I don’t know why I haven’t checked it out before, but when I did, I was surprised to see an entire box of vintage libretti in the music section.
Who knew they would have something like this?! They had (yes, past tense) a collection that included libretti from The Metropolitan Opera, the Metropolitan Opera House,Chicago Grand Opera, and the Cincinnati Opera. Two days later I returned with my imaginary cash card and purchased most of them. If you’re interested in buying the rest, you should probably do so before I get paid again.
Isn’t this fun? Of course, I’ve never heard of the opera Andrea Chénier, nor have I heard of the composer Umberto Giordano and the librettist Luigi Illica (yes, I should know the latter). The next libretto cover should be a little more familiar.
Nice, huh? Here’s the inside.
And here’s something I discovered with some of these older libretti. They include the melody line from the arias in the back of the libretto.
This is something supertitles can’t give you. It’s too bad these melody lines aren’t printed in current opera programs.
Over the next week or two you’ll be meeting our new team members, today I’d like to introduce a new voice covering music in Cincinnati. Jenn will be looking at aspects of the Cincy audioscape that I feel escape notice far too often. So, without further ado, meet the composer! -Loki
You’re probably wondering what I do. I could tell you that I’m grad student at CCM and I teach music theory and orchestration on the side, but those are my day jobs. Ultimately, I’m a composer.
What I do is simple enough—I write music. Of course, the next thing you will probably ask me is what type of music I write, and this is where I start stammering.
I have a hard time describing my musical style because I don’t want you to think that I write stodgy old-fashioned music performed in concert halls. I do write music that can be performed in concert halls, but my music isn’t two hundred years old, and thankfully I’m not dead yet.
Instead of initially sharing what type of music I write, I should probably tell you how I stumbled upon writing music.
I began my piano studies when I was six due to my fascination with the instrument, and when I was in high school I took my piano studies seriously. At the time I learned and memorized standard piano repertoire, which included classics like Beethoven sonatas and Chopin études. Unfortunately I did not have the discipline to become a concert pianist; instead of practicing what I was supposed to, I changed what Beethoven and friends wrote on the page. In other words, I improvised ditties based on music I should have been practicing.
At the time I didn’t know that improvisation is a form of composing: I believed all musical compositions were completely original and didn’t stem from doodling on the piano. But after I realized that composing was the creative outlet I was looking for, I thought it would be the coolest thing to write music for films. I thought, “I can write music like that!” and decided that my music would be best heard on Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound.
And now, over ten years later, I still write music. I don’t write music for films (although I’m still open to the idea), but I’ve been mainly writing music for the concert hall, art gallery, or whomever wants to play and listen to my music.
A couple years ago I wrote a piece for nine violas. Nine! As one of my professors mentioned, the next time nine of his viola friends get together, they have something to play besides baseball. (With Vince Lee conducting.)
And here’s a piece I wrote for a solo percussionist and narration. I used text from the poem “How to be a Deep Thinker in Los Angeles” written by my librettist Kendall A. (Tyler Niemeyer, percussionist)
JennJolley, a composer from Los Angeles, moved out to Cincinnati in 2007 to attend the College-Conservatory of Music. When not composing music like she should be doing, she’s probably at the CSO, the Cincinnati Ballet, the CAC, or a Reds game. She blogs at Why Compose When You Can Blog? to further her procrastination.
ArtsWave is partnering with the Cincinnati Ballet on Saturday, February 19 in presenting a ballet sampler for the entire family. Included in the sampler will be a preview of the upcoming Firebird and Infamous Love Songs from Over the Rhine newest release.
This is an incredible deal for the entire family; ticket prices are insanely inexepnsive and can be purchased at The College of Mount St. Joseph. BIG thank you to ArtsWave and the Cincinnati Ballet for reaching out to the West Side to provide such as fantastic opportunity to experience art in our community!
New Year’s Eve I almost did not go out at all. I had woken up feeling poorly, my sinuses felt like they were reverting to swampland. Still, thanks to poking and prodding from friends I decided to hit Mayday to ring in the new year.
Now if you haven’t been to Mayday it is a terrific little hole in the wall hidden away on Spring Grove Ave in Northside (4227 to be exact) . It seems small at first but as you venture deeper you keep finding more. Dark and winding it will suddenly open out into dance floor or a large, two level open air patio. As a result it has one of my favorite traits in a club- a variety of spaces and atmospheres.
Being a sucker for fire performances and costume events I was looking forward to the performances, and happy to see that the cover was going to help fund West End art space The KOIpound (2008 Freeman Ave).
I grabbed Grim, one of the KOIPound people organizing the shindig and got him to answer a few questions about the performers and about their art space. Be advised, I was several cocktails into the evening at this point.
Here is one of my favorite performances of the night. Watch this guy closely, he is barely using his hands. I’ve never seen someone contact juggle a spear before, much less one with multiple flaming heads.
All in all a great way to ring in the new year- belly dancers, fire performers, a costumed crowd, and all in what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite bars in the city. Bonus points for benefiting a local arts organization as well!
Here is hoping that 2011 will bring improvements for everyone, and for our lovely Queen City as well. Happy New Year!
The 3rd annual Carnival Noir returns to Cincinnati on Friday, October 22nd from 8pm to midnight. Featuring contortionists, belly dancers, spinners, bands and more, the show shines an artistic light on humanity’s dark side through a blend of filmed and live performances. Tickets are $15 to $20 and include entry to the Voodoo Lounge for shopping, tarot readings, make-up applications and dancing. And yes, you’re more than encouraged to wear a costume. Proceeds from the Silent Auction items will benefit Women’s Crisis Center.
For those of you not familiar with Ink Tank, it is a non-profit located on 1411 Main Street (moved from 1311) whose tagline is “Changing Cincinnati one word at a time.” It began with the idea of social justice and racial integration and now serves in strong partnership with the Drop Inn Center. Open mic nights are the first Tuesday of every month and there are two writer’s groups; Writer’s Salon every other Thursday and Poetry Salon recently begun by Keith Wilson. Other progams include:
Final Friday readings were held this past Final Friday and readings will be held again this Saturday, September 4 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Contemprary Art Center for their 44 Series. Here’s the Facebook invitation – Join Us!
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