Putting a programme together for an FTCL attempt has been quite a challenge. I've lost count of the number of works I've listened to/sung through/bought the music and run away from it in a panic/all of the above.......

And while I've dithered, they've introduced a new syllabus, which put in new rules and took me back to the drawing board:
- There must be at least 42 minutes of singing. This does NOT include breaks between pieces.
- There must not be excessive introductions or tutti passages.
- There must be at least three living languages (so can't count Latin, although there is a Latin work on the syllabus).
- There is provision to use more than one accompanist, so I'm bidding to have some flute accompaniments as well as piano.

Anyway, I thought I'd get some views from my mates here, before I take the deep breath and send the approval request off........

These are NOT in programme order, by the way. I haven't decided it yet. I'm sure I can dither about that too!

Bach - Schwer ist es zwar and Meine Seele sei vergnügt from Ich bin in mir vergnügt BWV 204
Adam - Bravura Variations
Ravel - La flûte enchantée from Scheherezade
Roussel - Deux poemes de Ronsard
Handel - Che sento and Se pieta from Giulio Cesare
Mozart - Laudamus te from Mass in C Minor
Britten - The Red Cockatoo
Lee Hoiby - Ariel’s Vocalise from The Tempest
Bernstein - I hate music from Kid Songs



Fingers crossed folks.....

I like it! It seems to match all of the rules you've quoted too.


Hey, a girl needs to dither occasionally.


Isn't Latin one of the official languages of the Vatican? Or is it assumed that singers will sing in Latin almost as a matter of course?

Don't know. I just go by The Rules.....

At a guess, I'd say that the reason for stipulating three living languages is that there can be less argument about correct pronunciation? From what I can gather, the range of pronunciations of Latin is as wide as the range of first languages of its speakers....
Good luck with the programme, Katyjay, and all the best when the time comes too - sorry I can't comment on the details of it, not being knowledgable enough, but at first glance it certainly looks varied.

Good luck with that KJ.. there seems to be a mini-surge of FT activity on the forums recently with LK's intent to do it on organ next year!

Thanks Confutatis.

Yes, that's two of us looking at it - how about joining us?

I fear I should at least try grade 8 singing first, before thinking about sung diplomas!

You certainly should at least try singing in tune...

It is an authentic unequal temperament, I'll have you know

Oh well in that case...

what's wrong at sitting it next year????

i love the Mass in C minor by Herr Mozart.....

Nothing. I was just saying you are looking to do it next year too.

apologies. didn't mean to sound mean. the amount of academic work is mad (it doesn't affect how much time i spend on organ practice) and can foresee that my christmas and new year will be working (plus i'm away from my family, have no extra money to afford air ticket home).

Possibly, but how many residents of the Vatican speak Latin as a FIRST language?

I would guess that to count as a living language a language would have to be passed on as a natural thing within the family unit, from parent to child, from generation to generation, and to be continually developing as the world around it changes. It should not be merely a set of vocabulary and grammar, fixed for centuries if not millennia and used as a taught "code" for people who otherwise cannot communicate with each other.

I could be wrong but I don't think there are that many traditional family units within the Vatican, famous as it is for demanding celibacy of the incumbents of it's higher (and lower) offices.

All of which is not to say that Latin is not a useful (or worthwhile or, in it's way, lovely) language: Just not living.

Eheu!

Cue Carry On Film: Puer, O, Puer.

For those of us whose Latin is non-existent (or limited to pseudo scientific terms derived from it) please explain

Then we should probably get back on topic!

Quick translation: Eheu = alas

Puer, O puer = Boy oh boy (we come across puer in the word puerile, meaning childish in a derogatory sense).

Sid James (playing Mark Antony) is looking at Cleopatra and goes, 'Puer, O Puer,' and there is then a voiceover saying: which every good schoolboy knows means, 'Boy O boy' (or words to that effect)

So I've heard back from Trinity. The Bach, Mozart, Handel and Ravel are all approved, and they've asked for copies of the Adam, Roussel and Hoiby, as the specialist hadn't heard of them

Fingers crossed again......

Really fills you with confidence doesn't it

What about the Britten and the Bernstein?...

Reserving judgement on those until they've decided on the rest of the programme. They're both short songs and could both be ditched to leave a programme that's at the lower end of the time limit rather than the upper end.....

Sensible. Why do more than is necessary?...

Exactly. They're insurance, in case this programme speeds up from the initial timings as much as my LT programme did.

Hurray, hurray, hurray


Programme approved


Now all I've got to do is learn it and write some programme notes......

That's good news.
Hope the rest of the preparation goes well now.

Great news. Hope the prep goes well

Well, the exam's done now.

I think most of the pieces went ok. I had a mental blank towards the end of the Bach, but we managed to recover from it reasonably promptly, so only bluffed a couple of bars before I was back on course.

Pleased with the Bernstein, Handel, Mozart, Ravel, Roussel and Adam. Britten and Hoiby not as good, but still passing muster, I think. And the Bach was ok apart from the oops.


Now begins the worst wait of the lot.....to see what the examiners thought.

Well done. Wishing you all the best for a good result.

Well done for doing it. Hope the result comes through without an extended wait!

Yay for katyjay
Pleased it went well, for your results

wahoo, well done, and all the best for the result too....I do hope you have something good to do to distract you during the long wait .

Well done katyjay

All the best for the result.

Well, she's still got my LRSM to do...

Katyjay sang really well, and the room they gave us was appropriate for the occasion.

And, for those who have seen the Bravura variations before, I kept my nerve and ostentatiously did the crossword during the long coloratura solo. I could have counted the organ pipes, as I have done twice before, but I didn't know there would be an organ in the room until we got there.

The examiners were pointing and giggling at that stage, so I think the crossword went down (or across) pretty well

Like the pun!

*groans*

Glad that it went well. I'll send you a virtual cake at the appropriate time.

Well done KJ! Fingers xd now....

Doesn't this roughly translate as you played sang an absolute blinder? Glad it went well, and I look forward to seeing the first "katyjay FTCL &c" post in a few weeks' time .

I very much hope you're right. But nothing's cut and dried until the results come.....

Good luck!

FTCL results come through very quickly, if I remember correctly.

Well done. Hope the results come quickly

How long until you'll know the results Katyjay?

So pleased it went well, katyjay. Looking forward to seeing an addition to your signature very soon!

Well done Katyjay, I'm really pleased for you

Sara

Glad it went well, KJ - hope results come soon!

Well done Katyjay. Hope result doesn't take for ever.


I remember you reading the bible at the NI forum concert!

All the best for your LRSM, andante!

Thanks, noodle. Still struggling with the programme notes.