Noteworthy News, October 23rd

Important upcoming dates:

  • Monday, October 26, Rehearsal (Zoom) 7 - 8 pm

  • Thursday, October 29, All Classical Radio FM 89.9 Fall Into The Arts Program  7 pm

  • Monday, November 2, Rehearsal (Zoom) 7 - 8 pm

  • Monday, November 9, Rehearsal (Zoom) 7 - 8 pm

  • Monday, November 16, Final day to submit all recordings

Here's the LINK for Monday's rehearsal. Several clever folks have noticed that it's the same link/code for all our Zoom rehearsal gatherings. 

The website resources continue to be updated including pronunciation guides (PSCSINGERS/Members or Guests & Alumni (pswd: wintersong2020)/Study Resources), with several additional materials to help everyone prepare for rehearsal (hint, hint).

Tenors: Section Leader Ralph is offering a tenor sectional beginning at 6:30 before Monday's rehearsal. The focus will be on the unusual intervals and tongue-twisting lyrics in Gaudete as well as some equally tricky spots in I Wander. Use the same Zoom access code as with the usual rehearsal.

Speaking of section leaders, here is the complete list including their contact information (email is preferred):

"Trivia night was a blast," is the prevailing opinion of several attendees. The highlight wasn't a particular question or category, rather the unabashed joy and humor of folks getting together to reminisce about some of the aspects of Portland Symphonic Choir's 75 years of singing together. Special thanks to Daryl Browne and her team for organizing the memorable event.

Please note the calendar entry (above) for a special program on local radio station, All Classical (FM 89.9 and worldwide, allclassical.org) highlighting several performing groups from the Portland area. Our Choir will be featured on Thursday, October 29th. --> That's next Thursday evening, during their 7 o'clock broadcast hour.

From Alissa: I will have a conducting video for I Wonder that will be introduced at rehearsal Monday night. In the meantime, keep practicing with the audio tracks as well as repetition learning of the lyrics for Gaudete. (select Study Resources in the PSC Singers section of the website) (see info, above regarding access to website resources).

From Wendy: Every Monday, getting to “see” you sing brings me great joy! Thanks for continuing to come to rehearsals in preparation for our virtual projects. Recordings for I Wonder as I Wander and Gaudete are due November 16. This is a hard deadline as the AV editing company we are working with has a very tight schedule. Please let your section leader know if you will or will not be recording as we need to get an accurate count of singers for our editing company. We hope all of you will take the time to record because all of your voices together create a beautiful, full sound. We will be talking through the recording instructions in the coming weeks as we know many of you have not recorded for a virtual project before. Stay tuned! Also, we want you to know that these Wintersong projects will be visually simple and will have beautiful audio. Thank you for singing, practicing, and recording. Your voices will bring joy to many during these unusual times. Singing On!

Upcoming Choral (musical) events of Note: Join Ralph Nelson and the Bach Cantata Choir for an online presentation about Johann Sebastian Bach, Martin Luther, and Bach's powerful and fascinating Cantata No. 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott. Ralph will start by explaining the history of the cantata then the score will be projected on the screen. Audience members will need to be muted on Zoom but are welcome to sing along at home. At the end, we'll join together on Luther's great Reformation hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Click here to register for this Zoom event. You will receive an email with the Zoom link when you have registered. 

Sunday, October 25, 2pm-3pm via Zoom link

Lecture, demonstration and sing-along: Johann Sebastian Bach

BWV 80 "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" 

("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God")

Alissa Deeter