Beat! Beat! Drums!
Here is a recording for your reference. Test on Friday! :) I've also added a recording of Exsultate Deo.
MS Sightreading Level 2
Below is a recording of the Middle School Level 2 sight-reading examples for you to practice.
IB Music Week of September 15th
Hello IB People!
Thank you for your work last week. Many of you are on the right track. Now, work to be specific in your analysis. As far as context is concerned, you probably need to do some research on the pieces of music. I suggested using Google, or a similar search engine, to look for program notes for these pieces. Program notes are written biographies about the composer and piece of music that occur in music programs, and many groups post these on the internet.
Here are the selections for this week, with a focus on 20th Century music. Remember that these pieces usually are a reaction to what is happening in the world - in this case, usually technology (such as "Short Ride" or "Different Trains"). Please complete a MeMeHaMeFoStyCo analysis for one of these works by Monday. I look forward to your DETAILED and INSIGHTFUL work (no pressure)!
Because of the way some of these songs work, some are chopped into several parts. They should be in order. Email me with questions and good luck! By this time, you should have read the first five chapters in "What To Listen For in Music". If the website is not fixed by Monday I will have quizzes for you to complete at home.
IB Music Week of September 8th
By Monday, September 15th I would like for you to analyze one of the pieces of music we heard in class this past week using MeMeHaMeFoStyCo. The pieces for this week are listed below my example. I have analyzed one piece below to get you started. By the way, the piece I have analyzed is from Dido and Aeneas, which is your perscribed work! Please include as much detail as you can - this may mean some research time spent on your own!
Title: "Shake the Cloud" - "Banish sorrow, banish care" from Dido and Aeneas
Medium - Baroque orchestra (Harpsichord, Violin, Viola, Cello), solo soprano (1st half) chorus (second half)
Melody - The melody is first sung by the soprano, a high voice. The soloist uses tone painting by singing a melissma on "shake" which imitates the word "shake". When the chorus comes in the soprano seems to continue the melody line, although all voices are equal.
Harmony (texture) - The first part of the texture is thin, just a voice and harpsichord and cello. However, teh texture becomes thicker when the chorus enters, including the entire orchestra and full soprano/alto/tenor/bass voices. The orchestra doubles the chorus voices.
Meter - We are in a quadruple meter, not a triple meter. The meter is technically simple quadruple.
Form - The form of this piece is AB. Section A is the soprano and accompaniment, and section B is when th chorus enters.
Style - This is an opera; more specifically, a baroque opera
Context - This piece would be sung in an opera performance. This opera was first performed and written for a women's school by the composer, Henry Purcell. Baroque opera most often uses myths and legends for their plots. This opera is based upon the story of Dido and Aeneas. Baroque opera would be staged very simply, much like ancient Greek theatre. It wasn't until the Classical period directly following the Baroque period that operas would become more grand and dramatic.
Here are this week's musical selections:
Monday - 
Wednesday - Thursday - 
Candlelight Practice Parts
Hello Chorus Students! Below are your parts for the Walt Disney World Candlelight Processional. Please listen and sing along with them, as we will be testing you on this music! Make sure you listen to your voice part. When your voice part divides (for example, soprano becomes soprano 1 and soprano 2) both parts are sung at the same time.
SOPRANO (These have "Sop" at the end of the titles)
The songs below are the ALTO practice tracks - all of the titles end with the word "Alto".
The songs below are the TENOR practice tracks:
The songs below are the BASS practice tracks:
IB Music Monday, May 19th, 2008
Hello IB Music 3 students!
Thank you for coming to the website to do some work. Here is what I would like you to do:
Please listen to the “William Tell Overture” – the link is below. After listening to this piece, please identify the medium (what is performing the work? Chorus? Band?) and meter (duple, triple, etc.).
Now let’s talk about the form. Although this is only an excerpt, let’s try to figure out the form of this piece of music.
Here is what I came up for the form of the piece. Remember, this is my analysis and it might vary from what you hear:
- Brass fanfare (joined at the end by timpani) (0:00 – 0:12)
- A – in a major key - strings have the initial melody (0:13 – 0:24)
- B – moves to a minor key – strings still carry the melody (0:25 – 0:36)
- Short Transition (0:37 – 0:42)
- A – theme brought back (0:43 – 0:54)
- I:: C ::I– New material in woodwinds, strings, moves in and out of keys (0:55 – 1:38). The “bombastic” theme returns at 1:28.
- B – it comes back! (1:39 – 1:56)
- A – initial theme returns (1:57 -
- C – reappearance of “C” theme- almost seems like a coda – repeated material (2:09 – fade out).
Listen to the piece again following my analysis. It’s O.K. if you don’t agree – as long as you could come up with an alternative on your own.
Now let’s see how you do analyzing form on your own. The excerpt below is the overture from Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell. For the piece below, please identify the
- Medium
- Meter
- Time period (this should be easy…)
- Form. For form, you do not need to write the times like I did (although it would help). Make sure it makes sense.
