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Category: Live Performances

poetic import

Measurements at the Great Pyramid

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Measurements at the Great Pyramid used 3 primary units. The foot, Egyptian cubit and megalithic yard.  They are to be found on plate XXII in The View Over Atlantis. First, a little background from Wikipedia: John Michell was an English author.  He was a prominent figure in the Earth mysteries movement. He published over forty books.

  • The megalithic yard is approximated by 2.72 feet.
  • The Egyptian cubit is the shorter of 1.718 feet.
  • The foot used was the standard 12 inch foot.

Author John Michell Goes into Great Depths on Measurements of Ancient Sites

Measurements of ancient holy sites play a prominent part in the works of John Michell
Michell, a master at uncovering the lost relationship of words and numbers.

What I have discovered: All three units are found in the 3 x 3 number square. All three units are co-measurable. One equals the other on a linear basis.

  • The perimeter of the base is 1,110 megalithic yards.
  • It measurements by feet are within a fraction, 3,024.
  • In the shorter Egyptian cubits (1.718 feet) 1760.

The 3 x 3 square uses numbers 1 to 9. Any row of three totals 15. An Indian spirit priestess from the Lennie Lenape tribe was my mentor. She taught me abut the hidden codes when i dwelled on  Oquaga Lake. I was the accompanist and pianist at Scott’s Oquaga Lake House for some 15 years.

Measurements of the Neolithiic and Mesolithic cultures came from this number square
Traditional arrangement of the 3 x 3 number square.
  • View the square by 3 numbers at the time. Pair them by opposites. Also, any three numbers that cross the center is its own opposite number. Their sum is always 1,110. Example, 492 + 618 = 1,110.  Or, 951 + 159 = 1,110.
  • View the square 2 numbers at the time by opposites. Any two numbers that crosses the center are paired in the same row. The sum is always 110. Thus, 49 + 61 = 110. Or, 35 + 75 = 110.              The 110 can be pulled out of the square in 16 ways. Thus, 16 X 110 = 1,760.
  • So where is the feet? How do we come by its 3,024? Remove the four corner numbers as 1,3,5, and 8. The 5 remaining numbers by tradition are called the gnomon. Multiply these 5 numbers: We have 4 x 9  x 2 x 7 x 6 = 3024. How about the corner, you ask? It enumerates the number of inches in a foot. First, keep in mind, the above number square freely multiplies or divides it significant sums by powers of 10.  It can go to the infinitely large or small. I already have  blogs explaining this. Just press “all posts” on DSOworks.com. Thus we have,  1 x 3 x 5 x 8 =  120.  Divide 120 by 10 = 12. This specifies the inches in the foot.
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Conclusion: What unifies us in turn makes us family. We need  treat each other with kindness and respect. I feel we are about to enter a wonderful new era of peace and plenty. God has blessed us. Finally, I have just received the best news while working on this blog. It will be posted as an event on DSOworks.com. Our new musical, Golden Roads, will headline a major Sarasota arts festival! Keep watching.

 

 

 

In meekness Bach said he wrote music for instruction

Fifths of Tones Sets the Future & Was the Neolithic Standard

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Fifths of Tones Sets the Future and was the Neolithic Standard.  Why the featured picture? The answers are all on the piano keyboard. Piano playing develops a talent for working with numbers. The solfeggio of the fifth set the way for the building of Neolithic temples. In Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the tones Do and So are the 5th.  Do to So are a prototype for all fifths. The ancient  temples used specific diatonic tones. The fifth relationship (3 to 2 ratio) was there. The only difference was the set specific tones. They were the fifth of  A to E in Neolithic times; not the C to G as pictured on this staff.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) theatrical poster.jpg and Fifths
The Interval of the Last 2 Notes of its Famous 5 Note Theme Were At the Core of Neolithic Building.

Ancient diatonic tones had a primary fifth. The lower was set at A-440 vibrations per second. The higher was E-660 vibrations per second. Various historical cultures set the numbers of these tones into their own units of measure.  Instruments dating  back to the Sumerian times have been found. We know of their vibrations per second.

