Forums > Confused!

Fatissimo

Jan 12 2011, 03:20 PM

Hi everyone here in this nice forum. I took grade 8 exams in voice last year and made a distinction. Choice of songs was excellent as they all suited my voice!
This year, I am planning to take the DipABRSM (performance) but I have a major problem which is the list of songs!
The point is, I have never heard any of the pieces before neither do I have any idea how to get the score!
I have searched youtube to listen to a few but succeeded in getting only three!
Maybe the greater problem is that no one around me has ever done the same exam in my voice part - CONTRALTO!
Please help in suggesting and I would not mind if I can get score sheet too.
Thank you all in anticipation!

Meanwhile, welcome to another fulfilling year for each and everyone of us!
I had a swell time last December performing with the Italian "Bel Canto Ensemble". I am still having difficulty posting anything on youtube yet as I am also unable to view the videos normally.

Have a great day as I await your responses...

Fatissimo

vectistim

Jan 12 2011, 10:25 PM

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 12 2011, 03:20 PM)

Hi everyone here in this nice forum. I took grade 8 exams in voice last year and made a distinction. Choice of songs was excellent as they all suited my voice!
This year, I am planning to take the DipABRSM (performance) but I have a major problem which is the list of songs!
The point is, I have never heard any of the pieces before neither do I have any idea how to get the score!
I have searched youtube to listen to a few but succeeded in getting only three!
Maybe the greater problem is that no one around me has ever done the same exam in my voice part - CONTRALTO!
Please help in suggesting and I would not mind if I can get score sheet too.
Thank you all in anticipation!

Meanwhile, welcome to another fulfilling year for each and everyone of us!
I had a swell time last December performing with the Italian "Bel Canto Ensemble". I am still having difficulty posting anything on youtube yet as I am also unable to view the videos normally.

Have a great day as I await your responses...

Fatissimo

Much of the out of copyright stuff (which seems to be most of the list) should be available on imslp.com or artsongcentral.com. Where the pieces come from a larger work (oratorio/opera pieces) you may need to wade through the score for the entire work to find the particular song. A number of them will also be on schubertline.co.uk where you can listen to it being played on a funny midi sound.

Fatissimo

Jan 13 2011, 07:55 AM

QUOTE(vectistim @ Jan 12 2011, 11:25 PM)

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 12 2011, 03:20 PM)

Hi everyone here in this nice forum. I took grade 8 exams in voice last year and made a distinction. Choice of songs was excellent as they all suited my voice!
This year, I am planning to take the DipABRSM (performance) but I have a major problem which is the list of songs!
The point is, I have never heard any of the pieces before neither do I have any idea how to get the score!
I have searched youtube to listen to a few but succeeded in getting only three!
Maybe the greater problem is that no one around me has ever done the same exam in my voice part - CONTRALTO!
Please help in suggesting and I would not mind if I can get score sheet too.
Thank you all in anticipation!

Meanwhile, welcome to another fulfilling year for each and everyone of us!
I had a swell time last December performing with the Italian "Bel Canto Ensemble". I am still having difficulty posting anything on youtube yet as I am also unable to view the videos normally.

Have a great day as I await your responses...

Fatissimo

Thank you, I'll check it out..

Much of the out of copyright stuff (which seems to be most of the list) should be available on imslp.com or artsongcentral.com. Where the pieces come from a larger work (oratorio/opera pieces) you may need to wade through the score for the entire work to find the particular song. A number of them will also be on schubertline.co.uk where you can listen to it being played on a funny midi sound.

Sunrise

Jan 13 2011, 08:34 AM

I second Schubertline, I have found many of the songs on there, and you can change the pitch to suit you. They do an unlimited print subscription for 6 months for ?10, I think, which makes it cheaper if you want a number of them and are not sure what key to put them in at the beginning.

www.everynote.com also has very cheap downloadable scores.

If you need to buy paper scores look at musicroom, their international postage rates are excellent and they have good prices and a huge choice of music.

Good luck! When are you planning the Dip? I am hoping to do mine this year too.

