Last week, Windmills of Your Mind. This week, Don Quixote's Quest, The Impossible Dream. He sees some windmills and thinks they are giants. When he rides to fight with them, he is knocked off his horse. Sancho tells him they are only windmills, but Don Quixote does not believe him. He is sure a magician changed windmills into the giants to hurt him.
We were delighted to have Eamonn back with us wishing to wash Irish wrist watches!
He took us through Make you Feel My love. The Altos were sounding like a church choir of the damned so the emphasis is on ‘Ah’ when singing ‘Love’ (Lahve) rather than ‘Ur’ (Lurve).
Sing love with a smile and it will just happen and make it sound like a ray of sunshine!
The Lady Tenors had their ups and downs. As some parts are extremely low, Eamonn is adjusting the music score to enable them sing an octave higher at certain points, but still sing the lower notes at other times.
When we are all singing the ‘Ooohs’, which are descending notes, it is important that everyone thinks up as they take a breath as they sing the phrases. This will keep is sounding pure.
We have permission to sing a tasteful slide when getting to ‘Wild and free’. That really is a concession, as usually we are forbidden unless it is written!
Feel the stretch and the energy at ‘Go the ends of the earth for you’. Do not sing it like a Dalek!
The Impossible Dream (The Quest) is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. The song is the most popular song from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha and is also featured in the 1972 film of the same name starring Peter O'Toole.
The complete song is first sung by Don Quixote as he stands vigil over his armour, in response to Aldonza (Dulcinea)'s question about what he means by "following the quest". It is reprised partially three more times – the last by prisoners in a dungeon as Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant mount the drawbridge-like prison staircase to face trial by the Spanish Inquisition.
This song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Jack Jones, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Matt Munroe, Andy Williams, Elvis Presley, Susan Boyle and Josh Groban to name but a few.
Now it is Eamonn’s version sung by In Flagrante. The Tenors are the leads in this and need to drive forward through the quavers over the relentless underlying music.
There must be no showmanship – the timing must be precise and perfect in every way!
And no singing in the basement either!
The Atos are like the clarinets and need to sing their part as if they love it.
We are allowed to breathe and from ‘This is my quest’ with the breaths are marked on the score, so take advantage of them. We don’t get the opportunity to breathe very often!
2nd Sops have a part that is all over the place, and if they have confidence, they will achieve the right notes at the right time.
The grand finale ending has Eamonn’s famous little dunce holes. It is imperative that you watch him conducting at the end to know when to take the small gaps otherwise you will experience the famous Eamonn glare!
Little bit of Country and Western theme in the blog this week
Keep Smiling!