Neolithic cultures thrived on number squares. That’s what I have blogging about on DSOworks. Please read them all. This is lost knowledge that I have found. They also had knowledge of the hidden number codes on the 3 x 3 number square.

Neolithic Musical Fifths Come From Here
Musical Fifths Are Hidden in An Ancient Number Code That Once was the Banner of a Golden Age of Peace and Plenty
  • Consider the 3 x 3 number square by double numbers:  First we view horizontally: (49 + 35 + 81 + 94 + 53 + 18) + (92 + 57 + 16 + 61 + 75 + 29) = 660.  Now view vertically: (43 + 95 + 27 + 34 + 59 + 72) + (83 + 15 + 67 + 38 + 51 + 76) = 660. That numbers our diatonic “E”.
  • Consider the perimeter of 3 x 3 number square by overlapping double numbers as:  49 + 92 + 27 + 76 + 61 + 18 + 83 + 34 = 440. Reverse the numbers and get the same total. That numbers our diatonic “A”.

We have just found the following: (1) The lower diatonic “A” 440 of the fifth. (2) The higher interval of the fifth. That is, E- 660. Many readers are experiencing this information for  first time.  Please recognize that  Neolithic, priestly ancestors knew this over 6,000 years ago.  How did I come by this knowledge? On Oquaga Lake an Indian Spirit from the Lennie Lenape tribe was anxious to share her wisdom with me. Below is a free sampling of her poetry. Enjoy!

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Popular Concerts with Rubinoff and His Violin

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Popular concerts were once looked down upon. Then came men like David Rubinoff and His Violin.  He made as much as $500,000.00 a year in the 1930’s as a violinist.  His specialty was playing popular music, but with a classical flare. I personally worked on many arrangements with him in the 70s and 80s. In the featured blog picture, I brought Rubinoff  to Scott’s Oquaga Lake House in the 80s. That entire approximately 45 minute concert is on DSOworks.com.  It is a free thumbnail for listening on the 1st page.

RUBINOFF PLAYED POPULAR CONCERTS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

Rubinoff had another specialty: He loved America and shared his love for our country with children in public schools. As a matter of fact, John Phillip Sousa and Will Rogers inspired him to go in this direction.  Over the years, I’ve met many adults that had heard Rubinoff at their school. They all said the same thing. He inspired them to do wonderful things with their lives. At every assembly he would say to the children: Your lives are precious. They are like my Stradivarius violin. But you have to work your life the same way I practice my violin.  The violin without a maestro’s touch is almost useless.  His playing was so inspiring that the children listened to him. When  little Mark Azar came home and told his mother how wonderful this violinist was, mother and then widow Darlene Azar was very surprised: “How could a rough and tumble little boy suddenly love violin music?”, she thought. They went to his concert in Colombus, Ohio. Darlene not only fell in love with the music, she fell in love with the man,. The rest, of course is history. I will always be thankful that afterwards Darlene accepted me as part of her family.

Below is a sample of Rubinoff going smoothly from a popular style piece into Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumble Bee. His expression, precision and speed are incredible.

Rubinoff and his Violin – The Music Shop – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrH-5xXaUs8

 

SaraSolo Festival will open on January 28th 1pm with Golden Roads. Sharon will play Golda Meir and David will play piano in their original musical called Golden roads.

Shimon Peres and Golda Meir Walked A Similar Path

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Shimon Peres and Golda Meir walked a similar path.  Announcing our one woman musical: Golden Roads – about Golda Meir.  Check our website DSOworks.com under the heading of events. Engagements, including a just booked performance at the 2017 Sarasolo Festival and other dates soon to be posted.

What brought these two influential figures together?

Once upon a time, Israel was a dream in the minds of determined settlers of a barren territory.  They wanted a safe haven where they could practice their Jewish faith free from persecution.  These families wanted nothing more than to feel safe in their own homes.  This dream was known as Zionism.

