Christmas Concert 2023 - Charpentier Messe de Minuit and four motets by Poulenc
Practice notes and resource links
REHEARSALS Thursdays 7.30pm - 9.30pm, starting 7 September, with a half term break.
They will be held in Old Village Hall, Charles Close, Old, NN6 9RQ.
Bring a pencil!
CONCERT Friday 15 December, St Peter's Church, Walgrave. Click here for more details, and here for posters to email round or print out.
We have a page of resource links, to free aids to learning many choral works. Choralia have mp3 files for individual parts, available for free. Here are the links.
You can also find recordings on YouTube.
The Charpentier score does not have bar numbers, but figures in square boxes every 8 bars. To identify individual bars, I shall write the figure in square brackets, + or - some number of bars. For example, [1] is the bar starting at figure 1 (on p.2), [1]+1 is the bar after that, [1]-1 the bar before.
There are some errors in the score to be corrected, announcements at each rehearsal.
We shall also sing some French carols from the white book 100 Carols for Choirs (Oxford):
- A maiden most gentle, p.21
- Il est né le divin enfant, p.148
- Quelle est cette odeur agréable?, p.270
- The shepherds' farewell, p.344
- The shepherds' farewell (Berlioz). It's p.344 in the white book, but laid out much better on p.142 in the green book Carols for Choirs 1.
Rehearsals week by week
7/9/23
We sang through the whole of the Charpentier.
Note - The final movement, Agnus Dei (pp. 40-41) is sung through twice (possibly even three times), but the final time round the words are "Dona nobis pacem" instead of "Miserere nobis".
Corrections
Soprano p.25 bar [52]-5: "-mo" on D (not C).
Alto p.9 bar [16]-1: "Et", quaver on low A, should be a minim an octave higher, the same A as "in". Thus crotchet rest, minim "Et", crotchet "in".
Tenor p.15 bar [29]: "no-bis" both on D.(Not "bis" on C sharp.)
14/9/23
We sang through the Charpentier, and also a Poulenc motet.
Corrections
A, p.17, [35]-3: second crotchet is G#, not A.
A, p.18, [37]-5: crotchets G-A should be combined into a minim A, tied to minim in previous bar.
T, p.35, [72]-3: fourth quaver B should be Bflat.
B, p.4, [5]+4,5: first crotchet D should be F, penultimate crotchet E should be G (same as bars [4]-2, [4]-1)
B, p.7, [14]-3: third note, a quaver, is G, not A.
le-i or lei?
In the Kyrie, there are two ways to pronounce "lei" in eleison: either two separate syllables le-i, or as a single diphthong lei like English "lay". The diphthong lei is preferable unless le-i fits the music better, which it does in the main theme. Unfortunately, the score often shows le-i when lei would be better. Here is a list, probably incomplete, of some places where you should sing lei.
Sop: [5]-2; [13]-1; [15]+3 (as minim);
Alto: [5]-1 to [5]; [13]+2; [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+3 (as minim);
Tenor: [5]+1; [13]-1; [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+4 (as minim)
Bass: [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+4;
Everyone: Everywhere on p.7 is lei, except bar [14]-1
21/9/23 No rehearsal tonight!
28/9/23
Sang the Kyrie and Gloria
Lei or le-i?
S: Lei in [13] (as minim), [14]-3, [14]-1
T: Le-i in [13]-2, [13]+2
B: Lei in [14]-1
Corrections
A: p.7, [13] Ky-ri both on E
A: p.17, [35]-3 first Amen: the men is on G#, not A
T: p.15, [29] no-bis both on D
B: p.25, [53]+2 last note ("no") on A, not G
Finished with the Poulenc O Magnum Mysterium
5/10/23
The AGM was held during the interval. Reports are being posted on the website as they become available.
We concentrated on the Credo from the Charpentier.
Briefly also the Agnus Dei. Note that this is sung through twice (possibly even three times), but the final time round the words are "Dona nobis pacem" instead of "Miserere nobis".
We practiced two aspects of the French style of the music: inégal and trills.
Inégal (French, "unequal")
This means that notes written as two quavers are performed unequally, more like a dotted quaver and a semiquaver. It is not always done like that, but is especially common in the more dance-like parts. Ian will tell us which sections are inégal.
It can also be applied to a dotted crotchet followed by a quaver: think of it as a crotchet tied to an inégal pair of quavers.
Trills
These trills all start on the note above the written note, dwell on that slightly, then trill a few times between it and the written note.
