Undergraduate Choral Conducting Blog

Locus Iste is really different than the other music that we have worked on this semester. I am really glad we worked on it because it combines things that we have already looked at but it also presented new challenges. For what I thought went well, I think I expressed the right mood through my facial expressions. Sometimes I get a worried look on my face when I am concentrating. I think I looked comfortable and that allowed the ensemble to get a better sense of the piece and what I was striving for. Also, I think I am able to show which words and notes should have the proper stress. I think my body moves that way naturally and with what Dr. Mehaffey mentioned, I can just incorporate my legs a little more.

What presented some difficulty for me is having a smooth gesture but showing the ensemble where certain beats are in the patter, especially beat 2. I have to remember what Andrew said, that I can show a clear beat on 2. I won't injure the ensemble because they don't do anything on that beat. I am just afraid that I am going to do a gesture that will create a big jump/glitch in the vocal line that I am trying to create. Also, does anyone have any good ideas on how to conduct a smooth line but showing the ensemble where to place their hard consonants? Any exercises I could do to practice? I have ideas with the "l" on "Locus" and the "d" on "Deo". I would love it if we could discuss this in class a little bit!