The common path of Meir and Peres

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A youthful Golda Mabovitch

An eight year old Golda Meir and her family left Czarist Russia in 1905 and came to the United States.   But Golda wanted more.  She wanted a homeland.  So in 1921, Golda and her husband Morris immigrated to Mandate Palestine.  A nine year old Shimon Peres and his family left Poland in 1934 to start a new life in Mandate Palestine. Both Meir and Peres lived on a Kibbutz, both were involved in the politics during their twenties, and both took on dangerous tasks as Mandate Palestine moved towards becoming established as Israel.

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Kibbutznikiyot (female Kibbutz members), training at Mishmar HaEmek during the 1948 Palestine war
Women on the Kibbutz were as fierce fighters as the men.

Both helped to build their country.

Peres helped found the Kibbutz Alumot. In 1949, Golda’s “golden roads” public works initiative helped to develop the infrastructure while providing widespread employment opportunities.  Both worked in Israel’s defense.  These golden roads were to also be used as a landing strips for military planes.  Shimon Peres was instrumental in purchasing fighter jets from France.   Both were appointed to numerous cabinet positions.  And both Golda Meir and Shimon Peres rose to the elected position of Prime Minister of Israel.

Shimon Peres appointed to Golda Meir’s Cabinet

Shimon Peres’ first appointment to full cabinet Minister was in 1969 when Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel.  His political career was enhanced during her five years as Prime Minister. Peres served as Minister of Immigration Absorption.  Then, in 1970, became Minister of Transportation and Communications and Minister without Portfolio.   In 1974, he was Minister of Information.   When she stepped down later that year, his outstanding leadership qualities positioned him for higher office.  Shimon Peres and Itzak Rabin vied to be the next Prime Minister of Israel.  Rabin won and appointed Peres Minister of Defense.   Shimon Peres later became Prime Minister of Israel in 1995.

Shimon Peres will always be remember for his contribution to Israel
Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzak Rabin receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Lesley and Ohrenstein musical Golden Roads brings to life the dream of Golda Meir and many others like Shimon Peres to have a homeland of their own.   That “golden road” is challenging.  Both Golda Meir and Shimon Peres kept going forward against all odds.  Their determination is something we all can look to when our own lives get rough  – as the lyrics to the theme song say…

Golden Roads by Lesley & Ohrenstein

Golden Roads, Golden Roads….
One Step, two steps, the three steps
A path appears before your eyes
You think you see where it’s going
But you’re in for a big surprise
’cause man makes plan and
God just laughs at them
On whatever road you go,
It’s all a big adventure ride
That’s sure to keep you on your toes. 

Golden Roads of Golda Meir included Shimon Peres in her cabinet.
Prime Minister Golda Meir meeting with President Nixon and Henry Kissinger. During the Yom Kippur War, Nixon helped to save Israel by providing the needed airlift and weaponry.

In a very complex nutshell – (Mandate) Palestine was a territory ruled by the British that allowed self-rule for Jewish settlers.  But the Arab population disagreed – thus, began a century long struggle.  The following is an excerpt from the Balfour Declaration in 1917.

His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.  (written by United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour)

Keep checking our events calendar on DSOworks.com for engagements.

Relaxation is Now as Close as Your CD Player.

Relaxation By Listening to Our Music for Dancing

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Relaxation By Listening to Our Music for Dancing. Sharon, myself (David) and family lived for about 15 long summer seasons in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Ballroom dancing took place every evening. Before the evening fun, classes were given at various times of the day on the dancing styles.Guest artists gave demonstrations before the festivities began at 7:00 pm. People literally decked themselves out “to the max” at nightfall.  I was part of “The Lakeshore Four” For years they included:

  • “Scotty” with vocals and on drums
  • Gary Holdridge on vocals and the organ
  • Ronnie Drumm on the trumpet
  • Myself, David, on the piano.
  • We often had a guest singer (Chuck Williamson) and sometimes other instrumentalists.
Relaxation by Dancing or Simply Listening
Our Daughter Has Her Picture on Our New Ballroom Dancing CD. It is available by the song or Album. Free Samplings on our front page banner of DSOworks.com

FOR RELAXATION WHY NOT TRY BALLROOM DANCING?

