Oh My God, Oh My God, I Just Had the Coolest Idea!
May 15, 2009Today I received a beautiful and impassioned video message from a young singer and composer named Britlin Losee. I was deeply struck by her spirit, and her voice, and her chutzpah. I know I would never have the courage to make something like that and send it to someone I admired.
I asked her if I could post it here, and she graciously agreed.
If you’re not inclined to watch it all the way through, all you need to know is this: around one minute in, she sings the first soprano line of Sleep, all the way through, no breaks. Really lovely and pure voice.
Britlin’s not the first person to do this. One of my very first posts on this site featured Courtney, performing the climax of the same piece:
When I saw Britlin’s video today the idea hit me like a brick: what if hundreds of people did the same thing and then we cut them all together, creating the very first virtual choir? I’m sure you’ve seen the videos out there of people performing all of the parts to a song and then multitracking and cutting them together (like Michael Jackson’s Thriller). Here’s an incredible example, all nine parts of Lux Aurumque performed by a young man in Germany. (I’d love to know his name):
So here is how we do it: Let’s all agree to use the Polyohony recording of Sleep (off of their album Cloudburst); you can buy it from iTunes or stream it from my MySpace page. Try to keep the volume of the Polyphony recording as low as possible in the background, and then record yourself singing your part all the way through, no stopping. Then post it to YouTube.
When we cut it all together the entrances and cutoffs will be a little sloppy, but for this first time that’s all right. We’ll need a lot of people to do this, so don’t be shy, and recruit your friends (especially tenors). If you’re too mortified to sing it alone, find a couple of other people to join you. If it works as well as I think it’s going to, I’ll compose a short new piece just for YouTube, and we will premiere it virtually, with all of you making the virtual choir, people from all over the world alone and together and singing.
THIS WILL TOTALLY WORK. WOO HOO!
EDIT: Some of you don’t have the sheet music… I hadn’t thought of that. It’s easy enough to buy, but let me see if there’s something I can do. In the meantime, anyone have any ideas how we can help those people without a score? Is it possible (or illegal) to shoot a close-up of the sheet music and post it to YouTube?
Brilliant!! I’ve seen these videos too.
omg I’m going to go start singing Sleep right now.
so exciting!!
Ummmm…. Your genius is showing.
My friends and I will be ALL over this.
Great idea!
Oh my.
Ear is fine and dandy, but a score -really- comes in handy for polyphonic music!
Just like the YouTube orchestra!! YES!!!
I’m totally about to record this. Right now. Bass 2.
This ought to be fun. An easy way to accomplish this is to use headphones and sing along. I can do baritone
THIS IS AWESOME
Also you’re lucky– I’m a tenor ^^
One quick question:
After we finish the video(s) how do you intend to find them all? Do we need to send the links somewhere or something?
OHMYGODOHMYGODIMSOEXCITED. I’m an alto, I’ll get right on it, I have the score.
HOW LONG DO WE HAVE FOR THIS?! I want to meticulously study all the dynamics, expression, etc.
OMG!!!!
Eric, that has got to be the BEST idea EVER!!!
I am SO in!!!
I’ll definately post another ‘Sleep’ recording of the whole thing!
WOOH-WHOO!
Virtual choirs rock hardcore!!!
I’m an All State soprano with a gifted ear, and even I can’t figure it out without written music. Post a score? Pretty please?
IM A TENOR!!!
im on it!
Hi Mr. Whitacre,
I’m really excited to participate! Where can I find “Polyphony” sheet music? Thanks so much.
Best,
Ashley Batten
Just going to say, this is a great crazy awesome idea. Wish I still had my score, but because it is the universities I can not keep it. I would love to do this, just need to brush up on the section before the climax.
DEFINITELY!!!
we just sang Cloudburst last semester at Campbell University!
Working on it!
I sang this 4 years ago in High School (one of my all-time favorite pieces I’ve ever done!), so I’ll need to listen and practice before being confident enough to present it. Hopefully in a week or two I can start making trial-runs through.
Hmm, I just had a listening comparison session. It’s not on iTunes and thus may be harder to find, but I think the BYU recording from “Eric Whitare: The Complete A Cappella Works 1991-2001″ might be easier to perform without a conductor; they take a lot fewer liberties with the piece.
