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Virtual Choir: The Lux Aurumque Conductor Track
Posted on October 7, 2009 at 3:52 am
OK gang, here we go again…
Here is the conductor track for the next chapter in our Virtual Choir project, Lux Aurumque.
Making the conductor track was a strange experience for me personally. The production crew set up the cameras and left the room, and I conducted through the entire piece in total silence, hearing only the ‘ideal’ version in my head. Then I went back to the video and played the piano part over my silent conductor track. That was especially difficult, and weird: the Eric-piano-player playing for the Eric-the-conductor on a piece that Eric-the-composer wrote ten years ago.
So watch the video and make sure you understand the instructions before you begin; it’s essential that we hear the BEEP on your video. (If you watch the instructions you’ll know what I am talking about).
Choose your voice part (Soprano I, II, or III; Alto I or II; Tenor I or II; Bass I or II).
If you want to audition for the soprano solo, make a SEPARATE video and sing only the first 8 measures.
If you need the sheet music, you can order it from www.jwpepper.com. If someone out there would like to engrave four separate vocal parts, SATB like we did for Sleep, I’ll post them here for download.
When you upload your video to youtube, make sure it says ERIC WHITACRE VIRTUAL CHOIR: LUX in the title, as well as your voice part.
The deadline for submissions will be DECEMBER 1st, so be sure and post your videos by then. And this time, seriously: no excuses. This project will be one for the history books, and you are just a big dumb-dumb if you don’t participate. All the cool kids are doing it.
Our goal this time is to take the whole thing to the next level and try to create a truly musical experience, a graceful and delicate performance full of passion and life and light. Share your voices and your souls with the world!
44 Comments
Rob Henderson on October 6, 2009 at 8:58 pm
AAAAHHHH!! FINALLY! I'm so excited!
Nick on October 6, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Wow, you beast.
Courtney Lea on October 6, 2009 at 9:06 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAY!
EEeeee! Can't wait to start!
Brandon on October 6, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Sweet.
Brady W. on October 6, 2009 at 9:10 pm
YES!!!!!
The video's really great, Eric! Very well done! I can't wait to get started! =D
Sharon Retz on October 6, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Powerful I loved singing this also ,..,loved UNReno and Dr. Bruce Mayhall I sang this piece as a tenor.. You write for contraltos so well thank you
Mike Anderson on October 6, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Are we doing a submission limit or is it open season like last time?
Courtney Lea on October 6, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Mike – it should be "open season". lol
Mike Anderson on October 6, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Just watching the conductor portion;
It's like staring into the eyes of destiny.
I can definitely see how this was a weird experience for you.
Mike Anderson on October 6, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Courtney – Thanks! :p
I only ask because there was a limit on the available spaces for a while, and then Scottie just said "Whatever! Whoever submits gets in!" So just making sure.
squier on October 6, 2009 at 9:38 pm
FIIIIIIINALLY.
ive been waiting so long for this. cant wait!!
LOVE your conducting style, btw.
it's like a dance with your hands. it's great.
Krazim on October 6, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Wow, this is breathtaking. Sucks that I didn't get to do my clip on time for the first one. Really excited for this! Will definitely join in on this one. :D
Robbie Bennett on October 6, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Ah Eric, nice work as usual. You always seem to bring your "A" game to everything you do! Do you do anything mediocre? A secret sport or something? :-)
This looks great and I really appreciate all the work you put into this. Hopefully there isn't a submission limit, because I am going to spread this thing like wildfire.
Oh, and sorry for being a big dumb-dumb last time. I drive to Minneapolis from Tulsa, OK for a masters class and concert, but I didn't film a video of myself singing this summer….FAIL
Sarah S. on October 6, 2009 at 9:48 pm
The fact that you used "dumb-dumb" in your post made me smile a lot and want to participate even more! :-D Good luck with all of this everyone!
Frank Reed on October 6, 2009 at 10:06 pm
DUDE this is totally going to ROCK!
robby luster on October 6, 2009 at 10:15 pm
This is going to be sick!!! i cant wait to sing for this. i really hope someone puts the parts up so i can get a copy to sing, i dont want to have to buy it with the way this economy is haha, thanks eric for your amazing work!
Ian McDougal on October 6, 2009 at 10:19 pm
wOOt!
Zach on October 6, 2009 at 10:31 pm
This is going to be unbelievable!
The BEEP is a brilliant idea.
Matthew Roberts on October 7, 2009 at 12:24 am
I have to say this is great and it's awesome that you included several minutes of YOUR conducting notes and how YOU would want it to sound. what a great opportunity for conductors to have your input on the piece! I sang in the minneapolis community choir sing with you so I already have your notes but for everyone else it is a blessing! =)
Also, with regard of the community choir…Was there ever a recording made of the event? I would have loved to have gotten one but your PR person on eric whitacre.com told me to post about it on here? So any word?
Anyway, great job, I'm excited to make a video for this! – Matt
Just For Laugh on October 7, 2009 at 3:17 am
Yeah!!! I can't wait to see the final product… I'm encouraging a friend to do it who is a vocalist, though I'm definitely not haha =P
Jennifer Davis on October 7, 2009 at 4:44 am
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!! All the directions are so clear.
