Mynstrel: A song maker in Aotearoa

I bought me a cat - Aaron COPLAND

2011-12-19T19:46:00.000+13:00

Peter Mellalieu sings 'I bought me a cat' arranged by Aaron COPLAND.

Recorded handheld on my new Canon EOS 600D camera, with Canon EFS 18 - 200 mm Image stabilizer lens. Using built in microphone.

I am impressed that the sound quality recorded by the camera's inbuilt mono microphone has done an impressive job coping with the dynamics of the singing and piano. The camera was located a bit too close to the piano, I suspect. i.e. distance from camera to singer: 4 m. Distance from camera to piano 3 m. (approx +/- 0.5 m)

Next concert, I will attempt to record using the external mike input, using my Zoom H4n digital recorder.

Postproduction: iMovie, using original 1080p video from the camera.

Child, if I were king' (Enfant, si j'etais roi) by Liszt

2011-12-17T18:40:00.000+13:00

Peter Mellalieu sings 'Child, if I were king' (Enfant, si j'etais roi) by Liszt.

Recorded handheld on my new Canon EOS 600D camera, with Canon EFS 18 - 200 mm Image stabilizer lens. Using built in microphone.

I am impressed that the sound quality recorded by the camera's inbuilt mono microphone has done an impressive job coping with the dynamics of the singing and piano. The camera was located a bit too close to the piano, I suspect. i.e. distance from camera to singer: 4 m. Distance from camera to piano 3 m. (approx +/- 0.5 m)

Next concert, I will attempt to record using the external mike input, using my Zoom H4n digital recorder.

Postproduction: iMovie, using original 1080p video from the camera.

Note: this was recorded at an end-of-year concert for a music class. This was the first time the pianist and singer had performed the piece together.

My first blogsy posting

2011-11-13T15:23:00.001+13:00

I am learning how to use Blogsy on my IPad prior to traveling to London.

Match racing in Auckland.

Gerald Finzi's 'The Sigh' performed by Peter Mellalieu

2011-07-09T10:32:00.000+12:00

The Wanderer - Gerald FINZI

2011-07-09T10:30:00.001+12:00

Peter Mellalieu sings Finzi's The Wanderer at Auckland Lieder Group, May 2011.

3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony (Repost from YouTube)

2011-01-29T10:58:00.000+13:00

This is a wonderfully moving video clip of a young boy pasionately engaged in conducting the last exhilrating movement of Beethoven's 4th Symphony. Almost four million people have viwed this video on YouTube. And like several commenters, I, too, was moved to tears of joy.

Review the comments of YouTube. They show you how constructive comments can be! Here's one example:

"I believe a major symphony orchestra could easily follow his direction (except for the finish) and audiences would love his style.

I also think that this video would serve an excellent training tool for conducting students--it teaches music expression using the whole body (including conducting with your feet), unbridled enthusiasm, and how to deal with emergencies without dropping a beat (or a baton).

This video gets an A+ in my book. Bravo, Jonathan!"

Some Lieder composers from the Old and New worlds

2010-12-23T10:32:00.000+13:00

Image via WikipediaSamuel BARBER Bela BARTOK Arnold BAX Alban BERG Hector BERLIOZ Arthur BLISS Johannes BRAHMS Frank BRIDGE Benjamin BRITTEN Joseph CANTELOUBE Cecile CHAMINADE Ernest CHAUSSON Frederic CHOPIN Claude DEBUSSY Frederick Delius Henri DUPARC Anton DVORAK Edward ELGAR Garbriel FAURE Gerald FINZI Dorothea FRANCHI Dorothy FREED Charles GOUNOD Edvard GREIG Charles GRIFFES Ivor GURNEY James HALL David HAMILTON Gustav HOLST Herbert HOWELLS John IRELAND Charles IVES Dmitry KABALEVSKY Erich KORNGOLD Franz LISZT Gustav MAHLER Felix MENDELSSOHN Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Modest MUSSORGSKY Hubert PARRY Francis POULENC Sergei PROKOFIEV Roger QUILTER Sergei RACHMANINOV Maurice RAVEL Max REGER Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ANTONY RITCHIE Sharon ROBERTS-GOOD Anton RUBENSTEIN Camille SAINT-SAENS Franz SCHUBERT Robert SCHUMANN Dimitri SHOSTAKOVITCH Jean SIBELIUS Louis SPOHR Richard STRAUSS Igor STRAVINSKY Karol SZYMANOWSKY PETER TCHAIKOVSKY Alexander TCHEREPNIN Ian VENABLES Ralph VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS Richard WAGNER Peter WARLOCK Anton von WEBERN Kurt WEILL Gillian WHITEHEAD Hugo WOLF Alexander von ZEMLINSKY

The Auckland Lieder Group Inc - Programme 2011

2010-12-23T10:28:00.001+13:00

Image via Wikipedia

Date, Theme, Organiser, Phone contact (Auckland, NZ)

Feb 27 Bird songs Karen STANILAND 09-810 9516
Mar 27 Lands and countries Hilary NOBES 09-846 3433
May 1 Young singers invitation Fay McNEIL 09-827 8872
May 29 Schubert Valerie MUIR 09-520 1981
Jun 26 Finzi, Howells, and Venables Laurel BARRINGTON 09- 828 8637
Jul 24 Celestial Heavens Dianne HARVEY 09-813 6929
Aug 28 Songs from New Worlds Peter MELLALIEU 021 420 118
Sep 25 Spring
gardens Bryony JAGGER 630 7183
Oct 30 Lisztomania Geoffrey HINDS 09- 630 3267
Nov 27 Morning, noon and night (+AGM) William GREEN 021 298 7283

Each month’s programme organiser establishes a theme and invites members to present songs elaborating the theme. Liberal and licentious interpretation of the theme is welcome subject to the programme organiser’s approval! Performance is generally restricted to members.

About the Auckland Lieder Group Inc: see here.

The Auckland Lieder Group Inc - Aims and Officers

2010-12-23T10:22:00.003+13:00

Image via WikipediaThe Auckland Lieder Group Inc promotes performance, education and interest in fine art song including German lieder. Our focus is on exploration, experimentation, and constructive feedback.

Concerts are held in pleasant private homes around the greater Auckland region, typically on the fourth Sunday of each month. Concert locations are advised by monthly newsletter or email.

Each month’s programme organiser establishes a theme and invites members to present songs elaborating the theme. Liberal and licentious interpretation of the theme is welcome subject to the programme organiser’s approval! Performance is generally restricted to members.

Concerts normally commence at 7:15 pm for 7:30 pm start. Guests are especially welcome. To assist in catering and seating arrangements, please advise the evening’s organiser of your intention to perform or attend. A door charge to cover supper costs of $5 is charged guests.

Members receive a copy of the society’s rules and membership list. The list designates pianists and other instrumentalists available for accompanying singers.

Programme 2011 here

Examples of Art song and Lieder composers here

Officers
President - Geoffrey HINDS - 09-630 3267
Treasurer - Hilary NOBES - 09-846 3433
Secretary - Valerie MUIR - 09-520 1981
Vice-President - Karen STANILAND - 09-810 9516

Committee
Claire & John GEDDES - 09-817 6668
William GREEN - 021-298 7283
Dianne HARVEY - 09-813 6929
Bryony JAGGER - 09-630 7183
Peter MELLALIEU - 021-420 118

Contact
General inquiries in the first instance should be addressed to:

The Secretary, ℅ Valerie Muir, 3 Otahuri Crescent, Remuera, Auckland 1050

Email and web inquiries
wegreenpiano@hotmail.com

Facebook: search for AKLGNZ

The lip-sync problem in digital television: a demonstration and solution

2010-11-18T18:49:00.001+13:00

Do you find on your TV that people’s lips move after you have heard the words spoken? This is the lip-sync problem. There are several causes, and several solutions. The video demonstrates the lip sync problem and presents a solution based on using a modestly-priced little brown box.

First, I present several experiments that demonstrate the lip sync problem. Next, I show the solution I implemented and several confirmation checks. After the demonstration I explain why the solution achieves its results.
Watch the demonstration lipsync error video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTgC4J3UPgs

To conduct the experiments, I replay the same piece of video material from a digital video recorder (MySky HD) to the television (Samsung LED) and stereo amplifier system (Denon 500 PMA). A series of figures shows the equipment set-up for each demonstration. I located a home video camera in front of the TV to record what I saw and what I heard. The video image is not great! However, the video image is sufficient to observe the lip sync problem and the effectiveness of the solution.

Explanation
Why does the solution work? The modern digital TV requires around 50 - 200 milliseconds to process the digital data it receives from a signal source, and display the image on the LED screen. There are many reasons for this delay. (See LCD Input Lag / Video Delay measurement ) The traditional analogue TV appears not to have possessed this delay ‘feature’ to a level that is noticeable. Furthermore, the higher quality image, and/or larger size of modern TVs renders the problem more apparent.

Consequently, if you route the sound output from your signal source - such as a digital video recorder - to your hi-fi stereo amplifier system, you hear the sound BEFORE the digital TV has processed and presented the image. 200 milliseconds is ⅕ th of a second. That is a very small time period. However, the problem it caused was noticeable immediately to me when I upgraded from our 1980s vintage television earlier this year to a Samsung LED TV. You will see and hear the delay in the demonstration video, Experiments 1, and 2.

Fortunately, my Samsung digital TV provides an optical digital audio output that appears to be synchronized closely with the delayed TV image. Consequently, to solve the problem, you must take the digital audio signal output from the TV into your hi-fi stereo system. I credit the MySky technician who installed the MySky High Definition digital recorder for that solution strategy. Experiment 3 shows how the audio signal broadcast from the TV is more closely synchronized with the video image … However, the sound quality is rather unacceptable since it is produced from small 2 x 10 Watt speakers in the TV, rather than my 2 x 130 Watt Denon hi-fi with KEF speakers!

My hi-fi is a classic 1980s vintage Denon 500 PMA hi-fi amplifier. Consequently, the Denon amp accepts only analogue audio input, via RCA cables. Rather than purchase a new digital surround-sound hi-fi system, I wished to retain this vintage legacy system for several reasons. The Denon is not broken. It sound great. Furthermore, it provides a key component of the method I use to converting my vinyl LP collection into a digital format via a Zoom H4n Digital Recorder - but that’s another story.

To the rescue comes a little brown box that converts digital audio signals to analogue signals. In my case, I purchased an AC1603 Coaxial/Optical to R/L audio converter sourced via TradeMe, but ultimately supplied by Electus Distribution Pty Ltd, NSW Australia, http://www.electusdistribution.com.au. You also require a digital optical cable and an RCA Right and Left channel cable, male-male connectors.
Connect the audio converter between the TV and your hi-fi system. The video segment ‘Solution’ demonstrates the functioning of the digital-audio converter, and shows better synchronization between what you see (the lips) and hear. The ‘Check’ demonstration shows sound broadcast through both the TV and hi-fi. There is a much reduced, but acceptable delay between the two sound sources.
Image via Wikipedia
A comprehensive solution
Once you have this system installed, you should reroute your DVD and other audio-video signals first to the TV rather than through your hi-fi system. You must route BOTH the audio and video signals to the TV, so that the audio signal is relayed back to your hi-fi system. You will then achieve better synchronization of audio and video from these additional sources when you play the sound through your hi-fi system.