Fatissimo

Jan 14 2011, 09:17 AM

QUOTE(Dawnmc71 @ Jan 13 2011, 09:34 AM)

I second Schubertline, I have found many of the songs on there, and you can change the pitch to suit you. They do an unlimited print subscription for 6 months for ?10, I think, which makes it cheaper if you want a number of them and are not sure what key to put them in at the beginning.

www.everynote.com also has very cheap downloadable scores.

If you need to buy paper scores look at musicroom, their international postage rates are excellent and they have good prices and a huge choice of music.

Good luck! When are you planning the Dip? I am hoping to do mine this year too.

Thanks loads for the references.
My exams will be in June - late preparations right? I'm sure i'll be able to meet up.
Thanks..

Sunrise

Jan 14 2011, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 14 2011, 10:17 AM)

Thanks loads for the references.
My exams will be in June - late preparations right? I'm sure i'll be able to meet up.
Thanks..

I'm going for June too - unless I chicken out in a month's time.....

Fatissimo

Jan 14 2011, 09:21 AM

QUOTE(Dawnmc71 @ Jan 14 2011, 10:19 AM)

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 14 2011, 10:17 AM)

Thanks loads for the references.
My exams will be in June - late preparations right? I'm sure i'll be able to meet up.
Thanks..

I'm going for June too - unless I chicken out in a month's time.....

Very funny. Why would you want to chicken out???

Sunrise

Jan 14 2011, 09:35 AM

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 14 2011, 10:21 AM)

QUOTE(Dawnmc71 @ Jan 14 2011, 10:19 AM)

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 14 2011, 10:17 AM)

Thanks loads for the references.
My exams will be in June - late preparations right? I'm sure i'll be able to meet up.
Thanks..

I'm going for June too - unless I chicken out in a month's time.....

Very funny. Why would you want to chicken out???

It just feels fast after my gr8 in December - but I have been learning/performing other pieces which were (suprisingly) on the LRSM list so I know I can do it! I need to be sure as I can I'll pass as I can't afford to take it twice. I work well under pressure so should be OK....

Bass Clef

Jan 14 2011, 01:45 PM

QUOTE(vectistim @ Jan 12 2011, 10:25 PM)

QUOTE(Fatissimo @ Jan 12 2011, 03:20 PM)

Hi everyone here in this nice forum. I took grade 8 exams in voice last year and made a distinction. Choice of songs was excellent as they all suited my voice!
This year, I am planning to take the DipABRSM (performance) but I have a major problem which is the list of songs!
The point is, I have never heard any of the pieces before neither do I have any idea how to get the score!
I have searched youtube to listen to a few but succeeded in getting only three!
Maybe the greater problem is that no one around me has ever done the same exam in my voice part - CONTRALTO!
Please help in suggesting and I would not mind if I can get score sheet too.
Thank you all in anticipation!

Meanwhile, welcome to another fulfilling year for each and everyone of us!
I had a swell time last December performing with the Italian "Bel Canto Ensemble". I am still having difficulty posting anything on youtube yet as I am also unable to view the videos normally.

Have a great day as I await your responses...

Fatissimo

Much of the out of copyright stuff (which seems to be most of the list) should be available on imslp.com or artsongcentral.com. Where the pieces come from a larger work (oratorio/opera pieces) you may need to wade through the score for the entire work to find the particular song. A number of them will also be on schubertline.co.uk where you can listen to it being played on a funny midi sound.

I think the website is actually imslp.org rather than .com Fantastic website though!

jod

Jan 28 2011, 03:11 PM

There is plenty of music for a Contralto on the syllabus. Start with the suggested list for a mezzo soprano and choose the lower songs on the list. Many of the Baroque roles were originally for castrati so are equally suitable for a true Contralto as they are for a Mezzo Soprano.

As far as Art song are concerned, as you can sing them in any key, choose one that fits your voice well. Look at the syllabus and compare it to the recording histories of Contralti that you admire and the chances are that these songs will suit your voice too.

I hope this helps.