| Comment: Re: Dress rehearsal | Marie Grass Amenta | May 20, 2012 |
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I think it does too, Brigid. If we remembered what is was like to give birth, there would be only "only children"--but babies are cute and we like 'em and they're cuddley and they smell wonderful (at least often enough for us to think so), so we have more than one. And that's like putting on a c... |
| Comment: Re: Dress rehearsal | Marie Grass Amenta | May 18, 2012 |
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Every time I bring in someone from the outside, out of our "choir family, " I'm nervous. Like you, I have no performance anxiety, but when I bring in string players, I am worried---they intimidate me, I guess. I also hate the term "dress rehearsal" because I have had some singers show up in th... |
| Blog post: Mother and Director | Marie Grass Amenta | May 16, 2012 |
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With Mother’s Day this past Sunday, I am reminded how being a Mom has influenced how I run my choirs.
When my boys were babies and young children, I had to make every second count I had free to do my job properly. When they were tiny, I taught privately and had a studio of beginni... |
| Comment: Re: Hiring ringers for a volunteer church choir | Marie Grass Amenta | May 15, 2012 |
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Hi Brad,
I have to applaud your idea of doing a significant work after Easter to keep your singers engaged and interested in singing until the end of the choir year. Except your singers are doing what singers usually do when Easter is over--not showing up to rehearsals but complaining o... |
| Comment: Re: Help with Concert Title | Marie Grass Amenta | May 11, 2012 |
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I do have some of Byrd's English Anthems--and yep, I do know they are the English version of the motet--in the pile. So that might steer me toward the English Anthems and it is a thought!
Thanks, John, and keep those ideas coming, folks.
Marie
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| Forum message: Help with Concert Title | Marie Grass Amenta | May 11, 2012 |
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I am beginning work on my fall concert and while I am very happy with my repertoire, I am not sure I like the title I originally thought would work. Everybody seems to have a gimmick for titles and themes for concerts and it has mostly worked for me. Our spring concert will be "From Venice to ... |
| Comment: Re: Choral Accompanying | Marie Grass Amenta | May 11, 2012 |
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Matthew,
In order to become a good choral accompanist you have accompany choirs! In addition to all the good advice folks have given you here, I would suggest you find a choir to accompany right now, with your beginning skills. Since you are just starting this, I would see if there was a ... |
| Concert: Spring Concert of the Midwest Motet Society--South Suburbs of Chicago | Marie Grass Amenta | May 11, 2012 |
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The Midwest Motet Society ,
A Chamber Choir for Chicago's Southland
Will present their Spring 2012 Concert
"From Venice to Vienna: Music from the Salon"
Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 4:00 pm
at Trinity Lutheran Church
2901 Western Avenue,
Park Forest, Illinois
Co... |
| Comment: Re: praise team leader | Marie Grass Amenta | May 5, 2012 |
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I think your figure is on the low side of being in the ballpark. It would depend on where you are located as well. Closer to a large metro it should be more--like between $150 and $175. But if you are more rural or boondock suburban, it could be fine. Even so, with every year of service, I... |
| Comment: Re: Gesualdo Madrigal Question | Marie Grass Amenta | May 4, 2012 |
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Thank you, gentlemen all, for your comments and ideas. We are ignoring most of the dynamtics in the Peters and, as David has suggested, emphasizing the ee of "ahi". I am trying to let the phrase and lines dictate to me and the more I direct it, the more comfortable I feel doing so. I hear it i... |
| Comment: Re: Your favorite Brit Lit? | Marie Grass Amenta | May 4, 2012 |
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Besides the ones already mentioned, I would include Elgar's Motets (accompanied, but what the heck) and definitely Gustav Holst's Choral Folk Song settings. I conduct a chamber choir and those have been perfect for us. I would also say the Britten Five Flower Songs are among my favorite works--cha... |
| Comment: Re: trouble turning pages | Marie Grass Amenta | April 30, 2012 |
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Oh, I forgot the another reason for using plastic coated paper clips--if you are taking cuts or not doing every movement, etc. you can clip together anyway you need. No reason to worry about not being on the correct page.
