Birdgirl

And yes--I mean "songs". I don't want choir pieces, unless they happen to be a solo aria from a larger work. I just want to become more familiar with the work of contemporary composers of art songs. I know the work and really love the work of composer Jake Heggie, and Eric Whitacre has written some lovely solo songs as well. I'm asking HERE, so I don't get any songs written for Celtic Woman or Sarah Brightman. Nothing WRONG with those songs, but I'm looking for real classical

songs .Any range, any voice category will do, since I'm looking for things to listen to for my enjoyment and education.

Example: http://www.amazon.com/Passing-By-Songs-Jake-Heggie...

I recently read an interesting book on guitars (basically a coffee-table book I found at the library, but it had lots of photos and information on the development of different guitars over the years), I never really paid that close attention to the variety of guitars available even among acoustic instruments. What was really fascinating was the number of guitars that had odd numbers of strings--5, 7, etc. (along with those guitars with multiple necks). I know I've seen sheet music for songs originally accompanied by 7 string guitars. I've also personally owned a 12-string guitar I found at a pawn shop (covered in dust and nicotine residue). I didn't like it and eventually got rid of it because it probably needed some sort of set-up and I didn't know about those things back then. But what about those other unusual guitars with added bass or treble strings, and such? Any example of music-written music or recordings that you know about? Electric or acoustic--doesn't matter. Just curious.

I've played various acoustic guitars for decades, but always put them on by hand. However, a couple of years ago, I bought a classical guitar I really love. As a result, I change the strings more often, both because I wear out the strings more quickly, and also because I've been experimenting with different

brands and tensions of guitar strings. I'm ready to cut down on the tedium of turning the pegs by hand but have no clue what might be the best winder to try.

I would like some recommendations from other guitarists regarding type and brand of string winder they personally have used and liked (and why).

Thanks!

I have both Google Chrome and Internet Explorer on my desktop. If I go to Yahoo Answers in IE, it's the old, familiar version. If I use Chrome, then I get the new "improved" version--which by the way, I find a bit "clunky" to use even if it looks "prettier".

Anyway, I'm just curious as why there are two different versions.

Actually what I'm looking for, is a version that features the alternate "Dorset" dialect.

http://imslp.org/wiki/Linden_Lea_(Vaughan_Williams...

I have sheet music in the appropriate key and have actually sung this several times, but it would be fun to try it with the accent. Only I want it to be as authentic as possible. Americans are still trying to live down Dick Van Dyke's "Cockney" accent in "Mary Poppins"!

As long as it has the accent I can listen to for reference, it doesn't matter what key the singer is singing in, or if it's a male or female vocalist.

Thanks.

I recently walked into a music store and asked them if they had any "pitchforks" for sale. Yes, but there I was with the salesman looking at me, wondering if I meant to go to a farm supply store, and finally asking if I wanted a pitch pipe or tuning fork. I wanted a tuning fork--and I have never called them anything else--but there you have it!

So keeping your answers musically relevant--any brain glitches you can't explain? Like identifying Pachebel's "Canon in D" as Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"?

Usually if I get feedback, it's for recent questions. My mailbox is stuffed!

People keep requesting depressing, sad, dark, "goth" classical songs, so that always brings to my mind the music of John Dowland. Now I wonder, did he ever write anything that was even a tiny bit upbeat or hopeful? He wrote for the lute--any instrumental pieces that at least sound happy?

Name any Dowland composition (voice or instruments) that ISN'T sad?

This can be any instrumental (solo or ensemble) or any vocal (solo or ensemble) but stick to actual classical music and leave out film or video soundtracks and new age pop--though modern, living composers are certainly okay. I'm asking because of all those requests for "sad, dark, creepy, goth" music.

For example, this is fun (ironically from an operetta concerning death and the underworld)--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT24krt30gE&feature...

I've decided to post this to "classical" rather than "other", because I suspect the people in this section will actually have a better idea of what I'm talking about. However, I'll give a brief list of examples, and see if you can think of any others.

1. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" --frequently mistaken for an opera because it is set in the Paris Opera House and it has the word "opera" in it--and sopranos.

2. "Con Te Partiro" otherwise known as "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Por ti volaré"--all three popularized by Italian pop tenor Andrea Bocelli. The song itself was written for the 1995 San Remo Festival, a competition for the popular Italian songs (kind of like "The Eurovision Song Contest"--only just for Italians).

3. Tie between Korean composer-pianist Yiruma's "A River Flows in You" and "Bella's Lullaby" from the soundtrack of "Twilight" (2008) by Carter Burwell (who refers to it as the "Love Theme"). These two compositions are frequently confused with each other, by their very own fans! Youtube has plenty of examples of the constant mixup, which is a sad commentary on the blandness and/or lack of originality in both compositions, or the lack of musical discernment in young or inexperienced music listeners.

4. Moving steadily up--"Nella Fantasia". A song adaptation from the theme "Gabriel's Oboe" featured in the Ennio Morricone score of the 1986 movie "The Mission".

5. Soundtracks for "Final Fantasy"--a video game series. Immensely popular, most fans are not only devoted to the collection of Japanese composers responsible for the soundtrack, they are keenly aware the music was written specifically for the series. Then there are the others---who keep asking what "opera" these songs and themes are from.

When you answer, leave out any actual classical music sung or performed by non-classical artists. A dumb-down or jazzed-up version of "O Mio Babbino Caro" sung by the latest contestant on a television talent show is from an actual opera even though it may have been mangled to a horrific degree.

Also save yourself grief and ignore people who ask for all kinds of sheet music even if it's rock-and-roll----unless they are asking what classical composer wrote the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black" or something.

Your turn---if you can post a link of some kind, do so.

No matter how careful I try to be, even going back and checking, I seem to be seeing an awful lot of typographical errors in everything I type these days. I do touch-type, and except for certain symbols I may not use a great deal, I find it easier not to look at the keys. I need to keep a reasonable speed up if I hope to be able to find clerical work when I need to. Any online typing tests that are particularly good to practice on? Any books? Honestly, sometimes I see what I've done the next day and it not only looks like I can't spell but it looks like I hardly understand English. Spell check won't catch it if you actually type something that is an actual word (but not the one you wanted). For example, if I meant to type "to rush", but wound up typing "thrush"--well thrush is a type of bird--or a yeast infection.

Sometimes when my answer is picked as "best answer" the asker will ask a follow-up question or need extra clarification or information. I've been adding the amendments to "comments", but I'm not sure if they actually get read by the asker. Is there a better way?

I just answered my umpteenth question on this. So when will people stop asking--when hell freezes over or when pigs fly?

That goes for Andrea Bocelli, and that horrible girl with the pneumatic boobs.

I was thinking of decorating some plain drinking glasses, or jars, etc. to give as gifts. I know they make glass paints, but which brand seem to be the most washable? Are there any that are dishwasher proof once dry? There are several major craft and art supply stores in my city, by the way.

One of my absolute favorite pieces to sing is "Silent Noon". I've also sung in various choral works by Vaughn-Williams, but I am having difficulty deciding what I should select for solo recitals since there are so many beautiful choices. I'm a soprano with a good bottom range. For recitals I generally do opera arias as well as "art songs"--German lieder, French chansons, etc.

This is directed at those whose questions were answered with "not classical music". I've seen questions about pop songs, rock songs, country songs, rap, movie and even video game soundtracks in this category. Why did you direct your question in this category, and not one of the others? Just curious.