Katie Dunton’s Aids for Altos
MYSTIC CHORALE FALL 2023
Katie’s Aids
— Pre-rehearsal Reviews 10/31 & 11/7, 6:30 pm
— Practice Audios under the Practice Audios section of the season info
Bridge over Troubled Water, Alto 1 – Katie’s
Bridge over Troubled Water, Alto 2 – Katie’s
How Can I Keep from Singing – Katie’s Version
How can I keep from Singing? Katie’s trick
There Will Always Be Singing, part 4 – Katie’s
One Voice – Katie’s
A Beautiful Noise Katie Alto 1 chorus-to-end
The Road Home – Katie’s
–Tips for Singing Tricky High Notes
SINGING TIPS for TRICKY HIGH NOTES (a.k.a. Katie’s Sweet Sheet #2)
As a general rule, it can be difficult to come right in on a specific note, especially a high one, in the middle of a phrase or after a solo. At least 3 pieces in our program provide us with opportunities to tackle & overcome this challenge. Here are some tips for success (tried & tested by Yours Truly).
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE
CHORUS 1
IT IS LOUD IT IS STRONG
“It is”, although technically not that high for alto range, does seem to come out of the stratosphere & we need to be ready! Four things can help with this:
- First, BIG BREATH for support & pitch that’s not sharp or wobbly.
- Use very tall vowels with big open mouth & crunch into those consonants!
- Even though lyrics say “loud” we can sing a bit more softly until we descend to more comfortable lower range.
- Sopranos sing same notes as us, so their comfy range beefs up the phrase.
“I have a voice” at the end of the Chorus tends to go flat. Every time we sing “I” pronounce the vowel starting with AH to quick EE (the diphthong Mike talks about = 2 vowel sounds in 1 syllable).
[CHORUS 2 – SAME AS ABOVE, then goes into Bridge]
BRIDGE
CAN YOU HEAR US
STRONG tendency to go flat every time, especially toward the end on “us”. Good news! I have a fix for that so we convey the message cleanly every time.
- Big open mouth again! Broader “us” vowel leaning toward AH sound – ahs (Be careful not to sound like U.K. person saying donkey!)
- Pay attention to dynamics – the sound intentionally built in layers to emphasize message of the lyrics. Regular volume grows to moderately loud by end of this section.
ENDING
CAUSE I HAVE VOICE
There’s that pesky “I” again – the longest one yet! Can you guess how to sing without going flat? Yep – big open mouth & AH sound.
EVERY TIME we sing the word “voice” in EVERY SONG, pronounce it VOH—ees.
Awesome! We did it!
HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
VERSES WHERE ALTOS SING MELODY WITH SOPRANOS ONLY
This piece can be hard on the precious alto throat, not just because it’s high but also repetitive notes are fatiguing. (Trust me, I’ve sung this exact arrangement before & experienced a disconcerting mixture of nostalgia & dread.) Other than being really warmed up or high on adrenaline, our only hope of getting through this challenging arrangement is to be diligent about breathing deeply whenever possible (which is quite regularly actually), voicing very tall vowels & crunching into the consonants.
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
[REMINDER! Altos sing echo “When you’re down” ONLY ONCE on first page & NEVER AGAIN.]
If using sheet music & you find some pitches too high, sing alto 2 notes when parts split – they are *almost* always the bottom notes on the top staff. I strongly recommend listening to Katie’s Alto 2 Bridge practice audio while looking at sheet music.
VERSE 2 – WHEN YOU’RE DOWN & OUT verse
“Ah”s on page 8, measures 50-51 – the alto 1 & 2 parts wiggle around each other. Alto 2 part starts low & goes up – sing the down-stemmed notes, the only notes with stems pointing down. The simpler alto 1 part starts above alto 2, goes up & back down. Then we go right into chorus.
VERSE 3 – SAIL ON SILVER GIRL verse
SEE HOW THEY SHINE
Our first note is same as soloist’s “to” pitch in “Your time has come to shine” phrase.
