LibriVox

featherheadfop · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Massachusetts

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Kristin and I have been plotting to co-coordinate Pirates of Penzance. Doing musicals appears to be unprecedented, but if we can find anybodyup for singing, we'll have a lot of fun. Otherwise, we can just sort of recite the lyrics rhythmically and try to pass them off as music. I'm putting it to a vote -- If you are interested in a part please reply and say which part interests you and whether you are interested : a.) Only if there is singing b.) Only if there is no singing or c.) Either Way

New target date: April 2010

We now have wiki pages for this project - (thank you, Heather)
http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/pop

Anyone interested in recording a few lines of dialogue for the chorus will find that information here:
http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/PopGeneral

Gypsygirl has very kindly scanned all the sheet music for us. It can be found here: http://www.geocities.com/karenruth73/pirates/pirates.htm

Pirates of Penzance Synopsis: http://math.boisestate.edu/gas//books/lytton_secrets/stories.html#pirates

The play is available at : http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/808

-------------------------------------------------

This will be divided into parts rather than sections.

Characters:
FREDERIC [gypsygirl]
THE PIRATE KING [Kymmz]
MAJOR-GENERAL STANLEY [Coemgen]
SAMUEL [Peter] - Lieutenant to the Pirate King.
SERGEANT OF POLICE [crawdad]
MABEL [ceastman] - Daughter of General Stanley / Love of Frederic.
EDITH [senshisteph] - Daughter of General Stanley.
KATE [jamina1] - Daughter of General Stanley.
ISABEL [shortcircuit] - Daughter of General Stanley.
RUTH [Kristin] - A pirate maid of all work.
Chorus of Pirates , Police, and General Stanley's Daughters: [ Assorted Persons Listed Above, Henry, shortcircuit, 12makoto, Simon, jadimorok, Kehinde and anyone else who would like to contribute]

Narrator [LibraryLady]

---------- Kristin's Section - Notes on how we are doing this, techical issues, and calling cast
I will, am, have been dividing the acts into scenes which I will post one at a time as I am ready to deal with them. This will include a list of the cast involved in said scene for your reference.
Technical-
All files should be submitted as MP3 and should contain a single vocal track.
Please do not use any effects on your files. Just send them as is.
I would appreciate it if dialogue and song files could be submitted separately for each scene/song. The format for labeling dialogue files will be as follows- pop_a[#of act]s[#of scene]_[name of character]_[your initials] So act1 scene1, ruth's dialogue(if read by me) would look like this- pop_a1s1_ruth_kh.mp3
I'll post specific song labels as needed.
Music-
This site has midi files of the entire show which can be used as reference or to sing along with so we can get everyone as together as possible http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/web_op/operhome.html
Please if you are singing along keep the volume low enough that it is not picked up on your recording.
Also please be aware of your singing volume and relationship to the microphone as, if you have a big voice, it is very easy when singing to end up with distortion.
One more thing, we *must* use the lyrics in the PG text. Be aware when you are recording some of the lyrics on the site with the midi files are different.

So here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for.

Act I Scene 1

Samuel, Pirate King, Frederick, Ruth and Pirate Chorus

Act I Scene1
Beginning through Pirate King song

Including Songs-
Pour, O pour the pirate sherry- pop_sherry_[character name]_[your initials].mp3

When Frederick was a little lad- pop_littlelad_[character name].mp3

I am a Pirate King(Oh, better far to live and die)- pop_king_[character name]_[your initials].mp3
Chorus note- Please sing lyrics as THE Pirate King, as per PG text.
Amplified part MP3s:
Pirate King
Tenor chorus
Bass chorus

Act I Scene 2

Ruth, Frederick, Mabel, Edith, Kate, Isabel and Daughter Chorus

Scene 2
Ruth: Oh, take me with you (After Pirate King song) through end of song- How beautifully blue the sky

Including Songs-
Oh, false one you have deceived me- pop_falseone_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Climbing over rocky mountains- pop_climbing_[character]_[your initials].mp3
These files have been modified for pitch and tempo, Please use these as your guide.
Soprano/melody/Edith
http://www.mediafire.com/?d2nczdemz1t
Alto/Kate
http://www.mediafire.com/?fzsfx03ycdz

MP3, not amp'd for either part

Stop Ladies Pray & Oh, is there not one maiden breast- pop_stopladies_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of midi
In the verse with “homely face and bad complexion” SOUND CRANKY. Don’t worry too much about the rhythms here. It should sound a bit wonky. Whatever words irritate you the most should be stressed.

