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Vocal Arts

Mendelssohn’s Elijah

This page contains resources for choir members preparing for UALR’s spring performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah (Saturday, April 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m., at Second Presbyterian Church in west Little Rock).

Scroll down to find the notes from the UALR Community Chorus Spring 2010 rehearsals, as well as links to program notes, audio files, and a recommended recording that you can use to practice between rehearsals.

Rehearsal Notes 

Performance notes handout:  Download your guide to this week’s rehearsals, including all the times, locations, and emergency contact numbers.

March 18:  Includes final paperclip guide and performance overview, plus notes from the entire week of March 15-19, including new notes for (1) Help, Lord; (5) Yet doth the Lord, (10) As God the Lord of Sabaoth; (12) Hear our cry, O Baal!; (13) Baal! Baal!; (20) Thanks be to God!; (22) Be not afraid; (23) The Lord hath exalted thee; (24) Woe to him; (29) He, watching over Israel; (32) He that shall endure; (35) Holy is God the Lord; (41) But the Lord from the north; (43) And then shall your light break forth

March 11:  (22) Be not afraid; (35) Holy is God the Lord; (36) Go, return upon thy way; (38) Then did Elijah; (43) And then shall your light break forth

March 4: (22) Be not afraid; (23) The Lord hath exalted thee; (29) He, watching over Israel; (35) Holy is God the Lord; (38) Then did Elijah; (43) And then shall your light break forth 

February 25: (24) Woe to him; (29) He, watching over Israel; (32) He that shall endure

February 18: (1) Help, Lord; (2) Bow thine ear; (5) Yet doth the Lord; (10) As God the Lord of Sabaoth; (11) Baal, we cry to thee; (12) Hear our cry, O Baal; (13) Baal! Baal!; (24) Woe to him; (29) He, watching over Israel; (32) He that shall endure

February 11: (2) Bow thine ear; (5) Yet doth the Lord; (10) As God the Lord of Sabaoth; (11) Baal, we cry to thee; (12) Hear our cry, O Baal; (13) Baal! Baal!; (16) The fire descends; (19A) Thou hast overthrown thine enemies

February 4: (1) Help, Lord; (20) Thanks be to God! 

January 28: (10) As God the Lord of Sabaoth; (11) Baal, we cry to thee; (12) Hear our cry, O Baal; (20) Thanks be to God! 

Note to basses:  If you are using the Cyberbass midis to learn your part, the file for (11) Baal, we cry to thee does not reflect the notes Dr. Keating has asked you to sing on measure 11.  (See the rehearsal notes for details.)  Below are two midis you can use to hear measures 9-13 the way our choir will be performing them.

January 21: (1) Help, Lord!; (2) Bow thine ear; (5) Yet doth the Lord; (11) Baal, we cry to thee; (12) Hear our cry, O Baal; (13) Baal! Baal!; (20) Thanks be to God!

January 14: Briefly addressed movements (1) Help, Lord!, (2) Bow thine ear, and (11)/(12) Baal, we cry to thee/Hear our cry, O Baal; detailed notes on (29) He, watching over Israel 

Program Notes

Elijah is a dramatic oratorio driven by its narrative and its vibrant characters.  To sing it well, you must understand the context of the story.  At our Jan. 14 rehearsal, Dr. Keating provided a handout to offer some background on the plot and structure of Mendelssohn’s work.  Please refer to this handout regularly as you listen to the recommended recording and as you practice your parts.

Learning MIDIs

Visit the CyberBass choral website to listen to free audio files that contain your part. 

For $25, you can also purchase a CD from the CyberBass site that will work in your car or stereo, payable through PayPal. 

For more information about how to use the Cyberbass midi player, as well as some issues to be aware of when you are listening to the Elijah midis, click here.

Recommended Recording

Dr. Keating recommends the 1992 version of Elijah conducted by Sir Neville Marriner and performed by the Academy and Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields as the recording most similar to the sound and diction that our choir will be working to produce.  You can purchase the entire CD set (two CDs) from this page at Amazon.com. (Consider ordering from one of the Amazon marketplace sellers if you’d like to pick it up for less than $34.)

Updated 8.29.2010