LOOK AROUND I’M SAILING AH—
On p. 11, measures 83 & 84 – Our starting note is soloist’s “a friend” pitch, which is the ever-familiar B flat. OR if too high just drop out. It goes by so fast, by the time anyone would notice these unreasonably high notes occurred we’re already back to the chorus again!
ENDING
- 13 – Don’t stress about holding a high note forever! Mike said as long it’s in the chord, we can choose to sing as written or choose your favorite ending note. In addition to taking breaths at the rests before “me” & “lay”, take a *quick* sip breath before the very last “down”, so you have enough air in the tank to hold the note for up to 16+ counts. Creative math: 12 counts + fermata = however long Mike wants us to hold the note = 16+. We can do it. GOOD LUCK!
— Cheat Sheet for How Can I Keep from Singing?
Verse 1
LIFE FLOWS ENDLESS SONG
ABOVE LAMENTATION
HEAR REAL DISTANT SONG
HAILS NEW CREATION
TB-tumult strife ringing
SOUNDS ECHO SOUL HCIK [TB] FROM SINGING
Verse 2
WHAT THO TEMPEST ROARS
TB-hear truth HEAR TRUTH LIVING
WHAT THO DARKNESS CLOSE
TB-songs night SONGS NIGHT GIVING
NO STORM SHAKE CALM ROCK CLINGING
TB-believe THAT LOVE ABIDES [TB] HCIK [TB] HCIK
FROM SINGING?
LA LA HCIK [2X] HOW CAN I [3X] KEEP
Verse 3
TYRANTS TREMBLE FREEDOM RINGING
FRIENDS REJOICE HCIK [TB] FROM SINGING
TB-prison FRIENDS COURAGE [TB] HCIK [TB] HCIK
FROM SINGING?
LA LA HCIK [2X] HOW CAN I [3X] KEEP
NO STORM SHAKE CALM ROCK CLINGING
[TB-believe] I BELIEVE S-believe THAT LOVE ABIDES [TB] HCIK [TB] HCIK
HOW CAN I [3X] KEEP FROM SINGING?
LA LA HCIK [2X] HOW CAN I [3X] KEEP FROM SINGING [6X] SING– ING–
— CONCERT ORDER ALTO LYRICS; Altos words in all caps
ALTO LYRICS – CONCERT ORDER – MYSTIC CHORALE FALL 2023
There Will Always Be Singing By Linda Hirschhorn
In these hard times
There will always be singing
Always be singing in these hard times
In these hard times
There will always be singing
Always be singing in these hard times
[parts 2 & 3]
In these (YES) hard times
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
(YES) always be singing IN THESE HARD TIMES
In these (YES) hard times
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
ALWAYS BE SINGING IN THESE HARD TIMES
[part 4]
IN THESE HARD TIMES
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
YES (always be singing) IN THESE HARD TIMES
IN THESE HARD TIMES
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
ALWAYS BE SINGING IN THESE HARD TIMES
Trilo
TRILO! TRILO!