This is fantastic! But should we use any particular tags so you can find all the recordings, or will you give us a link in the near future to post our videos to?
I’m so excited for this!! Go Soprano twos!
I don’t know if this was already an idea or whatever, but Eric, you should show shots of everyone singing at least once through the video. Like, show a short clip of all the videos you get, even it’s for 1-2 seconds. I think that would be awesome, especially during the “dark and deep” part.
YES! Oh man! I so wanted to do the YouTube Orchestra but I don’t play an orchestra instrument… Well, I play piano, but not very well…
BUT ANYWAY, This is a sweet idea!!!!!!
I’ll try the tenor part, but if nothing else, I can sing baritone or bass…
And yes, a score would be much appreciated! =)
THIS IS SWEET! I’M SO EXCITED!
Haha, this is a great offshoot of the YouTube Symphony thing they had awhile back.
Okay, so: I was in the Minnesota State High School Honors Choir and had the pleasure of singing this with you. (For you. As you…conducted. Something. The point is, March 22nd was totally my birthday and you made it awesome squared.)
For someone with sheet music and Sleep pretty much memorized, would we have to listen to the mp3 while we record at all? If you don’t want any pauses, it wouldn’t make sense to follow the recording, since it…has pauses.
I will definitely alert all my friends and all the Minnesota kids, if you don’t mind having us.
I’m sure I can get the tenors!
Woo Hoo! I’m getting my friends all in on this we just performed Sleep as a student ensemble acutally named “The Sleep Experiement” woohoo just need a link to send it to
@ austin, you can stream it from his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ericwhitacre
@ rob henderson, me too. Party on low F!
This is going to be so brilliant.
This is wonderful. Excuse me while I recruit my entire choir…
Or better yet, why not do something like the YouTube Symphony Orchestra just did? Have singers audition for you via YouTube and put together one huge epic “Eric Whitacre Chorale.” That way you can get everyone together in person and put on a big show with singers from all over the world who love your music! Plus, it could enable us to perform many more pieces, not just one in particular.
Just a thought
P.s. performed “Cloudburst” at Case Western Reserve University just a few weeks ago and thought it was one of the most unbelievable works I’ve ever sung. We did “Water Night” last year as well, also fantastic.
I would love to do this. You got yourself a baritone. I would need a way to get the sheet music. This is one of the only pieces of yours that I have not had the fortune to sing. This is a great idea! You should do this for all of your favorite pieces.
-Just an idea, is there a way for you to make little ‘rehearsal’ mp3’s that follow everything the way you want it? Like what you get for all-state. A Sibelius file or something of like.
Oh my goodness, this is so exciting! I need to practice a bit…since I haven’t been trained as a singer or been in choir (purely an instrumentalist, but then I ran into YOUR wonderful choir music and have been bitten by the singing bug ever since). I’ll give it a whirl and see what happens.
This’ll be such a fun summer project!
Ah ha you’re the best kind of insane
Eric,
In regards to the score, something like this would be very useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x71jgMx0Mxc
This is the Tallis Scholar’s Allegri Miserere, by the by.
Uh… Whoops! Didn’t know that “Tallis Scholars” was right there in the title…
Would it be illegal to post sheet music online since it’s, well, YOUR music?
Great idea, Eric – you got yourself a soprano. I’m going to record it in the bathroom for the acoustics!!!!!!
Caitlin
Hey Eric,
I think i have your sheet music solution. Post up a MIDI file (plug it in to finale, as much as it may or may not irk you) and anyone with finale can open it or there are a couple free online resources like http://www.8notes.com/midi_sheet_music/ that’ll do it for free! yay!
This is going to be amazing! I’m a tenor, and I sang this with you in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis a while back.
This sounds like a wonderful idea. As a somewhat experienced multitracker, I have some suggestions, though. First, if the singers are listening to the recording in headphones, that will probably work out for the best. You should make a stipulation that no one should add artificial effects or reverb to their take. That way, the final cut-together version can use a uniform reverb (which should help unify some consonants and cut-offs and what have you). If you are the copyright holder, you can publish it on YouTube. However, your publishing company might have something to say about that… I hope this works!
Eric – Michael Seel and I will cut the butterflies for it!
(Seriously, how about you debut this genius sucker at Boston Court with a big fancy party?)
Love you,
Cheryl
PS – we have our own projector now!!
