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Art Song Catalog Help and FAQ
Question Categories
Questions
General: What is this catalog?What can this catalog do for me?If you are a singer or a voice teacher, this catalog can help you find unusual, excellent art songs. The wide variety of indices, by composer, poet, nationality, language, etc., as well as the thorough descriptions of song texts, can make programming interesting themes easier too. The catalog's current focus is on contemporary art songs, primarily in English, but you can also find some other works. If you are a composer or publisher, this catalog can help promote your work: in a very short time we have garnered significant attention on the web and we hope to increase that exposure consistently. We want to encourage performance of excellent new works. What music is in the catalog?We catalog pieces of music for one solo voice and any combination of accompaniment from none (a capella) through piano to full orchestra. The current focus is on contemporary songs, with an emphasis on songs in English, especially those by composers working in the United States and Canada. Works from many other countries and in many other languages are already listed here, however: our North American, English focus may change, and we are always interested in cataloging and publicizing excellent contemporary and lesser-known works from any country. The main goal of the catalog is to promote the work of excellent contemporary art song composers so that more singers are aware of the wealth of wonderful new material being written today. The secondary goal of the catalog is to promote lesser-known songs of earlier times. Because we are American, most of our work also is cataloging the work of American composers: it is the easiest for us to access and to understand. However, that does not mean that we are only interested in cataloging American songs, or even only those in English. While incorporating non-Western European alphabets (e.g., Cyrillic) is simply not possible for our current system, we very much encourage non-English submissions to the catalog. The short answer, then, to what music is in the catalog is this: art songs for one voice and anything; firstly contemporary American, secondly contemporary of any culture, thirdly lesser-known of any time period or culture. What information is available in the catalog for each song?The full song information listing (obtained in the "Song Information" section and whenever you click on a link from a song's name) contains as much information as we could put together. It always contains the song title, the cycle name of which the song is a part, the composer, the poet, the highest vocal pitch, the lowest vocal pitch, the clef in which the vocal part is written, the accompanying instruments, and how to obtain the song. It usually or often contains the name of the person who premiered the song (sometimes with their voice type), the source of the text, a description of the song's music, the song's text or a description of it, an audio clip of the song, information on recordings of the song, links to information on other web sites about the music or text, and links to pertinent books in daringdiva.com's bibliography. Moreover, biographical information about the composer and poet is often available by clicking on their names, and bibliographical information on anthologies can be found in the anthology section. How do I get started using the catalog?To just get started using the catalog, remember these guidelines.
How is the catalog organized?The song catalog contains information and indices, and can be organized specifically for your needs with the search page.
The information comes in two sections. Each section can have any number of pages.
The indices currently are in six sections:
The song search page is a big sprawling document that is hopefully relatively self-explanatory. How do I get copies of the music listed in this catalog?Whenever you see "GET IT!," click there to see either an anthology in which the given edition can be found, or more general notes on how to get the song. How are songs added to the catalog?You can add a song to the catalog either by contributing a score or by contributing a song's information. If you would like to contribute a score and have us do the work of describing the song for the catalog, contact us to determine where to send the materials. If you would like to contribute information on a song, use this form to add information on a song not yet in the catalog, or use this form to add extra information on a song already in the catalog. Links to these forms, as well as to the form to add biographical information, can be found on virtually every song catalog page at the bottom of the blue side bar and at the bottom of the page. Finding: How do I find...the full catalog information on a song?The full catalog information on a given song is given in the Song Information section. Whenever you click on a link from the title of a song you are taken to the full catalog information for that song. songs that are within my vocal range?Finding songs that fit your range is pretty easy. We use the C4 = middle C system, so you need to know how that works . You should use the song search page (which has even some presets for different voice types at the bottom so you can click and modify). songs by a certain composer?This is easy: look up the composer's last name in the Composer Index and you will see all the songs we have in the catalog by that composer. Also, whenever you see a composer's name followed by a link on the words "(see songs)," you can click on that link to see all of the songs in the catalog by that composer. songs by a certain poet?This is almost identically easy to finding the songs by a certain composer: look up the poet's last name in the Poet Index and you will see all the songs we