Buffalo Valley Conference Advent Virtual Choir

Posted on by Lowell Chilton

This Advent and Christmas, all congregations of the Buffalo Valley Conference are invited to contribute to a virtual choir recording of “Joy to the World.” We are using ELW #267 for this recording.

Steps for recording:

  1. Get the sheet music here or get an ELW and open to #267.
  2. Download or stream accompaniment below.
    If needed, also download the rehearsal track for your part.
    1. Recording Track (Video) OR Recording Track (audio-only)
      Use this when you record your video. This has the organ accompaniment with soprano and tenor voices to hopefully make it easier to record your part. This has instructions included, which are also #6 below.
    2. Rehearsal tracks (mp3 audio only)
      These are only one verse long so you can hear your part. Soprano is not included sense that is the main vocal on the recording track.
      1. Alto
      2. Tenor
      3. Bass
  3. Have headphones or earbuds available for doing the recording. – this is really important.
  4. Dress appropriately for Advent or Christmas (silly sweaters are welcome).
  5. Find somewhere quiet – especially important is to not have TV or radio noise.
  6. Find a way to play the accompaniment through your headphones/earbuds while you are also recording. Some examples, have your partner record on their phone while you listen on yours or use a computer that can play the audio and record your video at the same time.
  7. Listen to the Recording Track in headphones while singing your part.
    1. Be sure that the playback of the accompaniment is going through the earbuds/headphones.
    2. At the beginning of your recording, please say your name, part, and congregation aloud.
    3. Count off aloud with Gaye (the organist). Also clap with her. This helps line up the recordings.
    4. Notes on the arrangement
      1. The first verse is all voices in unison (tutti)
      2. The second verse is only higher voices. Altos, please switch to the harmony if you can.
      3. The third verse is lower voices only. Tenor, please sing the melody in your range. On the recording track, you’ll hear Craig Miller singing this part. Basses please sing harmony.
      4. The fourth verse in all verses in harmony.
      5. For all verses – if you can’t catch the harmony singing alone, feel free to sing the melody in your range. Hopefully we have enough people singing harmony that it can balance out.
  8. Please Name the recording JoyToTheWorld.MyPart.LastName.FirstName.
  9. Submit the file with your recording to Dropbox.
Dropbox for Submissions

Deadline – 9 am Saturday, December 12, 2020

Community Virtual Choir for Memorial Day Weekend

Community Virtual Choir for Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on by Lowell Chilton

All members of the New Berlin community are invited to participate in a virtual choir performance of “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” for Memorial Day Weekend. The final video will be included in Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church’s worship video for May 24 and posted on YouTube. It will also be available to pastors in the community who wish to include it in their worship that weekend.

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save” is commonly known as “The Navy Hymn.” It has a long history of being sung as a hymn-prayer for protection from peril and danger as well as a proclamation of God’s ever-present grace and love in the midst of distress. It seems particularly fitting to sing this hymn together, and yet apart, this year.

Steps for recording:

  1. Download the music and accompaniment below.
    If needed, also download the rehearsal track for your part.
    1. Full Accompaniment – Use this when you record your audio.
      This has a brief intro and an interlude between the 3rd and 4th verses.
    2. Music
    3. Rehearsal tracks. These are only one verse long so you can hear your part.
      1. Soprano
      2. Alto
      3. Tenor
      4. Bass
  2. Have headphones or earbuds available for doing the recording. – this is really important.
  3. Find somewhere quiet, especially important is to not have TV or radio noise.
  4. Find a way to play the accompaniment through your headphones/earbuds while you are also recording. Some examples, have your partner record on their phone while you listen on yours or use a computer that can play the audio and record your video at the same time.
  5. Record yourself singing all verses while listening to the full accompaniment recording. This ensures that you are singing in the same tempo as the accompaniment, and as everyone else is singing.
    1. Announce your name and part on the recording before you start playback.
    2. Say aloud “3, 4” when you hear “1,2,3,4” on the accompaniment recording.
    3. Be sure though that the playback of the accompaniment is going through the earbuds/headphones.
    4. If you and a family member often sing together, please record separately if you can to make the final audio mix easier to do.
  6. Name the recording EternalFather.Jane.Doe.Soprano, replacing Jane.Doe with your name and Soprano with your part.
  7. Submit the file with your recording: http://bit.ly/MELCWorshipDropbox

Deadline – 9 am, Tuesday May 19, 2020