For years in season this went on 7 nights weekly for 5 months straight! Where can musicians get such employment today?  In this regard, I’m lucky I had a wonderful piano instructor, Mischa Kottler.  He showed me how to play so as to avoid injuries   (Currently am offering piano lessons in Sarasota to pass on his knowledge).  Oquaga Lake was a special for relaxation.  I wrote most of the music for our ballroom dancing CD at Scotts. Sharon had the time our fabulous instrumental arrangements for the CD. I was also inspired to write a book of poetry. I sense that an Indian spirit from the Lennie Lenape tribe dictated the poems. At one time one of their tribes lived around the lake. It is also available as a product on DSOworks.com. Indeed, many creative artists were inspired by the Catskills. Irving Berlin had a home at Lou Beach about 50 miles down the road. Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) wrote in the Catskills. He was an American short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories “Rip Van Winkle” (1819) and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1820), both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.  The Catskills is simply wonderful for creativiity and the simple life. I, for one, hope it makes a comeback. Beautiful is now chic.

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Torch is carried by the next generation

Torch is Handed to the Next Generation

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Torch is Handed to the Next Generation. Seated at his portable piano is blogger David. He is thrilled to accompany his daughter Kathryn Parks and actor-singer. Mattthew Ryder for the televised broadcast.  David also greatly admired the accompanist, Peter Madpak, who did the show at the Venice Theater. Kathryn’s and Matthew’s caberet has highest quality singing and acting. Their voices are totally pleasant and enjoyable. If they ever are not, it is done strictly for the comic effect that the song demands. Their music covers the various aspects of love. In my humble opinion, their two act caberet could have been even longer. The audience loved it. They got several standing ovations at the performance at the Venice Theater. In short, it’s potentially a great money making crowd pleaser! In the picture below, we are rehearsing for our television appearance.

Torch is Passed on to the Next Generation
Kathryn Parks and Matthew Ryder in their new production. Kathryn’s dad, David, at the piano.

Carrying the Torch on ABC Suncoast View

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View photo in message
The song we  performed on Suncoast View for the morning and evening news was People will say We’re in Love from Oklahoma. 
Image result for Free usable picture from Broadway show Oklahoma
 The Venice Theater performances were August 25 and 27th. Saturday was standing room only. Thank goodness the beautiful and what’s pleasant in music have finally returned. I feel that Kathryn and Matthew are at the vanguard of this new push for genuine entertainment. New Broadway and older selections are well represented in their caberet. It is entitled, Songs to Sweep You Off Your Feet.  The show features many Broadway styles.  We hear Tonight from West Side Story. We get to enjoy Kathryn singing If I Loved You. She and her mother (my wife) , Sharon, were recently the female leads in Carousel at the Players Theater. For an unforgettable treat, listen to the youtube connection below. It is so moving that every  night the audiences could not hold back their tears. A newer song in “Songs to Sweep…” is One Second and a Million Miles from The Bridges of Madison County. How about enjoying an Old Fashioned Wedding from Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. Yes, our family plans on continuing to make people happy through music.  Keep checking our events on DSOworks.com. Alot is about to be posted.  Also, don’t miss our newly scheduled musical, Golden Roads. Announcements will be made shortly.
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History comes alive in Hellenistic Egypt in our new opera, Octavian and Cleopatra.

Opera can be a Cornucopia of Useful Knowledge

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Opera can be a Cornucopia of Useful Knowledge.Watch our newest  opera on the youtube sample below,  Cleopatra is sung my wife Sharon Lesley Ohrenstein. I, composer-David, play the piano.   Cleopatra and her ladies  in waiting sing of their next lifetime. Having an abundance of gold at  death insures highborn status.  They sing a featured trio  in the second act: “Like a Phoenix.” Witness the enthusiastic audience reaction.  Even some of the arias from our opera makes for an unforgettable special event.  It is beautiful and melodic. The setting is exotic and sexy. In antiquity it was believed that world was once concieved by musical tones. Therefore, musical tones for  ancient operatic topics are appropriate.