TRILO! TRILO! TREE-LOH
HÄR-ÄR-HAN HÄR-ÄR-HAN HEH-EHR-AN
NÄ-RA-LAND NEH-RA-LAN
The Road Home Lyrics by Michael Dennis Browne
Tune: Prospect from Southern Harmony 1835
Arranged by Stephen Paulus
OOOOO-OO-OO-OO-OO
TELL ME, WHERE IS THE ROAD
I CAN CALL MY OWN
THAT I LEFT, THAT I LOST
SO LONG AGO
ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE WANDERED
OH, WHEN WILL I KNOW
THERE’S A WAY, THERE’S A ROAD
THAT WILL LEAD ME HOME
OOOOO-OO-OO-OO-OO
AFTER WIND, AFTER RAIN
WHEN THE DARK IS DONE
AS I WAKE FROM A DREAM
IN THE GOLD OF DAY
THROUGH THE AIR THERE’S A CALLING
FROM FAR AWAY
THERE’S A VOICE I CAN HEAR
THAT WILL LEAD ME HOME
OOOOO-OO-OO-OO-OO
RISE UP, FOLLOW ME
COME AWAY, IS THE CALL
WITH THE LOVE IN YOUR HEART
AS THE ONLY SONG
THERE IS NO SUCH BEAUTY
AS WHERE YOU BELONG
RISE UP, FOLLOW ME
I WILL LEAD YOU HOME
OOO-OO-OO-OO OO-OO-OO
Akanamandla
A-KA-NA-MAN-KLA, A-LLE-LU-JAH
A-KA-NA-MAN-KLA, U SA-TA-NE (repeat as directed)
SIM-DU-MA-ZI-LE, A-LLE-LU-JAH
SIM-DU-MA-ZI-LE, A-LLE-LU-JAH (repeat as directed)
SIM-SA-BI-SI-LE, A-LLE-LU-JAH
SIM-SA-BI-SI-LE, A-LLE-LU-JAH (repeat as directed)
Bridge over Troubled Water By Paul Simon
I’LL BE YOUR BRIDGE O’ER TROUBLED WATER
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN, WHEN YOU’RE DOWN
I WILL CARRY YOU LIKE A BRIDGE
O’ER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY ME DOWN
WHEN YOU’RE WEARY, FEELIN’ SMALL
WHEN TEARS ARE IN YOUR EYES
I WILL DRY THEM ALL
I’M ON YOUR SIDE
OH, WHEN TIMES GET ROUGH
AND FRIENDS JUST CAN’T BE FOUND
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY ME DOWN
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY ME DOWN
(When you’re down and out) OO-OO-HOO
(When you’re on the street, my Lord) OO-OO-HOO
(When evening falls) OO-OO-HOO SO HARD
(I will comfort) COMFORT YOU
(I’ll take your part. Oh, when darkness comes) WHEN DARKNESS COMES
(And pain is all) AH—
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY ME DOWN
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
(I will lay me down)
I’LL BE YOUR BRIDGE O’ER TROUBLED WATER
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN, (when you’re down)
I WILL CARRY YOU LIKE A BRIDGE
O’ER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY ME DOWN
(Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way)
SEE HOW THEY SHINE
(Oh, if you ever need a friend, need a friend)
LOOK AROUND I’M SAILING AH—
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL EASE YOUR MIND
LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
(I will ease your mind)
I’LL BE YOUR BRIDGE O’ER TROUBLED WATER
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN, (when you’re down)
I WILL CARRY YOU LIKE A BRIDGE
O’ER TROUBLED WATER
I WILL LAY, I WILL LAY ME DOWN, LAY ME DOWN
Be Like the Bird By Abbie Betinis
BE LIKE THE BIRD THAT
PAUSING IN HER FLIGHT AWHILE ON BOUGHS TOO SLIGHT
FEELS THEM GIVE WAY BENEATH HER
AND SINGS, AND SINGS, AND SINGS
KNOWING SHE HATH WINGS
How Can I Keep from Singing? Tune by Robert W. Lowry 1862
Arranged by Gwyneth Walker
MY LIFE FLOWS ON IN ENDLESS SONG
ABOVE EARTH’S LAMENTATION.
I HEAR THE REAL THOUGH DISTANT SONG
THAT HAILS A NEW CREATION.
(Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing.)
IT SOUNDS AN ECHO IN MY SOUL,
HOW CAN I KEEP (how can I keep) FROM SINGING?
WHAT THOUGH THE TEMPEST LOUDLY ROARS,
(I hear the truth) I HEAR THE TRUTH, IT’S LIVING!
WHAT THOUGH THE DARKNESS ROUND ME CLOSE,
(songs in the night) SONGS IN THE NIGHT IT’S GIVING!