This set-up enabled me to connect an AppleTV. This little black box connects via digital HDMI cable to the TV, and behaves like an additional audio-visual input. Now I can surf on my TV Youtube and Flickr from the comfort of my couch, listen in highest hi-fi to my iTunes music collection, and view in brilliant colour the photo albums stored on my computer. The AppleTV is a pure digital device. It connects only to your TV via a HDMI cable. Without the setup I describe above, I would not have been able to use the AppleTV through my hi-fi system, which would defeat much of the purpose of the AppleTV box for relaying the iTunes collection to the hi-fi.

Costs
Coaxial/Optical Digital to R/L audio converter $NZ 84.50 including courier postage $5.00.
Digital optical cable, 2 metre, $NZ 25 including courier postage $5.00
Total: $NZ 110
If you are not so fortunate with TradeMe, you can order a solution from Australia with total cost about $150. Try http://www.converters.tv/

Technical note
We assume that there is perfect synchronization between the video and audio image recorded on the video camera. We also assume that there are no losses in synchronization during the creation of the movie from iMovie, the upload and processing by YouTube, and your viewing of the video over the internet! The demonstration works satisfactorily on my computer!
I may have been slightly hyperbolic about my estimate of my TV’s video processing delay I estimated 200 milliseconds. The point is, I notice the delay, and some readers/viewers will also notice the delay. Apparently, some people can notice a delay of 40 milliseconds. Various hobbyists and gamers measure and publish the delay and a report from Stanford University report on how the delay affects peoples’ perceptions of the message presented. See Reeves & Voelker (1993), LCD HDTV Input Lag Tests, and LCD Input Lag / Video Delay measurement, (below).

IMPORTANT NOTE
I have viewed the lip-sync video on YouTube. If you watch it whilst downloading, you get lip-sync failure throughout the whole video! Wait for the video to download before playing it!

Equipment used

Television: Samsung LED TV UA32.B6000, 32 inch(!), 2 x 10 Watt, 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz
Digital recorder: MySky HDi
HiFi amplifier: Denon PMA-500V 2 x 130 Watt
Digital-analogue converter: AC1603 Coaxial/Optical to R/L audio converter
Video camera: Panasonic 3CCD PV-GS150
Microphone: Zoom H4n Handy Recorder

Further reading
Delay measurement and effects
LCD Input Lag / Video Delay measurement (PC & console games responsiveness) - AVForums.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-led-lcd-tvs/612503-lcd-input-lag-video-delay-measurement-pc-console-games-responsiveness.html
LCD HDTV Input Lag Tests. (2008, September 8). ARogan. Retrieved November 18, 2010, from http://blog.arogan.com/2008/09/lcd-hdtv-input-lag-tests.html
Reeves, B., & Voelker, D. (1993, October). Effects of Audio-Video Asynchrony on Viewer’s Memory, Evaluation of Content and Detection Ability - Research Report Prepared for  Pixel Instruments. Stanford University. Retrieved 18 November, 2010, from http://www.lipfix.com/file/doc/stanfordresearch.pdf

More advanced solutions: Audio delay boxes
In some cases the miss-match between audio and video signal originates in the source signals. For instance, DVD audio tracks may be out of sync with the video track. In these cases, more sophisticated solutions are available. An audio delay box can be used to match the audio and video signals whatever and whenever the source is transmitted.

These are rather more expensive solutions. For example, see
AD-100 Audio Delay Box. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.datavideo.us/products/tbcs-and-audio-delay/ad-100-audio-delay-box.html
Lip-Sync Error Technical Details. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 18, 2010, from http://www.lipfix.com/technical_details.html
Lip-Sync Error? Felston DD740. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.lipfix.com/lip_sync_error.html
Lip Sync Error Fix. Digital Audio Delay - Plasma TV, LCD, DLP - Felston. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.felston.com/
An intermediate-price solution uses a standard digital audio effects processor. Not quite so user-friendly to use as the Felston approach.
Possible cheap lip sync solution (for non lip sync equipped AV amps) - AVForums.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.avforums.com/forums/av-amplifiers-receivers/379273-possible-cheap-lip-sync-solution-non-lip-sync-equipped-av-amps.html
BEHRINGER: FEX800. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/FEX800.aspx

Digital to analogue audio converters
HDTV, DVI, HDMI, VGA, PAL, NTSC, CGA, EGA, RGB Video Scan Converters Sales. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2010, from http://www.converters.tv/
Digital to Analog Decoder, Converts digital Audio to analog audio, Gefen TV GTV-DD-2AA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/audio-converters-extenders/analog-to-digital-digital-to-analog/digital-to-analog-decoder-gtv-dd-2-aa/prodGTVDD2AA.html
GefenTV+Digital+Audio++to+Analog+Adapter. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 4, 2010, from http://www.gefen.com/gefentv/gtvproduct.jsp?prod_id=5279

Captain Stratton's Fancy by Peter Warlock (1894 - 1930)

2010-10-25T12:30:00.000+13:00

Image via WikipediaA song performed as part of a concert themed around "Drinking songs". Auckland Lieder Group, 24 October, 2010. Auckland.

Text by John Masefield
Score manuscript: Augener, 1922

The Peter Warlock Page. (n.d.). . Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.peterwarlock.org/

Traveling song by Alexander Tcherepnin (live performance)

2010-10-25T12:05:00.000+13:00

The fourth song in Alexander Tcherepnin's Seven Songs on Chinese Poems, Opus 71 (1945)

Performed by Peter Mellalieu at the Auckland Lieder Group, 24 October 2010

The Chinese songs of Alexander Tcherepnin: an introduction

2010-10-25T12:00:00.000+13:00

In 1934, Alexander Tcherepnin (19899-1977) arrived in China during one of his worldwide tours. He was so attracted to China that he canceled the remainder of his tour and remained there for several years (Waleson, n.d.).

This recording introduces Tcherepnin's compositions informd by his experience in China. These works comprise an opera and two song cycles.

Presented at Auckland Lieder Group, Auckland, New Zealand, 24 October, 2010

Reference
Waleson, H. (n.d.). Aexander Tcherepnin. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~echew/performances/amp96/tche.html#chin

Traveling song by Alexander Tcherepnin (performance)

2010-10-25T11:41:00.000+13:00

Fourth song in Opus 71, "Seven Songs on Chinese Poems" (1945).

Performed by Peter Mellalieu at Auckland Lieder Group concert, 24 October, 2010.

Traveling song by Alexander Tcherepnin

2010-10-24T13:25:00.002+13:00

Traveling song Opus 71, No. 4 from "Seven Songs on Chinese Poems" composed by Alexander Tcherepnin (in English).
Folksong from Yunnan. English text by the composer.
A rehearsal peformance by Peter Mellalieu (baritone). In preparation for a performance for the Auckland Lieder Group, New Zealand.
Recorded 22 October 2010 on Zoom H4N digital recorder. Postproduction on Garageband.
Note: There is one recording of this song available on the internet recorded by Sally Light, in Russian. Heidi Waleson provides a brief bibliographic note detailing Tcherepninb's passion for China. He subsequently founded his own publishing house in Tokyo for the purpose of promoting Chinese and Japanese composers (Ramey).

By the time Tcherepnin arrived in China in 1934 on one of his worldwide concert tours, he was weary of his technical experiments and ripe for what he later called his "folk cure." Tcherepnin was so taken with China (and with a young Chinese pianist, Lee Hsien-Ming) that he canceled the rest of his tour and remained there for several years, even after Ming left to study in Brussels and Paris. Concerned about the impending dilution of Chinese music, he became assistant to the Minister of Culture. As a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory, he educated a generation of composers in techniques of expressing their native styles in modern forms, and set up competitions to encourage its creation, publication, and dissemination. (He was to do this again in Japan.)

Tcherepnin's own work became imbued with Chinese techniques and sensibilities. The Five Concert Etudes, Opus 52, use the pentatonic scale, and gracefully translate Chinese ideas for Western ears. "The Lute" is based on a Chinese tale for the friendship between a woodcutter and a mandarin and the lute that symbolized their bond; it recreates the resonating strings of the Chinese instrument, called the kou chin, by sustaining a single chord throughout the piece to create a sea of sound. "Homage to China", dedicated to Lee Hsien-Ming, whom he married in 1938, mimics the sound the mandolin-lie pipa, which is played with picks or fingernails, while "Punch and Judy" is based on a traditional Chinese puppet-theater air. (Waleson, n.d.)

References

Biography of Alexander Tcherepnin by Phillip Ramey. (n.d.). TheTcherepnin Society. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.tcherepnin.com/alex/bio_alex.htm

Chou, L. (n.d.). Alexander Tcherepnin: A Generic Catalogue of Works. TheTcherepnin Society. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.tcherepnin.com/alex/comps_alex.htm

The Tcherepnin Society Website - Welcome! (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2010, from http://www.tcherepnin.com/

Waleson, H. (n.d.). Aexander Tcherepnin. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~echew/performances/amp96/tche.html#chin

2010-09-27T20:04:00.000+13:00

Les Mélodies Françaises
(French Art Songs)
Presented by
The Auckland Lieder Group,
Inc. Sun 26 Sept 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Chez Valerie Muir,
Remuera, Auckland.

The Art of French Mélodie: Programme Notes

The tradition of French art song (mélodie) developed in the mid 19th century distinctly separate from the German Lied that had peaked much earlier in the century.

The text of a mélodie was more likely to be taken from contem-porary, serious poetry and the music was also generally more profound than that of the earlier genre of French 'romance' songs. Note that the term ‘chanson’ is used to to distinguish a folk or popular song.

Hector Berlioz was the first to use the term mélodie to describe his own compositions. An example is his song cycle Les nuits d'été (1841). However, Charles Gounod is often viewed as the first distinct composer of mélodie. His compositional style evolved imperceptibly and illustratively from romance to mélodie. His 200 mélodies drew on texts by poets such as as Hugo and Lamartine.

Gabriel Fauré wrote over 100 mélodies. He has been called the French Schumann, though their styles and essential temperaments were very different.

Proper performance of mélodies tends to require far less in the way of extreme emotion and blatant "acting" than many Lieder. Bernac (1970) notes that "the art of the greatest French composers is an art of suggestion" rather than explicit statement of feelings.

Mélodie is particularly noted for its deliberate and close relationship between text and melody. To compose or interpret mélodies, one must have a sensitive knowledge of the French language, French poetry, and French poetic diction.

According to Pierre Bernac (1970), Debussy writes that 'Clarity of expression, precision and concentration of form are qualities peculiar to the French genius.' These qualities are indeed most noticeable when compared with the German genius, excelling as it does in long, uninhibited outpourings, directly opposed to the French taste, which abhors overstatement and venerates concision and diversity."

Mélodies continue to be composed today. Perhaps the last uncontestedly great composer of them was Francis Poulenc, who died in 1963. He wrote nearly 150 mélodies of all sorts.

Abridged from
Wikipedia/mélodie

Pierre Bernac, (1970) The Interpretation of French Song, New York: Praeger.

The Auckland Lieder Group Inc. aims to promote education and performance of art songs and lieder. Performance meetings are held monthly in private homes in the Auckland region.