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History comes live in our new opera "Octavian and Cleoplatra" at the Palladium Theater filmed in live performance.
Belief in re-incarnation was once widely held. Wife, Sharon, sings of this hope for their next life.

Octavian and Cleopatra  saw its world premier at the St Petersburg Fl. Palladium Theater. The 3 weekend engagements were packed. The use of musical tones as a tool for structure and building goes back to at least 4,000 B.C: Philo was an Alexandrian scholar. He lived in the 1st century B.C.E. Of  the Mesopotamians he wrote: They sought worldwide harmony and unison through musical tones. His source, of course, was the great library at Alexandria.

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1584 European depiction of Philo

IN OUR OPERA,  ANTIQUITY COMES ALIVE AND ENTERTAINS

During Caesar’s conquest of Egypt in  48 BC, the library was accidentally burned.  We researched our opera for about 3 years before writing it.  Our cast of seven singers/actors were incredibly dedicated. They felt the opera was a tiger by the tail. It has a unique twist. The Captain of the Guard falls in love with Cleopatra.  He plans their joint escape. This most exciting historical event can now be brought to life for your special  event. Even just a recital of just some of the arias would make a spellbinding presentation. Contact us at DSOworks.com. Witness the glory that was Rome and Egypt as never before!

Lesley and Ohrenstein’s “Octavian & Cleopatra” Come to meRudder3218919 views
In our opera the captain of the guard falls in love with Cleopatra.
The Captain  is supposed to guard Cleopatra. He falls in love with her. Then he plans an escape.

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Accompanying Rubinoff who was a master of precision.

Accompanying other Musicians and Singers on the Piano

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Accompanying other Musicians and Singers on the Piano. This is a special craft. For about 15 years I accompanied Rubinoff. I’ve blogged about him many times. Our 45 minute New York concert is on youtube. You can also find it as a thumbnail on our website:DSOworks.com. He was a master of detail. Today, I will blog and showcase my daughter, Kathryn Parks, singing with Matthew Ryder in promotion of  their upcoming show. It will be staged August 25 and Aug 27 at the Venice Theatre Summer Caberet Festival in Venice Florida.Their song, Ten Minutes Ago, is from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Preview YouTube video Ten Minutes Ago – Songs to Sweep You Off Your Feet

Accompanying two great singers: Matthew Ryder and Kathryn Parks, my daughter.
David, the blogger, seated at the piano. Accompanying singers requires developing the feeling of their phrases, breath marks, where the pauses are…Also included are which notes to emphasize and which to just let easily pass by.
Ten Minutes Ago – Songs to Sweep You Off Your Feet

 What is Involved in the Art of Accompanying?

 

One must reinforce the featured music as an accompnaist. The follows techniques can help:

  • Accents on the appropriate notes
  • Literal and strict observance of rests. That helps to keep audience attention alive.
  • Use contrast.  An example: Play with numerous cresendos and decresendos. As the sentiment grows, increase your volume with the singer(s).
  • Sometimes you can use a bouncy touch while they sing smoothly. Vice versa is also true.
Accompanying any great singer is challenging. A large group must be ultra-sensitive.
Accompanying Ethel Waters is Count Basie and orchestra in the movie-Stage Door Canteen.

Count Basie and band, with vocalistEthel Waters, from the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)

The greatest difficulty facing an accompanist is finding well arranged music. With professional singers, doubling their melody is counterproductive. First, you most likely will cover the sound of their voice. Then, it’s impossible to exactly duplicate vocal inflexions.  Any rate be sure to make your reservations for Matthew and Kathryn.  singing together at the Venice Little Theater.
Large community theater showcasing plays, musicals & cabarets along with stand-up comedy & concerts.
Address: 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
Phone:(941) 488-1115

 

 

Every day is an aidition day for David. Customers love listening to his music while dining.

