Messiah 2010 - A Great Performance!

(Click to enlarge)

 We had a great crowd to see the performance on Sunday, December 19, 2010.  I've heard many positive comments from audience members.  Several people were very grateful they remembered to come; it was what they needed.

Soloists

We're excited to have some great photos and videos of the concert.  Thanks to Lizet and Glen for taking pictures during rehearsals and at the concert.  Thanks to Kirk for taking the video.  Photos and videos can be viewed on the website.  The video is a playlist, so you can click on the Overture and it will play the whole program, or you can scroll through and start at any point.  If you want to make comments or add songs to your own playlists or subscribe, you'll want to go directly to the ECO YouTube Channel for that.  The photo slideshow is small, but if you click on the center of the slideshow it will take you to the web album where you can view a larger slideshow. 

Thanks to everyone who participated.  It is a lot of work, and working out the details can be stressful right up until the end.  But it is worth it.  Thanks to Ryan and Steve for rehearsing the groups and being patient with us.  Thanks to Becky O. and the rest of the committee for following through on publicity, decorations, programs, food, sound, video, pictures, funds, facility use, stage setup, etc.

by Sara

Participation Survey and Audience Comments

Whether you were a participant in the recent performance of Messiah or an audience member, we'd love to hear from you!  Your comments will help us plan future productions of Messiah.

Participant Survey
Audience Member Comment Form

Both are secure online forms, and you will remain anonymous unless you choose to include your name.  They don't take long to fill out.

Feel free to pass this along to family and friends who attended the performance.

by Sara

Performance Soon: Handel's Messiah, December 19, 2010

A November Rehearsal (photo by Lizet)

We're less than a week away from the performance of Messiah.  Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 19th at 6:00 p.m. at Davis Middle School.  Please note that it's earlier in the evening this year.

The performance will be directed by Ryan North.  He has been rehearsing the choir since early September, and they have really enjoyed his musical understanding of the score.  The orchestra has been rehearsed since October by Stephen Fairbanks.  Soloists will be Bethany Lange, Clarissa Cole, Carolee Fairbanks, Shasta Wigginton, David Jensen, and Jonathan Lange.

The program includes many favorite choruses, such as "For Unto Us a Child is Born" and "Hallelujah."  The soprano aria, "Rejoice, Greatly" is my all-time favorite solo, and I'm glad it is included this year.

The concert is free, and we'll be having a reception afterward.  So tell all your friends and bring your families!

Messiah is always the highlight of my Christmas, and I'm sure it will be for you too.

by Sara

ECC to Present a Christmas Program

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

The Evanston Civic Chorus is presenting a Christmas Program on Sunday, December 12th at 7:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (949 Sage St.)  Several of our Messiah Choir members are also part of the ECC.

The Chorus has prepared a program of great Christmas music, including a cool a cappella arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," along with some readings and vocal and piano solos and duets.

The program is free, and the Evanston Study Club is providing refreshments afterward.  So bring your families and support some fellow Messiah Choir friends this Sunday!

The Evanston Civic Chorus will be recruiting new members starting in January.  The Christmas program would be a great time to check out the Chorus and meet the director, Kirk Young.  Visit their website for more information and to cast a vote in their FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL POLL.  You'll find the poll on the left sidebar of the website.

by Sara

Make the Most of November Rehearsals

With just three choir rehearsals left before we join the orchestra, this is a great time for each of us to analyze our preparedness for each song.  Sing along with your favorite recording or find one on the internet and see where your hangups are.  Try to fix them before rehearsal, as we've already spent a lot of time running parts and have a lot to work on in the time remaining.  The Amen Chorus of #53 would be a great place to start.  As Ryan puts it, even just 15 minutes of extra practice makes a big difference.

by Sara

Messiah Choruses - Free MP3s with Lyrics for Easy Practice

If you prefer to hear your part being sung rather than just played on the piano, you'll want to check out this free site -  SavedSounds.com.  Thanks to Rebekah M. for sharing the link.

All of the Messiah Choruses are included, with synthesized voices singing.  The part you select plays out the left channel and the other parts and piano accompaniment play out the right channel so you can change the balance to your preference.  The website is very easy to use, though you aren't able to change the tempo.  Some of the songs are tediously slow, but many are at a reasonable tempo.  The files are downloadable.

Even if you don't need the extra practice, I recommend giving the site a try, just to get a good laugh out of hearing synthesized voices singing Messiah.  

by Sara

Another Internet Site With Free Access to Messiah MIDI Files

CyberBass is another internet site with Messiah MIDI files for easy practicing.  It has all of the choruses, but not solos.  You can select which song and which vocal part you want played.  The other parts will be played softly in the background.  You use the player embedded right on the website.  It gives you the capability to change tempo and play around with balance among the parts.  The files are not downloadable, so have your score ready to practice at your computer.

Thanks Becky R. for this discovery!

I am including links to Messiah MIDI file websites, as well as other interesting Messiah websites, on the "Messiah Links" list on the sidebar of the blog for future reference.  Feel free to recommend interesting sites you've found, by way of comment to a post or by using the comment form under "Contact Us."

by Sara

Choir Solo Auditions This Week and Rehearsal Info

Solo auditions will be held this Thursday, Sept.30th, at 5:00 p.m. on the DMS stage.  More solo information

Sara will accompany the auditions, so you don't need to find your own accompanist.  However, if you've already engaged one, that is o.k. too.