Membership inquiries, contact William Green, wegreenpiano@hotmail.com, or The Secretary, Valerie Muir, 09 520 1981.

Concert organisation, programme design and notes by Peter Mellalieu. http://mynstrel.blogspot.com, 02142 0118, petermellalieu@me.com

French Art Songs - Les Mélodie Française

2010-09-18T13:52:00.001+12:00

Presented by
The Auckland Lieder Group
Sunday 26 September 2010
7:15 pm for 7:30 pm commencement
Chez Valerie Muir, 3 Otahuri Crescent, Remuera South, near Newmarket,
RSVP: Telephone 09 520 1981

The September meeting of the Auckland Lieder Group takes the theme of Les Melodie Française (French Art Song).

The programme includes songs by Debussy, Faure, Berlioz, Delibes, Gounod, Ambroise Thomas, and Eduard Lalo.

Please contact Peter Mellalieu if you wish to add your songs to the programme: telephone 09 818 7770, mobile 02142 0118, email: petermellalieu@me.com. Please state full details for the programme including composer, title, singer, and accompanist.

Performance is usually restricted to members. Guest performers are invited to audition ‘live’ for membership at the concert.

For catering purposes, please confirm to Valerie Muir if you are attending. Guests are especially welcome but please RSVP to Valerie. The guest entry charge is $5.

The Auckland Lieder Group aims to promote education and performance of art songs and lieder. Performance meetings are held monthly in private homes in the Auckland region. For membership inquiries, contact William Green, wegreenpiano@hotmail.com, or The Secretary, Valerie Muir, 09 520 1981.

Image source: http://pagesperso.erasme.org/michel/cc/oeuvres/brut/debussy-1956.jpg
Google map link here.

Hampson (baritone) Rutenberg (piano) / Song of America - InstantEncore

2009-07-21T21:50:00.001+12:00

Hampson (baritone) Rutenberg (piano) / Song of America - InstantEncore

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ShowWest SIngers performs in Onehunga, 4 pm, Sunday 28 June, 2009

2009-06-24T19:08:00.004+12:00

St Peter's Anglican Church
Corner Church Street and Onehunga Mall,
Onehunga, Auckland.

Songs selected from
I have a Dream - Mary Donnelly
And So it Goes - Billy Joel
The Lily and the Rose - Bob Chilcott
Lakme - Delibes
Baylero - Trad.arr G. Richards
I'm Martin Guerre - Schoenberg & Boublil
Non T'amo Piu - Tosti
Ar Hyd y Nos - Trad.arr. Bob Chilcott
The Skye Boat Song - Trad.arr.Bob Chilcott
Danny Boy - Trad.arr Bob Chilcott
Ill Wind - Flanders and Swann
Orpheus and the Underground - Offenbach arr, Cantabile
American Trilogy Mickey Newbury
Steal Away - Negro Spiritual arr. Burleigh
Ching-A-Ring Chaw - Adapt.Aaron Copeland
The Water is Wide - arr. Mark Hayes
Bess you is my Woman - Gershwin
My Mans Gone - Gershwin
How Could I ever Know - Lucy Simon
Dem Bones - Trad. Arr Larry Nickel
Wrong Note Rag - Leonard Bernstein
Operator - William Spivery
All that Jazz - Kander

Review - The Deep Blue Sea - Terence Rattigan

2009-06-21T11:44:00.005+12:00

The Deep Blue Sea

Rattigan's play is a complex intertwining of human emotions: obsession, unrequited love, despair, forgiveness.

The story revolves around Hester, unhappy with her illicit relationship with Freddy, the ex World War II flying ace. Her love is unrequited, and the play opens with her attempted suicide. The neighbours in her apartment call attention to her plight. Her ex-husband, a senior judge, comes on the scene. The complexity, mystery, and suspense expands from that point.

Cover of The Deep Blue Sea (Nick Hern Books)

I enjoyed Titirangi Theatre's nuanced production of the play, directed by Liz Watkinson. Although Hester takes the central role, the other seven roles present very strongly.

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Ark in the park: concert for the birds

2009-06-11T09:40:00.003+12:00

The Waitakere Branch of Forest & Bird invite you to a CONCERT FOR THE BIRDS

7:30 pm, Friday June 12, 2009. Glen Eden Playhouse, Glen Edern, Waitakere, Auckland.

The concert is a musical variety concert, being held as a fundraiser for the Ark in the Park project. This is a community environmental restoration project, a partnership between the Waitakere branch of Royal Forest & Bird and the ARC.

Special Guest Artists Include:

Helen Medlyn (mezzo soprano) with accompanist Lee Martelli
The Three Mezzos
Jubate (Irish, American and Gypsy music)
Yuko Takahaski (mezzo soprano) with accompanist Setsuko Strang
Show West Singers (conductor Judy King)
Peter Mellalieu, singing "I'm Martin Guerre"

Bookings: events@iconevents.co.nz Phone 09 845 5540

Volunteers currently control pests to low levels of 1200 hectares of parkland at the Cascade Kauri Park in the northern Waitakere Ranges. Our goal is 2000 ha.

Proceeds from this event will be used to return threatened native bird species, including kokako, to the Ark in the Park.

Events Calendar | Ecoevents

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REVIEW: A century of song from Yale University Whiffenpoofs in Auckland

2009-06-09T04:58:00.010+12:00

Click on the image to view a high-resolution image.

The Yale Whiffenpoofs sang to the delight of an animated audience of sixty people at the stunning location of the Tamaki Yacht Club in Auckland on Sunday afternoon.

The world's oldest collegiate a capella songsters presented a variety of songs presented with their own distinctive arrangements - both musical and choreographic - as one might expect from a group including several budding composers and musicians, a robotics scientist, an economist, and a philosopher who when he grows up just wants 'to be'. Folk favorites such as 'Down by the Salley Gardens' joined contemporary arrangements of 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square', the distinctly collegiate 'Daddy is a Yale Man' and the penultimate finale of 'The Whiffenpoof Song'.

Every year, fourteen senior men are selected to be in the Yale Whiffenpoofs. Commencing rehearsal in August, the current Whiffs have toured through America and Latin America prior to commencing their world tour. Remarkably, each year's Whiffs are a completly new group of men, some of whom have observed and rehearsed with the previous year's Whiffs. The current 14-week world tour, commencing in New Zealand, takes in Australia, Malaysia, India, Europe, and Israel. Their tour blog can be viewed at: whiffenpooftour2009.blogspot.com

At Yale Commencement 2009, the Whiffenpoofs released their newest album, CENTURY, commemorating 100 years of the group's storied history. Produced and engineered by multi Grammy Award winners Steve Barnett and Preston Smith, CENTURY is a special tribute to the group's Centennial Year. The album includes a repertoire that spans the full one hundred years. The album may be purchased through: www.yale.edu/whiffenpoofs/cds/

The ‘Whiffs’ in New Zealand
The Whiffenpoofs have visited New Zealand on several occasions, presenting in Auckland as guests of the Northern Club. This is their first performance with the American Club in Auckland.

The concert entrance fees contributed to the costs of the event, a donation towards the Yale Whiffenpoofs’ world tour, and to to the American Club Inc. (NZ) Friendship Award.

More photos of the Whiffenpoofs Auckland concert for the American Club are here: http://homepage.mac.com/petermellalieu/Whiffenpoofs/index.html

The American Club Inc (Auckland)
The American Club was established in Auckland in 1966 to provide a social venue for persons sharing an interest in American culture, history, and sport.
The club holds regular monthly meetings, including activities and events that mark Memorial Day, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, as well as local activities and sporting occasions.

Through its 'Friendship Award' program it seeks to support friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and New Zealand. The Award is a scholarship offered yearly to a New Zealand student planning to complete studies in a United States university.

The Whiffenpoofs were interviewed on Breakfast Television (8 June, 2009) by Paul Henry here: http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/whiffenpoofs-perform-8-36-2772062/video

Contact
whiffenpoofs@yale.edu
www.whiffenpoofs.com

American Club:
www.americanclub.org.nz
americanclub@xtra.co.nz

Phone: +64 (9) 336 1666
Postal: PO Box 589, Auckland

President: Kim Daly (Photo right)
Phone: +64 (9) 336 1666

Membership: Beth Coleman (Photo left)
Phone: +64 (21) 325 461

Andrea Bocelli - The Prayer - Celine Dion

2009-06-05T22:25:00.003+12:00

Image via Wikipedia

A duet that my daughter has proposed we sing together.

Andrea Bocelli - The Prayer - Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli - Sheet Music Book

Posted using ShareThis

Popera - Celtic Woman - A New Journey - You Raise Me Up

2009-05-28T00:20:00.001+12:00

It seems 'popera' is not a widely-used word. But here is one example, apparently.

I don't see this piece of music compares favorably with the challenge and complexity with the music of Boublil and Schonberg.

Pretty and cute. I prefer Il Divo, and Amici - if what they do could be called 'opera'.

Martin Guerre - A Musical Journey 1/8

2009-05-27T23:50:00.001+12:00

Tomorrow is my first rehearsal with my music director and accompanist for my forthcoming performance of "I'm Martin Guerre" at the Arc in the Park concert.

Today I've been refreshing my memory of the song from my performance in the NZ Aria competition last year, culminating in a rehearsal with my singing teacher.

Just before I go to bed, I've been transposing the music from the original key of B flat minor to G minor using Smartscore - to drop the pitch five semitones. I've also enjoyed seeing the multitude of performances of the song on YouTube - from amateur efforts, to the the scintillating performances of several professional productions.

Now, I am starting to follow my curiosity about the production of the first London show. This video (from a series of eight), introduces the composer and writer as they began to conceive the project. The video concludes with the first rehearsal of the orchestra with the chorus and soloists - a SitProb.

Music entrepreneur Cameron Macintosh notes how Boublil and Schonberg have endowed us with a legacy of fusing the modern musical with opera. I totally agree.

What excitement! I look forward to viewing the remaining episodes in the series.

Martin Guerre - UK Tour (snippet from "I'm Martin Guerre")

2009-05-26T10:52:00.001+12:00

This YouTube selection shows great video of a the UK stage performance. It presents the last half of the first point in which the song "I'm Martin Guerre" is presented. My earlier posting presents the "reprise" of the song, which is repeated late in the show with different words, and jointly sung by Martin Guerre, and his comrade in arms, Armand.

"Martin Guerre (Reprise)" and "Imposters" from MARTIN GUERRE

2009-05-26T10:46:00.001+12:00

I'm reworking my performance of "I'm Martin Guerre" for a performance with "Show West" for the Arc in the Park concert on Friday 12 June.
Boublil and Schoenberg

I deliberately avoided listening to a performance prior to developing my own performance last year. Now I have heard an original production - presented hear from YouTube.

What a fantastic, powerful piece of music! It embraces rejection, love, mistaken identity, jealousy, and religious war... all based on a true story from late 16th century France.

There's a French movie, and a US adaptation of the story, too. The US version is set during the US Civil war, whilst the original French version is based around the religious wars between the French Catholics, and the Hugenout Protestants. Given my Hugenout heritage - we arrived in England from France in 1624 - I'm rather taken by this story.

I learned the song "I'm Martin Guerre" in June last year as part of a project to develop my whakapapa and mihi for a course in Iwi Environmental Management I studied last year at Te Wananga a Aotearoa. I perfmed the song at the NZ Aria Competition, in October 2008.

