Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with music and singing

Classical composers who sang instead of played instruments?

mediareport — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:56:33 -0800

Are there well-known classical composers who aren't trained on a particular instrument? An acquaintance is a young singer who's interested in composition (mostly for voice), but in talking to him I get the sense that he feels a little inadequate compared to his fellow students who are accomplished on at least one instrument like piano or violin. Can you give me examples of classical composers whose work is respected but who weren't primarily instrumental players? Modern or otherwise. Thanks!

Is Die Zauberflöte opera suitable for five year old?

lynnie-the-pooh — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:46:48 -0800

Is Mozart's - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) opera with Diana Damrau suitable for a five year old? My five year old daughter loves opera music and opera singing so much. She saw Diana Damrau on youtube and is mesmerized by both her acting and her singing. Even though it is in German.......she does not care. She will sit and watch over and over again that song of...............the Queen of the night aria. Anyway, I thought I might give her the DVD for Christmas, but I am unfamiliar with the opera itself as well as the DVD. I don't know if there is sexual content or violence that my five year old should not see. She did see the knife Diana had during the aria but nothing was done with it in that scene.

Can anyone help me?

And yes, my daughter loves to sing, night and day.............so I'm thinking that singing is something that is just "in" her. I certainly don't push it on her. The only way she even knew about opera was because she happened upon it on the public radio station.

Thanks!

Larger voices callin'

Bearman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:04:53 -0800

Looking for songs with really good vocal harmonies. Any and all genres is great, but I'm especially looking for pop (50s to present) and older country that a beginner can learn how to harmonize.

Also, does anybody have tips on learning how to harmonize?

Why rock vocals are in such a high register?

BrooksCooper — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:18:21 -0800

Just a curiosity - why do you think that the overwhelming trend in rock 'n' roll / pop style music with male lead vocals is for the male vocalist to sing in a tenor / high tenor / contratenor or higher range - viz. Steve Perry, Triumph, etc.? I just wonder because that isn't the trend so much in other popular music - blues, R'n'B, country, traditional folk, etc. It's simply puzzled me for years and I wonder if MeFi has any theories?

Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong!

crossoverman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:56:49 -0800

Teach me how to sing. Before I investigate an actual singing teacher, are there any online tutorials or guides that could help me learn how to sing better? I like to sing, but like most people I limit this to my shower, my car and the very occasional karaoke night. Oh, and Sing Star. I'm not terrible, but I'm not great. Possibly, all I need is more confidence.

But before I fork out money for professional help, I wonder if there are things I can do/know/learn by myself to improve my singing ability. I have no particular career ambitions for this; let's consider this a hobby, an instrument I'd like to be able to play for fun.

A guy and a girl singing together?

zeek321 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:07:03 -0800

I am a music ignoramus. But, I know I really like a man and a woman (a guy and a girl) singing together. Call and response, harmony, part of the lyrics or not, I think it's really amazing when a masculine voice and feminine voice are working together. I like Andrew Bird, Bonnie Prince Billy, Dent May, ...and Avril Lavigne. (Work with me, here.)

What are some amazing bands or just songs with a male and a female lead singer, where the music can be subtle, epic, ambient, soaring, mournful, bittersweet, peaceful, emotionally intimate or just with an awesome and/or racy and/or in-your-face pop hook?

Bonus #1: If you have additional info about whether the music is a team effort, who the creative force is, is there a friendship or relationship outside of the music, etc., that would be very cool.

Bonus #2: Is there a song called "Sleeping Together" where one of the lyrics is "like two notes, sustained"?

P.S. Previously. Noted.

Where should I put all these musical pirates?

Faint of Butt — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:33:52 -0800

Tell me how to arrange eight to twelve singers, a guitarist (acoustic), a fiddler and a bodhrán player, all unamplified, for best overall audibility and musicality. Assume an outdoor setting with effectively unlimited performance space. There is no electricity or amplification of any artificial nature available. The singers can be grouped into sopranos, altos, baritones and basses. Some songs are led by a soloist with backing vocals, and others are more choral and involve the whole ensemble equally. All of the performers need to be able to hear all of the other performers so that everyone can stay in time and on key, and the audience needs to hear the whole group.

