I bought me a cat - Aaron COPLAND

Peter Mellalieu sings 'I bought me a cat' arranged by Aaron COPLAND.

Recorded handheld on my new Canon EOS 600D camera, with Canon EFS 18 - 200 mm Image stabilizer lens. Using built in microphone.

I am impressed that the sound quality recorded by the camera's inbuilt mono microphone has done an impressive job coping with the dynamics of the singing and piano. The camera was located a bit too close to the piano, I suspect. i.e. distance from camera to singer: 4 m. Distance from camera to piano 3 m. (approx +/- 0.5 m)

Next concert, I will attempt to record using the external mike input, using my Zoom H4n digital recorder.

Postproduction: iMovie, using original 1080p video from the camera.

Related articles

• Child, if I were king' (Enfant, si j'etais roi) by Liszt (mynstrel.blogspot.com)
• Aaron Copland - An American Icon (musicatyourhouse.wordpress.com)

Child, if I were king' (Enfant, si j'etais roi) by Liszt

Peter Mellalieu sings 'Child, if I were king' (Enfant, si j'etais roi) by Liszt.

Recorded handheld on my new Canon EOS 600D camera, with Canon EFS 18 - 200 mm Image stabilizer lens. Using built in microphone.

I am impressed that the sound quality recorded by the camera's inbuilt mono microphone has done an impressive job coping with the dynamics of the singing and piano. The camera was located a bit too close to the piano, I suspect. i.e. distance from camera to singer: 4 m. Distance from camera to piano 3 m. (approx +/- 0.5 m)

Next concert, I will attempt to record using the external mike input, using my Zoom H4n digital recorder.

Postproduction: iMovie, using original 1080p video from the camera.

Note: this was recorded at an end-of-year concert for a music class. This was the first time the pianist and singer had performed the piece together.

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Gerald Finzi's 'The Sigh' performed by Peter Mellalieu

The Wanderer - Gerald FINZI

Peter Mellalieu sings Finzi's The Wanderer at Auckland Lieder Group, May 2011.

3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony (Repost from YouTube)

This is a wonderfully moving video clip of a young boy pasionately engaged in conducting the last exhilrating movement of  Beethoven's 4th Symphony. Almost four million people have viwed this video on YouTube. And like several commenters, I, too, was moved to tears of joy. 

Review the comments of YouTube. They show you how constructive comments can be! Here's one example:

 

"I believe a major symphony orchestra could easily follow his direction (except for the finish) and audiences would love his style.

I also think that this video would serve an excellent training tool for conducting students--it teaches music expression using the whole body (including conducting with your feet), unbridled enthusiasm, and how to deal with emergencies without dropping a beat (or a baton).

This video gets an A+ in my book. Bravo, Jonathan!"

Related articles

• YouTube New Ideas Week, 'YouTube For Kids', & The Quest For The Awesome Cup (techcrunch.com)
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• How Do You Create an Orchestra Using YouTube? (mashable.com)
• Meet the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 (googleblog.blogspot.com)