Bits of this and that

[wiseheart]

We had choir practice this morning - the last one before the competition on Friday. I'm still unsure about some parts, especially the Stabat Mater by Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, in which I'm supposed to sing the tenor voice. I've found a YouTube video, where the tenor voice can be listened to separately and use it as a learning aid, but I'm still not stable enough. That's what I get from joining the choir a mere three weeks before the competition. Well, when I'm not sure about a few tones, I'll discreetly fell silent and let the others perform. *g*

Yesterday and today I cut out the bases of 18 more Matrjoshki. I decided to save me one phase of the work by using patterned cardboard instead of plain one and patterned paper. Even so, it will be one hell of work to finish them - and another 6 or more - until February. I don't know why I keep coming up with such monster project. Nobody has ever demanded such things from me. Must be the insanity raising its ugly head again. *g*

Writing-wise I made very little progress: typing up the last written bits of Kansas 2. I've got one more chapter (#33) to post next Sunday; after that, I won't be able to keep up the weekly updates. Considering how very few people bother to review, I don't feel obliged to work myself into early burnout.

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that the choir has been a positive thing for you! It sounds like you are doing quite well. You certinaly are staying busy.

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the competition on Friday. I love that you've found your tenor part on YouTube for practicing your part. Had to laugh when you said you can always discreetly fall silent if needed:) When we sang for performances our music teacher would come right out and tell the students who sang off-key to just mouth the words during the worst bits:)

Good progress on the huge Matrjoshki craft project! They're very pretty!

As for writing, enjoy the process, it's good that you're writing, even if it's a small amount!

I did no writing at all last week but for one half-hour session one morning. I have been reading the library books that have finally arrived and wind up skipping writing.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

The last time I ever sang in a choir was in high school. I remember using the same "falling silent" technique when I was unsure of myself. Nowadays I try to sing hymns when I'm at church but they're all out of my range. I'm sure you will do very well tho. Your diligence will pay off :)

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Youtube has definitely saved me at times with difficult music.
Tenor? That's cool.

[meathiel]

Good luck for the choir performance.
Great that you found the part on Youtube, so you can practice.

[artemis10002000]

Good luck with the competition!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

My excuse for not writing... :((

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, it is almost time to make a picowrimo announcement, which I'll do around the end of the week. I think I'll consciously set aside most of my craft projects for the duration of November, so that I can finally make some headway with my writing.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You can always sing an octave deeper. That's what I do when the piece is way above my range.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

And it goes fairly well as long as I'm alone with the computer. It is the other voices that get me all confused. *g*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm sure it will go well enough. The others are quite good, and I can always fall silent. *g*
But it's mostly the joy of singing why we do it. The competition is just a chance to show how far we've come. We don't really care if we win or not.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

As a rule, I sing the second (deepest) voice of contralto, but that's about the same vocal range as tenor, so I can play with the boys (or replace them) when there's a piece for mixed choir.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

If you're enjoying it, what difference does it make? I mean, in the big picture, you should be doing stuff that pleases you.

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

I will definitely need the November pico. The MFU Down the Chimney story exchange is coming soon!

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

That's the problem... Its right in the middle. I don't have a very broad range. So, in every song I am jumping up and down between octaves. And it hurts, which makes no sense. I can scream like a banshee no problem. I know that because of my (shameful) habit of being drawn into shouting matches with my step-dad. But singing? I only have two songs in me at any given time. I envy your talent. Singing has always been something I wished I had the knack for.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

The choir sounds so much fun! What a joy to sing, wish I could. Too many years smoking cigarettes ruined that for me, not that I had any singing capability before I started. At least, I quit that nasty habit.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Oh good. We always have too few tenors. Luckily we have one gal that can swap.