Why Do I Need To Think He Is Nice? | EVEN MORE LEGENDARY on October 7, 2009 at 12:51 pm
[...] Virtual Choir: The Lux Aurumque Conductor Track « SoaringLeap.com. AKPC_IDS += "966,";SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Why Do I Need To Think He Is Nice?", url: "http://evenmorelegendary.com/2009/10/07/why-do-i-need-to-think-he-is-nice" }); Categories: Distracted Tags: eric whitacre, lux aurumque, virtual choir No Related Post Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) Leave a comment Trackback [...]
David on October 7, 2009 at 6:44 am
Hey, I'm a really big fan, and want to participate, and know the song pretty well, I just don't have the music. You should make it a little easier on us poor folk and show the music in the video or something, then you'll have a much wider range of singers to choose from.
Paige on October 7, 2009 at 7:06 am
Conductor track is amazing and so clear. Well worth the wait. Thank you so much, I'm so excited!
Paige on October 7, 2009 at 7:12 am
Oh quick question: is it all right if we record more than one part or would you prefer we only contribute one? Thanks!
Amber Darligton on October 7, 2009 at 9:40 am
Thank you so much for doing this! This is going to turn out so much better than the last video.
I love how you included your own notes, and how much effort and emotion you put into the conducing.
You're absolutely amazing.
My video will be up within the week.
Marcus on October 7, 2009 at 11:31 am
I could watch you conduct all day. I found myself saying I'd just watch it without singing (mainly because the roommates are still asleep) and somehow managed to, but I found about half way through I was breathing with your conducting. It made me chuckle and realized how much I enjoy being a choral singer.
Ashley Jensen on October 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I really love the video you posted on here! I think its great. and its going to be a great tool to help people sing.
tessyeggerman on October 7, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Whoo! :D It's finally here!!
I could watch you conduct all day long…so mesmerizing…plus I could tell how connected you are to the music (and what not, it's your own art-child!). Once I get over this cold/laryngitis crud I'll be back in business and making a video. :) I can't wait!!!
p.s. – I love the reference to string bowing (I'm actually taking a strings methods class right now). It totally makes sense and totally works!
tessyeggerman on October 7, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Ooops! That should say "and why not". >> I am very out of it right now…sorry. :)
Roxanne on October 7, 2009 at 8:46 pm
That is about the coolest thing I have ever seen. Now I know what you look like from the front side while you are conducting.
Twitter Trackbacks for Virtual Choir: The Lux Aurumque Conductor Track « SoaringLeap.com [ericwhitacre.wordpress.com] on Topsy.com on October 8, 2009 at 5:41 am
[...] Virtual Choir: The Lux Aurumque Conductor Track « SoaringLeap.com ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/virtual-choir-the-lux-aurumque-conductor-track – view page – cached Here is the conductor track for the next chapter in our Virtual Choir project, Lux Aurumque. — From the page [...]
Eoin on October 8, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Do all videos need to be of one person? Or can you have a little mini-choir all following the conducting track?
Caitlin on October 8, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I am a beginner at singing at the age of 14 and I was so excited when I saw this!I thought that it would be cool doing this virtual choir, so my singing coach is going to help me learn my part (alto!). Thank you so much for putting this up!
Nancy on October 9, 2009 at 12:36 pm
OMG I can't believe I made it back from Europe in time. Hoot huh Courtney??!! Anyway know my music (Alto II) and am ready for the Web Cam part. Will post if I think it's OK. Eww kinda intimidating huh? Eric this is going to be HUGE. Thanks so much for doing this. OK ready….breath….and….SING!!
Caitlin W on October 9, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Lovely! I can hardly wait to work on this. I sang this piece with my college choir last semester. And on to a more technical question, Did you want this fairly straight tone? (i.e. Do I need to worry about toning down the vibrato?)
Chris on October 11, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I was very excited for this project (and I still am) however, the fact that the sheet music pdf's will not be provided for free (at least not initially) is a little bit of a stumbling block for me. If eventually someone posts them I will certainly participate… but if not, It probably won't happen.
Lizzy Buscher on October 13, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I love this song. I'm glad this is the next in line to do.
I'm really hoping that someone can get the music out to some of us that don't have it. However it was done last time was PERFECT!
Allie Berryman on October 15, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I laughed out load when I saw you used the phrase dumb-dumb! Thanks for being such a down-to-earth person.
Aelemance Alexandria on October 15, 2009 at 2:09 pm
OMG!! i'm wayyyy excited about this!!
I truly hope that after this song we do "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine" I LOVE THAT SONG!!!!! either that or "Cloudburst" XD
Rini on November 8, 2009 at 5:04 pm
This is a beautiful idea. :]
I can't wait.
Frances on November 29, 2009 at 12:45 am
Yay! Done!
I got my friend off his lazy butt and we recorded our tracks and put them up… it was definitely easier to do working together.
Thanks for the amazing opportunity.
Amber on February 23, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Dangit! Why didn't I find this website sooner!? I hope you do another one of the virtual choirs soon because me and a bunch of my friends would definately do it! We love all of your pieces!
Jessica on March 31, 2010 at 11:18 am
I'm doing my Master choral conducting projects on "songs of Light" including your piece Lux Aurumque and this video clip has helped so much in my preparation. Thank you for doing the virtual choir and for posting such an inspiring tool!