Poor wandering one- pop_wandering_[character]_[your initials].mp3
Pitch has been changed down one full step. MIDI is here (warning, not karaoke!):
http://www.stanford.edu/~ceastman/WandringOne-2.mid
MP3 of MIDI

What ought we to do & How beautifully blue the sky- pop_whatought_[character]_[your initials].mp3
Daughter chorus- this is another fast one and leaves no space for breath. I recommend you record it one sentence at a time to keep the rhythms correct. Just leave the gap between them , I’ll remove any gaps when I edit. And now that I've seen the music I see the chatter is not the full verse I previously thought it was. I will try to make a recording so you can hear how it will go.
MP3 of MIDI, unamplified for either part (amplified parts will be posted later)

Act I Scene 3

Frederic, Mabel, Samuel, Major-General, Edith, Kate, Isabel, Pirate King, Ruth, Daughter Chorus, Pirate Chorus (pretty much everyone except police)

Scene 3
Stay We Must Not Lose Our Senses through end of Act I

Including Songs-
Stay we must not lose our senses- pop_senses_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of MIDI file

Hold, Monsters- pop_monsters_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of MIDI file

I am the very model of a modern Major-General- pop_general_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of MIDI file
Part-amplified MP3s:
Major-General
Soprano chorus
Alto chorus
Tenor chorus
Bass chorus

Oh, men of dark and dismal fate- pop_fate_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of MIDI file - no parts amplified

Some of you will be doubling parts for this song. Please send each part as a separate file.
Finale Act 1 amplified-part MP3s:
Named parts:

Chorus parts:

Act II

Act II will be split into two scenes. The file format for dialogue will be the same as Act I – pop_a2s1_[character]_[your initials].mp3 OR pop_a2s2_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Act II Scene 1

Major-General, Mabel, Edith, Kate, Isabel, Frederick, Sergeant, Pirate King, Ruth, Daughter Chorus, Police Chorus

Scene 1
Beginning of Act II through Away, away my hearts on fire

Including Songs-
Oh, dry the glist’ning tear – Daughter Chorus & Mabel – pop_glistning_[character]_[your initials].mp3
Part-amplified MP3s of MIDI files:
Soprano chorus
Alto chorus
Mabel

Then, Frederic, let your escort lion-hearted & When the foeman bears his steel – General, Sergeant, Police, Mabel, Daughters, Edith – pop_foeman_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Some of you will be doubling parts for this song. Please send each part as a separate file.
When the Foeman Bares His Steel:
Sergeant
Edith
Mabel
Soprano chorus
Alto chorus
Baritone chorus
Bass chorus

Now for the pirates lair! & When you had left our pirate fold – Fred, Pirate King, Ruth – pop_lair_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Away, away my hearts on fire – Fred, Pirate King, Ruth – pop_away_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Act II Scene 2

Everyone

Scene 2
All is prepared through end of Act

All is prepared, Stay, Frederic stay!, Ah, leave me not to pine alone & Oh, here is love and here is truth - Frederic & Mabel - pop_hereislove_[character]_[your initials].mp3
MP3 of gypsygirl's modified MIDI file

No, I'll be brave - Mabel, Sergeant & Police chorus - pop_tarantara_[character]_[your initials].mp3

When a felon's not engaged - Sergeant & Police - pop_felon_[character]_[your initials].mp3

A rollicking band of pirates we & With cat-like tread - Sergeant, Samuel, Pirates, Police - pop_rollicking_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Hush! Hush! Not a word, Sighing softly to the river & Finale (Now what is this, and what is that, We triumph now, Away with them & Poor wand'ring ones) - pop_finaleactii_[character]_[your initials].mp3

Pirate Chorus should use pirate as character name, daughters- daughter, police- police

The music is getting more complicated as the show progresses. If anyone has any questions concerning notes, where lyrics fit in the music, or anything else music related PLEASE ask me. Post your question here, PM me or email me. If you feel something is too high/too fast or would like a melody or harmony boosted in volume or changed to a different sound just ask. I'll do my best to accommodate these requests provided they don't adversely effect other singers.
Helpful Links:
Anvil studio is available as freeware and will play midi and karaoke files, the latter should have lyrics available that you will be able to follow along with. Alas, it is only for windows. http://www.anvilstudio.com/
This one is for mac but I don't have specifics on it. http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/7903

Edit me

Completion dates will be:
Act I - May 31th, 2008
Act II - October 31st, 2008

Please have your recordings to me by these dates. If you cannot meet one of the deadlines PM me and let me know. We'll work something out.

Transfer of files (completed recordings)
Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file.
Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.

Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader (when your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread):
http://upload.librivox.org

(If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: ce - ceastman
If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.

File Name Format
pop_a[#of act]s[#of scene]_[name of character]_[your initials].mp3
for songs, see above

ID3 Tag Formats:
Unnecessary, everything will be re-compiled and edited and tagged after editing.

