I recently read a very interesting article in the newsletter of the Ivor Novello Appreciation Bureau. It was from 2007 (they really need some new content), and the author discussed a failed concert of Novello's work, headed by George Daugherty and David Lik Wong, complete with "Sinfonia Britannia, a full orchestra (to the exact size Ivor had specified for his London shows) plus a line-up of world -famous vocalists." The reason given for the failure was a lack of press coverage, despite the phenomenal performances and work that had gone into them. But now, it's 2024! We have the Internet as nevr before. We have live streaming, and our words travel instantly! So why not try again? And if we can't do a full theatrical production, why not do what Ivor himself once did and turn one of his plays into a radio production! While it would be ideal to work in a professional studeo, it's not even necessary, since parts can be sent in and edited to form one whole. This also does away with the need for sets (which can be extremely expensive in his case), costumes, etc. We can even include actors with disabilities but fantastic voices, since no one can judge them based on looks! This would be the perfect opportunity to let them shine based on their own merrit. All of Novello's works are in the public domain now, so we wouldn't have to go through endless battles and thousands of pounds to obtain the rights to perform one. My only request, and I can't stress this enough, is that we follow his vision as closely as possible and not modernize it! That drives me to distraction! I know it will be next to impossible to find singers of the calibre of Mary Ellis, Olive Gilbert, Vanessa Lee, Trefor Jones, etc. but at least, more people will be exposed to Novello's works. Then, if they really like it, we very well could bring them to a real theatre!
ivornovello.com/newsletter.htm
#acting #actors #disabilities #plays #production #IvorNovello #singing #theater #theatre
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This is something I wrote on Dreamwidth in September. I think some of you may find it interesting. I myself am beginning to study all of this, as I am fascinated by the singing methods and knowledge of the time. It is a bit difficult doing it being blind and unable to read music, but fortunately, there are ways around that. My perfect pitch and good memory for lyrics also helps.
Below, you will find various links related to theory, harmony and counterpoint, and a comparison of older and modern methods of teaching and singing. While this relates to choirs and opera, it also relates to the theatre, particularly operettas and such.
Studying Music: Part I
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My one criterion was that the methods and books used had to be from the time of Ivor Novello, preferably from his youth (born 1893). If I were to start in the early nineteenth century, which is where most of my preferred non-musical educational material is from, I would miss extremely important developments in classical music. Starting at the birth of his mother, Clara Novello Davies, in 1861, would be fine. However, since her own book, which I am using as my main text and guide, was written in 1928, I went with that of her son. In the following sections, you will find the books I am using. One thing I have not included, though it was a huge influence in Ivor's own writing style, was theatrical music, such as that found in operettas and Edwardian musical comedies. That is such a large topic for discussion that I feel it deserves its own separate post, as does Ivor's music, since it's an interesting blend of all of the above. But this is well outside the scope of traditional musical study.
In the next entry, we will delve into vocal training and why the singers of Novello's time sound so wonderful.
Studying Music: Part II
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Finally, since I mentioned the exercises, here they are, for anyone who wants to try them. Note that these are the Preliminaries and Breathlock Physicals, not the vocal exercises. But I have provided the link to her book as well, for those who may wish to go further.
Clara's Exercises
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…
#books #choir #ClaraNovelloDavies #counterpoint #exercises #harmony #history #IvorNovello #music #musictheory #opera #operetta #singing #studying #vocaltraining #voicetraining #theater #theatre
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