tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244014424535464612.post3551931359149659906..comments2023-08-06T05:22:33.610-07:00Comments on Richard Sparks - Music, Conducting, Choirs: Auditions 3Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910774133392443899noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244014424535464612.post-75306500872095639982008-08-04T09:28:00.000-07:002008-08-04T09:28:00.000-07:00In the flesh! I just sent you an e-mail; so glad ...In the flesh! I just sent you an e-mail; so glad to find this blog!Jayne Leightyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457467194430394290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244014424535464612.post-44848482284853275692008-08-01T08:53:00.000-07:002008-08-01T08:53:00.000-07:00Hey, is that Jayne McNutt (or the former Jayne McN...Hey, is that Jayne McNutt (or the former Jayne McNutt)? Great to hear from you! (and if it is, send an email or look me up on Facebook)<BR/><BR/>Yes, the blind audition was certainly interesting, for me as well as singers, I'm sure!<BR/><BR/>I really did focus on listening to the voices and not the individual (or better said, trying to guess the individual). That was an important part of the process for me. I felt that one purpose was to let the singers have a part of the process where I wasn't judging them with whatever my history was (or wasn't) with them--good or bad--but just listening to the voice and how it worked with others. The other was to disengage me from my preconceptions about singers--and there always were surprises about both new and returning singers. A fun process!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14910774133392443899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244014424535464612.post-45461548235444487932008-07-31T19:18:00.000-07:002008-07-31T19:18:00.000-07:00At first the blind auditions intimidated me. I di...At first the blind auditions intimidated me. I didn't understand, had no idea what to expect. Not only was I in a room of historically agressive sopranos, you then turned your back on us and left the rookies in essence alone to the glares of the returning members! However, once the singing started, all of that went away and I felt as if I was alone in the room which made me much more comfortable. I could get through the audition without the typical jitters knowing you were truly listening to each of us. And I agree with Clarice, it never ceased to amaze me the combination of voices you put together until it was just right. I think auditioning blind took the bias out; you heard only the voice and didn't necessarily associate everything you knew about the person with that particular voice. (I will admit, as years passed I pulled stunts to see if you knew who it was and you always caught me.)Jayne Leightyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457467194430394290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244014424535464612.post-89250068605104239692008-06-16T15:11:00.000-07:002008-06-16T15:11:00.000-07:00As a former Choir of the West member back in the 8...As a former Choir of the West member back in the 80's, I remember those group auditions well. What I found facinating about them was the great effect that could be had (preemptively) on blend when pairing voice number one and two together and then voices two and four together etc. until finally a certian set of voices began to work naturally in concert with respect to tone, virbrato, musicality etc. to create an overall sound that Sparks was in effect, painting. The result, for me, at least, was that the whole challenge of blending chorally, as a singing, was made that much easier when I already produced a comfortable or similiar sound to the voice of the person who would eventually sit to the left and right of me in the choir. Thanks for the memories, Sparks! Clarice SwansonClarice Swansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06786960854556620725noreply@blogger.com