BRO Notes

9/13/2022

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Hey BRO,

We are excited about starting our new season!

Here are our rehearsal dates.

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September 25
October 9, 23
November 6, 20
December 4, 11
January 15, 29
February 12, 26
March 12, 26
April 16, 23

 

Spring Concert April 30

(NOTE FROM CH: ALL THE DATES ARE IN THE CALENDAR ON THE WEB PAGE)

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We are planning on doing our Spring Concert on Sunday April 30.  We have already heard from some of our members who have conflicts in May.  

We hope this works for everyone.   

New music for this season will be posted on our site soon.  

Cheers,

John

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5-1–22
         Compliments on the very focused work yesterday!  We went through a lot of pieces and there were many beautiful moments.  We have a good feeling for most of the pieces, and our tones and tuning are definitely getting better, and Wakati njema is impressive!

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          Now we just have to be sure that we have truly learned our parts completely.

         

          It’s wonderful that we have another rehearsal next Sunday, May 1!  It is so helpful to rehearse consecutive weeks.

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          Please make the time this week to give yourselves the opportunity of completing all rhythm and note practice.  You are all very experienced players who will have no problem doing this if you give yourselves a good practice session every day. 

          As you know well, solve note and rhythm problems separately and reinforce what you practice several times every day.

          In all of your practice, always play with a good, moving, musically blooming tone.  Take 5 minutes or more every day to play just long tones with a drone.  Often play the same note several times so that you reinforce your ability to play a steady, moving tone that is always in tune!   Aways feel relaxed and often walk around playing Long Tones (sometimes very long) and Melodies by ear.

          Be sure to include Long Tones on your lowest note, often with articulations.

          Then, enjoy playing lots of pretty melodies with a drone.

          It is fun and satisfying to hear lovely and wonderfully in tune tones all the time! 

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          Be sure that you are clear on all Orchestrations!

          Also, know your setup positions!  Mark your setup movements in your parts so that we can be quick and efficient in rehearsals. 

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          Be sure to Practice page turns.  Several times this week practice thinking through the program and practice turning all the pages in your folder in concert order.  Also, practice picking up and putting down your instruments and changing positions for the entire concert. 

          Please let me know if you have questions or would like to meet with me to work on anything.

 

          Be sure to Listen to the Recordings on the BRO site.  This is wonderful and easy practice.   Note especially:

Canto, Canto - enjoy the singers’ easy, natural breaths

Planxit autem David -  play along with this. You’ll enjoy the singers’ expression and lovely movement through the phrases. 

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas - hear and know the rhythms, meters and tempi changes.  I will conduct this piece.

 

          Here is a recording of the Gabrieli Ricercar del duodecimo tuono;  thank you, Nouri.   Play along with this!  When giving a public performance we must know our parts so well that we are able to hear what we see in every piece.  Make this the goal of every practice session. 

 

          Next Sunday we will try to run the entire concert in order! 

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Cheers,

John

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BRO Notes 4-24-22

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Here is a tentative program order for our concert. Please have all pieces in a black folder for the next rehearsal. Sunday we will rehearse most pieces in program order. We will try to play as many pieces as possible.

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Ukrainian Song

Canto, Canto

Febo, Febo

Ricercar Duodecimo Tuono

(guest piece - Gropina Ensemble)

Francion

Les quatre Branles

Si par souffrir - chanson & pavan

(guest piece)

Ronde IX Sur le pont d’Avignon - chanson & messe

Ballet

Galliard

Gavottes

 

Intermission

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Planxit autem David

Mother I will have a husband

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas

Kyrie eleison - Caldini

(guest piece)

Wakati njema

At the Hop

 

In preparation for the rehearsal, please Listen to the Recordings on BRO site, especially:

Canto Canto

Sur le pont d’Avignon - messe

Planxit autem David

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas (on the BRO site under: Scores for 2019-2021, Melika Fitzhugh Septet)