NO STORM CAN SHAKE MY INMOST CALM
WHILE TO THAT ROCK I’M CLINGING.
(Since I believe) THAT LOVE ABIDES,
(how can I keep) HOW CAN I KEEP (how can I can) HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
LA LA LA LA…
HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I CAN I CAN I KEEP?
WHEN TYRANTS TREMBLE WHEN THEY HEAR
THE BELLS OF FREEDOM RINGING.
WHEN FRIENDS REJOICE BOTH FAR AND NEAR,
HOW CAN I KEEP (how can I keep) FROM SINGING?
(In prison cell, in dungeon dark, our thoughts to them are winging.)
WHEN FRIENDS HOLD COURAGE IN THEIR HEART,
(how can I keep) HOW CAN I KEEP (how can I can) HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
LA LA LA LA…
HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I CAN I CAN I KEEP?
NO STORM CAN SHAKE MY INMOST CALM
WHILE TO THAT ROCK I’M CLINGING.
(Since I believe) I BELIEVE (I believe) THAT LOVE ABIDES
(how can I keep) HOW CAN I KEEP (how can I can)
HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I CAN I CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
LA LA LA LA…
HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I KEEP, HOW CAN I CAN I CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING (6X)
SING– ING–
A Beautiful Noise By Alicia Keys et al.
I have a voice
Started out as a whisper, turned into a scream
Made a beautiful noise
Shoulder to shoulder, marching in the street
When you’re all alone, it’s a quiet breeze
But when you band together, it’s a choir
Of thunder and rain, now we have a choice
‘Cause I have a voice
I’m not living to die
Don’t stand in a wasteland
Look at me in the eye
Stop living a lie
And stand up next to me
You gotta put one foot in front of the other
With a hand in a hand holding on to each other
Go on and rejoice
‘Cause you have a voice
IT IS LOUD, IT IS CLEAR
IT’S STRONGER THAN YOUR FEAR
IT’S BELIEVING YOU BELONG
IT’S FOR CALLING OUT THE WRONG
FROM THE SILENCE OF MY SISTERS TO THE VIOLENCE OF MY BROTHER
WE CAN, WE CAN
RAGE— (against the river, feel the pain of another)
I HAVE A VOICE
I have a voice
And I let it speak for the ones who aren’t yet REALLY free
It’s killing me
No one is saying what we need to hear
I WILL NOT LET SILENCE WIN
NOT WHEN I SEE ALL THE PAIN OUR PEOPLE ARE IN
There’s no other choice
‘Cause I have a voice
IT IS LOUD, IT IS CLEAR
IT’S STRONGER THAN YOUR FEAR
IT’S BELIEVING YOU BELONG
IT’S FOR CALLING OUT THE WRONG
FROM THE MOUTHS OF OUR MOTHERS TO THE LIPS OF OUR DAUGHTERS
WE CAN, WE CAN
DREAM LIKE OUR BROTHERS SPEAKING LOUD LIKE OUR FATHERS
WE CAN, WE CAN HEAL, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU HEAR US?
WE CAN, WE CAN HEAL, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU HEAR US?
WE CAN, WE CAN HEAL, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU HEAR US?
WE CAN, WE CAN HEAL, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?