File Format:
128kpbs, 44,100Hz, MP3

Gesine · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:06 am Post subject:

Interesting project! I've heard snippets of this, but never the whole thing. I'm not a huge fan of musicals (operas more my thing), but it seems a fun thing to do for LV!

I definitely think it should be sung. There are lots of people in choirs on LV... I used to be in one myself, a long long time ago. I'm completely untrained and don't have a great voice at all, but might be sufficient for Isabel, who only has a couple of short solo lines - the rest is with the other girls.
_________________
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world." Albert Einstein

kristin · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

Hello Everyone,
I'm the other half of the insanity, I mean team, that thinks this would be great fun. Ok, first pardon my voice, it's been about 6 years since I've sung much of anything. But on to the point...
Here are two very small files to illustrate the options. From the beginning of Act I-

Sung
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=A1971A38682C78B7

Spoken
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=241566E71574C7D1

Though I think it sounds fine both ways, wouldn't singing be fun? The first LibriVox Musical Very Happy

And if we survive this we could do them all :o

Kristin

kristin · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:58 am Post subject:

Ok, this is absolutely brilliant. The sound quality isn't the best but the recording, from 1914, is on a rescue site for old audio recordings. It should give an idea of the music to those who may be unfamiliar with it.

http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=4&query=Pirates%20of%20Penzance&num=1&start=1&sortBy=&sortOrder=id

If anyone can tell me how to get my hands (or my computer) on a public domain score, I would be so grateful.

gypsygirl · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:41 pm Post subject:

This sounds like so much fun!

I'd definitely be up for participating in this (I'm more familiar with HMS Pinafore than with this one, so I'm not really sure which part would work best with my voice range) and agree with everyone else so far that we should try singing it.
_________________
Karen
"She's read all of Bronte eight times. That officially makes her an octo-Jane-Eyre-ian." Dr. Tom Hanks

featherheadfop · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Massachusetts

I could even get the instrumentals in --- I know my synthesizer can somehow record music and transfer it to the computer. Or otherwise I could just record it directly Smile

gypsygirl -- Do you have a sample of your singing which demonstrates what your range is? We could point you in the right direction if we heard your voice Smile

.

thistlechick · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

I'm IN like FLYNN!!!!

I'm not much of a singer (though I DO enjoy singing very much!!!) ... Please assign me a role of your choosing =)

I'll also be happy to be the Metadata Coordinator for this project =)
_________________
Multiple projects lead to multiple successes!
Betsie's LV Projects: Solo ; Group

gypsygirl · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:

Kymmz · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject:

Betsy brought this to my attention, and I am so in on this one! I love G&S, I am a singer, though not quite of operetta caliber, but you couldn't keep me away with a stick!
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Http//www.hedgehog.net

thistlechick · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

gypsygirl · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject:

kayray · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:

I am interested in the part of Ruth, if no one has claimed it yet. I'm not a great singer, but I think I can sing it ok, and I have that low alto voice :) I'll dig out the old CD and sing along today, and make sure!

We'll be singing "a capella," yes? Just kind of doing our best to stick to the proper pitches? I didn't check that link to the recording above, but if it's complete and we all work from it and match our first pitch to it, we should end up fairly well together. And hey, if we're not perfect, no one has to listen if they don't want to ;-)

"When Frederick was a little lad, he proved so brave and daring..."
_________________
Kara
http://kayray.org/
--------
"Mary wished to say something very sensible into her USB MacMice MicFlex, but knew not how." -- Jane Austen (& Kara)

featherheadfop · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Massachusetts

Kayray -- Ruth is such a great part, I'll put you in for her XD. And as for it being a capella, I am not sure. I can make the instrumentals if it is desirable (not real symphonies or anything, but I'll do the best I can with my synthesizer), but we haven't really discussed that yet. I'll check with my co-coordinator and see what she's thinking.

Gypsygirl -- I'm running out to do some errands now, but when I get back I'm going to have a listen to the music and write out what sort of voice is required for each part and get back to you.

Hooray! This is off to such a good start Very Happy

.

thistlechick · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:03 pm Post subject:

I vote for a capella (and added sound effects *grins*) =)

... and for us to do it all together as much as possible, instead of piecing it together from seperate files... so perhaps several skype calls or something of that nature?
_________________
Multiple projects lead to multiple successes!
Betsie's LV Projects: Solo ; Group

thistlechick · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject:

oooh, did you all see this link:

http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/web_op/operhome.html

they have kareoke files where we can read the words and sing along! hehehehe!!!
_________________
Multiple projects lead to multiple successes!
Betsie's LV Projects: Solo ; Group