What do I need to bring to the rehearsals?
For the first rehearsal you'll need to bring $5 cash for the registration fee. You will also need the Messiah Sheet Music book for every rehearsal. We also ask that you bring a canned food item to donate to the First Baptist's food bank as a thanks for allowing us to rehearse in their Church. We sing the G. Schirmerís Edition of Messiah. It should specify that it's an Oratorio for a Four-part Chorus and Piano, Edited by T. Tertius Noble, and Revised by Max Spicker. See the picture of the cover. You can order this in-person at your local music store, or from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Messiah-Oratorio-Four-Part-Chorus-Soprano/dp/0793505070/. A limited number of copies will be available for purchase at Rehearsal.
What is the dress code for the presentation?
Women wear a long sleeve black blouse and a long black skirt or pants, along with a red stole. Men wear a black jacket and dress pants with a white shirt, along with a red tie. Both men and women wear black shoes (with dark socks). No cologne or perfume should be worn for the presentation (out of respect for the sensitivities of our fellow Chorus members), and no flashy jewelry. You can (and should) bring a water bottle to the presentation, but drinks must have a straw.
To ensure uniform color and style, we typically make the red stole or red tie available to purchase for $5. Additional information on this will be shared at rehearsals.
How do the Rehearsals go?
At every rehearsal we ask that you mark a sign-in sheet for your vocal section so we can keep track of who was there and the size of the chorus. That continuity, with all of us learning and working on certain pieces and sections, is critical for the Chorus to sound its best during the actual presentation. Also, if you miss more than three rehearsals, you will not be able to sing in the presentation. If circumstances force you to miss more than three rehearsals, please see Conductor Kevin Donahue. We work on entrances, blends, articulation, dynamics, difficult runs by vocal part, and any trouble spots. All the while we remind ourselves that we're singing the words of Holy Scripture. We take a break in the middle of rehearsal for hydration, socializing, housekeeping matters, and more.
Beyond our weekly rehearsals, are there other ways to learn the music? Where can I listen to my part?
The fastest way to familiarize yourself with your part is to listen to your part while following along on the sheet music. The following are resources suggested by our chorus members, but be sure to check out more than one, as there are some discrepancies on how the music is presented.
Cyber Bass https://cyberbass.org/Major_Works/Handel_GF/Handel__Messiah.htm
Cyber Bass has all the parts, but they are not sung. Itís a great free resource! Itís tried and true.
Rehearsal Arts https://rehearsalarts.com/titles/handel-messiah
Rehearsal Arts has the parts with Words for purchase. You can buy an MP3 or a CD with your part (sung) for $28.70
Rehearsal Tracks (Aaron Giles) https://rehearsaltracks.net/free/
Rehearsal Tracks has all of the parts but they are not sung. It has difficulties that you can choose, which makes it a unique and useful resource. Notably it has a bookmark within Worthy Is The Lamb to allow you to skip to the famous and moving Amen Chorus.
Chord Perfect https://www.chordperfect.com/george-handel/
This site has all the parts sung for free online. This site offers you the option to slow it down if you are struggling.
YouTube Channel @Chord-Perfect www.youtube.com/@Chord-Perfect/playlists
You have to use the search bar to find their Messiah Playlist for your part. The benefit of this one is that the video shows you where in the music you are. However, if youíre looking here youíre not looking at your own notes on your own music.
Is there anything I should do with my sheet music to prepare for the presentation?
We suggest using something that will help you jump to the different sections that we sing quickly, such as paperclips or tabs. Many people also highlight their part throughout the music, to keep their eyes from straying to the other parts. If you are doing this, take special care when highlighting pages 144-147 (Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates), as those pages have two soprano lines.
If I miss multiple rehearsals, can I still sing in the presentation?
It's important to attend as many rehearsals as possible to ensure that the entire choir is synchronized in our dynamics, blends, cutoffs, articulation, etc. on every piece. If you're going to miss three or more rehearsals, please see Conductor Donahue.
Who is my section leader?
Each section (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) will have a Section leader this year. These section leaders will be announced at the first rehearsal. That way you can associate the name to a face as well. Please go to your Section Leaders with any questions that arise not covered here. They will also take attendance on the day of the presentation.
Can I listen to a previous presentation from the Messiah Chorus of Lake County?
The 2023 Messiah Chorus Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUpWNBFbmQ
The 2024 Messiah Chorus Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lOcZbUlWHs
May God Bless You, and thank you for singing with us!