I'd LOVE to perform this show ... wherever/whenever in the WORLD!

Yale Whiffenpoofs - America's oldest collegiate a capella group perform in Auckland

2009-05-21T16:10:00.009+12:00

Click on the poster to view a full screen version

America's oldest collegiate a capella group, the Yale Whiffenpoofs, perform in Auckland as guest of the Auckland branch of the American Club.

American Club members, their friends, and the general public are invited to attend a concert by the Yale Whiffenpoofs at Tamaki Yacht Club 4:30, Sunday June 7th, 2009.

Songs to be performed include: Aj Lucka, Lucka, Time After Time, Little Pony, Saving Ourselves for Yale, Bye Bye Blackbird, A Nightingale Sang, in Berkeley Square, Something Like the Blues, Down By the Salley Gardens, Everything, I'll Be Seeing You, Midnight Train to Georgia, Whiffenpoof Song.

The Yale Whiffenpoofs
Every year, fourteen senior men are selected to be in the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest and most famous a cappella group. Founded in 1909, the “Whiffs” began as a senior quintet that met for concerts at Mory’s Temple Bar, the renowned Yale tavern that dates back to 1849. Cole Porter, Yale Class of 1913, highlights the list of noteworthy Whiffenpoof alumni, which also includes Senator Prescott Bush, father of former President George H.W. Bush.

‘‘The Whiffenpoof Song,’’ the group’s signature ballad, gained nationwide recognition when Rudy Vallee (Whiffs of 1927) recorded a solo version in the 1930s. Later, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald (made an honorary Whiffenpoof in 1979), Bing Crosby, and Elvis Presley followed suit with their own recordings.

Today, the group has become one of Yale’s most celebrated and hallowed traditions, carrying on almost a century of musical excellence and professional showmanship at Yale, across America, and around the world.

In recent years, satisfied clients have included hotels, corporations, and the likes of Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, Mother Theresa, and the Dalai Lama, in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Rose Bowl, and for events such as the World Series, Saturday Night Live, NBC’s Today Show and The West Wing. A cappella arrangements of jazz standards, classic ballads, traditional Yale songs, and recent popular hits continue to delight audiences all over the world.

The Whiffenpoofs maintain a performance schedule of over 200 concerts annually, in addition to recording an album and embarking on a 17-week world tour. The Whiffenpoofs are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports a worldwide children’s literacy campaign and educates students about music and a cappella singing.

The Auckland concert
Location: Tamaki Yacht Club, Commodore Lounge, 30 Tamaki Drive, Auckland.

Time: 4:30pm - 6:30 pm, Sunday June 7th, 2009

Adults $20
Concessions $12
Entry payable at door

Entry price includes one welcome drink.

Rsvp/enquiries (09) 336 1666 email: americanclub@xtra.co.nz

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Translation of "Scheidend" (Departing) - Mendelssohn and Voss

2009-05-16T10:53:00.003+12:00

Last Wednesday I began to learn Mendelssohn's leider "Scheidend" Opus 9, No. 6.

I intend to sing the song at the next meeting of the Auckland Lieder Group, Sunday 24 June.

Here's the poem, by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751-1826)

Wie so gelinde die Fluth bewegt!
Wie sie so ruhig den Nachen trägt!
Fern liegt das Leben, das Jugendland!
Fern, fern liegt der Schmerz, der dort mich band,
Sanft tragt mich, Fluthen, zum fernen Land!

Droben der Sterne stiller Ort,
Unten der Strom fließt fort und fort.
Wohl warst du reich, mein Jugendland!
Wohl, wohl war es süß, was dort mich band,
Sanft tragt mich, Fluthen, zum fernen Land!

http://www.karadar.com/Lieder/mendelssohn_a.html#9%20no.6

I have had a little difficulty finding a translation of the poem, written by Johnann Heinrich Voss. ("Difficulty" means it has taken me one hour to find the translation. Hasn't the internet made us so impatient!)

The State Library of Western Australia kindly translated the first line ...
"Calmly the waves of ocean roll"

http://henrietta.slwa.wa.gov.au/search~S8/?searchtype=t&searcharg=scheidend&searchscope=8&SORT=D&extended=0&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=tscheidend

With this first-line clue I typed in that line. That lead me to me to an unpromising history of the Trinity Church, Buffalo, NY. A very, very long web page with no indexing, content list or anything. But... jackpot, I found the translation:

Calmly the waves of ocean roll 
Over my fainting, fleeting soul, 
Parting earth's friendships and rending in twain 
Hearts that will soon be united again 
On heaven's celestial plain. 

Swiftly before a purer day, 
Fade now yon golden stars away ; 
Lo ! realms of brightness now burst on my sight, 
Fast I am speeding from regions of night 
To heaven's eternal light."

The song was sung at the funeral of Mary Knowlton Mixer. "Miss Underhill, the soprano, gave Mendelssohn's "Song of Parting" the words of which were the last ever sung by Miss Mixer."

http://www.archive.org/stream/historyoftrinity00mixe/historyoftrinity00mixe_djvu.txt

Pieta, Signore (Alessandro STRADELLA?)

2009-05-10T10:04:00.002+12:00

Performed by Peter MELLALIEU at the Northshore Performing Arts Competitions 55th Annual Festival May, 2009.

Note the careful use of the score as both a text reference, and means through which to conduct the accompanist!

Pianist: Diane HARVEY

Vintage sound amplification - Leak TL/10 amplifier and Varislope II Pre-Amp

2009-04-21T20:55:00.008+12:00

Having made my first sale on New Zealand's internet trading system, TradeMe, my appetite is whet for further sales.

I sold a motor caravan in behalf of my father, and now I am preparing to sell what I thought was a derelict valve (tube) amplifier.

As I Googled away my singing practice time last Saturday, what follows is a brief summary of the remarkable story of the Leak TL/12 series of ground-breaking hi-fidelity valve amplifiers that I discovered....

Here is the basis for my first draft of an advertisement for TradeMe. Most of the content is drawn from the references presented at the end of the posting.

Vintage Audio - Leak "Point One" TL/10 Power Amplifier with matching Leak Varislope II Pre-Amplifier
According to Classique Sounds (Leicester UK) Leak equipment is on the "most wanted" list for vintage audiophiles. This Leak TL/10 valve amplifier and Varislope II pre-amp was produced in the early 1950s by H. J. Leak & Co. Ltd, Brunel Road, London. This type of equipment is appreciating in value as vintage collectibles

Condition
The equipment in this auction was purchased by my father second-hand circa 1962 in Wales, then brought to New Zealand where it was used until the early 1980s. Since then, the equipment has been stored inside in dry but dusty conditions and has probably not been used for 25+ years. Accordingly, relevant precautions must be taken before powering it up and leaving unattended. The gold "orange peel" enamel is slightly blemished in several areas (See photographs). There has been no attempt at modification or restoration since its purchase in 1962.

I have carefully removed the dust from the equipment and powered it up. The power amp is activated and all valves glow in both the pre-amp and power amp. The loudspeaker to which I connected the equipment very quietly hums at 50 Hz. Input signals applied to the several inputs (tape input, phono, aux) produce no result in either the loudspeaker, or the pre-amp tape output.

Sound quality
According to one seller on TradeMe: "Connected to good front end sources and efficient speakers these amps are still impressive sounding, and are appreciating in value as vintage collectibles." (8)

Specifications: "Point One" TL/10 Power Amplifier
10 Watts output.
Low total harmonic distortion: <= 0.1 per cent at rated output. Valves: EF86, 6SN7, 2 x KT61 in ultra-linear. Leak pamphlet states that the Brimar 6AG6G is an exact equivalent to the KT61. 5Z4 rectifier. Gold enamel finish. Mono only. Original UK purchase price (catologue new): "Point One" TL/10 power amplifier (17 guineas). (9) AT least four weeks wages of the time! Specifications: Leak "Varislope II"
First released: August 1954
This pre-amp features higher input sensitivities than previous Leak pre-amps, and has improved appearance.
Two EF86 valves are used, with a similar shunt feedback circuits as used in previous pre-amps.
The disc equalisations provided are: BRIT-78, BRIT-LP, COL-LP, RCA-Ortho, AES and NARTB.
Tuner, Tape, Mic and Auxilliary inputs are also provided.
Tape output.
Bass and treble are switch boost and cut, with the variable slope facility available for treble-cut.
Steel front panel finished in gold enamel.
Mono only.
Original UK purchase price (catologue new):16 pounds 16 shillings (16 Guineas)

Circuit topology
All Leak power amplifiers (Except Type 15) use the same basic circuit topology as the TL/12 The Topology comprises a first stage of voltage gain (with either triode or pentode), a triode long-tailed pair phase-splitter/driver stage, followed by an output stage (triode, tetrode, or ultra-linear) with cathode bias using separate cathode resistors" A discussion of the valves used in the TL/10, and substitutes is presented in (4, 10).

History
In 1949, Harold Leak demonstrated the foundation of the product line, the TL/12 "to amazed Americans" at the Audio Engineering Society exhibition that was held in New York. (9) The TL/10 was introduced as a lower cost alternative to the famous TL/12, but maintained the distortion rating of 0.1%.

The Leak "Point One" range of amplifiers was named for the low distortion figures achieved: the then "astonishingly low total harmonic distortion - at just 0.1 per cent for 15 Watts output" (5) The age of High Fidelity (hi-fi) had arrived!

H. J. Leak & Co Ltd were "Designers and Manufacturers of Specialised Electronic Instruments for the Communications Industries". Harold Leak, founder of the company, was particularly concerned that his designs were built to exacting standards and a high quality of finish. Unusually for equipment aimed at the domestic market, Leak amplifiers were built with component boards and cable looms. There are no printed circuits, transistors, or integrated chips. Capacitors were soldered into position with the value and rating markings visible, and resistors all had their tolerance bands at the same end. (1)

The TL series was "very well constructed, and featured a power supply with no electrolytic capacitors. The oil-filled paper capacitors used instead were costly but have a much longer life. Wiring standards were impeccable, and all transformers were finished for tropical operation."

The TL/10 followed the introduction of the TL/12 in 1948. The TL/12 was designed for "quantity production" premised on sales to three classes of users: Professional audio engineers, the non-technical music-lover or gramophile, and the knowledgeable amateur enthusiast (the "audio hobbyist" of the U.S.) who had previously built his own amplifiers for reasons of economy and/or personal satisfaction. For instance, the BBC placed large orders for the TL/12 to use as a component of its patented Monitor Loudspeaker. (9) The "Point One" series may well be an first example of what we now term a "prosumer" product: a high-end consumer product that matches professional performance and manufacturing standards.

The TL/10 amplifier was the first Leak amplifier to "incorporate the "ultra-linear" output stage configuration (popularised by Hafler and Keroes from the USA in the early 1950's, but earlier proposed by Blumlein). Many consider the TL/10 to be much under-rated these days. Leak certainly did not skimp on the ratings or size of the transformers, as they are identical in size to the TL/12 Plus (and Stereo 20 in the case of the output transformer)." (10)

In late 1951 H. J. Leak & Company published "a 28-page treatise explaining the history, concept, and design of the TL/12 amplifier and the associated RC/PA/U pre-amplifier. This pamphlet makes for fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of the valve amplifier development during the "golden age" of audio (from the late 1940's to the early 1960's)." (10)

Recent auctions
Leak TL 12 "Mono" Power Amplifier complete with RC/PA pre amp - UK Ebay £UK 1000 as at 2 days before close (2)

Leak Stereo 20 Valve Amp for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand Last bid: $900 (8). No pre-amp.