What's the best way to do this? Should we just arrange ourselves in an old-fashioned semicircle? Where do we put the soloists and instruments? Help me, AskMe musicians, and let me find a good solution before the next gig! Thank you!

Suggestions for comedy songs to sing at the piano

chrismear — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:20:33 -0800

I'd like to learn some more comedy songs to sing at the piano along the lines of Hugh Laurie's Mystery. Suggestions? I have a book of Tom Lehrer songs, but that's where my knowledge ends. Can you suggest any classics, gems, or just personal favourites that I should seek out?

Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?

Beardman — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:43:06 -0800

I like to gripe about Top 40 radio, but I don't have much of a technical music vocabulary. Are there names for the vocal styles of Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, et al.? Recently I found myself trying to articulate the particular way that these singers deliver lines, and I quickly ended up using unsatisfactory phenomenological language to describe it ("they, um, kind of curl their words in this irritating way...and it's kind of nasal and groany...does anybody know what I'm talking about?").

It got me thinking that I'd like to know more about the technical names for the vocal styles that are commonly used in the music they tend to play at my gym, in the grocery store, and so on. Avril and Taylor were the first to come to mind, but I'm interested in all of it, including, say, that heaving, ogre-ish singing in Nickelback. So: is there any go-to resource for this kind of information, or any informed criticism you can point me to? Or is it really as ineffable as my poor attempts to describe Avril Lavigne would suggest?

(Note: I realize that the most obvious thing to say about vocals in contemporary Top 40 is that they're autotuned to hell and back, but I'm asking about the styles of singing, not vocal production. So the fact that Nickelback typically builds a wall of sound out of vocal overdubs alone isn't what I'm after.)

Who Sung the Overtone Music from Anathem?

gnomicPerfect — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:42:37 -0800

I'm fascinated by IOLET:The music of Anathem. Can anyone help me find out who performed the pieces involving overtone chant/throat singing? I know David Stutz composed it, I've trolled his site and google, and can't find what I'm looking for. Specifically the performers for the Thousander Chant, Cellular Automata, and Quantum Spin Network. Thanks!

Ba ba ba ba ba dum

andromache — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:47:11 -0800

Q: What do Butch Cassidy and Bonsai Kitty have in common? A: A terrific, zany soundtrack. What kind of music is this? In the comments area for the FPP that originally directed me to the cat-in-the-bottle with the great soundtrack, The Whelk linked to this little gem, which I love (via). I can't seem to find more songs like this, mostly because I have no idea who makes/made it, or what the genre is called.

Sounds like it could be from the late 50s or early 60s. The instrumentation is less important to me than the vocal ba ba ba da da dums, though xylophone seems characteristic of this style. It sounds kind of like scat singing, but clearly it isn't improvised since it's done in harmony with a chorus.

The only other example of this kind of song I can think of is from Butch and Sundance (music starts at 0:36). The soundtrack is for sale at amazon, of course, but there are no track previews, I don't know the name of the song, and, I think it's the only one of its kind on the album.

What is this weirdness? Who are some famous performers or composers that recorded this stuff? Any websites or albums in particular that you can recommend?

Thanks very much.

Like Breathless Mahoney, only not, you know, terrible.

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:18:34 -0800

If I want to be a lady lounge singer, in a restaurant/nightclub, draping myself across a piano in sequins and a smoky spotlight, what are the classic vamp songs I should learn, first?

If Sting can do it, I can too!

freshwater_pr0n — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:22:31 -0800

Can anyone offer some good advice on how to sing while playing bass or drums? I play bass, but it seems like advice from drummers would be in tune with what I'm trying to do. Even if I can play the bassline in my sleep whilst not singing, and sing the words backwards and forwards as long as my hands are empty, I just can't get it together. "Just practice it a lot" isn't working for me.

My suspicion is that it's the singing part that's stumping me most, not the playing. Are there tricks that will help me use less brainpower when I sing?

Why are you singing that way?

knave — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:20:51 -0800

Curious about a certain phenomenon in music, where someone sings the same notes that he's playing on guitar... It seems to be something that jam bands might do, or some kind of blues/jazz thing, but I never was good with categorizing bands. One example off the top of my head is Sublime's "Under My Voodoo" (here's a crappy youtube version), not that Sublime falls into any of those categories.