Choir rehearsal will run from 6:00 - 7:00.  We hope you will stay to watch the orchestra's fall concert of Irish music at 7:00.  They are hosting a reception after so they can meet the choir members.

If you've missed rehearsals, spend some time with your notes on these 6 songs:

• #12 For Unto Us - A to E plus all melismas
• #24 Surely He Hath Borne - whole song
• #25 And with His Stripes -  whole song
• #26 All We Like Sheep - Beginning to E
• #44 Hallelujah - B to E
• #53 Worthy Is the Lamb - B to D

by Sara

From Ireland's Shores - Orchestra Concert Sept. 30, 2010

The Evanston Civic Orchestra will present their fall concert, From Ireland's Shores, on Thursday, September 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Davis Middle School auditorium.  Joining the orchestra for this exciting Irish music event are two local groups, Celtic Mist and the Evanston Irish Session Ensemble.

Admission is free and the orchestra is sponsoring a reception following the concert.

This event is a great opportunity for Messiah Choir members to see and hear the orchestra they will be performing with in December, and to meet them after.

Bring a plate of cookies to share if you want.  Or just come!

by Sara

Free Access to online MIDI files of Messiah - Great for Practice!

Bot Productions has sequenced all of Handel's Messiah and made the MIDI files available on the internet.  Here is the link:  Messiah MIDI files

When you play the files on a regular player, such as Windows Media Player or Quick Time Player, you are very limited in what you can do with them.  You might want to download the free Melody Player, which allows you to change the volume of the different channels and adjust the tempo.  This would be a great way to isolate your part but still hear it in context, while practicing at a comfortable tempo.  It is great for Choruses and Solos!

Thanks to Jonathan for discovering these resources for us!

by Sara

Choir Rehearsals in Full Swing!

We are now two weeks into rehearsals, and I can tell already that we are going to have a fabulous experience.  Welcome to everyone who is singing with us, and a special welcome if you are singing Messiah for the first time in Evanston, or for the first time ever.  We also have a few people joining us from out of town.  Thanks for your dedication and the extra effort involved to be with us!  New members are still welcome through the end of September.  Please communicate with Ryan regarding your rehearsal conflicts.  

In rehearsal this week we did some detailed sectional work on notes and rhythms in several songs:

• #12 For Unto Us - melismas
• #24 Surely He Hath Borne - A to the end (legato section)
• #25 And with His Stripes -  B to the end 
• #26 All We Like Sheep - Beginning to E
• #44 Hallelujah - B to C
• #53 Worthy Is the Lamb - B to C

Everyone is at a different level of experience in singing Messiah.  Don't ever feel timid about requesting another run-through of your part!  We want everyone to be comfortable and confident with the music.

After sectionals, Ryan worked those songs as a choir, going beyond just correct notes and rhythms to help us make it very musical.  I am particularly enjoying the discussions about text painting, moods and attitudes, accents and stresses, and energy.  Wow!

I think I'll be singing along with my favorite Messiah CD this week.

by Sara

A Great Time at the Community Hymn Sing 2010

Last Sunday we had a good turnout for the Community Hymn Sing at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Ryan North and Steve Fairbanks led the hymns, with Becky Olson, Sara Maisey, and Ryan at the organ and piano.  We sang a variety of hymns originating from 3 different countries: Germany, England, and the U.S.  A couple of my favorites were "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," and "Abide with Me."  It was interesting to sing familiar text to an unfamiliar tune for a couple of hymns.  One hymn that was very new for me was "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  Ryan gave us a little background on the hymns.

I was very impressed how everyone sang out, even during the less familiar hymns.  You could hardly tell that some of us were winging it.  More Photos

Halfway through the evening the group organized in sections to sing "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah.  That was fun!

After the singing, we enjoyed mingling and refreshments.  Shasta's No-Bake Cookies were yummy!  The evening was all together a great experience.  I hope this becomes a tradition in our community. 

If you were there, feel free to comment and share your impressions. 

by Sara

Community Hymn Sing - Sunday, Sept. 12th

The Evanston Civic Orchestra is sponsoring a Community Hymn Sing this coming Sunday:

September 12th
6:00 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church (50 Yellow Creek Rd.)

Join with members of the community to sing favorite hymns as well as "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah.  (Bring your vocal score if you have one.)  Refreshments will be served.

The orchestra invites you to bring canned food to donate to The Lord's Storehouse that evening.  They are in real need of donations.

Handel's Messiah Coming to Evanston in December, 2010

Since January, the Evanston Civic Orchestra Messiah Committee has been planning for this year's performance of Handel's oratorio, Messiah.

Steve Fairbanks returns as director of the Evanston Civic Orchestra this year.  This is his first involvement with Messiah in Evanston.  Joining us as performance director, as well as choir rehearsal director, is Ryan North.  Both directors have met several times with the committee to plan the program and prepare for rehearsals.  We are excited to have them working with us. Biographies

The performance date of Messiah is set:
Sunday, December 19, 2010
6:00 p.m.
Davis Middle School Auditorium 

Choir and Orchestra rehearsals will be on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at DMS  (REHEARSAL CALENDAR)
Choir rehearsals start on Sept. 9th.
Orchestra Messiah rehearsals start in October.

Everyone in the community is invited to participate!