Listed in Reverse Chronological Order:
December 8, 2022
My Wonderful Singer Friends,
I cannot begin to tell you how inspired and uplifted I was by your concerts this week. I still feel like I am on cloud nine – you sang with spirit, passion, and enthusiasm.
Apparently, lots of others agreed. In addition to all the many comments I received in person at the concerts, there were hundreds who watched on the livestream links. I have attached pictures of all the comments from the livestream, so you can see them and find out if any of your loved ones were watching!
Here is the link to a Google Photos Album of all of the comments. Please click on each screen and zoom in (using the zoom feature at the top) to see the comments in a little larger font.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vAMBGRberwPA4WbGA
Lastly, for the benefit of those who did not go to the party, I wanted to send all of you my thank-you gift by email. One of my family’s holiday traditions is to do a service initiative called “Light the World” that my home church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been doing the past few years.
This year as part of that initiative, the church is setting up “Giving Machines” around the country, including one at Park Place Mall in Tucson (5870 E Broadway) from December 17 through January 1. They look like vending machines but have options for spending money to buy supplies for charities in need, rather than candy and soda. Items range in price from $6 to $300 and include staples such as clothing, personal hygiene, meals, school supplies, medicine, and even livestock.
You can go in person and donate at the machine, or you can donate online here. Since participating in this has brought my family a lot of joy the last several holiday seasons, I thought it would be fun to share about it with you, since you all bring me so much joy, too!
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/light-the-world/giving-machines
I hope you all have a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and a wonderful time with family and friends. I look forward to seeing many of you on January 2, and for those of you taking a leave from the choir, know I will miss making music with you!
Much Love,
CJ Madsen
December 2, 2022
Hello, Green Valley Community Chorus!
T-minus 4 days until our concerts! I am thrilled at the prospect and know you are, as well!
Tomorrow we will polish some of our pieces and then do a full musical run-through of the program. Monday morning, our tech rehearsal, we will do a walk-through of the program with some singing. That evening it will be crucial to arrive punctually at 6:30 (come early, if possible), because that is our only chance to run the carol medley with the group from Walden Grove High School before the concerts.
Thanks to all for your thorough inviting. I am sending here the links to watch the concerts on Facebook, for your friends and family who live out of town.
To access, use the links below or go to Facebook and search my business page “CJ Madsen Music.” You do need to be logged in to Facebook to access this livestream.
Monday, December 5, 7:00 pm:
https://fb.me/e/44AYPxQ1K?mibextid=N4tvPT
Tuesday, December 6, 2:30 pm:
https://fb.me/e/3VWjfXh4W?mibextid=N4tvPT
See you tomorrow!
CJ Madsen
November 22, 2022
Dear Choir,
Thank you so much again for our beautiful rehearsal yesterday. We have come so far! I am amazed at your progress and dedication.
I repeat what I said in rehearsal yesterday: enjoy your Thanksgiving, first and foremost. As time allows, look over the pieces where you are most rusty or where the sequence of the song might feel tricky to you (such as the order of actions in “Fruitcake”). We will have a wonderful polishing rehearsal on Monday, November 28 at 1:15 p.m. at Valley Presbyterian Church.
Happy Thanksgiving!
CJ
November 18, 2022
Hello, Chorus!
Amazing work so far – we are getting closer and closer to the big moment!
This upcoming Monday we will be doing a sing-through of the entire program from start to finish. Please prepare by putting your music in order and polishing any of your own personal weak spots. The program order is:
Joy to the World
That Time of Year
Sleigh Ride
Hanukkah
Let It Snow
Caroling/We’ll Dress the House
Fruitcake
For Unto Us
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem
Silent Night (small group only)
Carol Medley (four-page hymn settings)
We Three Kings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Thank you for all of your hard work – and keep telling friends about the concerts!
CJ
November 15, 2022
Hello Everyone!
T-minus 3 weeks to our performances – I am beyond thrilled, and I hope you are, too.
This Friday we learn the last notes of our pieces that we haven’t learned yet! I have detailed measure numbers below of all remaining sections we will be learning notes for. Also review the pieces and sections that are rusty for you.