At the Hop

Our concert is coming up soon. As you know, in your practice you can solve all difficulties within a few days, if you have good practice habits: - Play as slowly and freely as needed to make everything easy. - Practice rhythms by clapping a steady beat and singing your part. - Never miss a note. - Practice short problem sections (perhaps 2, 3, 4 or 5 notes) just fingered and in several rhythms many times, until they become familiar and easy. - Practice these sections often by ear. Here are two Alternate (sharper - for playing softer) fingerings which every advanced recorder player should know. These are specifically for our Renaissance instruments. These are excellent practice for breath control, musicianship and Dynamic possibilities.

Of course fingerings will vary slightly depending on the instrument.

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 0 34 6 (5)  or 0 34 (6) :                           

      C on C instruments, F on F instruments or G on G instruments

      (Numbers in between brackets: half open/shaded)

234567 or 34567 or 4567:                     

      D on C instruments or G on F instruments or A on G instruments

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We are so glad to be putting everything together. This Sunday will be a very fun rehearsal!

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APRIL 7, 2022

Hi BRO,

This Sunday we will play a lot of pieces!

Here is a list of all the pieces on which we are working.

 

Canto, Canto

Febo, Febo

Ricercar Duodecimo Tuono

Francion 

Les quatre Branles - attached below

Si par souffrir - chanson & pavan

Ronde IX

Sur le pont d’Avignon - chanson & messe

Ballet - attached below

Galliard & Gavottes - Caroublel

Planxit autem David

Mother I will have a husband

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas

Kyrie eleison - Caldini

Wakati njema

At the Hop

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Attached are the two new pieces -  Les quatre Branles-Susato and Ballet-Incerti (meaning anonymous, from Praetorius’ Terpsichore). Both of these are easy note-wise.  We will work out instrumentation on Sunday.  

We will also revisit two pieces we worked on previously:  Francion and At the Hop.

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This Sunday we will play all of these pieces and possibly a few more.

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Francion

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas

Les quatre Branles

Kyrie eleison - Caldini

Wakati njema

At the Hop

Planxit autem David

Sur le pont d’Avignon - chanson & messe

Canto, Canto

Febo, Febo

Ricercar Duodecimo Tuono

Ballet, Galliard 

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It’s wonderful to be putting the program together!

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Cheers,

John & Miyuki

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3/27/22

 

We are thrilled that we can actually rehearse live together! 

For safety’s sake we are asking that everyone attending Sunday’s rehearsal to take a Covid test Saturday or Sunday.  If you need a home Covid test we have some extras. 

 

This Sunday we will try to get to these pieces listed below.  

Please have all your music for the concert in a black folder with easy page turns.  We don’t want waste rehearsal time looking for music.

 

Andrea Gabrieli - 

Canto, Canto 

Febo, Febo

Ricercar Duodecima Tuono

Planxit autem David - know the words

Mother I will have a husband - practice singing/speaking your part

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas - Please review Mel’s Performance Notes

Caldini - Kyrie eleison 

Si par souffrir - chanson & pavan

Susato - Ronde IX (on the page following Pavan Si par souffrir)

 

Wakati njema

 

At the Hop  (we haven’t done this for a while)

 

If we miraculously play all of the above, we’ll do these pieces also:

 

Sur le pont d’Avignon - chanson & messe

Caroubel-Praetorius Galliard & Gavottes

 

All pieces, except Wakati njema (for copyright reasons), are on the BRO website, on the pages Scores for 2019-2021 Program or Scores for 2021-2022. 

Febo Febo will be posted on the BRO site soon.  The orchestration is not yet set but this will alternate with Canto Canto.  

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BRO Notes 3/11/2022

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PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED PDF FILE:

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BRO Notes for 4/11/ 2021

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It is wonderful that we have been able to continue rehearsing during this strange time - we have accomplished a great deal! 