TL/10 Pair, £UK 450, UK, Jan 1999 (11)

TL/10 - one only, NEW in box. Bidding to US$530, but the reserve was not met.

TL/10 - one only, with Point One mono pre-amp. VGC. CA, USA, US$266, March1999.

2 x Varislope III pre-amps, filter knob missing, others knobs un-original, New York, USA, US$133 pair

Point One Stereo Pre amp - with Gold Anodised Facia, Australian Auction,Aug 1998, A$140

Varislope 2 Stereo Pre-amp, Grey/silver, lettering worn, knob center missing,Canada, US$46.50, Jan 1999

According to Classique Sounds (Leicester UK) Leak equipment is on the "most wanted" list for vintage audiophiles:

Leak Stereo 20
Leak TL10
Leak TL12/TL12+
Leak TL25
Leak TL50
Leak Stereo50/60 etc

"Current value of a single TL/12 in fine fettle is anywhere between £500 - £1,000; although recently (August 2006) I saw a matched pair with early serial numbers and minor modifications (RCA input and input level control) reach £2400 (US$4,500) on eBay. The immaculate unit with preamplifier (pictured at right) fetched £1480 in March 2006." (11)

Restoration
Purchasers of this equipment are advised to have the equipment tested for safety prior to use or leaving unattended. Advice on history and restoration of Leak equipment is provided on the unofficial Leak Web site. The site is designed to "help encourage the restoration and maintenance of this wondeful audio equipment". (5) The site discusses resistors, capacitors, iron-cored components, connectors, and valves/tubes. Circuit diagrams are provided. (5)

Typical restorations include: "all capacitors and resistors replaced with good quality components, including film and foil coupling capacitors and the large dual section power filter capacitors. Replace input sockets and speaker terminals with better modern types." (8)

Service, user manuals and schematics, are also available from The Audio Circuit (TAC). (6)

An excellent series of photos illustrate and comment on the process of restoring a Leak Varislope. For instance, note the passion and perfection this restorer demonstrates: "Underneath as received. You don’t need to be an expert to spot that about a dozen components had already been changed here. Now, whilst there is no rule that says you can’t use radial and PCB mount components on a repair like this, I personally don’t think they look right. I decided to rip everything out and test/replace with the correct axial components." (7)

Restoration specialists
There are specialist restorers who rebuild Leak equipment. For instance, the restoration cost for a Leak Stereo 20 starts from £UK 199.00. I would expect the Point One restoration to be somewhat less expensive, since it is a mono rather than stereo device. (3) Of course, you may choose to acquire two Leak amplifiers so that you can create a stereo system.

There seem to be various alternative valves (tubes) that can be used to improve quality of performance. For instance: One restorer noted that: "All valves are good quality types, and are well matched and test to new spec or better. The input and phase splitter valves are Telefunken ECC83s; the output valves are Dutch made Philips ECC84s, and the rectifier is a Philips GZ34." (8). The unofficial Leak Web site also remarks on valve substitutions.

I have been advised of a local restoration specialist near my location in New Lynne. Accordingly, my next project is to get an estimate of the cost of restoration and/or just getting the fixed running in its "as is/where is" condition.

I make NO guarantees that this equipment will work. Furthermore, I make no guarantees that you will be able to locate replacement components. I have been advised that valves (tubes) are manufactured in Russia.

References
1. Leak TL/25 Plus audio amplifier and Varislope mono pre-amplifier - Object Wiki. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://objectwiki.sciencemuseum.org.uk/wiki/Leak_TL/25_Plus_audio_amplifier_and_Varislope_mono_pre-amplifier.

2. Leak TL12 Point One Valve Power Amplifier + Preamp RCPA on eBay, also Separates, Audio, Vintage Electronics, Consumer Electronics (end time 20-Apr-09 10:39:50 BST). (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Leak-TL12-Point-One-Valve-Power-Amplifier-Preamp-RCPA_W0QQitemZ200330161874QQcategoryZ43804QQcmdZViewItem.

3. Classique Sounds (Leicester UK). (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://www.classiquesounds.co.uk/leak.htm.

4. Informazioni. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://www.argaudio.it/index_file/Page492.htm.

5. H.J.Leak and Co. Ltd. - enthusiasts page. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://44bx.com/leak/index.html.

6. Leak, Varislope 2 Stereo - manuals. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://www.audiocircuit.com/index.php?c=LEA&m=Varislope%202%20Stereo.

7. Servicing of a Leak Varislope Stereo Hi-Fi Amplifier. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://www.chambonino.com/work/hifi/hifi5.html.

8. Leak Stereo 20 Valve Amp for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Vintage/auction-213553715.htm.

9. Leak TL/12 50'th Anniversary. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://44bx.com/leak/TL12_50yrs.html.

10. Leak TL/10. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://44bx.com/leak/TL10.html.

11. Leak TL/25 Plus - spot prices. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://44bx.com/leak/prices.html.

Der Lindenbaum (Franz SCHUBERT)

2009-03-04T14:28:00.001+13:00

A first slightly public performance of this song to the Auckland Lieder Group.

Sure on this shining night (Samuel BARBER)

2009-03-04T14:18:00.001+13:00

Performed by Peter MELLALIEU with Diane HARVEY (Piano). Auckland Lieder Group, 1 March 2009.

My first slightly public performance of this music.

Rather better line and tone than my early January first recording?

Not the best video quality. I apologise. It was recorded onto the memory stick. Having the piano light does not help.

Composer: Samuel BARBER. Text: James AGEE.

A summer medley at the Auckland Lieder Group

2009-03-02T14:05:00.002+13:00

The Auckland Lieder Group began its monthly programme of 'Schubertiade' on St David's Day: 1 March. Each month, members and friends perform two songs linked to a monthly theme host at members' homes throughout the Auckland region.

My accompanist Diane Harvey presented her usual extraordinary feat of both singing and accompanying herself with some rare songs: Gordon McBeth's "All on a summer's day" and Clara Edwards' "By the bend of a river". Diane is an extraordinarily accomplished pianist, and teaches piano and singing in schools, and on a private basis, based from her home in Glen Eden, Waitakere, phone 09 813 6929

The Lieder Group programmes are an excellent opportunity to present 'works in progress' before a constructive and appreciative audience. The group emerged from a series of Lieder masterclassess at Auckland University many years ago. Each programme incorporates a theme. Themes coming up in future months include:

Occupations (29 March 2009) - I might present myself as Professor Henry Higgins singing "Why can't the English learn to speak". Not quite lieder, but it's a song I'm commited to perform at a future competition!
Vaughan Williams (26 April 2009) - I need to polish up "In Dreams" and begin learning "The roadside fire". These are my competition entries in the North Shore Performing Arts Competition www.northshorepacs.org.nz
In a Persian garden (26 July)
... and so forth, on a monthly basis through November.

For yesterday evening's concert, I sang "Der Lindenbaum" (Schubert), and Samuel Barber's "Sure on this Shining Night". Both my debut performances in a public place and with a live accompanist, rather than Smartscore! The Barber is much, much improved on my first recording that I posted on this Blog a month earlier. Better "line" I hope you'll agree, as that has been a major effort of my vocal lessons in response to competition feedback last year.

I'll upload a video later.

Further information about the Auckland Lieder Group

Email wegreenpiano@hotmail.com

President: Bryony Jagger: 09 630 7183 (and organiser for 'In a Persian Garden' theme, 26 July)
Secretary: Claire Geddes: 09 817 6668 (and organiser for Brahms theme, 27 September
Treasurer: Hilary Nobes 09 846 3433 (and organiser for 'Occupations' theme, 29 March.

Your electronic accompanist - Classical Archives website

2009-02-27T19:41:00.001+13:00

Classical Archives have just improved the usability of theri valuable website for singers and other musicians.

Classical Archives is one of my favourite and most useful sources of recordings after iTunes. However, Classical Archives is more valuable to me because of the huge availability of MIDI files. MIDI files are very helpful for learning melody, and practicing with an accompaniment.

I am about to learn for the North Shore Singing Competitions Verdi's Aria: Di Provenza il Mar from La Traviata. Entering the composer and song title in the Classical Archives SEARCH box, I quickly find both a recording, and MIDI file for the accompaniment. I previewed the recording which I then purchased ($0.88).

More importantly, I downloaded the MIDI file - for FREE. I can use the MIDI file in iTunes, Quicktime, Garageband or Smartscore. If I want to slow, or transpose down the accompaniment whilst I learn the song, I do this easily in Smartscore or Garageband.

clipped from www.classicalarchives.com

La Traviata (opera)

Giuseppe Verdi
Composer

What is MIDI?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files are played through a synthesizer
(usually on your audio card.) They can also be converted into sheet music.

FREE

Download MIDI

13.Di Provenza il mar

How do you prepare for a musical audition?

2009-02-19T11:19:00.007+13:00

How do you prepare for an audition? What song do you choose? What happens at an audition?

Last year, I participated in a workshop for Contemporary Singing lead by Irene Bartlett. Irene is Jazz and Contemporary Voice Teacher at the Conservatorium of Music at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. She was also a coach at the New Zealand National Singing School in 2009. The NZ Singing School is a summer residential school held in our mid-summer, January. http://www.singingschool.org.nz/

There were 20 singers in my three-day workshop, held at Unitec Institute of Technology. We each had the opportunity to receive a 'master-class' style coaching for a song we were learning. I chose "I'm Martin Guerre" - a dramatic song from Boublil and Schonberg's "Martin Guerre". (This team created the well-known modern opera "Les Miserables".)

Each singer had ten minutes of workshop time to gain maximum advantage from the master-coach, Irene. I launched into my song. The song begins with my singing 28 bars, nearly all the same pitch and rhythm. Just as I was about to launch into the exciting, drammatic, melodious part, Irene stopped me! And began my coaching.

Valuable coaching ensued, but I could have gained much more from the coach if I had known the secrets of preparing for an audition. Whilst this was more of a master-class than an audition, I think there are some useful lessons that apply regarding how to prepare for an audition.

Subsequently, I bought a variety of music resources from an an Aladdin's Cave for musicians, Piano Traders, in Mt Eden, Auckland....

One book I acquired has some relevance to the task of auditioning:

Pamela S. Phillips. (2003). Singing For Dummies. New York: Wiley. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://www.dummies.com/store/product/Singing-For-Dummies.productCd-0764524755.html.

Chapter 21 presents 14 pages of advice on auditioning for a song for music theatre. The chapter covers topics including:

Get some tips on musical theatre
Select a song that demonstrates variety
Dramatise your lyrics
Avoid the wrong song (the mistake I made)
Adjust the key if you need to (yes: I transposed down 3 semitones that using Smartscore - to the horror of my accompanist)
Make a 16-bar cut. That is, choose a small part of the song that shows you at your best ... you may be given no further time than 16-bars! The main mistake I made.
Work your songs with an accompanist
Know how to work with the audition pianist

Extra for scholars: bibliographic management
For scholars and researchers, if you were impressed by my complete APA referencing for the Phillips (2003) book, let me share my latest productivity aid. I have just installed the Zotero citation and bibliographic reference management system. Zotero heps me manage all the web sites I visit, local .pdf documents, and off-line print media in one database reference system.