have in the catalog with texts by that poet. Also, whenever you see a poet's name followed by a link on the words "(see songs)," you can click on that link to see all of the songs in the catalog by that poet. a certain song?If you know the title of a song, go to the song information section and look up the song title alphabetically. You can also approach the song by composer, poet, or any of our other indices, of course. If all you remember is a few words you can either use either the song search page or the main site search page. songs in a certain language?Use the language index! Of course, most of what we have is in English, but there are some notable exceptions. songs by composers or poets of a certain nationality?Amazingly enough, use our nationality index! That will list poets and composers in the catalog by their nationality; you can then choose to "see songs" of whatever poet or composer interests you. songs for an ensemble other than piano and voice?Use the song search page to specify an ensemble type or to specify up to two instruments to look for. the songs that have only recently been added to the catalog?I keep track of all site updates, including catalog additions, on the site's main home page (and the connected site history section). There, in the blue column on the left, you can see a quick summary of this week's additions along with links; and in the main section of the page you can read more detailed descriptions of the new material. Also, consider subscribing to the site's newsletter if you would like monthly site news updates emailed to you, including brief notes on the new songs in the catalog. how to get copies of the music I see in the catalog?Whenever you see "GET IT!" in red that means you can click on the "GET IT!" link to find out how to obtain the music, be it in an individual edition or in an anthology. a biography of a certain poet or composer in the catalog?Use the biography listings! Most often the pages here will link to more information elsewhere on the web. other art song resources?Our art song link page has many resources, and our site's bibliography contains listings of a number of books pertinent to art song and of a number of vocal music catalogs that have a lot of art songs listed in them. other art song resources on the Internet?Our art song link page has many Internet resources. other art song catalogs?Our site's bibliography contains listings of a number of books pertinent to art song and of a number of vocal music catalogs that have a lot of art songs listed in them. Contributing: How do I add...new songs to the catalog?You can add a song to the catalog either by contributing a score or by contributing a song's information. If you would like to contribute a score and have us do the work of describing the song for the catalog, contact us to determine where to send the materials. If you would like to contribute information on a song, use this form to add information on a song not yet in the catalog, or use this form to add extra information on a song already in the catalog. Links to these forms, as well as to the form to add biographical information, can be found on virtually every song catalog page at the bottom of the blue side bar and at the bottom of the page. new biographies to the catalog?Use the biography form. Links to it can be found on virtually every song catalog page at the bottom of the blue side bar and at the bottom of the page. new information on a song already in the catalog?Use the add review form to add extra information on a song already in the catalog. Links to it can be found on virtually every song catalog page at the bottom of the blue side bar and at the bottom of the page. information on a song cycle, not just a song?To add a song cycle, put in each song individually then use the review form to add a description of the cycle as a whole. my support to the art song catalog project?Please help somewhat offset our costs by using our links to Amazon books and music (links found throughout the bibliography). They give us a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you if you use a link from our site. To give us psychological support, please send us an email telling us that you like what we do and tell others about the site! If you are considering monetary or other physical support (such as contributing song editions to the catalog's library), please contact us. Listening:Where are the audio clips?We have audio clips for some of the songs in the catalog. You can find links to the recordings not only in the song search page but also in the song information, composer index, poet index, and cycle index sections. How do I listen to them?To listen to the audio clips in the catalog you need at least a 28.8K connection to the internet and the RealPlayer G2. The RealPlayer has a free version and a few versions that cost anywhere from about $10-$30. To be honest, I use the free one! Why do only some songs have audio clips?Because we have only received those clips, or we have not yet had time to add the clips! We include what we have as soon as we can. If you would like to contribute a recording of something with no copyright problems (that is, you can give permission) then please feel free! We will use it if we can, and even link to your email or web page, if you desire. Definitions:C4 or any of these pitch names with numbers by them (like Bb3, G#5, D6, etc.)Written-out pitch notation often uses the format of middle C being equal to C4. <THEORY TEACHER=ON> :-) Basically, any standard Western pitch can be described using two elements: a pitch name (such as C, or F#, or Bb) and an octave number (such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) The pitch names follow standard rules. Just spell it as you see it, not using any enharmonic shortcuts (if the note is a B# or a Gbb, write it that way). The octave number follows three rules.