One final note: the order below is also the PROGRAM ORDER of the concert – hope this is helpful for you, in organizing your music accordingly:
Joy to the World – mm. 27-46
That Time of Year – mm. 9-53
Sleigh Ride – all learned, double check repeats and add bells and whip
Hanukkah – all learned, review order of verses
Let It Snow – mm. 5-11
Caroling, Caroling – all learned, work on memory
We’ll Dress the House – all learned, work on musicianship and releases
Fruitcake – all learned
For Unto Us – all learned, review melismas (S – 14-18, B – 20-24, T – 39-41, A – 57-61, SA – 74-78)
When Joseph Went – all learned, work on memory
Silent Night – all learned, work on polishing
Carol Medley – Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
We Three Kings – mm. 51-70 (and TBB trio on the first page)
We Wish You a Merry – mm. 1-19
CJ
November 8, 2022
Hello Everyone!
Well done, Chorus! We had a lot of ground to cover yesterday, and we did it! I so appreciated your focus and attention to detail. Also, thanks to all of the section leaders and accompanists for their extra effort to schedule sectionals. And of course, our board of directors is phenomenal, as always.
Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. This will be mainly a review of all the new sections we learned this last week.
Joy to the World – m. 47-86
That Time of Year – m. 58-104
Oh Hanukkah – Review entire song
Let It Snow – m. 15-46
“Caroling, Caroling” memorized!
“We’ll Dress the House” stanza 3 slower tempo
“Sleigh Ride” pp. 10 – 12, check pitches and rhythm
Fruitcake – m. 1-11
For Unto Us – pgs. 5-6 as well as opening melismas on page 3
When Joseph – practice memorizing text of vs. 1 and vs. 2
Carol Medley – review Away in a Manger
We Three Kings – m. 75-106, but for TB, also remember we will be auditioning the trio of soloists on the first page; I’ve decided to hold solos on Friday, November 18.
We Wish You – m. 19-49
CJ
November 1, 2022
Hello Everyone!
I was truly touched in several moments of rehearsal by the music and your delivery of it – again, THANK YOU for the gift you gave to me. It is so fun to be working with you.
Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. I invite you to get a head start on learning these sections.
Joy to the World – m. 47-66 – this will be Sopranos only, not SA as listed in the score. S1 will take the top and S2 will take the bottom in the split. ATB can review their part at 67-86.
That Time of Year – m. 58-104
Oh Hanukkah – Review entire song
Let It Snow – m. 15-46
Caroling, Caroling – general musicianship; review diction and memorization
We’ll Dress the House – tempo changes and diction
Sleighride – p. 2 eliminate early starts; check pp. 9- 11 for notes and releases
Fruitcake – m. 1-11
For Unto Us – pgs. 5-6, as well as m. 14-18
When Joseph – learning the text for vs. 1 (TB) and vs. 2 (SA)
Carol Medley – review The First Noel and O Come, All Ye Faithful
We Three Kings – m. 75-106
We Wish You – m. 19-49
CJ
October 25, 2022
Amazing progress this last week, singers – we’re all voiced now and chugging along great with the repertoire – we’re right on track with our master plan.
Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. I invite you to get a head start on reviewing these sections. Most of it will be a review of the new sections learned this past week.
Joy to the World – m. 67-end (67-86 is new for altos, tenors, and basses)
That Time of Year – pgs. 11- to the end (pgs 11-12 are new)
Oh Hanukkah – Entire song (last half is new)
Let It Snow – m. 46-end (m. 46-101 is new)
Sleigh Ride – Review pgs. 4, 6, 11, and 12 (the repeat and the coda)
Caroling, Caroling – Work on memorization and diction, with focus on the word “Christmas”
We’ll Dress The House- Review pitches
Fruitcake – m. 14-end (m. 22-end is new)
For Unto Us – pgs. 7-end (pgs 7-8 are new)
When Joseph – work on memorizing m. 53 to the end
Carol Medley – review The First Noel and O Come, All Ye Faithful
We Three Kings – m. 107-end (m. 107-156 is new)
We Wish You – m. 51-end (m. 51-74 are new)
CJ and Priscilla
October 19, 2022
Wonderful work this past week, singers!
Isn’t it so wonderful to sing together – rehearsal is the highlight of my professional week, thanks to the energy and musicianship you bring to rehearsals.
Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. I invite you to get a head start on reviewing these sections:
Joy to the World – m. 67-86, learn pitches; review what we’ve learned — take note that we will have all altos on the top stave at m. 67 and tenors/basses all on the bottom stave, which is different than the score indicates
That Time of Year – pgs. 11-12, learn pitches
Oh Hanukkah – Last two systems, learn pitches
Let It Snow – m. 46-101, learn pitches
Caroling, Caroling – Stanza 2 work on memory, review diction
We’ll Dress The House- Review diction stanza 2, work on changing tempos for stanza 3
Sleigh Ride – Review rhythm throughout check notes p 4; focus on repeats
Fruitcake – m. 22-end, learn pitches
For Unto Us – pgs. 7-8
When Joseph – review m. 53-end
Carol Medley – review The First Noel (just first verse)
We Three Kings – m. 107-156, learn pitches
We Wish You – m. 51-74, learn pitches
CJ and Priscilla
October 13, 2022
Hello, singers!
You worked tremendously hard this last week; thanks so much for your work. I loved being with you. Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. We will be mainly reviewing notes that were learned last week. I invite you to get a head start on reviewing these sections:
Joy to the World – m. 103 – end
That Time of Year – pgs. 13-14
Sleigh Ride – Pg 8, “Pop pop pop”
We’ll Dress the House – 2nd verse
Caroling, Caroling – 1st verse – memorize
Oh Hanukkah – First two systems
Let It Snow – m. 102-end
Fruitcake – m. 14-21
For Unto Us – pgs. 9-11
When Joseph – m. 53-end
Carol Medley – Oh, Come All Ye Faithful (just first verse)
We Three Kings – m. 157-end
We Wish You – m. 75-end
CJ and Priscilla
October 6, 2022
Hello, singers!
Thanks for a fantastic rehearsal last week. I loved being with you. Below are the pieces and measure numbers we will be covering in this next rehearsal. I invite you to get a head start on learning pitches for these sections:
Joy to the World – m. 103 – end, but note the following change: the four staves will be sung as follows, beginning at the pickup to m. 111 – top stave, S1; second stave, S2; third stave, A; bottom stave; TB.
That Time of Year – pgs. 13-14
Sleigh Ride – Key Change bottom p. 6; Notes on pg. 7-8
We’ll Dress the House – 3rd system
Caroling, Caroling – 1st verse
Oh Hanukkah – First two systems
Let It Snow – 102-end
Fruitcake – 14-21
For Unto Us – pgs. 9-11
When Joseph – m. 53-end
Carol Medley – Oh, Come All Ye Faithful (just first verse)
We Three Kings – m. 157-end
We Wish You – m. 75-end
CJ and Priscilla
BEGINNING OF NOTES TO THE CHORUS WINTER 2022
END OF NOTES TO THE CHORUS SPRING 2022
March 24, 2022
Hi, Everyone!
Firstly, thank you so much for the wonderful concerts last week – it was an excellent sendoff from GVCC and I’m grateful for every minute of my time as director. I haven’t been able to download our video to put on Youtube for you, but I’m in communication with the tech team at Valley Presbyterian to get that settled. I’ll be sure to send you a link as soon as I get that set up!
I wanted to let you know about a couple of things I’ve been working on that are coming up! First is Rent – it’s actually opening on Thursday, March 24th. That’s pretty close, but opening night isn’t always the best one to come to, anyway
You can find information on showtimes and tickets here:
https://www.arts-express.org/rent/
It’s running through April 3rd, and I hope some of you might come out! Do be aware if you haven’t seen Rent before, it has a lot of “adult” themes going on. I just like to put in a disclaimer in case it’s not your speed. This production is done in the round, so seats on the floor might find they’re getting a decent amount of interaction with the cast!
And next Tuesday (March 29th) is my Lecture Recital! This is the final recital for my doctorate program, and I’m very excited for the content I’ll be sharing. We’ll sing a broad program including:
Puccini’s “Humming Chorus”
Mozart’s Te Deum
Verdi’s “Va Pensiero”
Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus”
Bainton’s And I Saw A New Heaven
This recital won’t be just music, though. I’ll be spending a good deal of the time talking about a concept that I’ve been working on that has to do with conducting pedagogy. There will be a decent amount of math-speak, but I’ve been working to make sure it’s accessible for everyone There’s a reception afterward, too, if you’d like to hang around and visit with me and my family that’s all coming into town.
The recital is at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (7570 N. Thornydale Road) at 8 PM, and the reception is right in the fellowship hall at the church. I hope I’ll get to see some of you there!
Long days and pleasant nights,
Aaron
BEGINNING OF NOTES TO THE CHORUS SPRING 2022
Green Valley Community Chorus 