Corrections
S: [42]+4 men D, not C
A: [47]+1 quaver ti is B flat, not C
T: [42]+2 crotchet D on de should be inégal quavers D and E
ATB: [55]-1 crotchet + crotchet rest instead of minim
12/10/23
Sang Poulenc O magnum mysterium in detail.
Then Charpentier Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctus.
Finally, Poulenc Hodie Christus natus est.
Corrections
S: [4]+2 -son on minim A, not crotchets FA
S: p.4, middle line (bars [5]+2 to [6]-2): There is some extra for you. I hope the photo below is clear enough for you to copy the pencilled in notes into your own score. For the words, follow the alto line. If you're in doubt, ask at rehearsal.
A: [13]-1, e- crotchet G, not A.
A: [14]-1, le- four quavers AGFG, not AGAF
T: [25]-1, -ca- crotchet C#, not D
T: [76], Sanc- over whole bar should instead be Sanctus, with -tus on final quaver.
T: [76]+1, first two crotchets should be AA, not C#A, and sung as a fresh Sanctus.
T: [80]-2, ho- should be crotchet E, not D
T: [82]+4, same as [80]-2
B: [13]-1, -son e- two quavers AG, not AA
7/9/23
We sang through the whole of the Charpentier.
Note - The final movement, Agnus Dei (pp. 40-41) is sung through twice (possibly even three times), but the final time round the words are "Dona nobis pacem" instead of "Miserere nobis".
Corrections
Soprano p.25 bar [52]-5: "-mo" on D (not C).
Alto p.9 bar [16]-1: "Et", quaver on low A, should be a minim an octave higher, the same A as "in". Thus crotchet rest, minim "Et", crotchet "in".
Tenor p.15 bar [29]: "no-bis" both on D.(Not "bis" on C sharp.)
14/9/23
We sang through the Charpentier, and also a Poulenc motet.
Corrections
A, p.17, [35]-3: second crotchet is G#, not A.
A, p.18, [37]-5: crotchets G-A should be combined into a minim A, tied to minim in previous bar.
T, p.35, [72]-3: fourth quaver B should be Bflat.
B, p.4, [5]+4,5: first crotchet D should be F, penultimate crotchet E should be G (same as bars [4]-2, [4]-1)
B, p.7, [14]-3: third note, a quaver, is G, not A.
le-i or lei?
In the Kyrie, there are two ways to pronounce "lei" in eleison: either two separate syllables le-i, or as a single diphthong lei like English "lay". The diphthong lei is preferable unless le-i fits the music better, which it does in the main theme. Unfortunately, the score often shows le-i when lei would be better. Here is a list, probably incomplete, of some places where you should sing lei.
Sop: [5]-2; [13]-1; [15]+3 (as minim);
Alto: [5]-1 to [5]; [13]+2; [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+3 (as minim);
Tenor: [5]+1; [13]-1; [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+4 (as minim)
Bass: [15]+1 (as minim); [15]+4;
Everyone: Everywhere on p.7 is lei, except bar [14]-1
21/9/23 No rehearsal tonight!
28/9/23
Sang the Kyrie and Gloria
Lei or le-i?
S: Lei in [13] (as minim), [14]-3, [14]-1
T: Le-i in [13]-2, [13]+2
B: Lei in [14]-1
Corrections
A: p.7, [13] Ky-ri both on E
A: p.17, [35]-3 first Amen: the men is on G#, not A
T: p.15, [29] no-bis both on D
B: p.25, [53]+2 last note ("no") on A, not G
Finished with the Poulenc O Magnum Mysterium
5/10/23
The AGM was held during the interval. Reports are being posted on the website as they become available.
We concentrated on the Credo from the Charpentier.
Briefly also the Agnus Dei. Note that this is sung through twice (possibly even three times), but the final time round the words are "Dona nobis pacem" instead of "Miserere nobis".
We practiced two aspects of the French style of the music: inégal and trills.
Inégal (French, "unequal")
This means that notes written as two quavers are performed unequally, more like a dotted quaver and a semiquaver. It is not always done like that, but is especially common in the more dance-like parts. Ian will tell us which sections are inégal.
It can also be applied to a dotted crotchet followed by a quaver: think of it as a crotchet tied to an inégal pair of quavers.
Trills
These trills all start on the note above the written note, dwell on that slightly, then trill a few times between it and the written note.
Corrections
S: [42]+4 men D, not C
A: [47]+1 quaver ti is B flat, not C
T: [42]+2 crotchet D on de should be inégal quavers D and E
ATB: [55]-1 crotchet + crotchet rest instead of minim
12/10/23
Sang Poulenc O magnum mysterium in detail.
Then Charpentier Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctus.
Finally, Poulenc Hodie Christus natus est.
