Waitin' On The World To Change

Something you never knew you always wanted to do:
New York Polyphony's Gregorian Chant Remix Opportunity

It's a contest (deadline June 20, 2011), and there are some pretty major prizes (including $500 and a release on Sony's Classical Music Online label Ariama). Not to mention the everlasting glory.

The best part about all this, though, is that there are already more than 600 entries - many of which you can hear on the contest's website here, here, and here. Some of these entries are clearly by professionals, and some are (clearly) not. Some are heavy on the synthesizers and drum kits, and some are simple a capella arrangements of the stem chant. In sum: there's a huge variety of work being submitted, and much of it is tagged with encouraging comments from other entrants. [Gregorian chant: bringing us together since Pippin the Short?]

"We like to have something of an urban vibe to the way we’re bringing this really ancient music to modern audiences,” Geoffrey Williams, New York Polyphony’s countertenor, said in a WQXR interview. These remixes may not be conducive to strict performance practice, but I think the excitement this contest has generated - and the community it has (even temporarily) created - is well worth the lapse.


(via WQXR)

I Love To Laugh / Ha Ha Ha Ha!

#Operaplot2011! Winners!! Announced!!!

(Runner-up Nixon Goes to China: you'd get my vote.)





(More about #operaplot from The Omniscient Mussel so you can play next year.)

We'll Be Together / And I'll Be So Twitterpated

#operaplot
Is exactly what you think it is. Highlights from the 2010 winners!

Father is less than enthusiastic about son’s love affair with aging, bankrupt, terminally ill prostitute. Can you believe it? [La Traviata]

So I wrote this guy this EPIC love letter & he’s like “No thanks”, but now I’m married & rich & he’s all “OMG I LURV U!!” WTF? [Eugene Onegin]

Idealistic poets take note: apparently “I wish to end economic injustice” sounds a lot like “just go ahead and kill me” in french [Andrea Chenier]

Sorry 2 drop this on u babe, but I'm *technically* still married to a suicidal 16 y/o geisha & turns out she had my kid. Oops? [Madama Butterfly]

(All of 'em! at The Omniscient Mussel)