Converting YouTube to audio files

Click here: http://www.youtube-mp3.org/

Enter your video link in the box. The video will be converted to an audio file, and then you be prompted to download the file. Presto!

Dido & Aeneas: score, audio/video, roles

It's official! We'll be doing Henry Purcell's 3-act opera Dido & Aeneas this spring. Why an opera? Normally I wouldn't make this choice, but Dido has extensive choral parts, and we also have the right people for all of the roles. We'll be performing this with period string quartet and theorbo. 

A score is here: http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/1/17/IMSLP36466-PMLP05472-Purcell-Z626vsNov.pdf

You can download audio here (scroll down), but please note that the performance is a 1/2-step lower than the pitch that we'll be using: http://paulcienniwa.com/shop

Video is here: http://youtu.be/jweNnjeY-Q0 (There are better performances on YouTube, but many of them are at so-called "baroque pitch," a half-step lower. If learning from recording, be sure that the pitch is modern.)

Chuck from the bass section has indexed the video so that you can jump around by timings. To see his index, click here.

Please note that our performance will be a concert version with no staging. (Soloists may wish to act somewhat, but it won't be part of my planning.)

Roles: I've already made decisions about roles. There's much too much solo music in this opera to leave to mid-semester auditions. The two open roles (First Witch/Second Witch) will be filled be audition or covered by the doubles (see below).

Dido: Cynthia 
Aeneas: Raymond 
Belinda: Julianna
Sailer: Ed Sawyer
Second Women: Vanessa
Sorceress: Pat
First Witch: open
Second Witch: open
Spirit: Sadie

(Why so many women's roles? Purcell wrote the opera for a girls' school.)

First Witch and Second Witch are open to audition, and I'd rather not have those roles doubled.

Finally, witches? sorceress? Dido? Aeneas? What's this all about?! Read a synopsis here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dido_and_Aeneas#Synopsis

Afterword

Thank you for a great semester and for all of your hard work. Last night was the best singing of the season, and I hope you had as much fun as I did.

I'm working with the administration to bring on more singers, but I can always use your help. Please let your friends and enemies know about the Chorus. We can always use more--male or female.

I wish you the best for the winter holidays, and I look forward to seeing you when we resume rehearsals: January 20.

-Paul

Show time!

Just a few items before our concert:

• dress is all-black
• call time is 6pm
• concert is at 7pm
• please invite your friends/family
• (Thank you, Molly, for hanging the promotional posters!)

Above all: MAKE SURE TO LOOK OVER THE MUSIC AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE TUESDAY NIGHT!

We are on the verge of a great concert, so please keep the music fresh in your mind and ear. See you on Tuesday!

Agenda for next week

We have one more rehearsal after this! Time flies, right?

During our first hour of rehearsal, we'll go through the program in order. Before starting, though, we need to work out a few problem spots in St. Francis:

• p.6, mm. 33
• final page divisi

During our second our, we'll address any trouble spots as we get ready for our final rehearsal on Dec. 2.

Reminders:

• The concert is Dec. 9.
• Dress is all-black.
• Call time is 6pm, concert is at 7pm. (If you can't get there precisely at 6 due to school/work, it's ok. Just let me know.)

Finally, please look over your music before each of our remaining rehearsals. It does a lot of good to have everyone aware of each piece before rehearsal, and we can save a lot of time this way. 

See you next week!

Audition results

Thank you to all who auditioned last night. I realize that this was outside of the comfort zone for many of you, so I especially appreciate your courage and enthusiasm for the process. It's never easy to make these decisions, but they have to be made. Here goes:

Imagine: Sam
Let there be peace #1: Sadie
Let there be peace #2: Cynthia
Handel: Pat
Mozart: Kimberly, Sadie, Ed/Todd, Raymond
Schubert: Vanessa, Chelsea, Ed/Todd, Raymond

Soloists: please send me a c. 100 word bio written in the third person. I need this before our next rehearsal. Here's an example:

Cindy Nelson is currently a Freshman Spanish major at Framingham State. She has been singing in choruses since middle school, and this is her first semester performing with the Framingham State Chorus. She has also performed in numerous musical theatre productions, her favorite roles being Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Yonah in Children of Eden. She is also an active member in the FSU Craft Club and a participant in the technical crew for the Hilltop Players. She would like to thank all of the members of the Framingham State Chorus, including the wonderful director and accompanist, for this beautiful celebration of music.

(Todd, since you're a cover, you don't need to send one.)

Program order

Please put your music in order before the next rehearsal:

Dona nobis (round)
I've got peace like a river
Schubert
Bach Nun danket
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Let there be peace on earth
Imagine
Bach Dona nobis
St. Francis
Mozart
Stille Nacht/Silent Night
Handel (recitatives--Glory to God--Hallelujah)