QUICK UPDATES:

• Practice Audio Tracks, performance tracks, practice CD's & more learning resources now available. Scroll down to the "Practice Resources" section

• New Singer Welcome Reception has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30. All welcome! New singers, come meet fellow singers, ask questions and tell us how you found the Mystic Chorale. Returning singers, come meet our new singers and help them feel welcome!



• You asked for it: Starting next Tuesday, those who would like to sit closer together in order to better hear each other, should sit in the front half of the hall. Those who want to sit more spaced out should sit in the back half.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Hope you all stayed warm and safe last Tuesday as you practiced your music in the comfort of your home. Look at this as an “extra” rehearsal rather than a missed one!

As Ann said last week, “Fear not! The first rehearsal of any season is a little daunting. How can I learn all these songs? Gaelic? Welsh? How do I learn my part?” Use the audio resources… just listening to your part over and over will help! I have always found that once I have the music in my brain, the lyrics are easier to learn. Singing in a language not familiar to you can be intimidating. I find it helpful to create my own phonetic version of foreign lyrics from listening to the audio recordings.

We are still at the beginning of our journey but it is important to practice what we have learned as well as becoming familiar with the songs we have not yet tackled in rehearsal.

Looking forward to singing together on Tuesday! As always, feel free to email us at producers@mysticchorale.org with any questions or concerns.

Bev

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.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!

There’s a good chance you can hear more than the usual wonderful amount of Celtic music this weekend with Boston being a real hub of traditional music. If you are lucky enough to live near an Irish pub that holds live music sessions and can possibly squeeze in the door for a listen, you’ll be treated to some of the best Celtic folk around.

This holiday, with its shamrocks and parades, has its roots deep in the lore of Ireland, one of the Celtic lands from which our repertoire for Celtic Roots is drawn. And as you begin to familiarize yourselves with the lyrics of our songs, you’ll find that the stories from Celtic history abound.

Folk songs seem uniquely able to tell the tales that define a culture. We as singers, for the briefest time, share in the hopes, losses, loves and legends that the lyricist sets down either last year or a thousand years ago. Whether we’re rocking on the waves off the Spanish coast or hiking the Rocky Road to Dublin, singing these songs gives us a chance to see the world through another’s eyes.

All the lyrics to our songs are now posted on the site along with Performance Recordings to help everyone to get acquainted with how the full performance will sound.

Enjoy and see you soon, in song,

Mary

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.

Performance Recordings

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

Practice CD's - available Tuesday

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!).

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!

• NEW! Pick up the Practice CD's & be a hero to the whole Chorale!! We need one person to pick up our practice CD's in Carlisle. We don't yet know when they will be ready, but possibly before next Tuesday's rehearsal! If you can help with this, please email the Producers: Producers@mysticchorale.org. Thanks!

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

• Chair Re-set Captain - oversee a small team to put the chairs back into postion before we leave. We'll show you everything you need to know. 1 or 2 volunteers needed. Time commitment: 10-15 minutes after rehearsal.

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

New Singer Reception:

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30-7:20

in the Vestry

Last Day to Drop the Season for a Refund:

(-$20 admin fee) Wednesday, March 22, 12:00 noon

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