Remember, remember the 5th of November… well, just in case you don’t…
We started with ‘Come live with me’ from the Rutter. This was the only piece with material that we were yet to cover, but not any more – we managed a complete performance! We spent a good third of the rehearsal on the last 3 or 4 pages of this piece, so if you weren’t there please PLEASE have a look in your own time, as we have precious little time left for note-bashing!
We also looked at the other Rutter (My True Love Hath My Heart), which is really starting to come together nicely. Sopranos were sounding as good as I have heard them on page 32! Tenors and Basses – remember to hold the note in bar 38 (just before B) when I bring off the Sopranos and Altos.
We then had a working run through Zadok, which is very secure. We spent a long time with the Sopranos nailing their runs in the third section – if you weren’t there please make sure you know those notes!
Finally we tackled the Britten again, with a sing through each of the SA and TB movements. The SA piece (No4 Country Girls) was excellent, but it showed that only 5 of the Tenors and Basses were present when we learned No5 Rustics and Fishermen! The Ss and As left early so we could note-bash through this. We also sang through the last movement (Homage), which was remarkably good considering we only learned it last week! Counting is the key in this piece – I am bringing in parts where I can, but there are too many competing entries for me to cover them all – you need to take that on yourselves!
Well, that was bonfire night. I make it just three more rehearsals before concert day – we are on track but still a lot of tidying to do!
All best
Dave