Brian Gravelle fieldwork Visions of Light Rehearsal
Brian Gravelle fieldwork Notes 9/30/06
2:00-3:30 PM
I left the South Plains Fair after my impromptu fieldwork and set out to go to my original destination…..the Soap Suds room in the UC (SUB for those who don’t know UC).
I debated on taking my camera or video camera, but since it was my first time in this setting, I opted for notes only.
I arrived at about 1:55 and frantically fast walked myself to the room. I met my friend Randon who sings in the group and he showed me where the rehearsal was. I walked up the stairs and walked into the room and sat down in one of the back rows of chairs. I sat and waited.
I felt very out of place because a) I was a giant white kid in a room full of black people, and b)everyone else knew I was this giant white kid in this room. I didn’t see much eye contact made with me, but then a girl in front of me turned around and greeted me, which made me feel more at ease.
There was also a piano to my right as I walked into the room. I surveyed the room and saw that in a group of about 15 people; only 3 of these people were guys. One of the girls was white, but the rest of them were black. The girl who greeted me then got up and started the rehearsal off with some discussion of different bible verses. She went on to say that the singers need to realize the purpose of the music is for praise and to praise God’s name. A male then walked in with a boombox and told everyone to come to the front two rows.
I was still hesitant about what they would think of me being there, so I moved to the third row behind the tenors.
The singers were divided up into Soprano, Tenor, and Alto, sitting in that order. There were no basses. Another man wearing a purple silk shirt and nice shoes asked the choir who was singing tomorrow. Four girls raised their hands and they proceeded to rehearse a song called Giants. They went over the lyrics and then the director started the cd. There was a tiny bit of conducting done by the man, but not much.
What was very interesting was that he knew the part. He knew every single part and if he could tell the section was off, he would immediately start singing their part, in that octave. He had a very commanding presence and a loud singing voice.
He rehearsed that one song and then left. Like the novice I am, I did not get his name. The other director then started rehearsing more songs. They then rehearsed a song called Grateful. They stood to rehearse the song. C. went over the lyrics before they started the music. There were also two dancers that danced behind the singers when the song was being rehearsed. All of this rehearsal was done with no written music. It was only done with a cd. I believe there was a cd with words and a cd with just accompaniment. C. then talked about next weeks rehearsal and how they might not have it because of the homecoming game. They then started rehearsing another song.
Throughout this rehearsal, I tried to sing the tenor part with the rest of the tenors. Some of the people looked back to see who was doing it, but I still kept trying. It was hard to discern the tenor part because I didn’t know the melody or the harmony. C then looked at me to see if I wanted to sing too, and one of the girls said, “Yeah, come on, you have been doin’ it back there, sing with us.” I sighed a breath of relief and moved into the second row behind my friend Randon.
We rehearsed some more songs and then C. said that we could get out early because we were getting out early. After rehearsal I introduced myself to him and he was very eager to help me in any way possible. He gave me his number and told me to get in touch with him so we could have a meeting over what I might need. I thanked him and then left at 3:20.
2:00-3:30 PM
I left the South Plains Fair after my impromptu fieldwork and set out to go to my original destination…..the Soap Suds room in the UC (SUB for those who don’t know UC).
I debated on taking my camera or video camera, but since it was my first time in this setting, I opted for notes only.
I arrived at about 1:55 and frantically fast walked myself to the room. I met my friend Randon who sings in the group and he showed me where the rehearsal was. I walked up the stairs and walked into the room and sat down in one of the back rows of chairs. I sat and waited.
I felt very out of place because a) I was a giant white kid in a room full of black people, and b)everyone else knew I was this giant white kid in this room. I didn’t see much eye contact made with me, but then a girl in front of me turned around and greeted me, which made me feel more at ease.
There was also a piano to my right as I walked into the room. I surveyed the room and saw that in a group of about 15 people; only 3 of these people were guys. One of the girls was white, but the rest of them were black. The girl who greeted me then got up and started the rehearsal off with some discussion of different bible verses. She went on to say that the singers need to realize the purpose of the music is for praise and to praise God’s name. A male then walked in with a boombox and told everyone to come to the front two rows.
I was still hesitant about what they would think of me being there, so I moved to the third row behind the tenors.
The singers were divided up into Soprano, Tenor, and Alto, sitting in that order. There were no basses. Another man wearing a purple silk shirt and nice shoes asked the choir who was singing tomorrow. Four girls raised their hands and they proceeded to rehearse a song called Giants. They went over the lyrics and then the director started the cd. There was a tiny bit of conducting done by the man, but not much.
What was very interesting was that he knew the part. He knew every single part and if he could tell the section was off, he would immediately start singing their part, in that octave. He had a very commanding presence and a loud singing voice.
He rehearsed that one song and then left. Like the novice I am, I did not get his name. The other director then started rehearsing more songs. They then rehearsed a song called Grateful. They stood to rehearse the song. C. went over the lyrics before they started the music. There were also two dancers that danced behind the singers when the song was being rehearsed. All of this rehearsal was done with no written music. It was only done with a cd. I believe there was a cd with words and a cd with just accompaniment. C. then talked about next weeks rehearsal and how they might not have it because of the homecoming game. They then started rehearsing another song.
Throughout this rehearsal, I tried to sing the tenor part with the rest of the tenors. Some of the people looked back to see who was doing it, but I still kept trying. It was hard to discern the tenor part because I didn’t know the melody or the harmony. C then looked at me to see if I wanted to sing too, and one of the girls said, “Yeah, come on, you have been doin’ it back there, sing with us.” I sighed a breath of relief and moved into the second row behind my friend Randon.
We rehearsed some more songs and then C. said that we could get out early because we were getting out early. After rehearsal I introduced myself to him and he was very eager to help me in any way possible. He gave me his number and told me to get in touch with him so we could have a meeting over what I might need. I thanked him and then left at 3:20.
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