With all the tuning work that we are doing, we hope that you are enjoying more all the time the joys and benefits of playing long notes and slow melodies with drones. Onder de Linde groene (attached) is a very good piece for this; most of the notes are C E G.  Try with a drone on C or G. Also transpose to other keys. 

Especially, please continue the pitch exercises which are described in BRO Notes for 3/7/21. These will help you feel improved breath control and that you are more able to discriminate and remember pitches.  

With all this, 20-30 minutes is not a long practice session. 

 

If you are doing the above practice and if you know your parts, from now on our rehearsals should be real performance practice.

 

Of course it is too early to know but we are dreaming of the possibility of actually doing a live concert this Summer!  

 

 

For our next rehearsal we will try to get to:

 

Si par souffrir - Chanson & Pavan - Be secure with your fingerings/shadings on the pianissimo sections. 

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas -  Practice with the metronome on the eighth note for the 9/8 and on the quarter note for the 5/4. There is a recording on the BRO site under Scores for 2019-2021 Program.

Planxit autem David - The more words you know the more you will enjoy the beauty of this piece.

 

Revoici venir du printemps - Know the articulations and characters of the beginning of each Chant section and the articulations and colors of the many words we marked.

 

Sieg - Wakati njema - We know this piece at tempo. Yeah!  As you know, you can play any measure of this piece easily at tempo by simply glancing at it and hearing what you see before you play.

 

Sur le pont d’Avignon, chanson and messe - Know the words and see the phrases before you play.  

 

Hola he - We’ll play this moderato and allegro. 

 

Gavottes - Play any voice you wish.  

 

 

Thanks and compliments to you All!

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BRO Notes for 3/20/21

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This rehearsal we will work especially on:

 

A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas - Know the counting of each meter and the symbols for articulations, key clicks, inhales and slap tongue.   

Pavan - Susato    -  Alternate fingerings for the pianissimo phrases 

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As time permits, we will play the pieces we have been rehearsing:

 

Planxit autem David - Josquin   - Know and express the text 

 

Revoici venir du printemps - leJeune  - Know the characters and important words/articulations of each Verse-Chant.  

 

Wakati njema - Sieg    - Read well so that tempo is no problem.

 

Hola he   - Read well so that we can practice this faster.

 

Sur le pont d’Avignon - chanson and messe

 

Gavottes - Caroubel 

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BRO Notes for 3/7/21

 

Hi Everyone,

 

We hope your are all well and we look forward to playing together Sunday.

 

We hope that you are continuing the practice for tone, breath control and tuning which we have been doing:  

 

1.  Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, blow a little more (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are sharp, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch.  Make the end of the note the most relaxed and resonant part.  

Then, Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, but this time blow a little less (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are flat, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch. 

This is wonderful practice for breath control and listening.  Do this on high and low notes.

 

2.  Play around with Alternate Fingerings.  Be sure that you know and use the Alternate Fingering for 0 2 (C on C instruments, G on G instruments, F on F instruments). Every instrument is different so experiment with the fingerings:   0346 and/or 03467, 0346, 0345, 0345.  Find a fingering that is just a little higher in pitch than the standard fingering.  

Then, on one unchanging breath, alternate between the two fingerings.  You’ll hear that the pitches are different—good listening practice.

Finally, alternate between the two fingerings on one breath but this time blow a little softer when you go to the alternate fingering.  In tune Dynamics are easy!  

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This Sunday Melika will join us and we will work on her composition A Monad Become Mantra Blooms Mandalas.  Please look over your parts and have them for the rehearsal.

We will try to get to these pieces also:

-  Susato Pavan Si par souffrir with the pianissimo echo in the second and third sections.  A score of this piece with the dynamic markings is on the BRO website.

-  Sur le pont d’Avignon chanson and messe

-  Revoici venir du printemps

-  Sieg - at tempo

 

-  Hola he

 

-  Galliard

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BRO Notes for 2/21/21

 

Keep enjoying  Exercises 1 & 2 from the BRO Notes for 2/7/21.  We will practice these (and we look forward to more in tune playing and more possibilities of dynamics in our performances).

