Sheet Music for Roma's Message in a Bottle

I’m thinking of making “I Have Loved You” available as a sheet music download. Would you like it for acapella voice (as in Roma’s Message in a Bottle), or would you want it with an accompaniment?

Supersonic Music Source!

I LOVE www.Musicnotes.com!  Mum says, "We don't have the music for this song. How does it go?"  I say, "Let's check Musicnotes."  In 5 minutes we have the sheet music on the piano.  It couldn't get any better than that!!! =)

TTV interviews Jules Riding and Narelle on tour in NZ

Above is the short version. Below is the full 13 minutes broadcast on 23 November 2010.

Songuine Enters the Fashion Industry!

I'm delighted that two of my entrepreneurial strands are coming together! The opening of the Boutique Narelle TV channel to compliment the Boutique Narelle website became possible when I found a legal source of backing music -- my own vocal productions.

The BNTV flagship video features the first recording I've done with a professional backing track. I loved creating it. I hope you enjoy the result. Let me know what you think!

Tech Note: The song was filmed on video and the audio extracted. The narration track was recorded with mp3 voice recorder. How does the balance sound for you?

ANZAC Song 2011: Blue Smoke

To commemorate ANZAC Day 2011, here's "Blue Smoke" by Ruru Karaitiana.*  If you're missing someone you love, this is especially for you.

*See the YouTube info box for more on this WWII musician from my hometown.

BLUE SMOKE
Ruru Karaitiana
Blue smoke goes drifting by into the deep blue sky
And when I think of home I sadly sigh.
Oh, I can see you there with loving tears in your eyes
As we fondly said our last goodbyes.
And as I sailed away with a longing to stay,
I promised I'd be true and to love only you.
Blue smoke goes drifting by into the deep blue sky
My memories of home will never die.

Do you think I'm progressing toward better video quality? I'd love to hear from you. Suggestions welcomed!

I'm pleased with the photographer, model, and stylist, but the audio technician is definitely lagging behind. She needs a tutor to teach her how to work the microphone and its software, and a studio to put them all in! April 25th arrived without a good audio solution, so she went with the trusty old mp3 recorder in the bathroom. By the time they had all that worked out, the poor vocalist was oversung!

As the tools and talents improve, the results can only get better. Thanks for stopping by, spending a little of your precious time with Songuine. May your life be filled with songs that lift you up and help you catch the wind.

Sail on.
Narelle

Virtual Choir 2.0: where in the world to find Narelle

I'm told my verbal directive for how you can find me in the virtual universe is not sufficient, so I've doctored the image. Find the green circle and you've found me on Planet Australia.

This extraordinary five minutes of international choralation is charging toward viral status. If you haven't seen it yet, here's the link: http://youtu.be/6WhWDCw3Mng Find out what the world's so gob-smacked about!

If you're in Germany, you can view the video on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/22960177?ab

On being a member of "Sleep" Virtual Choir 2.0

What it was like being a part of this record-breaking event

The music was more difficult than I'd attempted before, requiring control and dynamic flexibility that stretched me. I didn't have a teacher to help, but I found excellent support from the sheet music and Eric Whitacre's tutorial and conductor videos. I also studied other uploads to see if I was on track.

I loved working with a skilled conductor. Eric knows what he wants and leads with clarity. He also has a talent for connecting with his choir.  You see, the experience didn't stop once I'd uploaded the video of my vocal part.

With an earplug in one ear to hear the keyboard chords, I let Eric guide me through the choral labyrinth.

One bare voice goes public, trusting that this one strange part will be transformed by togetherness into captivating aural beauty. What a long 3 months of waiting it was until the New York Premiere on 7 April 2011!

My favourite testimony. There are many amazing stories, but I really connected with the isolation this lady describes.

Through social media, I've been able to converse with a music professional who generously allows me access to his knowledge and his friends. I've been able to ask for advice and share in online music experiences with others.

From my isolated, lonely place on the planet, I've become part of a universal, ongoing musical event. My health might limit my physical journey, but broadband internet has opened the world to me. I'm amazed and blessed to be given this opportunity.

Melody Myers, soloist in Virtual Choir 1.0, through whose YouTube channel I discovered Eric Whitacre's music and signed myself into the info loop.

Virtual Choir 1.0 -- the astonishingly beautiful "Lux Aurumque" (Light and Gold) that introduced Virtual Choir to the world. With 2 million hits and counting, you can view it here: http://youtu.be/D7o7BrlbaDs.

Filming my part was not a simple affair.

Camera and tripod perched on filing cabinet. Netbook connected to YouTube conductor track perched on hatbox on bookshelf. Blanket backdrop pinned over closet doors. Desk chair supporting spineless sound proofing. Stool and cushion for positioning artist. Lamp for cooking artist.

Helpful sound engineers advised me (by email) to use mattresses to absorb bounced sound. This was the best setup I could figure out in my small room. The mattress, borrowed from a neighbour, was so floppy that it soon folded over on itself, despite wavery support from the chair. I was relieved to discard it. Without the chair blocking the doorway (which had to be shut when recording, but open between takes on this sweltering summer's day), the task became slightly less complicated.

If you're wondering why I had my netbook perched in this unlikely position, it was because I wanted to keep my chin up while looking at the conductor. One thing I hadn't figured out was how helpful a video camera's flip screen can be, so all frame checks had to be done by climbing behind the mattress and leaning around the tripod without bumping the camera. Ah well, we live and learn.

SUCCESS: Listening to the playback from the camera, elated that I'd achieved my goal before the deadline. Excitement and cosmetics cover a multitude of weariness.