Corrections
S: [4]+2 -son on minim A, not crotchets FA
S: p.4, middle line (bars [5]+2 to [6]-2): There is some extra for you. I hope the photo below is clear enough for you to copy the pencilled in notes into your own score. For the words, follow the alto line. If you're in doubt, ask at rehearsal.
A: [13]-1, e- crotchet G, not A.
A: [14]-1, le- four quavers AGFG, not AGAF
T: [25]-1, -ca- crotchet C#, not D
T: [76], Sanc- over whole bar should instead be Sanctus, with -tus on final quaver.
T: [76]+1, first two crotchets should be AA, not C#A, and sung as a fresh Sanctus.
T: [80]-2, ho- should be crotchet E, not D
T: [82]+4, same as [80]-2
B: [13]-1, -son e- two quavers AG, not AA
19/10/23
Handed out music for two more Poulenc motets: Quem vidistis pastores dicite, and Videntes stellam.
Sang through Kyrie, Gloria and Credo in the Charpentier, also Poulenc Quem vidistis.
Corrections to Charpentier Credo
A: [39]+3, bi-li- should be dotted crotchet+quaver, both D, instead of two quavers + crotchet, CAD.
A: [52]-4, -tus quaver A, not G.
More remarks on inégal for two quavers
The long and the short of it is that it's a way to strengthen the important note and weaken the note that just leads on to what follows. Hence it is rarely if ever used when the two notes are the same - there's no point. It's especially common when the two notes are adjacent in pitch ("conjunct motion").
26/10/23 - No rehearsal this week (half term)!
2/11/23
Charpentier: Kyrie and Gloria
Poulenc: All 4 motets. We covered two of them in some detail - Quem vidistis pastores dicite, and Videntes stellam. Practise them at home if you get the chance, as some of the notes will seem strange at first.
Posters are now available on the website.
9/11/23
From the Charpentier we practised the Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Credo.
From the Poulenc, O magnum mysterium.
All four Poulenc motets are on Choralia, which is a very handy way to learn the notes. For the links, see the top of this page.
Katie has kindly invited us, with guests, to a supper at her house in Old after the concert. There will be a charge of £12 per head for food (which will help raise funds for Village Voices), bring your own drink. Further details later on how to reserve places, offer to contribute food, tell us of dietary requirements, pay, etc.
16/11/23 - Please bring the Oxford 100 Carols for Choirs if you have a copy.
100 Carols: Practised 4 carols -
p.21 A maiden most gentle
p.344 Shepherds' farewell
p.270 Quelle est cette odeur agréable
p.148 Il est né le divin enfant
Also Poulenc Quem vidistis pastores dicite
23/11/23
Charpentier: Kyrie, Gloria
Poulenc: Videntes Stellam
30/11/23
Charpentier: Credo
Poulenc: Hodie Christus natus est - looked at notes in some detail. If you're still not sure about them, Choralia should help.
Carols from white book -
Il est né le divin enfant, p.148
Note overall structure - Refrain + v.1 + refrain + v.2 + refrain + v.3 + refrain + v.4 + refrain + coda
vv.1&3: T/Bar. stave is sung by altos (an octave lower than written) and tenors.
S/A at end of verse (La la la la la) is first and second sopranos.
vv.2&4: T/Bar. stave at end (La la la la la) is just tenors, singing upper line.
Also, Quelle est cette odeur agréable, p.270
7/12/23
Sang through entire program, except for Il est né (which we did last week).
Note, in A maiden most gentle.
On p.25, for the refrain (starting bar 84), the first time round we all sing the tune, in unison - as in bars 13-20.
The second time round we sing the harmonies as written on p.25.
Monday 11/12/23
Extra rehearsal 7.30 in Walgrave Church. Dress warmly.
Please bring money to pay for Friday evening supper, if you are coming to that.
We sang through all the pieces that involve the organ: the Charpentier, and two carols - A maiden most gentle, and
Quelle est cette odeur agréable?
Correction to Charpentier Gloria
Bass, bar [24]+1: quaver -ne is C natural, not C#.
Thursday 14/12/23
7.30, Old village hall as usual.
Please bring the green Carols for Choirs 1 if you have it. We'll have another go at the Berlioz Shepherds' Farewell. It's p.344 in the white book, but laid out much better on p.142 in the green book.
Friday 15/12/23 in Walgrave Church
Afternoon rehearsal 5.30
Concert - 7pm for 7.30pm start
Afterwards: Supper at Katie Lindenbaum's (£12 per head for food, bring your own drink. Please pay by Monday 11 Dec.).
Dress:
Ladies -
Men -