Now, please email you answers to Justin.Chase@ocps.net by Friday, May 23rd at 11:59 p.m. Please let me know if there are any questions, problems, or concerns.
Archived Recordings
The following recordings are from past MPAs and other performances by the University High School Choral Department. Have a listen!
Concert Choir
Bel Canto
Chante
Combined Men
MPA Recordings
The following are recordings of the University High School Choirs at the 2008 Music Performance Assessment at Cypress Creek High School. Enjoy!
MPA
Music Performance Assessment is fast approaching! Here are a couple of reminders for your preparation:
Because our choral department takes six choirs to MPA, we must spread our choirs over two dates: Thursday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. For students who participate in band, we asked to be assigned on Thursday and Saturday so we do not conflict with Band Music Performance Assessment, which is on Friday, February 29th.MPA will be held at CypressCreekHigh School (1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, FL32824), which is located off Orange Avenue near the 417-Toll road.
On Thursday, February 28th the Men’s Chorale, Advanced Women (Concert Choir Women and Chanté) and Concert Choir will be performing in two blocks from 12:45pm to 5:30pm.On Saturday, March 1st the Freshmen Women, Chanté and Bel Canto choirs will be performing in two blocks from 8:45am to 1:30pm. Transportation will be provided.
We will be providing school busses to transport the students to and from CypressCreekHigh School.If you choose, you may drive your student to and from CCHS.If you would like to pick up your student at CCHS, students may only leave at the end of their block, not after they perform. Students may not drive themselves to this event.
Because we will be leaving UHS before lunch on Thursday we ask that all students bring at least $5 for lunch or pack their own lunch.We also ask that students leave most of their belongings in the chorus room instead of bringing it to MPA. We highly discourage students from bringing “homework” to MPA; it is rude to do anything other than listen to the other schools that are performing.Please tell your students that they cannot bring any cell phones, iPods, video games, or anything else that makes noise or has a glowing LCD screen.These items are not allowed at school and are a rude disruption to the performing arts.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email as soon as possible.Music Performance Assessment is a significant percentage of the choral students’ grade for the third nine weeks. Communication is a necessity.If your student has a conflict with MPA, we need to be contacted no later than next week (February 15th).For more information, please visit our website: http://teachers.ocps.net/uhschoralprogram.
Sincerely,
Justin Chase and Brigitte Emenheiser
Choral Directors
Music Performance Assessment Schedule:
Thursday, February 28th
11amConcert Choir, Chanté and Men meet in the Chorus Room dressed and ready-to-go
11:15am Load busses and leave for CypressCreekHigh School
11:45amEat lunch at CypressCreekHigh School
12:45pm - 3:00pm
BLOCK 1
Men’s Chorale (Concert Choir Men and Un-auditioned Men)
Advanced Women (Concert Choir Women and Chanté)
3:15pm to 5:30pm
BLOCK 2
Concert Choir
6:30pmArrive back at UHS
Saturday, March 1st
7:00 amChanté, Bel Canto, and Freshmen Women meet in the Chorus Room dressed and ready-to-go
7:30amLoad busses and leave for CypressCreekHigh School
8:15amArrive at CCHS and eat breakfast
8:45am-11am
BLOCK 1
Chanté
Freshmen Women
11:30 am-1:30pm
BLOCK 2
Bel Canto
2:15pmArrive back at UHS
Chante Atmospheres
Hello Chante Ladies!
I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving break. I know I did! It's so nice to have a whole week off for Thanksgiving, don't you think?
Down to business...
Our atmosphere season starts off with a bang and doesn't stop going until December 22nd. That being said, I hope you are all prepared.
Don't forget our first atmosphere is at Sea World - we're leaving the school at 3:30pm sharp! Don't forget to bring black pants, black shoes, and a white t-shirt (Candlelight attire)!
VERY IMPORTANT: If you are going to miss an atmosphere, you need to let me know AHEAD OF TIME. Part of being in an auditioned choir is being a responsible young lady. I understand emergencies happen, but you need to be responsible and let me know if you will be absent as far ahead of time as possible. Just shoot me an email and I'll put you down on my list: emenheb@ocps.net
RUMORS
Don't forget that tomorrow (Tuesday, 11/13), ALL CHORUS AND KEYBOARD CLASSES WILL BE IN THE PAC for Rumors preview. See you there!
Orlando Opera
Join us this Wednesday, November 14th at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center to watch the Dress Rehearsal performance of Don Giovanni presented by the Orlando Opera.
Tickets are FREE on a first come, first served basis. There are 50 available tickets - 8 of which are designated for chaperones.
You must provide your own transportation to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center as buses will not be provided.
The doors open at 6:30pm with the performance starting at 7pm. The show will run 3 hours. Please eat dinner before attending.
If you are interested in attending, you must see me, Ms. E, before Wednesday. You can call, email, or talk to Ms. E in person to reserve your spot. Thanks and hope to see you there!
-Ms. E
Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order for the following 2007-2008 All-State Students:
Michael D. Raul O.
Aaron K. Daniela T.
