Off Book
- Trills on a Tuesday
- May 17
- 4 min read
With only nine more rehearsals until our Summer Gala Concert, we still have a lot of work to do. Eamonn is going through as many songs as possible, and we mostly know all the notes.
However, we do need to work on learning the words, so we can sing them ‘off book’ and look up.
This makes such difference in many ways; we can clearly see Eamonn for his direction on when to start, the cut offs, the silences of the dunce holes and the endings.
It is so important we sing (or not) in unison which makes the difference to us sounding like a professional choir or a rag tag of people randomly singing.
The bonus of singing off book means when we are looking up our voices are projected outwards to our audience and not down into our boots!
Generally, Eamonn is impressed at the work we have put in so far and it is now coming down to polishing our performance with the small picky things.
Think of it as tiling a wall. When the tiles are up it looks ok, but when the grouting is done it looks absolutely amazing. We are aiming for absolutely amazing.
We started the evening with Nights in White Satin a song by English rock band the Moody Blues, written by band member Justin Hayward wrote who composed the song at age 19 while touring in Belgium and titled the song after a girlfriend gave him a gift of satin bedsheets. Hayward said of the song, "It was just another song I was writing and I thought it was very powerful. It was a very personal song and every note, every word in it means something to me and I found that a lot of other people have felt that very same way about it." Hayward also said: So, with "Nights", I sat on the side of the bed and just wrote the two verses. I was at the end of one big love affair and the beginning of another. These are the things that boys, when they're in the middle of love affairs, think about. Every word in that song makes perfect sense to me, but trying to explain it to someone is difficult. I mean, I lived every one of the lines in that song"
Even though there are short phrases in this song, put them together so they make long phrases to give them direction.
Altos; enjoy your ‘Oohs’
Make ‘I love you’ sound sweet and tender and then emphasise the repeat, ‘Yes, I love you’. You may then snatch a quick breath before ‘Oh, how I love you’
When the Tenors and Basses are singing their verse, Sops and Altos sing out your ‘Oohs’ loudly, even though is says pianissimo in the music score so you can be heard under the strong voices of the verse.
On the ‘twiddly’ note section, lean into the first notes
Watch Eamonn for the last note at the end.
The Sound of Silence is in good shape. Just watch out for the different length silences and don’t fall into the dunce holes. Keep watching Eamonn and he will direct you. If his hand is up like a halt sign it means SHUT UP!
Sop 1s follow on confidently with your ‘Oohs’ as if it’s a continuation of the Sop 2s singing their ‘Oohs’ and sing straight into ‘Ooh, ooh, without speaking…’ with no breath.
Matthew & Son – Altos lean into your do do dn do dos towards the end. Have fun and a little wiggle if it makes you feel the rhythm.
California Dreamin’ – ensure you know what part you are singing and when. Sop1s, it is easy for you as you are always on Part 1.
Sop 2s, please practice your ‘Stopped into a church….’ section as you are the only ones singing this part and it needs to be clear and confident.
The Logical Song – Sops and Altos learn the first page so it can be sung off book.
This means you are looking up and engaging with the audience and watching Eamonn.
Again, have fun with the ending learn it by heart and make sure we all finish at the same time!
You’re the Voice needs lots of stamina. Every time you turn the page there is more to come.
It is relentless! Forest Gump certainly had it!
We finished with Irish Blessing, such a contrast with its slow quite gentility.
Sops learn the first verse to sing off book and look up. DO NOT breathe in ‘ever in the palm of hiz hand’ except at the very end when a small breath is allowed …’ever in the palm (quick breath) of hiz hand’.
It only takes one person to sing a note when they shouldn’t to completely change the quality and sound. Don’t be that one person! Learn the words and have confidence to look up. It can’t be stressed enough – WATCH EAMONN.
Watch and Learn and we will be amazing!
David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birth at the Albert Hall. Bastille sang this Pompeii in his honour.
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