Marie, again
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| Comment: Re: trouble turning pages | Marie Grass Amenta | April 30, 2012 |
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I do learn the score so well I don't need it (but have it in front of me because I am worried I will have a brain cramp in performance), use the score I will conduct with from the beginning of rehearsals (making sure my singer's rehearsal letters match up with mine before they ever get the music) ... |
| Comment: Re: Midsummer Night's Dream Incidental Music, Opus 61 | Marie Grass Amenta | April 28, 2012 |
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One thing I didn't mention......the physical score falls apart as soon as you crack it open to look at the music....pages were coming out....the glue was old or something. We had 10 scores--we were doing a chamber verison with piano, four hands-- and all were similar in falling apart, some more ... |
| Comment: Re: Midsummer Night's Dream Incidental Music, Opus 61 | Marie Grass Amenta | April 27, 2012 |
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I used the Kalmus edition--it's in French and English. I think it's SSA and not SSAA. The narrated portion is included in the score.
Marie
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| Comment: Re: Voice major about to have jaw surgery! | Marie Grass Amenta | April 25, 2012 |
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Dear Peter,
I had my husband the ENT doc read your post over my shoulder. The first thing out of his mouth--well, the second thing, you don't want to know the FIRST thing--was "how can this NOT change the resonance of his voice?" It is his physician's responsibility to explain to your s... |
| Blog post: Advocating All the Time | Marie Grass Amenta | April 25, 2012 |
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April is National Autism Awareness Month
and while that's important to me, it is more important to me
to advocate for all of those with disabilities of any kind,
especially singers and musicians with disabilities.
If I have a chance,... |
| Comment: Re: new German repertoire | Marie Grass Amenta | April 20, 2012 |
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Hi Jennifer,
I have started the tradition of having one or two of my singers who are also conductors direct on my programs and one of my singers found, "Jubilate (Jazz Motet)", Johannes Matthias Michel, last fall. And I must say, we were all impressed with it. Michel is German and a com... |
| Comment: Re: Choral Caffeine: A Wake-up Call | Marie Grass Amenta | April 18, 2012 |
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Oh Scott, thank you, thank you thank you! I read something like this a few years ago and think it applies to many aspects of our musical arts, not just our choral rehearsals or concerts. One of my private students came to her lesson this morning late, having a bad day and just generally unhapp... |
| Comment: Re: re Bernstein's Chichester Psalms | Marie Grass Amenta | April 15, 2012 |
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I have sung Chichester twice--once as an undergrad and once as a grad student about 12 years later. Ironically, my son sang Chichester about 13 years after that at the same music school. All three times, a boy treble from the Chicago Children's Choir was used. It is my understanding, they ha... |
| Comment: Re: Transforming one man | Marie Grass Amenta | April 15, 2012 |
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This is good to see. And I'm not surprised Oliver Sacks is involved.
I have wanted to reply to this almost all day--I'm moderating with Tom T today so it really has been all day--but I don't know what to say that won't sound, I don't know--preachy? So I've decided to say a bit. I want t... |
| Blog post: Biting the Hand that Feeds You | Marie Grass Amenta | April 13, 2012 |
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I tootle along in the local music world, trying to be professional, trying to be kind. My singers will tell you they have rarely seen me upset in rehearsal, even working with some difficult people. I may have a hissy fit later or in the privacy of my own home but not in front of my sing... |
| Forum message: Gesualdo Madrigal Question | Marie Grass Amenta | April 6, 2012 |
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Hello ChoralNetters,
I am preparing Gesualdo's five voice madrigal, "Moro, lasso, al mio duolo" with my chamber choir this concert cycle. A question came up in rehearsal this week and I was wondering if any of you had any insight. We are using the Peters edition if that helps.
... |
| Blog post: Awareness Months | Marie Grass Amenta | April 5, 2012 |
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March is Disability Awareness Month and April is Autism Awareness Month. In this ChoralNet Community--Friends of Joyful Noise--I know you are aware of disability and autism. Most of you are interested in disability for your own reasons, whether you work with those with challenges ... |
| Community Forum Post: How many times can you post a concert announcement--in a WEEK? | Marie Grass Amenta | April 5, 2012 |
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Hello Fellow Moderators and Happy Holy Week.