Where did this come from, and is it supposed to be showing off some kind of skill? I don't completely get it, as from a musical point of view, usually different voices complement — rather than copy — each other. I'm genuinely curious what this is all about.

They couldn't have asked us LAST week?

cereselle — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:02:33 -0800

Wedding Music filter: My sister and I (both mezzos) have been tagged to sing at our cousin's wedding. This Sunday. Please help us find a song that is a) a duet, b) that we can both hit the notes on, c) is something we know or is easy to learn, and d) is not stupid. Does such a song exist?

I can haz name for music nightz?

sully75 — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:24:52 -0800

I want to start a night where a variety of local musicians cover the music of one musician with a large repetoire, or cover songs from one particular period/style of music. I'm looking for a good name for the (hopefully monthly) event and feedback on my ideas and "rules". A lovely local bar/bistro has had a continual problem with Tuesday nights. Presents the opportunity to try something cool to bring people in.

My idea: Repetoire Night. Basic idea, get local musicians in town to come and do two covers of a song by that months chosen artist.

These were my guidelines, aka "the rules":
1) Each solo artist does 2 tunes, no exceptions.
2) Tunes have to be either by the artist or famously covered by them.
3) Duets and trios are highly encouraged. They get 3 tunes as long as one tune has a different vocalist.
4) instrumental and improv versions are highly encouraged.

The basic goals would be:
Goals would be
1) Have some great music
2) Get musicians of various scenes in town to meet each other
3) Make Tuesday nights rock

Some theme ideas I was thinking of (reflecting, of course, my tastes)
Tom Waits
Willie Nelson
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell
Elvis Costello
Bluegrass Covers
Old Blues Covers
Jazz Standard Night
Aimee Mann
Nick Lowe
Gillian Welch
Elliot Smith
Cat Power

So my questions are
1) What should we call this? I'm looking for something classy, not web 2.0ish. I want to avoid anything like Pecha Kucha Night, which is embarressing to say. I thought of calling it Jukebox night, but that would sort of indicate that we would be doing music by different artists, which we wouldn't be.
2) My guidelines/rules: makes sense? Overbearing? Underbearing? Am I missing anything?
3) Not sure if we should provide a simple drum set and amplifiers, or keep it acoustic. The place is small, the stage is smaller. They can get a band on stage but it is cramped. But it would be cool to have little bands get up on stage. I was thinking one amp, and a really stripped down drum set available if someone wanted to use it.
4) Does this sound like a good idea? What would make you want to participate?
5) What are some cool themes I'm missing? I'm looking for things that would appeal to a large variety of performers, that would be adaptable to a wide variety of styles of playing, and have a quantity of music for people to choose from.

Thanks

Did your family sing together?

arcadia — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:47:04 -0800

Did your parents sing to or with you? I would like people to post how old they are and whether their parents sang to or with them when they were kids. I'm curious about whether this was common, and whether it's becoming less common due to the ubiquity of electronic entertainment. I was born in 1963, the youngest of 5 children, and remember my mother singing to me when I was very young, and our family singing in the car on long trips. I don't have much memory of singing together other than in the car.

If you did sing together, what songs?

Good jazz/blues voice teacher in the Baltimore area?

schroedinger — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:01:30 -0800

Jazz/Blues voice teachers in the Baltimore area. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have a little bit of classical voice training, but even my voice teacher from Peabody admits my voice is better suited towards the jazz and blues side of things. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any teacher suggestions. Do you?

I'm a little bit country, but New York's not.

supercoollady — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:45:26 -0800

I'm not a pro (and I don't play an instrument...) Where can I go to sing early country music in New York City? I used to take a great singing/music class ("early country ensemble") at the Old Town School of Folk Music, in Chicago--everyone got together and they'd put together little groups and people played various instruments and sang, etc. and it was just a delight. I've since moved to New York City, and I haven't had a lot of luck finding something like that. The closest meetup I can find is the New York City folk music group, and they tend to sing things more like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, whereas I'm more of a Jimmie Rodgers and Carter Family kind of gal.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? I'm not really interested in choral singing, I'm not prepared/inclined to go up and do an open mic thing, and I would pay. Thanks for any suggestions!

