The Little Mermaid

[lunar22]

I've recently finished (inasmuch as anything of mine is actually ever finished) my longest work -- a setting of HC Andersen's Little Mermaid This sad and beautifully told tale appeals to my sentimental nature and I think I've managed to produce my best work in this form. As is normally the case, the dialogue in the story is presented almost word for word so it's important to know what going on. To this end, I attach the score. I doubt many will have the patience to go through all of this at once but for a sample, I'd suggest first trying near the end rather than the beginning as it's naturally there that the tale and music reaches the emotional heights. I wasn't aware of any other settings of this story (I certainly don't count Rusalka, despite obvious similarities) but then composer Alexander Brincken drew my attention to the ballet by Lera Auerbach which contains a good deal of striking music.

The rendering, where I'm as usual forced to use the Wordbuilder Symphonic Choirs for want of an alternative that can sing text-- can be found here https://play.reelcrafter.com/dko22/latestworks

As the forum won't allow anything other than the tiniest files to be uploaded, the score can be found here https://app.box.com/s/fqlv1qvzc4ie87npem2t9cu9qtu25dz3

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I've recently finished (inasmuch as anything of mine is actually ever finished) my longest work -- a setting of HC Andersen's Little Mermaid This sad and beautifully told tale appeals to my sentimental nature and I think I've managed to produce my best work in this form. As is normally the case, the dialogue in the story is presented almost word for word so it's important to know what going on. To this end, I attach the score. I doubt many will have the patience to go through all of this at once but for a sample, I'd suggest first trying near the end rather than the beginning as it's naturally there that the tale and music reaches the emotional heights. I wasn't aware of any other settings of this story (I certainly don't count Rusalka, despite obvious similarities) but then composer Alexander Brincken drew my attention to the ballet by Lera Auerbach which contains a good deal of striking music.

The rendering, where I'm as usual forced to use the Wordbuilder Symphonic Choirs for want of an alternative that can sing text-- can be found here https://play.reelcrafter.com/dko22/latestworks

As the forum won't allow anything other than the tiniest files to be uploaded, the score can be found here https://app.box.com/s/fqlv1qvzc4ie87npem2t9cu9qtu25dz3

When I clicked on your second link (score), what popped up was something for String Quartet No. 12.

The bit that I listened to of LM was intriguing; however, I couldn't tell what language it was in.    I don't know anything about software that can be used for composing.  Is your composition strictly a choral one or are there meant to be separate roles--for like the LM and the Prince?

And yes, in the bits that I listened to, I could detect the influence of Janacek (whose works I happen to love too).

Years ago, I purchased a big book of HC Andersen's stories which I quite enjoyed.  I remember reading the Steadfast Tin Soldier, the Red Shoes and the Little Mermaid in particular.

So, what's your musical background?  I read that you are a self-taught composer.

PD

[lunar22]

my link is indeed to the quartet -- my finger must have slipped when selecting the file -- very sorry about that. https://app.box.com/s/yeuhtk12ukl9cqp4e0ygbv57v1965uvc has been tested to work.

Little Mermaid uses an English translation directly with little editing. Danish would have really freaked out Wordbuilder and even German requires far more work as English text can at least be imported into the software which then converts it into its own phonetic language, which -- some Americanisms aide -- is mostly not too bad.

Although Wordbuilder has actually sampled choirs, the idea with this work is simply solo voices. I'd have two altos to sing the grandmother and witch and two sopranos to sing the mermaid and one for everything else (the soprano sisters and Daughters of the Air etc). In theory a small choir could be used for the singing slaves, sisters etc but there's no need. The only male role is the Prince so no bass voice.

I don't have a musical background, other than singing and a lot of listening. I did study music in my final year at university but it was more like a History of Music course which didn't require playing an instrument or anything.

Anyway, I greatly appreciate your interest and hope you manage to get through to the end at some point!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

my link is indeed to the quartet -- my finger must have slipped when selecting the file -- very sorry about that. https://app.box.com/s/yeuhtk12ukl9cqp4e0ygbv57v1965uvc has been tested to work.

Little Mermaid uses an English translation directly with little editing. Danish would have really freaked out Wordbuilder and even German requires far more work as English text can at least be imported into the software which then converts it into its own phonetic language, which -- some Americanisms aide -- is mostly not too bad.

Although Wordbuilder has actually sampled choirs, the idea with this work is simply solo voices. I'd have two altos to sing the grandmother and witch and two sopranos to sing the mermaid and one for everything else (the soprano sisters and Daughters of the Air etc). In theory a small choir could be used for the singing slaves, sisters etc but there's no need. The only male role is the Prince so no bass voice.

I don't have a musical background, other than singing and a lot of listening. I did study music in my final year at university but it was more like a History of Music course which didn't require playing an instrument or anything.

Anyway, I greatly appreciate your interest and hope you manage to get through to the end at some point!

Who would you use for the Sea Witch?  A mezzo or contralto?

I'm guessing that since you can sing, that you've also learned how to read music?

PD

[Karl Henning]

I need to come back to it. It is quite substantial.

[lunar22]

Who would you use for the Sea Witch?  A mezzo or contralto?

I'm guessing that since you can sing, that you've also learned how to read music?

PD

the sea witch would be an alto. The lowest note is an F and anyway nasty witches are not usually sopranos (the Witch in my Hansel and Gretel is also an alto). It's true that the Sea Witch is a man in Auerbach's ballet but then I'm a traditionalist 

I can indeed read music (though to compose it's not strictly necessary as notation software takes care of producing the score but it most certainly helps when revising it and it can be interesting to look at scores from others from time to time!)

[lunar22]

I don't know if anyone has yet managed to get right through this but there have been a number of changes since first posting, including changing the library for the wordless singing (the Mermaid and Slaves)