I have just flagged an announcement for a concert which will be the FOURTH time he has submitted the SAME THING. Take a look if you can. I know I approved this over the weekend and may have approve the first one last Thursday. Frank must ha... |
| Blog post: She Will Be Missed | Marie Grass Amenta | March 31, 2012 |
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When I began my chamber choir, I received a phone call from Etel, the director of the local professional theater company. She liked the idea of a chamber choir in the area and asked me if I would like to work together some time. I agreed and that summer, my chamber choir sang at her Sum... |
| Comment: Re: Ethics Question (hiring the interim accompanist?) | Marie Grass Amenta | March 28, 2012 |
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Hi Joseph,
I have a few questions for you which I think will help.
First, are you happy with this person? Really happy? Do you think you could work with this person for at least--18 years is too long to think about--the next few years? Do you have a good relationship with thi... |
| Community Forum Post: The Penguin Project | Marie Grass Amenta | March 28, 2012 |
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One of my voice students brought me information about this group this morning. She had been in Peoria over the weekend with her son and his HS's Key Club. They were treated to a performance and she said it was fabulous. Different art form but same idea!
Marie
Once a year, a... |
| Comment: Re: directing operetta in high school choir | Marie Grass Amenta | March 25, 2012 |
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Hi Paul,
I have been in your shoes quite a few times. I did ALOT of directing, co-directing and choreographing (and teaching the dances) of HS musicals through the years and most often, not my own program. One of the musicals I did, "Once Upon a Mattress," I played Fred (the leading "lady... |
| ChoralBlog: Guest Blogger: A Day in Life of a ChoralNet Moderator on Duty | Marie Grass Amenta | March 23, 2012 |
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Perhaps some of you would like to know what happens when you post a query or a classified or an announcement or how a decision to approve or discard by the Moderators is made here at ChoralNet. I have been a ChoralNet Moderator for exactly one year but have been a ChoralNet user since 1995. I a... |
| Comment: Re: Choral Caffeine: Here's What They Think of Choir | Marie Grass Amenta | March 21, 2012 |
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Loved the video......it was very timely for me. Especially, the choral director talking about the memories lasting a lifetime. Yesterday, in my local paper--the Chicago Tribune--and here on ChoralNet in ChoralNet News, I was transported back to my high school choir room. There was a news sto... |
| Comment: Re: Folk music | Marie Grass Amenta | March 20, 2012 |
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Hi Amy,
Here are a few settings of folksongs I used in a concert for my chamber choir a few years ago. Our "theme" was "folksongs and dances" and I left out the "dance" part of the program out here. The Bartok is in English--probably fine, Boosey & Hawks publisher--and are a set, wi... |
| Comment: Re: Humorus Madrigal | Marie Grass Amenta | March 18, 2012 |
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I really love "Of All the Birds that I do Know"----funny and naughty!
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| Comment: Re: Sunday Inspiration: Lutkin | Marie Grass Amenta | March 18, 2012 |
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Sometimes, Scott, there is a piece of music that lifts you up when you don't even realize you need to be lifted. The Lutkin is such a piece for me. When I hear it, I am transported back to my Jr. Choir, directed by the late David Lawrence, and the sheer thrill and excitment of being allowed to... |
| Comment: Re: PDQ Bach or something similar | Marie Grass Amenta | March 17, 2012 |
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Robin,
I just bought "No One's Perfect" myself. Don't know when I'll use it but I couldn't resist........isn't ChoralNet great?
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| Comment: Re: music series contract management? | Marie Grass Amenta | March 14, 2012 |
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Hi Ralph,
I've been a participant in several church concert series, produce my own concerts in churches as well as stumbled into a "grey" area which I will explain.