When I need to cite a reference, I conveniently drag and drop from Zotero into a document, such as my blog (as above) or a text document. Zotero is open source (free!) software, and runs as an add-on to my Firefox browser. See: http://www.zotero.org/

Top image: Peter Mellalieu sings "I'm Martin Guerre" at NZ Aria Competition, Rotorua, October 2008.

Invitation to open rehearsal and audition: ShowWest Singers

2009-02-19T10:38:00.007+13:00

ShowWest Singers Inc performs a variety of music from Opera to Oratorio, Classics to Cabaret. We invite new singers keen to develop their singing and performance skills.

ShowWest's mid-year cabaret-style concerts are often performed at the Glen Eden Playhouse, a popular, high-quality performing arts venue. These concerts have taken themes such as American music, Communication, Viennese, Opera selections, and Amahl and the Night Visitors.

In December, ShowWest presents a series of Christmas-themed concerts in cooperation with various institutions that have included a consulate, several churches, and other performing arts groups throughout Auckland. The music performed ranges from familiar and popular to unconventional and challenging. However, both members and audiences gain pleasure and satisfaction from the Music Director's leadership.

ShowWest was formed in 2000. Under the musical direction of Judy King, members are auditioned each year to establish their voice range, style, and ambitions in terms of solo, small group, and chorus work.

Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesdays from early February at 7:30 pm. Small ‘Friends Concerts’ are held every second month in the rehearsal venue. ‘Friends Concerts’ provide an informal opportunity for members to develop their performance capabilities and confidence in front of a supportive audience.

Audition details
Date: Wednesday 25 February, 2009,

Time: 7.30 to 8.30 pm (or by arrangement)

Location: Opanuku Rooms, Corban's Estate, 426 Great North Road, Henderson. See map.

Bring a copy of your music for the accompanist… or bring your own accompanist or backing track

Demonstrate what you love to perform

Opera to Oratorio, Classics to Cabaret

No obligation!

Further details:
Contact the Auditions Coordinator: Peter Mellalieu,
Mobile: 021 42 01 18
Email: petermellalieu@me.com

Join the live audience for 'Stars in your Eyes' - APril 2009

2009-02-16T09:38:00.001+13:00

It's too late for me to apply to 'Stars in Your Eyes (New Zealand). But perhaps I will join in as audience for one of the shows.

Follow the green paper clip icon (Clipmark) to find more information about Stars in your Eyes (NZ).

clipped from tvnz.co.nz

Stars In Their Eyes is coming to New
Zealand!

Applications for the show have now closed. Keep an eye on
www.tvnz.co.nz for
more information on when Stars In Their Eyes is returning to TV
ONE.

Organise a group of friends to come and be in our audience. You
will be guaranteed a great night out!

The live studio audience are an essential part of the show as they
get to vote for their favourite impersonator. Who sounded so good
they were even better than the real thing? All episode
winners go through to a grand final at the end of the season.

DATES: April 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 21, 23, 25 &
28

VENUE: Life Convention Centre, 110 Montgomerie Rd,
Airport Oaks, Mangere

TIME: 6:30pm - 9.00pm

AGE LIMIT: 13 years and over

CONTACT: TaniaMcDonald

BHAGs for 2009 - Setting your audacious goals

2009-01-11T07:48:00.006+13:00

What are your music performance goals for 2009? Are they last years goals plus a little bit more? Have you written them down? Are your goals placed in a visible spot so you will be reminded of them each day? On your shaving or makeup mirror? On your computer's screen saver? ON YOUR BLOG??!

There is a school of thought that writing down succinct, over-ambitious goals is an excellent method to stimulate creativity and superlative performance. In my trade as a strategist, the term BHAG or Big Hairy Audacious Goals is used.

Key features of BHAGs are that

You make your BHAG's 'public' ... to some degree beyond your inner consciousness
They are excessively beyond your current and normal expectations of achievement
You don't expect to achieve them
You can imagine vividly the benefits of having achieved the BHAG

My BHAGs are in the early stages of evolution. They cover these areas:

Gaining commissions to sing in solos, duets, and small groups.... as a basis for doing what I love to do before an appreciative audience, and earning an income
Success in competitions ... as a basis for improving my performance quality
Sharing my experience as a 'reflective practitioner' of performing arts to those who would gain value from my progress ... learners, teachers, coaches.
Building my influence and impact as an innovation-focused director and leader in the field of performing and screen arts.

In a later posting, I will elaborate these themes into BHAGs. For example, under the theme of competition, one element of my BHAG is to win the NZ Aria Competition in 2009. However, I will be well-satisfied this year if I gain a position in the finals of the composition (10 positions). This BHAG is a stretch for me, as I require to prepare two Aria roles that are well-matched to my capabilities and compare strongly with the capabilities of young, ambitious, and well-trained full time singing students!

Well, it's time to go into recluse for a couple of weeks. Off-grid so far as the internet is concerned. Time for some mountain trecking, sailing, reading .... and commencing the track towards achieving my BHAGs!

Not Mordor and Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings. This is Mt Ngaruhoe viewed from Mt Ruapehu. These are active volcanoes across which I will be guiding a small group of visitors: the UNESCO World Heritage Tongariro Crossing.

(The location was used for filming some aspects of LOR.)

---------------

Finding a singing teacher in New Zealand: NEWZATS

2009-01-08T09:59:00.001+13:00

NEWZATS is the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing. The site gives guidance on what questions to ask your prospective teacher. And the reasons a teacher is valuable for developing your singing.

The NEWZATS site provides resources for both singers and singing teachers. Competitions in New Zealand are identified

clipped from www.newzats.org.nz

Find A Singing Teacher

Why are lessons important?

If you are serious about becoming a really good singer nothing can replace the one -to-one exchange that occurs in actual voice lessons

A good singing teacher can help you in many ways.

Regularly scheduled lessons.

Someone to hear you.

Expansion of your repertoire.

Networking with other singers and muscians.

Development of other musical skills.

Resource for further study

Questions to ask a Voice Teacher

What is your professional singing experience?
What is your teaching experience?
Did you study how to teach and if so, where?
What kind of musical styles do you teach?
What is a typical lesson like?
What kind of practice should I expect?
How often will we have lessons?
What other learning experiences can you provide - such as group classes,keyboard training,theory skills?

clipped from www.newzats.org.nz

Ladyblogger: Not another music blogger...

2009-01-07T22:59:00.001+13:00

Example of a constructively critical musician afficiando....

I can see the challenge of developing a blog is to define a finely crafted niche of value to a select group of followers.... I'm in the early stage of learning.

clipped from notanothermusicblogger.blogspot.com

Not another music blogger...

My opinions, like 'em or lump 'em.

Inspired by the great work of many, I've decided to add my voice to the world of the classical music blog.
I'm in my mid-twenties, with a fair bit more life experience than my age would suggest. Musician by calling. I know what I like, and I know what I don't like, and I'm not afraid to say it. That said, I'm a big softie and get very excited by new talent!
Why blog? Because I can, and because I love being able to share my passion for music with those who want to read about it.

clipped from notanothermusicblogger.blogspot.com

Hesperion XXI live is an experience I will never forget. I've been a fan for some time, but I wasn't expecting quite the level of sublimity that was bestowed upon we, the lucky audience in the City Recital Hall last night. If I could stay a little longer, I would be there for the second concert on Saturday night - different program. That being impossible, however, I shall simply bask in the lasting afterglow of a supreme musical experience.

Directory of singing industry resources in NZ

2009-01-07T21:47:00.001+13:00

Here is a sample from the NZSearch directory. Individual singers, singing teachers, performance groups.

Not comprehensive by any means ... where are my choirs: ShowWest, Bach Choir of Wellington, Renaissance Singers, Auckland Welsh Choir.... you have to register your organisation on NZ Search!

clipped from www.nzsearch.co.nz

1. Sweet Adelines New Zealand - barbershop singing for women

7. Singing Rainbows

10. Kathi Craig

4. Nz Choral federation

New Zealand Choral Federation. NZCF choirs performing choral music, vision, self confidence for the art of group singing
http://www.nzcf.org.nz/

Music and Bands

clipped from www.nzsearch.co.nz

15. Fusion a capella quartet

Fusion are a hot young quartet based in Wellington, New Zealand. Conceived in 2002, this quartet is already making a reputation for themselves as an up and coming group. Their distinctive sound and youthful exuberance rub off on all the audiences they perform for.
http://www.singers.org.nz/FusionQuartet/

Music and Bands

clipped from www.nzsearch.co.nz

25. Official Hayley Westenra Website

Official Universal website of Hayley Westenra, NZ's multi-platinum selling teenage singing phenomenon. Her number 1 album of Operatic and Musical classics on Universal NZ has become one of the fastest selling NZ albums ever
http://www.hayleywestenra.com/

Music and Bands

27. People2View

for people who want to be discovered and get work

Yahoo Answers: Singing tips from an expert to a novice

2009-01-07T21:25:00.001+13:00

The response to the asker's question seems very comprehensive and succinct.

Note that Yahoo Answers has a whole section devoted to music and a subsection devoted to singing.

clipped from answers.yahoo.com

Anybody got any singing tips?

im looking for some tiips on singing. i know the basics but i need some help on using my 'chest or stomach' voice because i always sing from my nose apparently

It is possibe to sing nasally in any vocal register. Using the chest voice will not necessarily get rid of the nasal sound. This is a resonance issue that can be fixed, but I have some explaining to do before I can get to that.

Glad you know the 'basics', but I don't really know what you mean by basics so I'm putting it all down. You can just skim over what you already know.

Singing is cummulative--all parts effect all other parts. In other words you resonace can be thrown off if you aren't using proper posture or breath support, or vocal instrument placement.

Before singing one should make it habit to stretch all of the body to release tension and to warm up the vocal instrument. Any tension can and will cause vocal strain and eventually damage.

Nothing should be stiff. Loosen up.

Stars in their Eyes (NZ) - Request for applications

2009-01-07T20:54:00.001+13:00

I think I can.... I know I can!

clipped from tvnz.co.nz

Stars in Their Eyes Applications open
again!!

Would you like to be part of this hit show! Can you sing and
look like your favourite star? Whether you're a complete
amateur, keen on the Karaoke or a professional singer we'd love to
hear from you.*

We're looking for contestants aged 18+ to appear on this TV
ONE primetime entertainment extravaganza.

You'll be given coaching on voice technique, timing, style,
stage presence - everything it takes to become your Star!

Register to become part of this great competition to be
named best in the land.
To enter print off the application
here, include a DVD or VHS of your performance and send it
to:

Stars in my eyes (UK) - Talent agency for amateur and professionals

2009-01-07T20:44:00.001+13:00

StarsInMyEyes claims it should be the FIRST place you visit if you're looking for information on film castings, movie castings, dance auditions, tv auditions, tv castings and tv extras; perhaps you're looking for information on audience participation and want free tickets? or maybe you're trying to find where people are advertising things like 'musicians wanted' or 'models wanted'?

clipped from www.starsinmyeyes.tv

You can browse the thousands of profiles in our online talent directory or search for specific profiles using our advanced search facility

Stars In My Eyes has audition listings for singers, dancers, tv & movie castings & extra work, reality tv, modelling and lots, lots more! From major movie & tv opportunities to tv game shows and audience participation in many major tv productions, StarsInMyEyes is the place you want to be to launch your career!

