Sunday, November 24, 2013

There will be a special Chorus 
Rehearsal and Class on Tuesday, November 26th right before we leave for the holiday Thanksgiving Break. 
Hope to see everyone there!
Also, I updated the link for "Some Nights" so that you have exactly the same version that we are performing to practice with on your own! (I left the really cool one on the site too!  :)  )
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Fowler Drama's 
"Disney's High School Musical"!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Winter Concert Info:
Check out these links! yes I figured out how to put the links right on the page! Vive la Grand Dame!!!
1. Take Me to the Water
2. Choose Something Like a Star!
3. Some Nights!
This link has the same version of the piece we are performing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34xN2FSEV_k

This is not the same arrangement as ours, but this group totally rocks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrdcPSQvbk4

4. The First Snowfall
5. Jabberwocky


Remember, the large group rehearses Day 2 during period 7/8 and Day 1 during period 9, and if you can, we rehearse Tuesday after school and Friday after school, 2:30-2:45. See you then  :)


Music In Our Lives
Assignments for the week of 11/18/2013-11/22/2013
Complete Packet on Vocal Music
Essay Series will be assigned Thursday and is do Monday 11/25/2013
Chapter Test is Monday 11/25
Tuesday 11/26 will be Project Day with lots of stuff to do. 

Notes and Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus






Check out this great video featuring Bobby McFerrin at panel discussion at the World Science Festival 2009. It was the first thing we watched to start Chapter 6 on Vocal Music because it is an interesting example of "audiation" or "the ability to think sound".  It also shows the power of the pentatonic (5 tone) scale.  Many of you also pointed out in class that it is also an example of "a capella" singing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk.






Check out these great opera stars representing the 8 vocal registers:

Denyce Graves - Mezzo Soprano











Beverly Sills, Coloratura 
One of the greatest Coloratura Sopranos in history. Notice the high scales and flexible trills that she sings.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQMEKLP8bD0

 Marian Anderson, Contralto
This is a moment from history that the text book discusses. Marian Anderson sings "My Country Tis of Liberty". Notice her beautiful, rich register is clear despite the age of the video (1938). Pay attention to the historical information leading up to her solo.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Le6RrH662I

David Daniels, Counter Tenor
The Counter Tenor voice is the highest male voice, that is sung in the female alto range. In this youtube clip, David Daniels is singing a piece by "Vivaldi"who 1678-1741 in Venice, Italy. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRdykK-Pa-s

Luciano Pavarotti, Tenor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4 
Luciano Pavarotti was one of the world's greatest tenors. This piece was one of his signatures that he performed in his prime. It is called "Nessun Dorma",which is Italian for "None Shall Sleep".
"Nessun dorma" is an aria from the final act of Puccini's oper Turandot and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto (the unknown prince), who falls in love at first with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. Pavarotti died in 2007 at the age of 71.

Sherrill Milnes, Baritone 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqw6UTlmceQ
This piece was made popular by cartoons from back in the days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3RuZis4tJs

The piece he is singing, and that is parodied in the cartoon is called "Largo al factotum" which is an aria from The Barber of Seville by Giochini Rossini, sung at the first entrance of the title character; the repeated "Figaro"s before the final patter section are an icon in popular culture of operatic singing. The term "factotum" refers to a general servant and comes from the Latin where it literally means "do everything."

Samuel Ramey, Bass 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m82TO9chA0
Samuel Ramey is a great example of a bass register singer. The piece in this segment is "Old Man River" from the show Showboat. Notice the dark, rich quality of his voice compared to the other male voices.
Crossover Singers:
Crossover singers, just to review, are artists who started their careers in the classical genres and switched over to popular music because it gives them more exposure to the popular culture audience.
Check out 2 will known crossover singers, Charlotte Church and Andrea Bocelli.

 Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, Time to say Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0agOTuM2mg

Charlotte Church, Tonight 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy6T9hKFcjs

 

  







Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Here are several youtube links that go with the songs we are working on for the Winter Concert.
Please rehearse along with the links, especially those of you who are having trouble getting to
section rehearsals.

Hopefully you will be able to just click onto the link, but you might have to copy and paste the link.

"First Snowfall"      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_HEorg8BXg
"Jabberwocky"       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnkumgf5qVw
"Oh Star!"               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNDrMifZqLU
"Take Me to the Water" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TokHdpvX7Es
"Some Nights"        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34xN2FSEV_k

Extra copies of the music are in room 191. See you at rehearsal Tuesday and Fridays after school.

Assignments Week of 11/12/13-11/15/13
         Music In Our Lives:
           1. Complete Chapter 5 preview from last week
           2. Bellringer for 11/12/13 on Disco and paragraph on Rite of Spring
           3. Review for Chapter test on Thursday 11/14 or Friday 11/15 depending on which class you
               have, 3rd block, 4/5th block or 10th block.


        Chorus:
           1. Concert date is tentatively set for December 12th, dress rehearsal will be Tuesday 12/11            
               during 9th and 10th blocks.
           2. Program will include these songs:  "The First Snowfall"
                                                                      "Take Me to the Water"
                                                                      " O, Star!"
                                                                      "Jabberwocky"
                                                                       "Some Nights"
       
         Piano:
             1. Bass clef  staff notes and practice
             2. "Amazing Grace" is a new song to begin practicing.
             3. Practice and be prepared to play the reading exercise "Grand Staff"
             4. The new song packet includes songs you have already performed. Practice each song so that  
                 you can play it easily. Pick a different song to prepare for the next recital coming up before
                 Thanksgiving. It will count as a test grade.

Welcome back to the Virtual Classroom!

Welcome back for another school year and to Music In Our Lives , Choir, and Piano.

I am just getting this year's 2013-2014 blog up and started (November 12th) and MIOL is just finishing Chapt 5. Assignments will be posted and organized weekly by class. Also any youtube performances pertinent to what we are learning in class will also be linked. The MIOL November Newsletter is being sent home this week. Have a parent or guardian sign it for proof that it made it home and return for participation credit in your class.