I have a voice
Started out as a whisper, turned into a scream
Made a beautiful noise
Shoulder to shoulder, marching in the street
When you’re all alone, it’s a quiet breeze
But when you stand together, it’s a choir
Of thunder and rain
Now we have a choice
‘Cause I have a voice
Now we have a choice
‘Cause I have a voice
Now we have a choice
‘CAUSE I HAVE A VOICE
One Voice By Ruth Moody
This is the sound of one voice
One spirit, one voice
The sound of one who makes a choice
This is the sound of one voice
This is the sound of one voice
This is the sound of voices two
The sound of me singing with you
Helping each other to make it through
This is the sound of voices two
This is the sound of voices two
This is the sound of voices three
Singing together in harmony
Surrendering to the mystery
This is the sound of voices three
This is the sound of voices three
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ALL OF US
SINGING WITH LOVE AND THE WILL TO TRUST
LEAVE THE REST BEHIND, IT WILL TURN TO DUST
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ALL OF US
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ALL OF US
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ONE VOICE
ONE PEOPLE, ONE VOICE
A SONG FOR EVERY ONE OF US
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ONE VOICE
THIS IS THE SOUND OF ONE VOICE
River By Bill Staines
I was born in the path of the winter wind
And raised where the mountains are old
Their springtime waters came dancing down
And I remember the tales they told
The whistling ways of my younger days
Too quickly have faded on by
But all of their memories linger on
Like the light in a fading sky
RIVER, TAKE ME ALONG IN YOUR SUNSHINE
SING ME YOUR SONG
EVER MOVING AND WINDING AND FREE
YOU ROLLING OLD RIVER
YOU CHANGING OLD RIVER
LET’S YOU AND ME, RIVER RUN DOWN TO THE SEA
I’ve been to the city and back again
I’ve been moved by some things that I’ve learned
Met a lot of good people and I’ve called them friends
Felt the change when the seasons turned
I’VE HEARD ALL THE SONGS THAT THE CHILDREN SING
AND LISTENED TO LOVE’S MELODIES
I’VE FELT MY OWN MUSIC WITHIN ME RISE
LIKE THE WIND IN THE AUTUMN TREES
RIVER, TAKE ME ALONG IN YOUR SUNSHINE
SING ME YOUR SONG
EVER MOVING AND WINDING AND FREE
YOU ROLLING OLD RIVER
YOU CHANGING OLD RIVER
LET’S YOU AND ME, RIVER RUN DOWN TO THE SEA
Someday when the flowers are blooming still
Someday when the grass is still green
My rolling waters will round the bend
And flow into the open sea
SO HERE’S TO THE RAINBOW THAT’S FOLLOWED ME HERE
AND HERE’S TO THE FRIENDS THAT I KNOW
AND HERE’S TO THE SONG THAT’S WITHIN ME NOW
I WILL SING IT WHERE’ER I GO
RIVER, TAKE ME ALONG IN YOUR SUNSHINE
SING ME YOUR SONG
EVER MOVING AND WINDING AND FREE
YOU ROLLING OLD RIVER
YOU CHANGING OLD RIVER
LET’S YOU AND ME, RIVER RUN DOWN TO THE SEA
RIVER, TAKE ME ALONG IN YOUR SUNSHINE
SING ME YOUR SONG
EVER MOVING AND WINDING AND FREE
YOU ROLLING OLD RIVER
YOU CHANGING OLD RIVER
LET’S YOU AND ME, RIVER RUN DOWN TO THE SEA
There Will Always Be Singing REPRISE w/different lyrics
SOLOIST:
In these hard times
There will always be singing
Always be singing in these hard times
In these hard times
There will always be singing
Always be singing in these hard times
SMALL GROUP:
WHEN WE SHARE JOY
There will always be singing
Always be singing WHEN WE SHARE JOY
WHEN WE SHARE JOY
There will always be singing
Always be singing WHEN WE SHARE JOY
WHOLE CHORUS: [parts 2, 3 & 4 as above – YES, etc.]
WHEN WE FEEL PAIN
There will always be singing
Always be singing WHEN WE FEEL PAIN
WHEN WE SPREAD LOVE
There will always be singing
Always be singing WHEN WE SPREAD LOVE
WHEN WE SEEK PEACE
There will always be singing
Always be singing WHEN WE SEEK PEACE
IN THESE HARD TIMES
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
ALWAYS BE SINGING IN THESE HARD TIMES
IN THESE HARD TIMES
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGING
ALWAYS BE SINGING IN THESE HARD TIMES