You can figure out any octave number with those three rules. Therefore, C3 is an octave below middle C (C4). D3 is a minor seventh below middle C. B4 is a major seventh above middle C (C4). E5 is an octave and a major third. Here is a list of an ascending chromatic scale (using sharps) from an octave below middle C to an octave above: C3 C#3 D3 D#3 E3 F3 F#3 G3 G#3 A3 A#3 B3 Here's the same thing using flats: C3 Db3 D3 Eb3 E3 F3 Gb3 G3 Ab3 A3 Bb3 B3 Got it? Good. Now, to end up, I'm going to confuse you. What number would the Cb a half step below middle C (C4) be? It is enharmonically equivalent to B3, so would it be Cb3? No. Look at the third octave number rule: "Third, the number changes at every pitch C (be it C, C#, Cb, etc.)."It can be Cb, Cbb, or whatever and the octave number will be the same as C. Therefore, the answer is Cb4. Hope that helps! <THEORY TEACHER=OFF> middle CMiddle C, or C4, is the first line above the staff on the bass clef and the first line below the staff on the standard treble clef. On slightly more obscure clefs: middle C is the third space on the staff in the tenor clef (that is, the treble clef transposed down an octave, correctly written as a treble clef with an "8" on the bottom of the clef) and the middle line on the staff in the alto clef (for all you violists! Go viola!). a capellaHere, used to indicate a song for voice (or voices) with no accompaniment. The term really means something about a church ("capella"), because only voices were allowed to make music in the Catholic church for many hundreds of years, if I remember correctly. RealAudio G2This is the computer program used to play back our audio clips. To listen to the audio clips in the catalog you need at least a 28.8K connection to the internet and the RealPlayer G2. The RealPlayer program has a free version and a few versions that cost anywhere from about $10-$30. To be honest, I use the free one! Further resources:What are some other art song resources on the Internet?Check out our page of art song links. What are some other art song catalogs available in the world?Our site's bibliography contains listings of a number of vocal music catalogs that have a lot of art songs listed in them. Also check out the British Song Database, as listed in our art song link page. What are some art song books available in the world?Our site's bibliography contains listings of a number of books pertinent to art song and of a number of vocal music catalogs that have a lot of art songs listed in them. Curiosity:How is this catalog made?Using Microsoft Access, Gary constructed a database system and then wrote a set of Visual Basic programs to publish the database into the computer language used by web pages, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Although we now make occasional changes to the structure of the system and of the web pages, basically we just occasionally type in song information in forms on our computer then, once a week, press a button to have it all automatically republished incorporating the new songs in all of the indexes. Why is this catalog made?When people realize the scope of this project, this seems to be a popular question. Gary started it because he knew a number of excellent, even accoladed, composers whose art songs were barely known outside of a small circle of grateful singers. I wanted to promote these composers, thus also encouraging further art song composition and helping us find even more excellent composers. As the project got bigger I had to justify it more to myself! Selfishly, the web site seems to be leading to performing and teaching gigs as well, both from composers we have contacted and from other people we have impressed via the site. So far the hard work seems to be beginning to pay off, but the site, and particularly this catalog, is essentially a labor of love: it just must continue to bring us some benefit to justify the time and money we invest in it. Do you make any money off of this catalog?Not at the moment, although we would not be adverse to making a bit of change for the hours we put into the site! Whenever you buy anything from Amazon via the links at our site we get a small percentage towards the approx. US$200 we spend a year on the site. Please help us by buying from our Amazon links. Who are you people?Check out our personal page, Karyn's resume, and Gary's resume. Gary's resume uses "Gerbrand" because that is his real name. Who are your sponsors?Support our sponsors: visit the REC Music Foundation, Classical Vocal Repertoire, Carl Fischer (see their unusual and contemporary vocal listings at our site), ECS Publishing, Peermusic, and voytech. Also support our sponsors without web presences: Counterpoint Musical Services/Ricordi Canada. Will you come give a workshop about contemporary song composers, Internet resources for singers, singers and technology, etc.?Yes, and at a pretty darn good price too, we might add. Contact us for materials. Please contribute to the catalog
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This page will help you use the art song catalog and also attempt to answer any questions you might have about it. There is also a 