Are you an established professional looking for a one-stop place to find the latest
opportunities?

Or perhaps you're a talented 'wannabe' trying to get on the ladder to stardom?

What is Art Song?

2009-01-05T23:39:00.001+13:00

Here on the Lotte Lehmann site is an excellent and succinct explanation of Art Song (including Lieder), and how it is distinct from Opera, folk song, Bel Canto, pop, and other musical genre.

clipped from lottelehmann.org

What is Art Song?

Art song’s brief description: a poem set to classical music, usually for trained voice and piano with a duration of about three minutes. Other names include: solo song, concert song, classical song, piano song and Lied.

But this concise definition really doesn’t touch the soul of art song. The elements comprise a quartet if you like: poet, composer, singer and pianist. These work together, each complimenting the other resulting in something much greater than the individual elements.

lyric poetry, of whatever language, has inspired composers right down to our own times to set and even enhance a poem. The composer often makes the words more accessible, highlighting elements that only music can. Lyric poetry tends to be short, concise, often deals with love, nature and other elements favored by the Romantic artists of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

it is indeed still being written, performed and recorded in our own day. In fact, this may be seen as another golden age

Where to Buy Art Song Books, Sheet Music or CDs - Lotte Lehmann Foundation

2009-01-05T23:26:00.001+13:00

Here is a small clip from a more substantial set of resources identified on the Lotte Lehman Foundation's site. The site contains a diverse range of materials related to singing.

clipped from lottelehmann.org

Where to Buy Art Song Books, Sheet Music or CDs

The Lehmann Foundation makes no claims for the following commercial companies. They are listed only for your convenience.

"A Singer's Guide to the American Art Song" is still available. The list price is $55.
Customer Service: custserv@rowman.com
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
15200 NBN Way, PO Box 191, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
PHN: (800) 462-6420 or FAX: (800) 338-4550

Pendragon Press offers musicological and in-depth books on a wide variety of classical music, including art song.

You'll find a title such as "Concert Song As Seen-Kinesthetic Aspects of Musical Interpretation"

On this new page we offer new ideas for teaching art song, and companies that provide often rare books about classical song and art song sheet music. Please submit your ideas and resources to us at: info@lottelehmann.org

PRACTICE - Samuel BARBER, 'Sure on this shining night'

2009-01-05T23:10:00.003+13:00

This performance demonstrates the early stages of my learning a new song. I began learning the lyrics one week ago - before learning the tune. Currently, I am working on getting correct timing, and matching the words to the melody.

I am not concerned about interpretation emphasis, and voice quality. Those effects will come later after I have memorised the song.

Postscipt: I have received feedback on my recording that I have "jumped a step". Before matching the words to the song by singing, I should first sing the song to "ah", getting good sound quality, breathing, posture, and timing. After this step, one adds the words. That makes sense to me. I've been too impatient!!!

For an example of my singing to a "performance" standard, see this posting of "Gute Nacht".

Sound recording
In order to get maximum feedback from my voice coach, I record the voice with no equalisation or other modifications. However, I did transpose the song down five semi-tones from its original starting note of "d" ("Sure"). I learn in a lower transposition then raise the pitch as I become more confident with all elements.

I record using Garageband and an old video camera shotgun mike through a Peavey micro-mixer (PV6) into my Macintosh.

The accompaniment might sound mechanical. It is! It is produced using Smartscore after having scanned in the musical score. (Schirmer, New York, copyright 1941.). I create a midi version of the song in Smartscore, then transfer the midi version into Garageband, where I complete the transposition.

Learning to perform from other's performances
On iTunes you can find some beautiful performances of the song. I bought a version performed by Robert White & Samuel Sanders.

I listen to performance versions very, very infrequently whilst I'm learning a new song, so that I can develop my own interpretation. I might listen once towards the end of my rehearsal to note hints of things I might be missing. I usually have at least two performances that I like.

I invite you to share comments about interpretation of the song and vocal production. (....more support on the top notes - I know!)

Researching the song's context and composer
I am also curious to know more about the context of lyrics poem written by James AGEE. You can find the lyrics (an a performance) on this website dedicated to Art Song: http://lottelehmann.org/artsong/bios/bio_Barber.shtml

Information about James AGEE is on the PBS website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/poet/agee.html.... According to the pbs site, Agee appears to have been a somewhat James Dean character (?): "Poet, novelist, journalist, film critic, and social activist, Agee would lead an unorthodox, hard-driving life that would result in an early death."

I'm rather intrigued by the man. Like me he has Huguenot heritage. And he died one day before I was born.

The images are from a fireworks display in Auckland, February 2006.

A reference to Chaucerian mynstrels

2009-01-03T18:44:00.001+13:00

I chose the name 'mynstrel' for my blog on Blogger, http://mynstrel.blogspot.com/, as a play on 'minstrel'.

I had proposed many more simple blog names, like songmaker, songmaster, singer, but those blogs were already taken on Blogger.

There are quite a few other 'mynstrels' operating on the web - some are musicians, some are computer specialists. So by taking the blog name mynstrel (without checking more fully!) I add to the confusion.

But here is an entertaining and much earlier use of the word 'mynstrel' from Chaucer's times ... in response to a competition by the Spectator Newspaper.

clipped from www.spectator.co.uk

In Competition No 2560 you were invited to describe a visit to Glyndebourne or Glastonbury in the style of an author of your choice.

The winners, printed below, get £25 each while the extra fiver goes to Brian Murdoch for his hilarious Chaucer.

Whanne that the sumer shoures, lyke Noye’s
fludde,
Turneth fayr fields of tentes to seas of mudde,
And whanne the raine still bucket-wise downfalles,
Thanne longen folke to goon to festivalles,
That they may wel disport themselves withal,
At sexe and drugges, and eke with rockenrol.
So with the yonge squires hied I me,
As whilom Arthur did, to Glastonbury,
To heare and see the famèd mynstrels playe
Upon a stage two thousand yerd awaye.
A wylde wyf ther was, Winehouse yclept,
The whiche did sing, and as she sange she lept,
Just when I came nye to her playing-place,
And so she struck her ellebowe to my face,
That I did falle, and laye ther al forlorn.
Methinks anon I shall try Glyndebourne.
Brian Murdoch/Geoffrey Chaucer

Keeping track of your internet research: Clipmarks

2009-01-03T17:28:00.006+13:00

As I research a new song, I find many disparate sources of information. How do you keep track of of where you found useful snippets of information? You can bookmark the website using your web browser. But then you have a fairly jumbled collection under: 'music' if you are like me.

A more elegant way of keeping track of websites is Clipmarks. Whenever you find a snippet of useful information, Clipmarks lets you 'cut and paste' the snippet into one place: a Clipmarks folder under your own account. You can also make the clips public so that other people can see them. And you can easily find them on another computer.

I have several Clipmark folders. One for 'music'. Another for 'environmental sustainability'. And several others for my 'day job'.

Click here to see my Clipmark folder full of clips about 'music'.

You can also send the Clip to other people, and post a specific clip on your own blog, as follows.

In the following example, you observe a little of my research about James Agee, who provided the poem for Samuel Barber's song 'Sure on this shining night'. At the top left, you see the source site for the clip, www.pbs.org. (The Clipmark link goes to the specific page on this site). There is also a facility to send a Clipmark clip directly to Blogger, and several other sites (but I haven't yet tried that feature succesfully.)

clipped from www.pbs.org

(RUFUS) JAMES AGEE
(1909-1955)

"I know I am making the choice most dangerous to an artist in valuing life above art."

James Agee acknowledged the restless journey his biography would encompass.

Poet, novelist, journalist, film critic, and social activist, Agee would lead an unorthodox, hard-driving life that would result in an early death. So voracious was he for experience that in valuing life, as he put it, he could not help but shape the penetrating, passionate, and colorful poetry and prose he produced.

Of Huguenot ancestry, James Agee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1909, the son of a postal worker who was killed in the prime of his life in an automobile accident.

He published his first and only volume of verse, PERMIT ME VOYAGE in 1934, and in 1936 he embarked with photographer Walker Evans on an assignment to document the lives of poor Southern farmers.

He succumbed to a heart attack on his way to a doctor's appointment on May 16, 1955.

Classical Vocal Training for Singers: Warm-Up Exercises for Classical Voice Training

2009-01-03T16:38:00.002+13:00

On YouTube you will find extensive advice on learning classical singing. For instance, this warm-up exercise is one of many vocal training trips from 'expertvillage', a sub-site for education and training. For more of the 240 postings (as of the date of this Blog), visit this community: YouTube/classical singing.

I present this example 'as is ... where is'. I am a singer, not a vocal coach. Accordingly, I am not willing to vouch for the accuracy or reliability of the advice presented on this particular example.

For instance, on the YouTube site, someone commented about the warm up example:

Not sure if I agree 100% with what she's saying. If you're using you're voice properly and singing or speaking from your mask there is no need not to talk to keep your vocal cords "fresh." As far as when you wake up, yes your muscles are relaxed and do need to wake up too, but instead of waking up earlier and not using them, you should do some warm up vocal exercises such as humming for proper pitch placement and tone focus.

I advise that you discuss the advice with your vocal coach, and write a comment on my blog (or the YouTube site).

Searching for a foreign language song: a detective story

2009-01-01T10:30:00.008+13:00

On New Year's Eve last night my Hungarian friend asked if I knew a duet that she proceeded to sing. She wanted me to take the role of a soldier singing a song of adoration. Unfortunately, she did not know the title or text of the song: she knew just how to sing it.

The song she believed was in Italian, and we guessed the first line was:

"Quelle mazzo l'in de fiore".

I sing a little Italian and have a better knowledge of French. Another friend in the room spoke Spanish. A quick Google search using that title found no song with the title. However, the words 'quel', 'di', and 'fiore' did appear.

Re-specifying the search with just 'quel', 'di', and 'fiore' returned the song we looked for: 'Quel mazzolin di fiori'. Both a lyrics and YouTube result.

Here are the lyrics for the first verse, from www.istrianet.org

Quel mazzolin di fiori
che vien dalla montagna
bada ben che non si bagna
chè lo voglio regalar,
bada ben che non si bagna
chè lo voglio regalar.

You'll find a melody on that site, plus the full text of the lyrics. Hint: you need to scroll down the page to find the listing for 'Quel mazzolin...'.

An audi version of the song
Here's a site from which you can obtain a free download of the song 'Quel mazzolin di fiori', from ez-tracks.com: (All the male soldiers are singing this version!). You have to sign up for this website, but it has many free downloads.... and ringtones for your phone.

You might find some other audio versions using FoxyTunes here...
Quel Mazzolin Di Fiori
via FoxyTunes
There are many productions of the song on YouTube. Here's one reasonable professional recording with some pretty pictures.

