Rehearsal Review Part 2
Nutcracker Jingles
General rule for the song: when you have the melody, bring it out
Strong, final consonants, especially the letter T, throughout
Be ready for the tempo to increase on page 6
In March of the Toy Soldiers, be aware that the melody passes back and forth from soprano and alto to tenor and bass.
For dance of the sugarplum fairy, the dynamic level is Metso piano
In dance of the Reed, flutes, tenors and bases make sure that you are constant with your intervals and you are holding your pitches throughout the measure
From measure 111 to the end, everybody needs to watch very carefully
Sessex Carol
This has a lengthy introduction; you don't need to stare at your music the entire time, look out into the audience and smile, tenors and basses. You don't come in for 2 1/2 pages, look out into the audience for that entire time.
Always be listening for two things rhythmically in this piece: the change between 6/4 and 9/4, and when the measure goes from a feeling of compound to duple meter.
Dynamics are fundamental throughout; make sure they are marked, especially the ones that we put in.
Again, there is a long piano break on pages eight and nine; you should be looking at me, not with your nose in the music. You can get your nose back in the music at the top of page 9 to start getting the feel of that duple meter you'll need to come in at the top of page 9.
From the top of page 9
to the end of the song, it is forte or louder. The climax of this piece is found at the very end
