A Toolbox for Better Singing.
We began this at our last session and while it’s mostly pretty easy to read right off, here are the files so everyone can have a bit of a practice and those who missed out on our session at Jasper Lodge (Election Night at LVW!) can play catch up. Have fun! Oh, and apologies for … Read more
I said at rehearsal that McCartney was influenced by pop music from an earlier era––and of course, this was mostly written by John. Duh. ROLLING STONE’s Top 100 Beatles Songs 26. ‘If I Fell’ Main Writer: Lennon Recorded: February 27, 1964 Released: June 26, 1964 9 weeks; no. 53 (B side) “If I Fell” was … Read more
Well, it’s more pages than usual but it will all be worth it when you experience singing it. Yes, I miss the tenor part but then, I’m a bit biased. That’s life in LVW! 😉 Much of it will feel very familiar to many of you, I’m sure but I envy those who are being … Read more
I mentioned in the last post that I would also post the recording of Stephen Sturk’s Phos Hilaron that 9 of us made at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in 1986. You can listen to it here.
I worked with composer Stephen Sturk for a few years back in the 1980s when I was a soloist at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York. I was fortunate enough to be in the evensong choir that recorded his beautiful Evening Service, of which the Phos Hilaron (O Gracious Light) is … Read more
The beautiful Placido é il mar from Mozart’s opera, Idomeneo. Keep the breath steady and supported, clear consonants and long vowels. Placido é il mar – 3 Parts Audio Placido é il mar – Soprano Audio Placido é il mar – Alto Audio Placido é il mar – Bass Audio
So, we start of the new term with a snappy arrangement of George and Ira’s song, I Got Rhythm, long famous as a jazzman’s standard. Listen to the click in the empty bars to help you keep tracks of the beats. The rhythm in a song like this is not straight, but swung. So quavers … Read more
So, now that we have a pretty good grip on this piece already, here are the parts for further study. You can read more about Samuel Barber here on his Wiki page. 3-Part SAB Audio Soprano part audio Alto part audio Baritone part audio
What fun last night was! Thank you, all. So, here are a few bits and bobs from last night’s session––a nearly lovely Non nobis domine (I say nearly because we’ll do this again, and better), a little jocularity around Britten’s treacherous setting of the word “merry,” and our first complete read-through of the canon from … Read more
Time for a folk revival? Ready for incense & candles? Beehives, Beatniks and Birkenstocks? Me, neither. But this is a great song by any standards, and while not an overly ambitious arrangement, I think it nicely captures the mood. Here is a PDF of the full score for printing. Audio – All 3 Parts Audio – … Read more