18 June Update
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Week 3 of 6 (Half Term 2)
In this week's bulletin, we have:
Coffee Notices
A rehearsal recap, including notes on Edelweiss
Song facts: Edelweiss
☕ Coffee Notices
Our next performance will be on 18 July, at an 80th birthday party (at Ralf Perring Court, Beckenham). We have set up a WhatsApp group in our COTH community for those who are able to attend. If you expected to be on the list and don't see yourself there, please message a member of the management team for more information.
Lizzy is unwell this week. We all send her our love and wish her a speedy recovery.
🎤 Rehearsal Recap
Warmup
We continue to work on exercises that strengthen and train the tongue, lips and cheeks. This one isn't waterboarding, we promise!
Keeping a small amount of water on the front part of the tongue whilst warming up helps to demonstrate the shape needed to sing without placing unnecessary pressure on the throat and larynx.
Arpeggios remain one of Elena's favourite warm-up tools, and this exercise was no exception. We sang 'me' as we ascended through the scale and, when it was time to descend, swallowed the water and dropped the jaw to create the familiar 'Pingu' or 'fish face'.
These exercises help us explore both the upper and lower extremes of our individual vocal ranges. Warming up beyond the notes we commonly sing makes it easier to produce a clear, supported sound when we reach the limits of our range.
Song notes
Please continue to practise Super Trouper and You've Got a Friend. Detailed notes for both songs can be found in last week's bulletin.
Edelweiss
You can download a copy of the lyrics here.
We worked with an arrangement from YouTube which you can find here:
Note - the song is sung by a male voice - we are singing it an octave higher.
This song is in three beats to the bar – waltz style. It is often conducted using a triangular pattern. The sopranos carry the main melody and sing through the verse and chorus twice, with a short musical break between them.
Altos and Baritone
Box 1
The opening verse up to 'You look happy to meet me' is sung together with the sopranos.
Boxes 2 and 4
Altos sing in harmony
'Snow' drops down
'Grow' is held flat
'For-ev-er' is sung sliding down
'Edelweiss' is sung flat, with the second syllable slightly higher
'For-ev-er' is flat
Box 3
The verse lines are sung slightly behind the sopranos, in harmony
The first 'Edelweiss' rises
The second 'Edelweiss' falls
The third line begins without a rest and drops low
'Morn-ing' rises
'Greet me' is held flat
'White' rises
'Bright' falls
The sixth line begins without a rest and drops low
'Hap-py' rises
'Meet me' is held flat
Song facts: Edelweiss
Many people assume that Edelweiss is a traditional Austrian folk song, but it was actually written for The Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
The song is sung by Captain von Trapp towards the end of the musical as a quiet expression of love for his homeland. Although often interpreted as a patriotic song, it is really about home, memories and belonging rather than politics.
The title refers to the small white alpine flower found high in the mountains of Austria and Switzerland. Because the flower grows in difficult conditions, it has come to symbolise devotion, courage and enduring love.
Despite being strongly associated with Austria, Edelweiss was almost unknown there until the success of The Sound of Music. Many Americans know it so well that some are surprised to discover that it is neither Austria's national anthem nor a genuine folk song!
Musically, Edelweiss is written in 3/4 time, giving it the gentle feel of a waltz. Unlike many of the more dramatic songs in The Sound of Music, it has a simple, flowing melody and a relatively narrow range, which helps create its calm and reflective character.
Dates for the diary 18 July
80th birthday party at Ralph Perring Court, Beckenham - starts 6pm with singing starting around 7. Food will be provided. Registration will open soon with more details provided.
