Seniors, we have been given the opportunity to create a video that will be used for the on-line Baccalaureate service (and possibly the GRC graduation video production). We'll be doing "Down in the River to Pray," which has become a tradition of sorts for Baccalaureates past and actually something that a few people have requested for this project. There's a quick turnaround on this, so please check out the details and get on this right away. It doesn't take long, but don't wait until the last minute. I want your videos by the evening of Thursday, May 14.
Here are the details:
1. Learn your part (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass) to "Down in the River to Pray." Sheet music, part-predominant tracks, and a full mix are available below. Download your appropriate mp3 and print out the sheet music.
2. You will create a VIDEO recording of yourself singing along with the audio track. Be sure we can see your face. Start your video AT LEAST a few seconds before the music starts and let it run a few seconds after you've finished singing so I have some room to edit on either end. If you record with a phone, doing it horizontally is better.
3. Wear headphones when you record. This way you can sing along with the track without us hearing it.
4. Send your video to me at [email protected] or Remind, if that works. You can also share it with me through Google Drive or Dropbox. I will confirm that I have received it and it works. Please follow up if you've not heard from me. Get it to me by the evening of Thursday, May 14. The Baccalaureate service is set to stream next weekend, and it takes many hours to edit a video like this.
5. A few musical notes:
Here are the details:
1. Learn your part (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass) to "Down in the River to Pray." Sheet music, part-predominant tracks, and a full mix are available below. Download your appropriate mp3 and print out the sheet music.
2. You will create a VIDEO recording of yourself singing along with the audio track. Be sure we can see your face. Start your video AT LEAST a few seconds before the music starts and let it run a few seconds after you've finished singing so I have some room to edit on either end. If you record with a phone, doing it horizontally is better.
3. Wear headphones when you record. This way you can sing along with the track without us hearing it.
4. Send your video to me at [email protected] or Remind, if that works. You can also share it with me through Google Drive or Dropbox. I will confirm that I have received it and it works. Please follow up if you've not heard from me. Get it to me by the evening of Thursday, May 14. The Baccalaureate service is set to stream next weekend, and it takes many hours to edit a video like this.
5. A few musical notes:
- Sopranos, at the beginning, you'll hear the tune up note (the tonic note and then the first note), three clicks, and then you'll come in.
- In the sheet music, the full lyrics for verse 1 are written in the soprano part. The subsequent words are written on the bottom of the first page, because the only thing that changes are the words "robe and crown" and "starry crown" (they alternate) and the words: Brothers, Fathers, Sisters, Mothers. Look at the music to know exactly where each part comes in (the track should make it clear too).
- A somewhat different tag has been added at the end from what we've done in the past. It's easy, though. Count beats/measures carefully.
- Basses, if the low F is a struggle for you, you can sing the F's an octave above. The place where all the basses should definitely take the higher F is M. 43-52 (the end of the song). It just sounds better with a tighter chord. The practice track does this.
- Sopranos, if you need to stagger breathe somewhere in M.37-47, that is fine, but be stealthy about it.
| Down in the River to Pray |
| Down in the River to Pray - Full Mix |
| Down in the River to Pray - Soprano Predominant |
| Down in the River to Pray - Alto Predominant |
| Down in the River to Pray - Tenor Predominant |
| Down in the River to Pray - Bass Predominant |