 

This Sunday we may be able to get to these pieces: 

 

Si par souffrir - Chanson & Pavan

Revoici venir du printemps

Sur le Pont d’Avignon — chanson and at least some of the Messe

Sieg (be sure to be able to Hear What You See)

 

and possibly:

Hola he

Planxit autem David 

Gaillarde CCLXXXVII (Caroubel) 

 

We are delighted that Aldo Abreu will join us around 4:30-5:30 for a coaching session and to discuss his NEC class offerings.  

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BRO Notes for 2/7/21

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This Sunday we will work more on Tuning and Alternate Fingerings (see the Exercises below) and on polishing up the pieces on which we have been focusing:

 

Si par souffrir — chanson and  Pavan IV (Susato) 

 

Hola he

 

Sur le Pont d’Avignon — chanson and Messe   -  Be sure that you see and hear the melismas!

 

Planxit autem David   - Really know the words and enjoy the drama. 

 

Sieg - all movements. 
We will continue developing our concentration in Sieg so that we See-Hear and Know what is coming.  If you do this you can play ever easier and faster. Simply know the piece so well that you can glance at any measure and then play it by ear.  When you can do this it is very easy to increase the tempo little by little.  

 

Gaillarde CCLXXXVII (Caroubel)   

 

Gavottes (Caroubel)  - play any voice you wish on any instrument

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Continue enjoying playing Long Tones and Melodies with drones.  Include these Exercises:  

 

1.  Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, blow a little more (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are sharp, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch.   

Then, Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, but this time blow a little less (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are flat, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch. 

This is wonderful practice for breath control and listening.  Do this on high and low notes.

 

2.  Play around with Alternate Fingerings.  Be sure that you know and use the Alternate Fingering for 0 2 (C on C instruments, G on G instruments, F on F instruments). Every instrument is different so experiment with the fingerings:   0346 and/or 03467, 0346, 0345, 0345.  Find a fingering that is just a little higher in pitch than the standard fingering.  

Then, on one unchanging breath, alternate between the two fingerings.  You’ll hear that the pitches are different—good listening practice.

Finally, alternate between the two fingerings on one breath but this time blow a little softer when you go to the alternate fingering.  In tune Dynamics are easy!  

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Be sure to check out my Technique Tip on the American Recorder Society site under the heading Resources.  Also check out Jan Elliot’s.       http://americanrecorder.org.  

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BRO repertoire for 1/23/21 rehearsal

 

 

This Sunday we will try to get to all of these pieces:

 

Si par souffrir — chanson and  Pavan IV (Susato)

 

Ronde IX (Susato) 

 

Hola he

 

Sur le Pont d’Avignon — chanson and messe

 

Planxit autem David   [know the words!]

 

Sieg - all movements. 
We will work on getting up to tempo.  We already know the notes and rhythms.  Now our main practice is reading.  Look over each movement before you play and be able to Hear what you See.  Simply know the piece so well that you can glance at any measure and then play it by ear.  When you can do this it is very easy to increase the tempo little by little.  

 

Gaillarde CCLXXXVII (Caroubel)   

 

Gavottes (Caroubel)  - play any voice you wish on any instrument

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NOTES FROM JAN 10 REHEARSAL

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Hey BRO,

It was wonderful to begin a new year together!  We enter this season with hopes that vaccines will be available soon and with dreams about actually playing together live by the Spring or Summer!!!

So, to prepare, here are two easy practice suggestions for everyone.  

 

Of course, one of the most important things we all need to do is to keep developing our ears so that we can play with ever better tuning.  Continue enjoying playing Long Tones and Melodies with drones.  Include these exercises:  

 

1.  Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, blow a little more (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are sharp, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch.   