Ryan R. Daniel J.
Richard C. Kandace L.
Congratulations are also in order for the following 2007 ACDA High School Honor Choir Participants:
Aaron K. Richard C. Jasmin E. Tamir H.
India H. Chris G. Kristen P. Stephanie O.
Kary P. Michael D. Daniela T. ---
Kandace L. Eleen A. Madelaine R. ---
Atmosphere dates are in
Make sure to check the Atmosphere dates on the UHS Calendar!
To ensure that it is your choir's date, click on the Atmosphere date (maximizing it) and it will say either Chante or Concert Choir.
"It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME of the year!!!"
-Ms.E
CANDLELIGHT DATES ARE IN!
OK, we just received our 2007 Candlelight dates from Disney:
Thursday, December 6th - 5pm
Wednesday, December 19th - 5pm
Thursday, December 20th - 5pm
Thursday, December 27th - 6:45pm and 8:15pm
December 6th and 20th are during school hours. We will be leaving approximately 1:30pm from school; students you will get out 10 minutes early from your 5th period class and meet in the main campus chorus room; parents, teachers and chaperones, you will need to be to school no later than 1pm.
December 19th is a short Wednesday schedule, so we will be meeting in the main campus chorus room, dressed and ready to go, immediately after school.
December 27th is our holiday show - meaning between Christmas and New Years. This is our smallest show of the four because of family vacations and the like. We will be meeting at UHS at 2pm - leaving around 2:30pm - and will arrive back at UHS around 10:30pm.
Parents and teachers should have already registered through the OCPS volunteer website if they want to chaperone this event.
Students, if you would like to stay in the park after our performance, you are allowed to do so with written permission from your parents/guardians. Please note that the busses will leave DIRECTLY after the performance. If you want to stay in the park after the performances YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION back home.
More Candlelight updates to follow...
Cookie Dough Sales
Sales reports are in... get excited!!!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
If you are in Chante, Concert Choir, or a Senior in any other chorus class, you can check your find out your individual profit from the cookie dough sales.
Each tub of cookie dough you sold (over 5 tubs) counts towards you profit. Each tub is worth $5.60 in profit. For example, if I sold 6 tubs of cookie dough, I would get a profit of $5.60 credited to my trip account.
Here is a break-down of profits:
If you sold:
6 tubs = $5.60
7 tubs = $11.20
8 tubs = $16.80
9 tubs = $22.40
10 tubs = $28.00
11 tubs = $33.60
12 tubs = $39.20
13 tubs = $44.80
14 tubs = $50.40
15 tubs = $56.00
16 tubs = $61.60
17 tubs = $67.20
18 tubs = $72.80
19 tubs = $78.40
20 tubs = $84.00
continues on, but I ran out of time...
DON'T FORGET ABOUT D-DAY, DOUGH DAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23RD. Make sure you arrange a way to get your dough home. Do that TODAY so you don't have to beg your parents the day of...
That's it, that's all and there ain't no more...
-Ms.E
Open House, Chorus Concert, and our trip to Washington, D.C.
Hello again!
OPEN HOUSE GOODNESS:
Just as a reminder, this year's OPEN HOUSE is scheduled for Thursday, October 4th, 2007, from 7pm-8:30pm. Each class is to meet for 10 minutes with 5 minutes between classes.
FYI: We will be having a Washington, D.C. trip interest meeting at 8:30pm in the Main Campus Chorus Room (025W). Students who are eligible for the trip include students who are in Chanté, Concert Choir, and any senior in Bel Canto or Men's Chorale. If you qualify, then make sure you attend the meeting with your parent/guardian, as we will be handing out (and discussing) pertinent information about the trip.
FALL CHORUS CONCERT OF WONDER AND LIGHT:
Our fabulous FALL CHORUS CONCERT is quickly approaching! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 16th, 7pm. Call time is 5:30pm for ALL CHORUS STUDENTS. You must be in the Patrick F. Culler Performing Arts Center by 5:30pm, dressed and ready to go.
NOTE: You are considered "dressed and ready to go" when:
Women – you are wearing your black chorus dresses; black stockings; flat, black, closed-toe shoes; no jewelry of any kind.
Men – you are wearing your chorus tuxedo jacket and pants; cummerbund; bow tie, black socks; black shoes; no jewelry of any kind.
Jewelry includes: earrings (even if they are studs), bracelets, necklaces, nose rings, tongue rings, belly button rings (because we can see those through your dresses), and the like.
Women and men who have not paid for their dresses/tuxedo by October 10th will be given an obligation form.
So, there it is… all the goodness you could want in a blog update – enjoy my lil’ chorus-ites!
-Ms. E
Welcome everyone!
Hello everyone! Mr. Chase has decided to come into modern times and start using a UHS Chorus website. Of course, Ms. Emenheiser helped to arrange for this to happen. Thanks Ms. E! Look here for lots of great info on the UHS Chorus Program, as well as the new chorus website page www.teachers.ocps.net/uhschoralprogram. See you soon!