Translating and understanding the lyrics
When you intend to perform from memory a song sung in a foreign language, it is essential to understand three elements:

the broad story of song,
the sense and emotion phrase by phrase
the literal translation phrase and word by word

Accordingly, some investment of time is required to research these elements.

I noticed the following alarming comment on YouTube as I beganb this task:

"The lyric is not in proper Italian...in fact it is sung in dialect from Trentino which is a region in the north on the border with Austria."

I enter the search request into Google: "translate 'quel mazzolin di fiori'".

I found the site All Experts Italian. On this site someone requests help with understanding a small part of the song. The response to the request from the expert reveals that the soldier is double dealing: the soldier has two lovers! But the woman in the duet so loves the soldier she will still pursue him with a bunch of flowers!

Here's a small selection from the correspondence on All Experts about the song. (My copy-editing in square [brackets])

Ciao Ken,

This song is singed [sung] by a girl that is in love with a man that is unfaithful. This man, as you understand, go[es] to see his other girlfriend Rosina instead of the singer...

Your questions are good... see below:

"how can the singer know what will happen in the future?" No, the singer know[s] that this evening his boyfriend will come to her but she know, also, that Saturday (probably yesterday) he was to meet Rosina.

... [more]
...
A big CIAO from Italy!!

You could use the All Experts site to request a full translation. Lets' leave that to a last resort.

According to the Google search for a translation, there is a translation on the istria.org site mentioned above. But so far, it eludes me after some search. I have examined the Indexes on istria.org and found that the song was composed in 1904, and is described thus:

"Questa è una di quelle canzoni che, nate sui monti, si sono fulmineamente divulgate per tutta la Penisola. Essa è certo ora, una delle "beniamine" di tutte le brigate, montanare o no, desiderose di stare allegre anche....quando cantano una storia triste."
Canto degli alpini - Arm. A. Pedrotti Più che popolare, questo canto, si potrebbe definire universale. Nel solo Trentino sono note tre versioni assai vecchie. Versioni più musicali che poetiche, poiché il testo é pressoché identico. Meravigliosa la musica a tempo di marcia.

Please put your translation into the comments for this posting!

The musical score
As a by-product of my searching for the translation of the lyrics, I found the score here on www.istria.org

Jackpot: the lyrics, translation, score, and music all in one place.
After almost 90 minutes working on this project, I am starting to get frustrated. But then I struck a golden jackpot. In a last spot of desperation I followed the unpromising Google search result to: 'Searching for family - Cercando famiglia', and found these comments:

[S]tumbled across your site looking for the tune to "quel mazzolin di fiori". ... I spent five years (out of the ten i spent with the us army) in the tenth (mountain) division, and, perforce, I had to learn a bit about Italian military history. I just wanted to thank you for including the mp3, as well as the lyrics, on your site.

BUT WHERE IS THE SONG!? There's no link back from the comments! But the song is on the website somewhere...

I visited the Cercando famiglia home page I examined all the top line menu items, and beneath 'Current generations' I found 'songs'.... And THERE was the first song on the page: Quel mazzolin di fiori: 'Little bunch of flowers'.

Quel massolin di fiori
Che vien dalla montagna.
Quel massolin di fiori
Che vien dalla montagna.
E guarda ben che non si bagna
Ché lo voglio regalar.
E guarda ben che non si bagna
Ché lo voglio regalar.

That lil' bunch of flowers
From the mountainside.
That lil' bunch of flowers from the mountainside.
Don't let the raindrops on it
For it's a gift I want to make.
Don't let the raindrops on it
For it's a gift I want to make!

Lo voglio regalare
Perché l'è un bel mazzetto
Lo voglio dare al mio moretto
Questa sera quando 'l vien.

A gift I want to make
For it's a pretty bunch
I want it for my dark-haired boy
This evening when he comes.

Stasera quando 'l viene
Gli fo la brutta cera
E perché sabato sera
Non l'è vegnù da me.

This evening when he comes
I want to know the why
That Saturday, that Saturday
He didn't come to me.

Non l'è vegnù da me
L'è andà dalla Rosina!
E perché mi son poverina
Mi fa piangere e sospirar.

He didn't come to me
He went to see Rosina!
And 'cause i'm but a simple maid
It makes me sob and sigh.

Mi fa piangere e sospirare
Sul letto del lamenti.
E cosa mai diran le genti
Cosa mai diran di me.

It makes me sob and sigh
Upon my bed of tears.
And now what will the people say
What will they say of me

Diràn ch'io son tradita
Tradita nell'amore!
Ed a me mi piange il core,
E per sempre plangerà!

They'll say that I've been jilted
Been jilted by my love!
Oh how, oh how my heart weeps.
And 'll weep for evermore!

Here's a site where you can upload your own translation of the song ... and hear a sung version and view the lyrics: www.lyricsmode.com. I might complete that task later, after I have thanked Cercando Famiglia.

And here you can find some images of Italian alpine flowers. The source of the image at the top of this posting is: Campanella Istriana. Loris Dilena e Giuseppe Jurzi, Fiori dell'Istria, MGS Press (Trieste, 1998)

My next tasks for this project are:

Decide if I want to learn the song.
Create a backing track using Smartscore.
Learn the text.

But that's enough work for a while. I hope you've learned some useful detective tips for using the internet to find the lyrics and translations for songs you want to sing.

QED: Quod erat demonstrandum!

MY PERFORMANCE: 'Gute Nacht' from Schubert's 'Die Winterreise'

2008-12-31T15:09:00.002+13:00

Performed at New Zealand Aria Competition, Rotorua, 2008. Singer: Peter Mellalieu. Pianist Rosie BARNES.

Gute Nacht introduces the song cycle. The singer announces his determination to quit the house in which he has been living as an apprentice. The daughter has betrayed his love. He anticipates the desolation of both the physical and metaphysical winter journey he is about to undertake across the snow and following the random tracks of wild animals. He leaves a final note on the doorway to remind the woman of his love for her: "Good Night"

Uploading a song for others to hear - Choosing a video hosting site

2008-12-31T10:09:00.009+13:00

What's a reliable method for presenting a video recording on Blogger?

I seek a method that is easy to use, fast, and gives predicable results.

Three solutions come readily to mind. I will investigate each and present my recommendation for 'technology challenged' song makers.

Using the 'video upload' feature when you create a Blogger posting.
Using a link to a video uploaded to Google Video
Embedding a video from YouTube

Alternative 1 would appear to offer the simplest approach. But it is not reliable. Alternative 3, using YouTube is slightly less simple, but in my limited experience is reliable.

Here is my more detailed evaluation.

1. Using the 'video upload' feature
This is the simplest option. But there are two disadvantages:

The video is held on Google Video in a 'private' capacity. So that means people cannot find your video directly, only indirectly via your blog entry.
I have attempted to use this feature several times. But the result was failure. I received this message:

Sorry, there was an error uploading your video. Please contact support and include the following information: Blog Id:8042171324923002958

I followed the 'contact support' link. That took me to a blog site about help with Blogger. I found other people had faced the same problem... which sometimes became resolved in a random way. The Wikipedia entry for 'Google video' also stated the following criticism:

The video uploading tool also receives various complaints, due to its "Uploading failed" error message which seems to appear in random cases without any explanation why the upload was not successful. This message sometimes also appears when the upload was successful which can be problematic as the same video may be uploaded again. Google has not yet addressed this issue.^{Furthermore, from the Wikipedia discussion of Google Video, it appears that the development strategy is to reduce emphasis on video archiving, and focus on Google's core strength of providing an index to videos from other sources, such as YouYube. (Which Google happens to have bought recently for a lot of money)

Conclusion: Abandon Options 1 and 2 as being unreliable, and a strategic dead end. So now I evaluate YouTube.}
3. Embedding a video from YouTube
YouTube is by far the most frequently visited site for video uploads. According to a comparison of video hosting sites, YouTube received 52,000,000 Monthly Unique Visitors (US), compared with the next highest site (9,200,000), and Google Video (4,800,000).

Once you have a video stored on YouTube, it is easy to include that video as part of your Blogger posting. The technical term is 'embedding'.

On the web page showing the video that you want, note the following box, containing the item 'Embed' at the bottom.

Now, Create a new posting in Blogger. Whilst in Compose mode (the default), Copy the text to the left of the 'Embed' from YouTube. Now Paste into your Blogger Compose pane. You should see several lines of HTML gobbledygook.

Save Now your draft. Check all is correct with the Paste by using Preview.

In an earlier posting, I demonstrate embedding a video of Gute Nacht from YouTube, sung by Dietrich Fischer Dieskau.

More later on my evaluation of YouTube use in Blogger.

A favourite song: Gute Nacht from Schubert's Winterreise

2008-12-30T18:33:00.007+13:00

One of my long-time favourite pieces of music is Schubert's 'Winterreise'. The music tells of a betrayed lover who departs her mother's home for both a physical and tortuous metaphysical journey across the cold snows of winter.

Here is but one of sixty versions of the first song in the cycle, 'Gute Nacht', from YouTube. This is a 1966 version sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.

My favourite version is the DVD of Ian Bostridge with Stage Direction by David Alden.

In a future post, I'll present my own performance presented the NZ Aria competition. I'll also outline some of the resources I found helpful in preparing this song, and the challenges I dealt with.

A set of piano accompaniments for american arts songs

2008-12-30T13:21:00.003+13:00

Index of /American Art Songs CD

This is an index of accompaniments to a delightful set of American Art Songs. I recently performed 'When I have sung my songs'. Now I am working on Barber's 'Sure on this shining night', and if I like it, I'll attempt the playful 'The monk and his cat'.

I found this index using the Google music tool search box. I have included this search tool on my blog main page.

The Mynstrel announces his blog

2008-12-29T19:49:00.000+13:00

It's summer new year recreation time here in Auckland, New Zealand. I spent the morning on 'trainer wheels' learning to sing Samuel BARBER's 'Sure on this shining night'. It's a beautiful melody, based on a poem by James AGEE.

This afternoon, I completed research to determine which blog tool to use. I have been using iWeb (part of Apple iLife) for several blogs. However, I wanted a blog to which I could send clippings directly from Clipmarks. That left me with the choice of WordPress and Blogger. I chose Blogger as simple to use, and accessible from any computer.

I mentioned 'trainer wheels'. Since I began the current project two days ago I have learned the words of the poem by memory. I have researched the context for the poem. I have an accompaniment track. And I have the full music scanned into Smartscore. So I can rehearse in a lower key than my final perfoprmance key. Now my challenge is to match up all the elemnets: the words, the rhythm, and pitch. Later will come interpretation. Tomorrow I'll post a recording of my progress so far.

In future blog entries, I'll discuss the technologies I use as a singer to learn and perform my songs. I'll also present progress on my career as a singer such as my recent participation in the NZ Aria Competition. The photo shows my first professional engagement as a choral singer in Llandaff Cathedral Parish Choir, under Harry JOYCE, around 1962 - 1966.

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MY PERFORMANCE: 'Gute Nacht' from Schubert's 'Die Winterreise'

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Sorry, there was an error uploading your video. Please contact support and include the following information: Blog Id:8042171324923002958

A favourite song: Gute Nacht from Schubert's Winterreise

A set of piano accompaniments for american arts songs

The Mynstrel announces his blog

Giuseppe Verdi
Composer

(RUFUS) JAMES AGEE
(1909-1955)