Don’t be Afraid of Chriiii-smas!
One last new song to learn with Elliot called Christmas Children which is a song featured in the 1970 movie-musical, Scrooge composed by Leslie Bricusse. It is sung by Bob Cratchit and his children, Tiny Tim and Kathy, as they walk home with their cheap Christmas shopping. It also plays during the end credits of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.
To start we were told not to hiss when singing ‘Christmas’. Extend the vowel ‘i’ and cut out the ‘t’ and when singing it many times in this song: don’t be afraid of ‘Chriii-smas’.
Practise at home and it will soon become second nature and you won’t even have to think about it.
The verses should sound impish as if it’s the children singing while the other parts are like the adults singing.
In the first verse, sung by the Sops, make sure that ‘toys’ and ‘joys’ are not emphasised; keep them even.
‘trees’, ‘hopes’ in ‘Christmas trees and toys, Christmas hopes and joys’ are long notes.
When everyone joins in with their harmonies ensure the ‘…. Tied with pretty bows’ has a ‘z’ sound and the vowel is long as in ‘b-ooooh-z’
More long notes on ‘what’s’ and ..’lights’ in ‘Wonder what’s inside? What de-lights they hide’. The ‘s’ on the end of the words should be joined onto the next word so there is no hissing!
‘Wonder what sinside’ and ‘What delight sthey hide’.
The Dynamics:
Sops start in a breathy way as if telling a secret.
Gradually build up until ‘Christmas puddings rich with Christmas cream’
As everyone joins in keep it at a reasonable volume and then a very loud, ‘Won’t it be exciting if it snows?’
Middle section, where it is like the adults singing, you may take a quick breath after ‘…children everywhere’ going into ‘must say a Christmas prayer’.
Tenors sing the suspensions and resolutions in ‘I suppose..’ and ‘… children everywhere’.
‘…their Christmas things’ goes quiet, but it doesn’t slow down.
Back into impish mode with a cannon. It is important that when you come in with your part you are confident and grab the audience’s attention. Don’t be hesitant and make it sound as if you are coming late!
Altos and Basses, take a quick breath before the ‘Aah’ so it comes out loudly and clearly.
Sops put an ‘ar’ sound in to ‘fold’ as in ‘Waiting for the magic to unfarld’
At the end make it a crisp ‘d’ on ‘old’
Listen to the tracks and familiarise yourself with it – and don’t be afraid of ‘Chriiii-smas’
A Song for a Winter’s Night was next. The basses had great praise sounding melodious and silky.
Remember the chorus is syncopated and words come just before the beat with ‘hands’ and ‘love’ in ‘..hold the hands I love’
Basses sing out ‘I would’ in a strong voice as you need to be heard and then everyone comes in confidently as an echo.
As the ‘ooh’ sound is difficult to hear, even though it is written pianissimo, sing it louder and it will be heard but not in an overpowering way. They are too good not to be heard!
Basses on your verse, ‘The smoke is rising…’ don’t slow down. Leave a slight gap after ‘overhead’ before coming in with ‘my glass is almost empty’.
‘lines upon each page’ is syncopated like ‘hold the hands I love’ in the chorus.
Our memory was tested as we sang the new song from last week, Once Upon a December.
This needs to be kept simple, but words and ‘Mmm’s need to be sung right to the end of phrases – don’t then tail off as if you’re running out of breath or sounding as if you’ve had enough and just want to end it quickly!
There is no slow down at the end!
Before next week, take a look especially at the key change part.
Only two more weeks with Elliot☹. In that time we will cover as much or our repertoire as possible to be a good place for Eamonn to add the dymanics to each song as we will all know the notes and when to sing them 😊
I believe in you – you can do it!
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