SSM 2010 Information for Singers

Please make sure you print the Information Sheet from http://sydneysingsmessiah.com/info_sheet/ and bring it with you on Sunday.

Q. Will I be able to sing all the choruses?

A. If you have your own score (Bärenreiter preferred), you will be free to sing any chorus you know of the ones we're doing (see Question 19). If you buy a score from us, or you bought one in 2007, you will be able to sing all of these choruses which are on the rehearsal CD (that is, most of the main ones):

4. And the Glory the Glory of the Lord (B p.12)
8. O Thou that tellest good tidings (B p.46)
11. For unto us a Child is born (B p.64) (Come in at Wonderful)
15. Glory to God in the highest (B p.86)
19. Behold the Lamb of God (B p.113)
21. Surely He hath borne our griefs (B p.123)
25. He trusted in God (B p.150)
30. Lift up your heads (B p.166) (Come in at bar 34)
33. The Lord gave the Word (B p.188)
39. Hallelujah (B p.238)
41. Since by man came death (B p.257) (Come in at Allegro)
47. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain (B p.287)
Amen
(The page references in brackets are to the Bärenreiter edition.)
Q. On the rehearsal CD (piano version of my voice part) there are page references. Which edition do they refer to?

A. The Bärenreiter edition. See Question 1 for the page references - please mark them clearly in your score if it is not the Bärenreiter edition. This will help you to find your place during rehearsal.
Q. What happens to the statistical, financial, and personal information I provide?

A. Privacy. We are using standard web security techniques. We won't share personal details with third parties. The statistical information will be used only as aggregated data in a report to the City of Sydney after the event. No personal information (age, background etc) identifying an individual will be used.

For online payments with a credit card, we use PayPal and we (SSM) never see nor store the credit card details: the payment is processed entirely through PayPal.
Q. When do rehearsals start?

A. At 9.30am on Sunday 21 November 2010. (You will, however, need to arrive at the Town Hall by 9.00am.) There are no other rehearsals - only those on the day itself. Participants are encouraged to practise beforehand as much as they can.
Q. How can I buy the rehearsal aids (score of main choruses and CD with piano version of your voice part)?

A. Registration, rehearsal aids and audience tickets are available at http://sydneysingsmessiah.com/register/ . (For those who participated in 2007, the score and CDs you had then are the same; no need to get anything more). Please note that sales of scores and CDs have now ceased.
Q. What do I wear?

A. White on top (with long sleeves) and black (long) on the bottom, black socks/stockings and shoes. Black bow- ties for men if possible. If you have a name badge you would like to wear, please put that on too.
Q. How should I cover my score?

A. Scores should be covered in black or held securely inside a black folder.
Q. I do not have a score and will need one on the day. What do I do?

A. At this stage, you will need to buy or borrow one yourself.
Q. I have an audience ticket. Are seats reserved?

A. No. Audience seats are unreserved (except for seats for a small number of VIPs). For this reason, replacement tickets cannot be issued, so please keep your tickets in a safe place.

Doors will open at 2.30pm.
Q. What is the deadline for applications to sing?

A. Registrations for sopranos and altos closed on 11 October 2010, and registrations for tenors and basses closed on 8 November 2010.
Q. I registered my interest in the event some months ago, so am I included?

A. No. Only those singers who have registered to sing at http://sydneysingsmessiah.com/ and have paid by the due date given when they register will be able to sing on the day.

Registered singers will have received a confirmatory email saying that they have successfully registered. They should also have received a detailed information sheet about the day itself (see above).
Q. How do I get to Sydney Town Hall?

A. Sydney Town Hall is well served by public transport. Please check timetable information at: http://www.131500.com.au/ Trackwork is scheduled on 21 November. Sydney Town Hall is fully accessible by people with disabilities.
Q. Is there any parking at the venue?

A. St Andrew's House Car Park, adjacent to and underneath the Town Hall has offered singers all day parking at the discounted rate of $8. To avail yourself of this on the day you will need a voucher - please download and print it from this site: http://sydneysingsmessiah.com/media/cssm-parking-voucher.pdf

Parking will be available on a first come first served basis regardless of whether you hold a voucher for the discounted rate.
Q. Will there be food and drinks available on the day?

A. There will be the following one day specials (for Messiah performers only) in Westfield Sydney's new shopping centre on the corner of Pitt Street Mall and Market Street. Your purple wristband will identify you as a Messiah performer.

Oporto: a single fillet burger and a 375ml can of drink for $5

Top Juice: a Medium Fruit Salad (plus yoghurt topping) plus either one medium juice or medium smoothie for $8 (normally $13)

Bagel House: a filled bagel and any drink for $9

Of course you may prefer to bring your own food and drink.
Q. I want to buy audience tickets. How do I do this?