When we've been asked to participate in concert series, whether doing our own repertoire just transplanted into their v... |
| Comment: Re: PDQ Bach or something similar | Marie Grass Amenta | March 14, 2012 |
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I really like PDQ Bach's Madrigals--"My Bonnie Lass, She Smellth" and "The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give." In one, he lets the basses "loose" and they scat and fool around at the end, just like they would if we didn't corral them. The other has an "Oy Veh"--instead of fa-la-la--chorus. Bo... |
| Comment: Re: Bruckner Good Friday Motet | Marie Grass Amenta | March 13, 2012 |
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Hi Ron,
I've done a bunch of Bruckner motets--I do conduct the Midwest MOTET Society afterall. He has set many of the standard motet texts. The problem with him is finding which yours is. I've done a beautiful Tantum Ergo setting of his and then when doing research, discovered he did ... |
| Comment: Re: Burying the alleluias | Marie Grass Amenta | March 12, 2012 |
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All the Presbyterians churches I've worked for have had the "farewell to the alleluia" during Lent. Two of them decided to do so the first year I was with them. In the first church, I wasn't prepared for the outcry from the congregation, but the second one I was ready. Also, being Prebyteria... |
| Blog post: Daylight Savings Time and Beginning Anew | Marie Grass Amenta | March 11, 2012 |
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We changed clocks over the weekend–and sprang forward. I had a busy Saturday and actually went to bed an hour later than usual. Somehow, when I woke on Sunday, eventho I had LESS sleep, felt more rested than I have for months. The sun was shining and everything seemed brighter and m... |
| Comment: Re: Friday parting song? | Marie Grass Amenta | March 10, 2012 |
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Hi Spencer,
I have used, "Music, Sweet Music" by Lowell Mason--considered to be the first Music Educator in the USA--for all sorts of choirs. With my children's choirs, I used it in unison as part of our warm ups. It can be sung as canon and I programmed it--in an SATB arrangement--for my... |
| Blog post: Music Inclusion and Other Thoughts from the Trenches | Marie Grass Amenta | March 9, 2012 |
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1992
2011
We are just about back to normal--at least, mostly--here in the south suburbs of Chicago. Russell's health continues to improve. We celebrated his birthday almost two weeks ago with brunch the day before, since both of his brothers would be home on the Sun... |
| Community Forum Post: Tme limits on Threads | Marie Grass Amenta | March 5, 2012 |
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I am wondering if others feel time limits on threads is a good idea. I have had a few situations as I've been moderating the last week or so when I haven't known what to do.
One person was adding to a thread, with last reply in July 2011, but was the orginal poster and wanted to updat... |
| Comment: Re: Couple of burning questions | Marie Grass Amenta | February 28, 2012 |
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I have been observing this query for the last few days. I haven't had time to reply until now. Many responses come to mind and I know I'll be rambling so I appologize before hand!
In my area---the Chicago Metro area---there are quite a few truly "professional" chorsues. The Chicago Sy... |
| Comment: Re: Courts second-guessing choir membership decisions | Marie Grass Amenta | February 24, 2012 |
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I reread the link to the news item Allen included with this ChoralBlog posting and have pasted a portion at the bottom of this response. I think it may be enlightening. We may never know the real reason why this young man was asked to leave the choir--but it is something to think about, isn... |
| Comment: Re: Courts second-guessing choir membership decisions | Marie Grass Amenta | February 24, 2012 |
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As Liz suggested. the whole thing was mis-managed from the beginning. Knowing this young man was (this is the term we use in this country) "developmentally disabled", the Board of the chorus or the conductor certainly should have known to ask questions about him. If he could often be ill because... |
| Community Forum Post: Watch for the over posting of "Choral Insitute" | Marie Grass Amenta | February 23, 2012 |
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Thought I would give all of you a Heads Up. I approved ONE Annoucement by ChoralNet User Brett Karlin--you remember Brett--posts to any and all ChoralNet categories he can about his Professional Choral Institutes? I posted something in the Community Editors Forum because he tends to blanket... |
| Community Forum Post: Be aware of this User over posting on ChoralNet Communities | Marie Grass Amenta | February 23, 2012 |
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Hello Fellow ChoralNet Community Editors,
I am the ChoralNet Moderator on duty today and wanted to make you aware of a ChoralNet User who tends to blanket ChoralNet with his postings about his Professional Choral Institute periodically. I will approve his announcement on ChoralNet but tho... |
| Community Forum Post: Hat Tip to Allen Simon for sending this to us....another kind of special interest choir | Marie Grass Amenta | February 23, 2012 |
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BEAMINSTER: Choir to make debut at Beaminster Festival
By Paul Crompton
A CHOIR that grew out of one woman’s desire to sing will perform for the first time at Beaminster’s festival.
Retired PA Maggie Warnett has seen “The Raucous Chorus” group she founded with four fr... |
| Comment: Re: The Traits of a True Mentor | Marie Grass Amenta | February 21, 2012 |
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I read this artilce in the NYT several weeks ago with interest. Since my spouse is a physician--who also LOVES music--this was a topic around our kitchen table at the time. Many forget medicine is not only a science but an art and physicians PRACTICE medicine much like musicians do. And that... |
