They are a set of songs for women's choir with piano accompaniment. They are lovely and useful... and in Russian.
UPDATE:
Woo-hoo! I'm officially funded, and there will be Rachmaninoff for everyone--Rachmaninoff and IPA and stickers!
New Goal: Practice recordings.
If we reach $1000--just another $250 before Saturday afternoon--I'll create practice recordings that every backer will be able to access. My choirs thrive on practice recordings. You could make your own, like I do; or if we can reach $1000, I could save you the trouble!
Thanks for making this possible! (Complete update here.)
UPDATE:
Thanks to the genius of The Great and Powerful Stevens, I have a t-shirt with which to reward backers!
How cool is that?! Thanks for your support so far, and please continue to pass the word around so we can get more Rachmaninoff in people's lives!
About This Project:
About this time of year, conductors are looking ahead to next year's programs, and considering the contents of their libraries and the constraints of their budgets. Finding affordable, accessible, high quality repertoire is a problem--especially for women's choirs. I want to contribute a solution!
Rachmaninoff's "Six Choruses" are a rare and wonderful thing: great art for women's choir.
We have some Brahms. We have a few excerpts from oratorios. But a lot of the really great works are too hard for many women's choirs. And a lot of the music that's easy enough for most women's choirs is... well... less than great art.
Okay, I'll say it: there's a lot of crappy music for women's choirs.
The "Six Choruses" are musically accessible, singable, and beautiful. They have contrast and variety. They can be performed as a whole set or you can extract individual songs. The piano part is a real piano part! They're the perfect blend of loveliness and usefulness. You can see public domain score online at IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/6_Choruses,_Op.15_(Rachmaninoff,_Sergei)
They would already be in the regular repertoire of chestnuts for women's choirs if they were in English, German, Italian, or even French. But they're in Russian are only published in one edition with a transliteration, which is in a system that's difficult to read. So if you want to sing them, you have to slog through alphabet soup or be able read Russian or have the funds to hire a Russian coach.
I want to produce an edition with a legible transliteration for English-speaking choirs so that we can get these songs into the repertoire of women's choirs everywhere!
The edition will have a Roman Alphabet transliteration. There will be a translation of the text. I'll translate the musical markings (for example, C.P. is Serge Rachmaninoff's initials!). I will remove all obstacles between English-speakers and the "Six Choruses!" Hurdles will be eliminated! Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low! And the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain.
Measures will be numbered.
YouTube videos with the songs, to tantalize and tempt you!
2. Night
6. Angel
(These recordings may be live performances, based on the coughing in the background; but I think they're native Russian singers, based on the gorgeous diction.)
Won't your women's choir love to sing those?
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
33
Backers
$870
pledged of $750 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
May 26, 2012 -
Jun 16, 2012
(21 days)
- First created · 2 backed
- Amelia Nagoski Peterson 264 friends
- Website: thoughtfulgestures.wor...
Pledge $5 or more
2 backers
Rachmaninoff for Absolutely Everybody: By request! This is a reward for folks who like the idea and want to support it, but don't necessarily need the actual music. (Designed for SATB choir directors, non-musicians, and members of my family.) You get a sticker of Rachmaninoff's brooding face and sexy Nicolas Cage eyes.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $10 or more
8 backers
Rachmaninoff for Everyone: Download a PDF of the finished score with permission to photocopy as many as you need for your choir!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $20 or more
6 backers
Rachmaninoff for Diction Lovers: Download a PDF of the finished score with permission to photocopy, PLUS a handy diction guide!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $25 or more
4 backers
Rachmaninoff for the Visually Inclined: For the many of you who believe in the power of music, but don't have a need to perform this particular repertoire, you have the option to support Rachmaninoff for Everyone with a black, 100% cotton American Apparel short-sleeve t-shirt emblazoned with Rachmaninoff's stunning face. Includes shipping. Striking design by Richard Stevens, of Diesel Sweeties fame. (Thanks, Rich!) I'll be in touch with backers about sizes when I order the shirts.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $35 or more
3 backers
Rachmaninoff for Everyone PLUS shirt.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $40 or more
5 backers
Rachmaninoff for Diction Haters: Download a PDF of the finished score with permission to photocopy, the handy diction guide, PLUS a repeat-after-me recording of the texts spoken in rhythm!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $45 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Diction Lovers PLUS shirt.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $65 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Diction Haters PLUS shirt.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $100 or more
2 backers
Rachmaninoff for Small-ish Choirs: 30 printed scores with saddle-stitched binding suitable for holding in the elastic-band system of a Black Folder, with high quality paper and sturdy covers that will allow you to keep them in your library to reuse for years to come. Includes shipping, downloadable score (for accompanists who prefer a photocopy they can three-hole-punch), diction guide, and recordings.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $125 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Small-ish Choirs PLUS shirt.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $225 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Large-ish Choirs: 75 printed scores with saddle-stitched binding suitable for holding in the elastic-band system of a Black Folder, with high quality paper and sturdy covers that will allow you to keep them in your library to reuse for years to come. Includes shipping, downloadable score (for accompanists who prefer a photocopy they can three-hole-punch), diction guide, and recordings.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Large-ish Choirs PLUS shirt.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $750 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for Choirs in New England and the Mid-Atlantic: Fund the whole thing, and you'll get as many printed scores as you need, the diction guide, and the recordings; PLUS I'll come to your rehearsal for up to two hours of in-person diction coaching (hence the geographical restriction). Also includes a Rachmaninoff t-shirt for you!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $1,500 or more
0 backers
Rachmaninoff for YOU!: Live forever in the minds of all who sing "Six Choruses." I'll dedicate the edition to you and your ensemble, give you as many beautifully bound scores as you need, plus the downloadable/photocopyable PDF, the diction guide, and the recordings; PLUS I'll travel wherever you are for in-person diction coaching. Includes two Rachmaninoff t-shirts--maybe one for you, and one for your accompanist, if you like.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