Then, Play a Long Tone with a Drone, begin absolutely in tune (2-3 seconds) then, on the same breath, but this time blow a little less (2-3 seconds) and hear that you are flat, then, on the same breath, go back to the original pitch. 

This is wonderful practice for breath control and listening.  Do this on high and low notes.

 

2.  Play around with Alternate Fingerings.  Be sure that you know and use the Alternate Fingering for 0 2 (C on C instruments, G on G instruments, F on F instruments). Every instrument is different so experiment with the fingerings:   0346 and/or 03467, 0346, 0345, 0345.  Find a fingering that is just a little higher in pitch than the standard fingering.  

Then, on one unchanging breath, alternate between the two fingerings.  You’ll hear that the pitches are different—good listening practice.

Finally, alternate between the two fingerings on one breath but this time blow a little softer when you go to the alternate fingering.  In tune Dynamics are easy!  

Be sure to check out my Technique Tip on the American Recorder Society site under the heading Resources.  Also check out Jan Elliot’s.       http://americanrecorder.org.  

 

 

More BRO Notes on the pieces we are playing will follow soon.

 

Happy Playing!

 

Notes from Nov 15 2020 Rehearsal:

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Hi Everyone,

It was so good to get back together and to see you all!

 

Next rehearsal we hope to play all of these pieces:

 

Certon—chanson Sur le pont d’Avignon and Messe Sus le pont d’Avignon - Kyrie and all the Gloria (through page 13)

Josquin—Planxit autem David

Seig--Wakati njema

Courtois—Si par souffrir, Susato—Pavan Si par souffrir and Ronde IX

 

 

Please read the translation, and understand the story, of Josquin’s Planxit autem David.  Included also are some words that are particularly helpful for understanding the story of this piece.  If you are not fluent in Latin you may find it helpful to mark some of these words in your part.

 

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Planxit autem David

 

Prima Pars

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 'Think, O Israel, upon those who have died, wounded on your hills. Your illustrious men, O Israel, were slain on your mountains: how are the mighty fallen in battle! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not at the crossroads of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

 

Secunda Pars

You mountains of Gilboa, let no dew nor rain come upon you, and may there be no fields of firstfruits, for it was there that the shield of the mighty was thrown away and the shield of Saul, as if it had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the strong… …[this is continued in  Tertia pars(which we are not playin):   ...the arrow of Jonathan never turned back , and the sword of Saul never returned empty.]

 

 

Especially important words:

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Prima pars 

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vulnerati wounded

inclyti the illustrious

interfecti killed 

quomodo ceciderunt fortes praelio How the mighty have fallen 

Nolite annuntiare Do not announce 

ne forte so that

ne exsultent not exult 

Philistiim  Philistines

incircumcisorum uncircumcised

 

Secunda pars 

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Montes Mountains 

abjectus cast down

clypus fortium might shield 

fortium strong

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Notes from Q2 2020 

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Hi Everyone,

We hope that you are all well and finding creative ways to have fun in this bizarre time.  (More practice time!!!).

 

We have been putting off contacting you in hopes that the situation would improve soon.  Obviously that is not going to happen.  So, like almost everyone, we are obliged to cancel the rest of our season.  Sigh.  You have all done so much and such impressive work this year.  When we can finally play together again I feel that we will have such energy bubbling up that we will start the best season we’ve ever had!

 

Miyuki and I are exploring the possibilities of online lessons and classes and will be in touch again when we decide what is possible.

 

Please take real good care of yourselves.  We hope you and all your families and friends are well and that we will pass through this shared experience soon and emerge with an enriched sense of community and of what we can accomplish.

 

Peace and Love and Beautiful Music to you All,

John & Miyuki

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Notes from February 23rd Rehearsal

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Marenzio’s Scaldava will not be on the concert.

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For ongoing practice on our wonderful Renaissance instruments, keep doing these easy warmups: 

Enjoy doing a few minutes of Long Tones and Slow Melodies (improvised/Amazing Grace, Onder der Linde groene, etc.) over Drones.