Well, it might be illegal because Walton owns the copyright, but are they going to sue you?
I agree with Mike’s idea, though, but I wouldn’t have the first clue of how to make a video like that.
In the meantime, that sounds like a beautiful idea. I’m quite excited… I’ll get cracking on the baritone and T2 parts.
I would LUV to do this! Im a tenor as well (2nd tenor). How will you find the videos of us though?
I guess that wasn’t super-clear… Anyone could scan copies of the score and match them up on a video with the sound file from the Polyphony recording, but perhaps it might be easier just to post them as image files so that people could take them to a piano to rehearse their individual part.
@ john elridge:
yes. just… yes.
Eric,
I’m on it. I’m going to go grab the music tomorrow and record it for you. I’ll post the video to YouTube tomorrow afternoon. For your records, I will sing the baritone part.
I hope you and Hila are well.
~Seth
thank you for this great idea and for showing us the beautiful process by which you came to it! You’re definitely the definition of a musician that doesn’t shy away from being in the real world. I’ll be thrilled to contribute to this.
Oh yes yes yes yes. I will be happy to fill the Bass I or Bass II section if need be. I only have “Lux” and ‘Water Night” sheet music, however…. Hopefully we can work around that?
I’ve never done anything on youtube so this should be fun!
When I saw the YouTube symphony I was wishing i could play an instrument, figures my favorite composer would make a vrtual choir happen
. You got yourself a Tenor 2 and anyone else I can get from my old high school!
I’m gonna do this! Sleep is one of my favorites.
Hey Eric,
I’d love to. I’m a tenor one too (^.^) I just need to get my hands on an octavo! =(
This is a fantastic idea! I love your music and will record and post soon
I will do that… tomorrow. My parents are trying to sleep. I’ll take down my autographed score out of its frame.
Hi, You have another soprano 1. I might be able to recruit a tenor as well. But from what I’ve read there are some things that we all need to know…(some of us need) sheet music, are confused on if we should sing it with the recording as to have the pauses, and when this needs to be done, and if we should send you the links to our uploads on YouTube. This is going to be awesome!
Eric! What a cool idea! Much like the Playing For Change project. I would love to add my voice to the mix but, I’m a soprano and may be superfluous. But, will most likely do it anyway.
What I really would like to help out on is the actual production part. I live near you (I’m a member of Pasadena Pro Musica) and would like to offer my audio engineering skills (that’s what I actually went to school for). So, if you need any help with it, let me know!
Afro0485@aol.com
Totally agree with what John Eldridge said:
“Or better yet, why not do something like the YouTube Symphony Orchestra just did? Have singers audition for you via YouTube and put together one huge epic “Eric Whitacre Chorale.” That way you can get everyone together in person and put on a big show with singers from all over the world who love your music! Plus, it could enable us to perform many more pieces, not just one in particular.”
On a side note, since we’re sharing, I first sang ‘Lux Aurumque” in 2004 with the Oklahoma All-State Choir under the direction of Stephen Coker (we have a great recording of it as well). Then just last year Pasadena Pro Musica did “When David Heard” along with other local composers works including a few of Frank Ticheli’s who was in the audience.
Again, let me know if I can help out!
Great opportunity and thanks!
Afton
I have absolutely no specialty in copyright law, but my understanding is that the publisher has the rights to a particular, official edition of the score, not to unofficial transcriptions. That is to say, you couldn’t visually copy the score, unless there was a clause in Eric’s contract that allowed him to retain a “reasonable use” or “self promotion” rights: in that case, he could do some.
If Eric doesn’t have the rights then the best option would probably be an unofficial aural transcription (which coincidentally might happen to look like a visual transcription information, such as some phrasing, missing or modified). A bit of work of course.
Buying the sheet music probably the safest option (plus it supports Eric), but I can understand if a lot of people don’t have the money at the moment.
>> it’s illegal BUT you’re giving permission to take a picture of the sheet music and put it online.
Maybe you can sign a waver of some sort to release it? I can probably find a few people who sang it in my old choir with me to sing it with me xP definitely an excuse to get a new camera. I’m excited, i definitely wanna do this.
OMG, totally am all over this. I’m alto one.. we did this in choir last year for State Festival, so I’m a little blurry on bits and pieces of it. But sheet music would definitely help. And, as many others have asked, where do we post the vids once we record them?