Do you know of essays or books that trace the roots of pop music singing styles?

Kattullus — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:08:15 -0800

Jack Endino famously traced back the roots of yarling in the manner of Creed's Scott Stapp. Have the origins of other popular music singing styles been established? Two examples of distinctive styles are the floaty west coast folk style of the 60's (e.g.) and the back-of-the-throat 80's singing sweeping the internets in the form of Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up (other non-rickroll examples). I'm looking for the history of other pop music singing styles, not just the above-mentioned two, but these were the ones that got me thinking. Ideal would be essays on the subject. I'm looking for the history of other pop music singing styles, not just the above-mentioned two, but these were the ones that got me thinking. Ideal would be essays on the subject.

How can I sound like Wilson Pickett?

psmealey — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:08:27 -0800

Is it possible to develop that smoky quality in one's voice (Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Janis Joplin, etc.) without damaging one's vocal chords? Or is that something that just occurs naturally, or else would be too dangerous to try?

Bone shakin' vocals

tmcw — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:12:11 -0800

SingingFilter: When I sing in certain keys / registers, my head seems to vibrate, and more. Well, this is odd. I've noticed what when I sing at a certain pitch - for instance, singing "Lua" by Bright Eyes, which is played with a capo on the 7th, my entire head seems to vibrate. And more than one would be used to when singing. I even get a little sick - it seems like my head is a little cold, and tight, and generally sort of quivery. I'm wondering whether I'm singing wrong (very, very possible - I haven't sung fo' real since 4th grade) or maybe it's some sort of resonance, although the resonant pitch for a human skull must be much lower than what I'm singing.

All in all, it's weird, and doesn't help my singing at all. Any general tips about how to sing 'correctly' would be most welcome, too, since I'm just growing into doing (in a new situation, now, in a band).

Thanks all.

Canary Instructor Sought

scrump — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:37:11 -0800

Can you recommend a voice teacher in the Bay Area? We're trying to find a voice teacher on the Peninsula or in the South Bay (94040 or thereabouts).

My wife very much wants to learn to sing from a professional, but we have no real way of evaluating teachers. We're hoping some of you can provide recommendations based on personal experience.

Our requirements are that the teacher be willing to make house calls on evenings and/or weekends, be exceedingly patient, be willing to start from zero, and understand that her student's goal is to sing tunefully with her child, not necessarily audition for the opera. We'd prefer a female teacher, but that's ancillary, at best.

Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated: recommendations (for or against!) based on firsthand experience are like unto gold for us.

A somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony?

bigd — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:52:30 -0800

Suggestions for a somewhat folk-y, non-contemporary song to sing at a friend's wedding ceremony? I've searched all over, to no avail, to find something that is hauntingly beautiful in just the right way. A very long-time friend has asked me to sing in her wedding in August, and I'm having a terrible time finding a song that seems appropriate, given her guidelines. She wants something that is not too contemporary (not jazz, for example).

She's having a somewhat pagan-oriented ceremony. She said that she'd like something that has a musical feel similar to "Scarborough Fair," but with lyrics that are more wedding appropriate. She's open to the possibility of folk songs, but would probably prefer something that is romantic and a little bit haunting, if that makes any sense. As far as the non-contemporary thing goes, she also said that it could be cool if it were something that would feel appropriate as the soundtrack to "Pride & Prejudice," but I'm not sure what that means.

I may sing a cappella (I've done that in two other weddings - it doesn't freak me out), or my husband could accompany me on his violin, which could actually be pretty cool given the right song.

Please help.

What's the best legal setup for a local chorale?

tejasa — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:03:00 -0800

We are a upstate NY local chorale, 10 years old now, reorganizing with a new director and we are not sure of the best legal setup. We want to have a board with officers so the chorus members can become more involved in management. Currently there is just a tax ID#. Should we incorporate as a non-profit and get 501(c)(3) status? Just incorporate? We want to try and get grants to buy some risers, for example, and don't know if non-profit status would be required. But we are also thinking of raising money by paid singing gigs (as opposed to our regular community concerts where people donate to support us) and we don't know if we could still do that as a non-profit. We would like to know what other groups have done, and would be grateful for any advice.