Audition on the piano youtube Two-note phrase is key

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Audition on the piano youtube.  Enjoy six typical selections for free.  Time for all 6 is 13.48 minutes. Most important factor: The two-note phrase. For auditions the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. What does tasting pudding have to do with piano playing? A well played two note phrase is the highest piano art.  More on this in a moment. Piano makes dining more pleasurable. This only holds if the piano is played with a beautiful touch.

Every night is an audition night in Boca.
The 1925 vintage Steinway I play on partakes of this spectacular view. One evening I played for a couple of ladies from the British House Lords. In London they often sat next to Andrew Lloyd Webber in Parliament.

AUDITION – MASTERING THE TWO NOTE PHRASE KEEPS YOU IN THE RUNNING

Be it Bach, Beethoven or Brahms- the two note phrase is key. In this regard the size or quantity of what you know, speed and power mean little. This phrase is the smallest increment of piano playing. My own teacher was Mischa Kottler. He was a stickler about this tool. It took me a year and a half to master it. That was only under his constant supervision. Mischa studied in Paris and Vienna in the 1920’s. His teachers were direct descendants of Liszt and  Chopin. They were Emil von Sauer and Alfred Cortot.

Many, if not all compositions, are only played properly with a plethora of such phrases. This is especially true on the piano. My own youtube sample is below.  I do my best to demonstrate its effectiveness.  Keys to long term employment as a pianist include beautiful tone production and such phrases. Unfortunately, too many students have turned piano playing into an athletic event. As Mischa would say about such crudely undetailed pianists. “They play like pigs.” This, of course, was in his fiery Russian accent.

 

MY AVAILABILITY FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

For bookings I  go through Jay Goodley Associates Inc. in Sarasota, Fl. (941 480-9600). They are wonderful to work with both as an employee and for you as an  employer. Also, I am available for piano lessons in Sarasota- especially off season.

 

 

Are our type of arias and Broadway compatible?

Arias, Can Broadway Songs Fit Into This Category?

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Arias- Sharon and I (David) collaborate on songs that are aria-like in nature.  Our latest musical, Golden Roads, illustrates this. Of course, we all know that Golden Roads can lead to Broadway for musicals. Artist Harold Weiner(postcard above)  saw us as headlining on Broadway. For a while we were called “The Ohs” – short for Ohrenstein. This artwork was given to us as a thank you for a fund raiser that we did: We performed our original works for the Sarasota Music Archieves. Can Broadway songs fit into this category? First, what are arias?

  • They are  melodic songs in an opera, cantata, or oratorio.
  • Ususally they are written as a solo; but not always.
  • Often, a recitative, or musical speech, comes before it.
  • In the song, the character expresses inner most feelings.
  • Many musical forms might be used. However, the most common has the ABA form: (1) The main theme, (2) a different middle section and (3) a repeat of the main section (da capo). Sounds a little like a feature Broadway song, doesn’t it?

 

 Here is a sample of how Sharon I (David) write concert “arias”. Our “We Are One” was written for soloists and the Sarasota Concert Band to honor our American veterens on Memorial Day. Enjoy!

 

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT ARIAS

  • The 1st composer to populariaze arias was Alessandro Scarlatti (1659-1725).
  • For 100 years after A. Scarlatti, they were most commonly used form in operas.
  • In the 18th century everything would stop while the aria was sung. It was the stand out song. Even the drama stopped Almost like the “11:00” Broadway number.
  • Later Verdi, Mussorgsky and Wagner used the aria as part of a continuous flow of action and music.
  • Arias developed from having  the  background of a few chords to using  an entire orchestra.

Sharon and I have collaborated on a number of new and original works. She as book writer and lyricist and me as composer. Our latest, Golden Roads, was very well received in Sarasota. The subject is the early life of Golda Meir. We have a booking in 2017 with this new show. It is literally filled with beautiful arias. They are in the 18th century standout song style, (A.K.A. the 11:00 number). More will be posted on this subject in the near future. Keep watching DSOworks to find out it develops.