You definitely have recruited an alto here in Arkansas (: This will be epic and amazing!!*
-Allie Gammill
Great idea!
but since I don’t have the score for Sleep, nor do I know the piece (except from listening to it on youtube), I would much more like it if you do the same with Lux Aurumque. Maybe this could be the next project?
Greetings!
Maja
My instincts say this idea flies with the fans. Hahaha.
No need for sheet music. We just need the first recording for every part and others can follow them.
(Gotta love the soloist in the center scratching head.)
My Dear and Admired Eric;
It is the greatest idea I have ever heard. I have been spreading the word around the world of amateur Spanish choirs!.
Allow me to suggest providing us Sleep in a .midi format, this way we will be able to download a kind of score and then, the lyrics from any of your webs.
I want to thank you for two things. Firstly, for keeping in touch and thinking of us and, secondly, for your genius and your music
We love you!!!!
Paloma
Coro VOX AUREA
http://www.voxaurea.com
tenor 1 right here baby. too bad were not doing couldburst though i already know that one. youre the man eric!
My Dear and Admired Eric;
It is the greatest idea I have ever heard!! I have been spreading the word around the world of amateur Spanish choirs!.
Allow me to suggest providing us Sleep in a .midi format, this way we will be able to download a kind of score and then, the lyrics from any of your webs.
I want to thank you for two things. Firstly, for keeping in touch and thinking of us and, secondly, for your genius and your music
We love you!!!!
Paloma
Coro VOX AUREA
Madrid. España
http://www.voxaurea.com
this is awesome. i might even post separate vids of me doing different parts!
sleep is my fave song by you
i actually posted a vid of me singing the soprano line of the climax to sleep once. it was a comedy video. i sang it screachily and letting my voice crack ridiculously. it was all just for giggles. but many people couldn’t get the joke and i got so many hate comments that i went ahead and took the vid off lol. i thought it was hilarious but that’s just my sense of humor.
but Sleep is a very beautiful, delicate song. my fave of all your stuff!
This is an amazing, creative idea and such a great way to connect with all of those singers out there! I will definitely try to participate!
Wow. I’m totally going to participate
It’s also kind of cool that I’ve got very decent hardware (microphones, soundcard etc..) to do this. I’m not yet sure which voice I’ll take, though.. anything from baritone to the highest tenor voice would do (although that g in the 1st octave for the tenors [beginning of the line 'upon my pillow, safe in bed..'] is quite.. challenging).
Anyway, you can count on me with this. However, is it necessary to post the recorded part to youtube if I can get it to either .wav or .mp3 format and upload/send it to you personally?
This is the coolest idea ever. I just sang Sleep last night for a concert…I’m definitely in.
I could probably get some of my friends in too. This is going to be awesome.
YouTube did a virtual orchestra where people auditioned with videos, then flew people in for a one-time performance in April.
http://www.youtube.com/user/symphony
I’m a big fan of your instrumental works – “October” in particular – but if I can get my hands on a microphone to go with my webcam I’m all over it! (I’m a mezzo with a soprano range, for the record.)
Wow, this sounds like a really cool idea and an awesome opportunity! I sang T1 on this in State Honors Choir my senior year of highschool, and it was one of the defining musical experiences of my life. I’ve enjoyed every opportunity I’ve had to sing your music. I’ll see if I can’t wrangle a few tenors together for you.
Make sure we all use A440 or something!!!! That would be bad if we all were a few cents off. Or just make sure we all listen to the perscribed recording and sing on pitch with that.
AMAZING idea, my friend. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!!
Is there a website to a metronome you could post to to ensure that everyone is going approximately the same tempo?
Aren’t you the composer though, if your the composer wouldn’t you have at least *some* rights to the score? Therefore, as long as *you are* the one doing the posting on youtube, I don’t see why it would be illegal.
Hey Eric,
I had a great idea that would help everyone out with the cutoffs and entrances. What if you made a video of yourself conducting us so we can visually see what you want from us? That could possibly help and/or solve the problem and keep us all in sync a little better. Plus I think we would all love to be conducted by you, so it works out for everyone.
Eric,
This is an INCREDIBLE idea!!! =D I honestly cant wait to get as many choir kids together as i can so that we can be a part of this experience!
