on Monday, December 1st, will be with the orchestra. They are an outstanding orchestra whom, in effect, will be sightreading their parts. This is important for us to know because they will essentially be taking their cues from us, regarding the shaping of the music and phrases. * Rehearsals during the first week of December will be on the main stage of the Staller Center. Once you enter the Staller Center, head to box office, turn 180 degrees and to the LEFT of the men's room, head back to the main stage door. * Cyberbase has the accompaniments to Elijah, and all the parts. You can find a link to this website on our website: http://www.lisca.org/chorusinfo.html * Concert Dress -- Women, all black, no pearls. Men, standard tux and bow-tie. * NEW-Section Leaders have scores for next season - $20 a score. * NEW-Can anyone recommend good recordings of the Bach, St. John Passion? * NEW-Anne (John Klein's wife) will have pictures and CDs available from Casey. Upcoming Events in Our Community * GREGG SMITH SINGERS '08-'09 CONCERT SERIES Saint Peter's Church, Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, New York City This Saturday, November 22, 2008 Italian Madrigals - Heinrich Schutz Trois Chansons - Claude Debussy Psalm 121 - I Lift My Eyes - Edmund Najera Three Settings from the Bay Psalm Book - Jack Beeson (intermission} God's World - Michael Cohen The Spheres at Play - Fred Thayer Incarnation - Dorothy Hindman Deo Gratias - Dale Jergenson Waddaya Want for Christmas? - William Vollinger Christmas Carol Arrangements - Gregg Smith Invitations and Opportunities: The First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson is seeking singers for 'Mendelssohn Sunday' which will take place Sunday 12/21. The expanded choir will be singing "He Watching Over Israel" and "Lift Thine Eyes" from Elijah. We will also be singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" and possibly a men's group singing a Palestrina piece, "Adoramus Te". Prep rehearsals will take place on Sunday AMs, after the 10 AM services. Two rehearsals for those who have already sung the pieces will take place on the previous two Sundays 12/7 and 12/14, at 11:30 AM. Palestrina rehearsals will begin 11/23. Please contact Mike Bussewitz at 849-4185 or michael_bussewitz@yahoo.com if you would like to be part of the choir. The Christ Episcopal Church in Bellport extends an invitation to sing in their choir under the direction of Maurice Kemp. The Bellport United Methodist Church invites singers to join them. See Mark Barton if you are interested. Still CDs available! "Katie's Concert '07: A Christmas Candlelight Service" CD.