| Comment: Re: Do altos quite often sing the tenor part if their voices are too low for alto. | Deeann Mathews | December 9, 2010 |
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In my part of the choral world, it is quite common -- though we sometimes cover this by mentioning "high alto parts" and "low alto parts," and occasionally we DO end up with a very pleasant five part harmony on some chords. But it also depends on the song, and the tessitura of the song. The al... |
| Announcement: Get that last-minute Christmas music (or get ahead for New Year) | Deeann Mathews | December 9, 2010 |
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Still need that extra Christmas hymn for those down-to-the-wire Christmas rehearsals -- OR, are you starting to work on the rest of your winter repertoire?
Please head on over to the Free HIMbook, at http://www.squidoo.com/himbook -- you'll find more than 400 handpicked public domain hymn... |
| Announcement: The Free HIMbook, with extra pages | Deeann Mathews | July 28, 2010 |
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The Free HIMbook is a clickable directory of more than 400 public domain hymns, choruses, anthems, and Spirituals, with a web directory linking to tens of thousands of pieces of public domain choral sheet music from around the world, pieces both sacred and secular. Point, click, print, and enj... |
| Comment: Re: What's wrong with jazz, show tunes, pop, etc in choir? | Deeann Mathews | March 22, 2010 |
| I realize that I come exceedingly late to this discussion . . . yes, choral music has been around forever, and yes, kids can learn to appreciate any style of excellent music. I taught inner-city kids how to sing selections from Handel's Messiah for several consecutive years . . . but, it should ... |
| Comment: Re: looking for early and roots a cappella music about "home" | Deeann Mathews | March 8, 2010 |
| For "roots" music," you might try the two Black Spirituals,
"Climbing High Mountain [Tryin' to get Home]" and "I'm Goin' Home
on Mornin' Train." Hall Johnson may have arranged one or both, but
if not, they are surely in the collection of Slave Songs of the
United States.
"Home" in the context of the... |
| Comment: Re: The death of copyright and intellectual property | Deeann Mathews | March 3, 2010 |
| As an assistant choir director in a church, I don't have permission to purge my church's library, although I would like to. But, at the least, I don't add to the problem -- and if I can't find a song on the subject necessary, I compose one (eventually). That is, by the way, a good and creativ... |
| Comment: Re: Watch what you write on FaceBook, teachers | Deeann Mathews | March 3, 2010 |
| There is an old proverb, which I will amend: "If you do not want a thing known, do not say it" . . . and definitely, definitely, definitely do not post it on the Internet. I know that is some industries, employers are making hiring decisions based on what they find on Facebook and the like; I s... |
| Comment: Re: Leaving church before the postlude ends | Deeann Mathews | November 13, 2009 |
| I am a Baptist, and we have preludes and postludes quite by accident in my church . . . it would be nice if the congregants showed a little more appreciation. However, I'm no longer bothered . . . it's a question of realizing who your Audience is . . . |
| Comment: Re: Non public domain performance online | Deeann Mathews | October 8, 2009 |
| I Am Not a Lawyer (as per a previous suggestion)
But, from one music businessperson to another . . .
So far as I know, the "seconds" business has never been defined. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court did a ruling related to that issue regarding sampling, and disallowed sampling entirely (so tha... |
| Comment: Re: Non public domain performance online | Deeann Mathews | October 8, 2009 |
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"1. If it is Public Domain, don't worry. And John, they can't copyright a public domain work even if they reset it in a new typeface. They may tell you it is copyrighted, but I dont think that it is."
Careful there. I once was working with a performer who just had to have X song on her a... |
| Comment: Re: Creativity and Unproductivity | Deeann Mathews | October 8, 2009 |
| I used to struggle with the idea of unproductivity until I realized how my mind actually works -- collect and percolate one period, produce the following period.
There is a story a preacher used to tell about growing bamboo that comes to mind:
First year: Plant bamboo seeds. Water every day,... |
| Comment: Re: Choosing the Right Literature | Deeann Mathews | October 8, 2009 |
| There seems to be something missing in this Venn diagram -- "choir's persona," although I suppose that would fit under "opportunity for convincing performance." But the area seems small. No matter how much I like a piece as a conductor, if the song doesn't fit with the inclination of the peop... |
| Comment: Re: Simplicity helps you be creative | Deeann Mathews | September 28, 2009 |
| Well posted -- I have likewise found, in recent years, that trying to work on even two projects at one time is too much. Multitasking is not the way to produce rich, satisfying, lasting works in any art (which makes me wonder about the "shelf life" of much of what is being produced today); lov... |