Also with a Drone, play the lowest note on your instrument many times using a variety of articulations and the Half Hole note in the second register--high F on on C instruments, high Bb on F instruments, high C on G instruments (the fingering 0 1 2 3 4  6)

Throughout the day do some long sequences of Exhales with a very open, relaxed jaw.

 

 

Please come to rehearsals knowing your parts!  We must spend our remaining time rehearsing the pieces musically—we cannot spend rehearsal time learning notes or rhythms.  Let me know if you have any questions or if you need to meet to work on something.  

 

 

Canto, Canto 

Practice using Mike’s recording of the F and C harmonies.  When this is comfortable, practice with a metronome at a comfortably fast tempo.  

 

Sweet Suffolk Owl 

            Listen to the recording and know this piece so well that you always see and hear what is coming.  This includes all orchestrations and breath marks.

 

Mother I will have a husband

Listen to the recording.  In Measure 21 we are adding one beat of silence between the first and second half note beats in this measure.  Know this measure so that you can watch the conductor.  

 

Planxit autem David

Watch your part while listening to the recording.

        For feeling Josquin’s grand phrases I will conduct in Whole Notes.  Be sure that you practice feeling the subdivision of the whole note (1 & 2 &).  Sing a few phrases of Planxit autem David while tapping your foot on the Whole notes and tapping your hand on the Half notes. 

 

 

Si par souffrir - chanson

Correction:  In the Tenor 1 voice, measure 7, the last two notes should be CC (not DD) 

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Ronde IX 

Superius voice—Tacet on the first time of A and B sections (play second A and B).  

All voices—measure 2, slur the quarter note on the 3rd quarter note beat to the next note (the eighth note of the 4th beat).  

Listen the the Royal Wind Music - https://youtu.be/2U2y6dpQK40 - playing a similar piece.  We will do similar, super staccato notes and accelerando/ritardando.  

Set up your notebook so that you can do a quick page turn between the two setting of Si par souffrir.  We will go segue from the Pavan to Ronde IX (without page turn). 

 

 

Wakati njema 

            We basically have this piece!  Compliments on the good practice!  For the next rehearsal be sure to work out all note problems as slowly as needed.  Keep playing with the recording.  

 

A Monad, Become Mantra, Blooms Mandalas 

            Thank you, Mel, for the privilege and joy of playing your new piece!  

            Everyone needs to read Mel’s introduction-instructions.  When you see and feel the rhythm you realize that this is not a difficult piece.  Your first few practice sessions on this piece are the most important.  Solve all note problems quickly by saying the note names a few times and them saying the note names while fingering (not blowing) your instruments.  When you get comfortable knowing the notes, speed will not be a problem!

 

Hinei ma tov 

            Be able to sing the Top Voice from memory along with the recording.

 

At the Hop

Listen to this recording:  https://youtu.be/F3SrtN6tMyg

Know the repeat scheme!

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Notes from February 3rd Rehearsal

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Hey BRO,

 

            Compliments on the focused work.  It is very satisfying to hear the improvements we are making this season.  Here are a few practice suggestions and Notes on our rehearsal.

 

            An easy and hugely beneficial practice you can do throughout the day is simply to enjoy doing lots of Exhales.  Often do this with your jaw very dropped and your mouth wide open in order to feel how open you can be in your throat and chest. Feel how much control you have —long, short, sometimes lots of very fast exhales, etc. 

            Our tuning is getting better and more instinctive all the time.  So, be sure to keep benefitting from playing  Long tomes and melodies over drones every time you play.  Spend at least(!) 5 minutes every day singing and playing over a drone.  Doing this will help you enjoy both your tone and tuning.  Be sure to include the Half Hole notes in the second register--high F on on C instruments, high Bb on F instruments, high C on G instruments. Amazing Grace works wonderfully over a drone.  Another fun and helpful piece to play with a drone is Onder de Linde groene: