Stetson

Sing with an even breath and an open throat.

I spent this weekend at Stetson University for the High School Clinic, rehearsing for performance in the Honor Chorale. (There is a chorus, too, but the only difference is that the chorus is prepared, whereas we receive our music on Friday morning and sing it Saturday evening. We don’t get two weeks. We get two days.)

The guest conductor was Dr. Arasi, a music administrator from Cobb County, in Georgia. I’ve been with many clinicians, and while she is not in my opinion the most fun, she is in fact the most knowledgeable on the mechanics of the voice and appropriate vocal technique. We even learned some things that the Groganator is stealing for use on our school choir.

Anyway, we arived after a fun, fun trip of me lauging and everyone making Randall hyperventilate-laugh. We ate. We slept. Then begins the fun. We parked in the morning in a sideways perking lot and walking in it made me dizzy. James said I would never survive in Colorado. Then, we received our folders (green this year) containing our music to learn and memorize by the next evening. The list is as follows, in program order:

• Let the celestial concerts all unite, George F. Handel
• Flanders Fields, Paul A. Aitken
• Pala Palá, Mario Perini
• Sure on this Shining Night, Morten Lauridsen
• My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord, Moses Hogan

Now, when we received the music, Flanders fields just so happened to be in this. On top. So I opened My folder and almost cried in joy upon seing the one most beautiful song I have ever heard in my life. Actually, Randall, Gia, and myself were having an argument about who was happiest we were singing it, because we are all aware of Paul A. Aitken’s arrangement. (Of course, if you read my blog often, you would know that; I’ve suffered a recent obsession with the text and reference the exact setting we sang multiple times.)

Long story short, it was amazing. Lauridsen’s harmonies are wonderful, he had another Hogan, though it wasn’t as good as last year’s… Pala Palá was very fun, reminiscent of Siriri from all-state last January.

I have crossed the point of no return. I’m comparing chorus music to what I know. I’m truly a nerd now :)

But it’s inside joke time.

• Naughty or Nice?
• Diet or Excercise?
• Keep your hands to yourself
• Chaffing
• She Lies!!!
• Blasphemy!!
• Grandma & Grandpa
• Curses!!!!
• No beverages in the vehicle

I will not forget this anytime soon.