A. Audience tickets can be purchased through the Seymour Centre http://seymourcentre.com, 9351 7940.

Unless sold out beforehand, tickets will also be available at the door on the day.
Q. What is the program for the day?

A. The program is as follows:

9.00 Registration
9.30-11.30 choir and orchestra
11.30-12.00 break
12.00-1.00 orchestra and soloists
1.00-2.00 choir, orchestra and soloists
2.00-2.45 break
2.45 choir takes places
3.00 concert starts
Interval 20 minutes
5.30 concert ends
Q. Can my children come with me and wait while I rehearse in the morning?

A. No. We won't have a child-minding service available. Up until 2.30pm the Town Hall will be open only to singers, soloists, and orchestra members.
Q. I have registered to sing, but now find I cannot sing. Can I get a refund?

A. We do not give refunds.

No refunds will be given for audience tickets, but they are transferable (and please also see Question 9 above).
Q. When will the choir be standing up and when will we be sitting down?

A. Please mark the following clearly in your score:

Sydney Sings Messiah Sunday 21 November 2010

Please stand up and sit down at the end of pieces (not when the singing stops) - watch the chorus leader.

Even if you are not singing a particular chorus, please stand and sit as shown.

Be standing while the conductor comes on to the stage.

SIT
1. Symphony
2. Comfort ye (Tenor)
3. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (Tenor)
STAND
4. Chorus: And the Glory
SIT
5. Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts (Bass)
6. But who may abide the day of His coming (Bass)
STAND
7. Chorus: And he shall purify; & Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Alto)
8. Alto and chorus: O Thou That Tellest
SIT
9. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Bass)
10. The people that walked in darkness (Bass)
STAND
11. Chorus: For Unto Us
SIT
12. Pifa & recitative: There were shepherds abiding in the field (Soprano)
13. Accompagnato & recitative: And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them (Soprano)
STAND
14. And suddenly there was with the angel (Soprano)
15. Chorus: Glory to God
SIT
16. Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion (Soprano); Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd (Soprano)
17. He shall feed his flock (Alto, Soprano)
STAND
18. Chorus: His yoke is easy
19. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God
SIT
20. He was despised (Alto)
STAND
21. Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Grief
22. Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed
23. Chorus: All we like sheep
24. All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn (Tenor)
25. Chorus: He Trusted in God
SIT
26. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (Tenor)
27. Behold, and see if there be any sorrow (Tenor)
28. He was cut off out of the land of the living (Tenor)
29. But Thou dids't not leave His soul in hell (Tenor)
STAND
30. Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
INTERVAL (Remain seated unless you need a break)

STAND
33. Chorus: The Lord Gave the Word
SIT
34. How beautiful are the feet (Soprano)
36. Why do the nations (Bass)
38. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Tenor)
STAND
39. Chorus: Halleluiah
SIT
40. I know that my Redeemer liveth (Soprano)
STAND
41. Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
SIT
42. Behold, I tell you a mystery (Bass)
43. The trumpet shall sound (Bass) & recitative Then shall be brought to pass (Alto)
44. O death where is thy sting (Alto and Tenor)
STAND
45. But thanks be to God
SIT
46. If God be for us, who can be against us (Soprano)
STAND
47. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb. Amen.

Please note that the Music Director may make changes on the day, so please bring a pencil to make any notes you need to.
Q. What will I do with my purse and keys while the performance is going on?

A. Please keep valuables to a minimum. You may have a small handbag under your seat if you are in the gallery (a majority of guest singers will be in the galleries). Otherwise, if you are on the stage, keep your small purse or wallet with you.
Q. I'm in the guest choir; where will I be sitting? Can I sit with my friends?

A. Singers will be grouped together in their voice parts, so if your friends are in the same voice part, that should be fine. The Music Director has decided to group the Graduate Choir separately from the guest choir. Please note that the majority of singers will be in the galleries and some (particularly sopranos and altos) may be behind the conductor.
Q. Can children register for the guest choir?

A. There is no age limit. However, singers will be grouped together in their voice part, so it would be advisable for children under 16 to come with a parent or adult friend in their own voice part. Parents who have not registered to sing will not be able to stay with children in the Town Hall. And of course children would need to be able to cope with being in a choir of 600 and with the rehearsal and performance schedule throughout the day.
Q. Others from my choir will be singing too. Could we have our choir's name and email address mentioned in the program?

A. If there are 8 or more members from a choir joining us and you'd like a mention of this in the concert program, please send the detail (members' names, name of choir and email address or phone number) to info@sydneysingsmessiah.com by 20 October. (Sorry, this option is now closed as the concert program has been printed.)
Q. My question isn't covered here. Who can I contact?

A. Please email Catherine Crittenden: info@sydneysingsmessiah.com

The University of Sydney - Sydney University Graduate Choir

SSM 2010 Information for Singers