QUICK UPDATES:

• Make up rehearsal will be Thursday, April 20th, 7:30-9:30 at St John's.
• See Mary's message below for info about Solo Auditions. Be sure to scroll all the way through!

2 rehearsals down, 8+ to go… We are on track for a great concert!

I hope you are finding the available resources helpful to practice at home, in the car, on your walk, etc! Using a recording device (phone app) at rehearsal is a also a great way to remember and practice your part. We have a lot to learn but don’t be discouraged - it always comes together!

If you miss a rehearsal you can access the live stream to catch up. The link is always in N&N. We try to post the live stream recordings on the website but there have been some technical issues with the first 2 so please use the back up links found in N&N to watch. (see links below)

Enjoy your week!

Bev

Backup link for 3/7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpbC43GRqx

Backup link for 3/21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWlbIEUZOPw

Reach out to Ann and Bev at:

Producers@mysticchorale.org

Our Producers are volunteers with busy lives! They will do their best to get back to you within 24 hours.

Great to be back! The arrival of spring this past Monday banishes all thoughts of snow - onward to May! Thanks to all the New Singers who attended the before-rehearsal reception and shared their stories of how they have arrived at Mystic and their love of singing- very uplifting to hear. 

We covered the many Chorus/Solo verses pieces: A Rianxeira, Calon Lan, Hal An Tow, Rocky Road and Padstow May Song. We sang through the melody of Leaving Enniskillen, the melody lines of Loch Lomond and closed with Wild Mountain Thyme. The chorale is making a truly lovely sound from where I am standing- excellent!

SOLO AUDITIONS:

There are 8 songs featuring soloists, 18 solos in all. We will have auditions before and after our April 4th rehearsal (6:30 to 7:30 and 9:30 to 10:30). If you cannot audition on the 4th, contact me directly to set up a Zoom audition at marycunningham2645@gmail.com. 

Here are the MANY Solo Opportunities, what I will want to hear for your audition and a brief description. 

Reminder for preparing for your audition: The practice recordings for all voice parts are on the website, on the practice CD and the full performance recordings is also on the site. Be brave- we need a lot of solo voices!

A Rianxeira: both High and Low voices - Audition by singing the refrain mm 9-24 and the first verse mm. 26-51 with repeats and in Spanish. Phonetic pronunciation directly under text! Looking for light, fun singing in confident Galician.

Calon Lan: both High and Low voices - Audition by singing Verse 1. Looking for expressive, centered sound. 

Hal An Tow: both High and Low voices - Audition by singing any verse 1-4. The practice recordings of all voice parts are on the website, on the practice CD and the full performance recording is also on the site. Looking for strong voices with lively character. 

Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears: High Voice(Soprano/Tenor) - Audition by singing the opening solo mm. 4-13.  Looking for a story teller with the classic Irish Tenor/Celtic Woman sound. 

Loch Lomond: Audition by singing the opening Bass solo mm. 1-9. Looking for a noble, heartfelt sound here. 

Rocky Road To Dublin: Low voices - Audition by singing Verse 1 mm. 1-22 including the refrain. Looking for tasteful, tuneful yet authentic Dropkick Murphy style. 

We Rise Again: Low Voices: Audition by singing the opening solo mm. 4-12. 

Soprano: Audition by singing solo at mm. 13-15. Noble and heartfelt here as well.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken: High and Low voices - Audition by singing the melody on the Soprano line mm. 1-9. We will have an opening solo voice, followed by a trio of voices before the full chorus begins. Looking for clear, blending voices.

Dulaman News: A commercial website link problem led me to download the wrong parts recordings for Dulaman. I now have the correct ones for our arrangement and we will have them up on the website asap! The Performance Recording section holds the correct version so please have a listen and sincere apologies for the mix -up. 

See you soon, in song,

Mary

Mary Cunningham

marycunningham2645@gmail.com

Practice Audio tracks

A great way to learn your individual parts!

Go to: https://mysticchorale.org/my-seasons/

Select Spring 2023 season

Scroll down to "Practice Audios"

Click on your section to find all the practice tracks!

Note the "download" feature does not work with all devices.

Practice CDs are here!

These are the same tracks as the ones on the website, but on a CD to listen to on your CD player or in car (if you still have a CD player!). Pick up at the sign in table.

Performance Recordings

Examples of our songs to familiarize yourself with the repertoire, get inspired, and sing along! Go to: https://mysticchorale.org/performance-recordings/

Lyrics only packet

Not a music reader? Want to focus on the words? Mary created this lyrics only packet just for you!

• Lyrics only packet

Please pitch in where you can - we are an all-volunteer organization and we need you! It's a great way to meet new people and feel part of the action!

• Chair set up Volunteers - help set up the chairs for rehearsal. 4 volunteers needed. Time commitment: 7:00-7:15.

• Chair Re-set Captain: Thank you Shannon Sweeney for taking on the role of Chair re-set Captain! She will guide the re-set volunteers each week!

• Late check-in monitor - check in latecomers from 7:30-8:00. You can still participate in rehearsal from the back table, then re-join your section at 8:00. 1 person needed each week, 7:30-8:00. email Bev at info@mysticchorale.org if you can help.

• THANK YOU to all who have been helping this season! It takes a village to keep everything running smoothly!

TO VOLUNTEER or learn more or about any of these roles, please contact:

Linda Shoemaker

Mystic Admin Director

& Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer@mysticchorale.org

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, and have fun making the "Mystic Magic" come to life!

I look forward to working with you!

Welcome Virtual Singers!!

We are so glad you are joining us, and look forward to having you there "with us" in the rehearsal hall!

What you will need:

• Your MUSIC PACKET - You can view online or download and print from here: Get the Celtic Roots Music Packet

• A computer/laptop (recommended) We recommend your computer or laptop - the bigger the screen, and the better your speakers, the more you will feel "with" us. But a tablet, ipad or phone will work, too.

• Headphones, Earbuds or External Speakers (highly recommended). The better your speakers, the more you will hear Mary and the singers in the room.

• A place to sit and sing comfortably. We suggest an upright chair, similar to what you would find at rehearsal. A soft chair or couch is not as conducive to good singing.

How to tune into the Livestream:

At 7:30 on Tuesday, click the video preview or link below, and you'll be with us!

If we lose the Livestream signal:

Occasionally, we lose the livestream signal due to a poor internet connection. If that happens, go to the "Just in case" backup link below. We'll try to be back up and running asap!

Each week, we'll post the link in News & Notes, and on the website, here. If you miss the Livestream on Tuesday night, it will be available on a YouTube Playlist  after rehearsal.  

"JUST IN CASE" - Backup Livestream Link

Occasionally, we lose the livestream signal due to a poor internet connection. If that happens, go to the "backup link" below. We'll try to be back up and running asap!

Backup link (for use ONLY if we lose the livestream):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWlbIEUZOPw

Rehearsals:

10 Tuesdays, March 7 - May 9

First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Arlington

Snow Day make-up: Thursday, April 20th at St. John's on Pleasant St.

Sectionals:

• Thursday, March 30, 7:00-7:55 - Tenor
• Thursday, March 30, 8:00-8:55 - Bass
• Thurday, April 6, 7:00-7:55 - Soprano
• Thursday, April 6, 8:00-8:55 - Alto

Dress/Tech Rehearsal: Wed, May 17

Cary Hall, Lexington

Concert: Friday, May 19

Cary Hall, Lexington