Question: Afer recording ourselves, do you want us to send the videos to your youtube account??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH7ijc4KymY
please check out my video!!
I absolutely second Tim’s suggestion.
Conducting to silence, though, might be hard.
Well he could conduct to Polyphony’s Sleep just like we will be singing to the same recording, that way everything will be matched up.
So, any updates on where to get the score? I might just go out and try to find a copy at my old high school.
Also, Eric, how long do you plan on giving us all to do our video? Do you have a deadline set or anything??
Just a suggestion for everyone who wants to do this — Put on earphones and play the music through those to yourself only, and sing alone precisely. Or, if your earphones drown out external noises too much, have ONE ear in, one ear out, so you can hear yourself and sync properly to the music and tone.
The reason playing the music in the background (to at least yourself) is so important to this project is because even if you have the correct tempo, there is sure to be at least SOME sort of deviation among style and length of phrases/pauses.
Unlike learning to follow a conductor’s pace, you’re going to be learning a recording’s pace… It may take a few tries… but if people do this, it will probably greatly enhance the project’s unity. Also, like this, all Eric has to do is find the exact moment where you start your first entrance, and that will be all he has to do for each video.
count me in! I haven’t sang this since I was in my university choir in 2004 – I was 2nd alto. Of course I remember it perfectly! SO let me just get my webcam hooked up to my computer!
i am SO digging this. i showed my friend who is obsessed with eric whitacre and we shrieked together.
also, anyone who is on this page will absolutely love this… i just saw it for the first time a few minutes ago and i have just kept doing it over and over since
http://www.inbflat.net/
Ooooooooooo!!! Chills!!!! I can’t wait to hear the end result of this.
PS, I have a newborn son, and he loves your music, just like his mama.
It settles him right down.
I think this could be incredibly brilliant. It all depends on how it’s executed, of course.
I don’t think “When David Heard” should be performed by a marching band… or a show choir for that matter. Even as a ballad.
This is amazing. I am ready for this. I hope you can somehow put up the sheet music.
All in all. Eric Whitacre music = pure awesomeness
you could just post the score here, can’t you?
Oh joy oh joy oh joy!! I’m a young composition student from Stellenbosch, South Africa, and I am going to recruit every singer in our conservatory. I’ll even get the Stellenbosch University choir to take part. I don’t think there’s ever been such a completely awesome idea…ever!
It’s probably illegal to post sheet music on youtube… but since it’s yours it may not be. I’ve seen it done before but I’m pretty sure that it was Public Domain music. Check it out, this is a really great idea!
Oh em gee. This is awesome!! I’m totally in, and I will tell all my choir friends. I’ll be looking at the Alto 2 part.
Tenor I here. Definitely want to do this.
[...] Oh My God, Oh My God, I just had the Coolest Idea. [...]
Screw the F… I live for that E flat!!! Hahaha
ERIC, i seriously sit and record myself singing your songs in all the parts alllllllllllllll the time. HAD I KNOW YOU WOULD BE SO IMPRESSED, i would’ve posted them. i can’t figure out how though!
eric whitacre is such a genius, and amazing person too!!!!!!!!
I am totally going to have my entire choir do this, and we will post a video!!
Tenor here and reporting for duty!!!
[...] Oh My God, Oh My God, I Just Had the Coolest Idea!–This comes via ME Blogger Erinn Wrobel and the idea of a virtual choir. (Notes from the Mitten) [...]
Hi Eric,
I surfed a little and I think Robin Segebarth should be the name of the german guy singing “Lux aurumque”.
Best regards from
Hajo
TENOR 1! =D I’m on it! But once it’s recorded what should i do with it?
If I can, I will! I love this song SO MUCH! We sang it at PMEA District 8 Chorus this year and I fell in love with it. I’m a Soprano 1 and I want to talk to the others from my school who went and see if we can participate.
By the way, Eric Whitacre music is some of my favorite and never fails to move me.
[...] can see the genesis of the project here, and the brave young woman who gave Eric Whitacre the idea. He’s already working on a sequel, [...]
[...] Eric Whitacre’s virtual choir project [...]
[...] is in the process of compiling his second Virtual Choir on YouTube. Begun as an experiment on Eric’s blog in May, the final product (a massed “virtual choir” performance of Sleep) was posted to YouTube [...]