Rehearsal, final stage, performance and thoughts after performance

I strongly believe that a composer never finishes a piece of work. He is always composing, learning, listening, self-criticising him self and his own work. All alterations that are made at the rehearsal, dress rehearsal and after premiere or after concerts are also part of the creativity process.

Colours (here in) was not different. On the first rehearsal I attended, the choir made the piece from the beginning until the end without stopping. It was good and they were doing exactly what was on the score. However, there were some issues that I wanted to correct:

1. Text


Image 1 - rehearsals changes, two semiquavers instead of appogiatura and semiquaver.


2. Articulation:

Image 2 - rehearsals changes, removing the dots.

3.Orchestration and writing issues:

Image 3 - rehearsal changes, writing issues.

Image 4 - rehearsal changes, issues with the orchestration and perception of the words.


Image 5 - rehearsals changes, glissando changes


Image 6 - rehearsal changes, solo tenor octave

In general, the choir was singing everything too static and calm. I suggested in the rehearsal that they must sing everything with more energy and that the expression indications as “emphatic”, “gentle”, etc., were missing so far. They responded immediately and did what I asked.

Although one of the objectives with this work was to scape a bit for the choir sound colour, I think the choir and me as audience felt that that characteristic was missing. There is a couple of moments where this sound colour happened, however it seemed that they needed more of it. There is nothing wrong with the choral sound, and also there is nothing wrong with the non-choral sound. Still, I think it is possible to find a balance between both and make the piece more comfortable to whom is singing and listening.

Next stage is, remaking what was worked on the rehearsals and after listening live, find the places where the chorale sound is missing, added and listening again.

A composer’s work never finishes, it is very difficult to finish a piece, specially because we are human beings and we are always in evolution, changing and learning with experiences. Hopefully, Colours (here in) will reach other level and will be closer to be finished, but I do not know what is going to happen when played again. For now, this stage is almost finished, only the future will said what happen next.