Relevant to some interests

[jadesfire]

Okay, so I was a bit grumpy about things and went hunting for things to help me sing the alto part of the Hallelujah chorus. I can read music, but I'm not used to being in the middle rather than on the top (oi, get your minds out of the gutter :P), and was finding it really hard to pull out the line in full choral versions.

But it turns out that the BBC is doing a big 'Sing Hallelujah' thing (which we're taking part in), and as part of this, they've recorded the BBC singers singing various lines with and without each other, to help people learn their lines.

I'm using it to learn the alto line, and listening to everyone else sing without your part, you suddenly realise that it's a *whole* piece, that every part is equally important, and if you take any of them away, the whole thing suddenly sounds really thin.

Anyway, I'm sure there's folks who'd find it fun, so here's the link: Get your music here!. If anyone wants them and can't get them, let me know too :)

Comments

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

If you want someone to go through it with you, I know it (from years back) - even if I can't remember it all, I can sight read.
I hear music funny; I can't hear *my* notes, I can hear the gap where I am meant to be singing.
Told you I was weird.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Thanks - we'll see how the first 'proper' rehearsal goes and I'll let you know. I have J and the piano standing by ;)

I think that sounds like a natural alto! I wish I could do that, but years of singing high have spoilt my ear. But it at least gives me something to work on, which is quite nice.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

The alto line's the line I sang... waaaaay back when.


AND OOOOOh! One of the choirs taking part in my area is staging their concert at the church where my brother used to be the organist.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It's cool finding these things out, isn't it??

Heh, I seem to be the only soprano around here, (well, I'm a mezzo, but close enough!) so at least when I get stuck, I know where to come :)

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Another alto here. (When I was younger, I mostly sang alto because I was one of the few who could read music well and carry a strong harmony line, but these days my voice really is that low.) The alto part of the Halleluiah Chorus is stuck in my head *forever*. Which isn't a bad thing, it's a fun part. Well, in that piece I think they're all fun parts.

I'm glad you found a resource! That's really neat.

(ETA - I'm afraid it might have sounded like I think sopranos don't have to read music or sing harmony. Sorry! I don't think that. In my situation at that time, it was more a factor of the simplicity of the music we were singing, hymns and songs written for people who might not have much singing experience. The soprano line in those pieces was almost always the melody, often a familiar tune, so the women who weren't very confident with singing parts often went with the melody, which usually happened to be the soprano part. If the part got too high, they would drop an octave or join the altos for a bar or two. :) The Halleluiah Chorus was, ovbiously, not like that.)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh hon, I knew what you meant. Generally speaking, folk who want the tune/can't read music sing soprano, because for most stuff, it is easier. It's not until you hit really complex choral stuff that it doesn't make any difference what part you sing - it's all hard! I've always thought carol descants were 'the alto's revenge' as a fine attempt to kill the soprano section (especially Hark the Herald Angels...)

I am slightly suprised at how many Hallelujah-singing altos there are around here. I didn't grow up singing this kind of music at all, so it's all new to me! And kind of scary but fun :D

[morgynleri]

*blinks* That reminds me, I have a month to get my head wrapped around the alto section of that piece before Darkover con, and the midnight sing of the Hallelujah Chorus. Used to be around the hotel pool, until the hotel took the pool out.

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

oi, get your minds out of the gutter :P

But I like it down here! :)

Neat links, too.