How to Write an Opera in the 21st Century: Digital Music and the Dawn of Internet Collaboration

Lee Scott's Interactive Web Opera "The Village"

It used to be that if you wanted to write an opera, you would need access to a full production company, an orchestra, a hall, stagehands and theater personnel, costumes, and more. You would need a librettist and a composer and a stage director, divas and extras, maybe even a donkey. This would require resources well beyond most composers, often thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

But today, if you want to write an opera you can take a few shortcuts that allow you to write an opera for close to free using digital technology and Internet collaboration.

The truth of the matter is that you can access online any singer, librettist, instrumentalist, or actor that you need (well, maybe except for the donkey, who probably doesn't have the Internet).

Some of the ways you can access these individuals includes:
Posting on Message Boards
Contacting University Music Departments
Posting Virtual Auditions on Twitter and Facebook
Using A&R Sites like Music Xray
Posting on Blogs
Blogging
Reaching Our Through Youtube

Five Star Artist Development and Music Industry Consulting

There are limitless ways to contact people to help you make your dream a reality. You can then fund your enterprise in one of several ways:

MicroInvestment
Crowdfunding
Crowdsourcing
Using low-cost resources like musicians on Fiverr.com
Collaborating with talented college students
Working with a university or high school music department
Working with a local community center or a church
Funding the work yourself through odd online jobs

Use technology today to create great opera in a new innovative virtual venue like Second Life (a virtual reality video game), an app, a film or animated short, an original video game, or more. Save money on costuming and create your epic interactive opera with animation and gaming in mind. If you want a live performance, combine multimedia and video to transport your singers to whatever stage you choose.

High Quality Royalty Free Music 50% Off: Use Code "indiefilm"

For Libertaria: The Virtual Opera, I managed to create a feature length animated opera on $1000. When the deadline loomed, I used a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to take on an additional composer Patrick Rundblad for final mastering. I used the machinima software Moviestorm along with Photoshop, DAZ's Bryce software, and Final Cut, all on my older iMac computer. A talented team of animators volunteered to help me create moving imagery and the cast volunteered despite their crazy schedules.

Libertaria: The Virtual Opera Highlights Reel

The dawn of Internet collaboration means that you no longer have to depend on the powers-that-be to write an opera. You can use technology to bring your idea to life. Post up a note that you need a librettist or tell your Facebook friends you are looking for someone to be your soprano leading lady. Innovation has allowed music to explode in recent years. And while the McMusic Industry is lamenting the loss of revenue, indie artists and composers are now free to create whatever they want without limitation.

So do you have a great idea for an opera? Or other large scale work? Don't fret. You can create a new opera and more through innovation.
----

Intermedia composer, percussionist, author, and obsessive sci-fi buff, Young composes mind-numbing

electroacoustic works heard in Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe. Her music has been heard in film festivals, radio, electronic dance clubs, random boom boxes in France, and as not-so-pleasant background music. Her multimedia works have been performed at venues like the Beijing Conservatory, the International Computer Music Conference, Miramax’s Project Greenlight, the Athena Festival, the New York International Independent Film Festival, Art Basil Miami, Turkey’s Cinema for Peace, and Pulsefield International Exhibition of Sound Art.

Commission Sabrina Pena Young today for your project today. Affordable music and multimedia, exclusive professional music coaching, and high quality writing services available. Contact Today: spenayoung@gmail.com

Comments

HOTTEST POSTS!

Music Secrets: How to Write an Opera, Part 1

Feel like writing an opera is only for big name composers with big budgets? Or are you willing to take the plunge and create a work in one of the most compelling and cutting edge musical forms...an opera? Almost two years ago I embarked on the largest musical production I have created to date - Libertaria: The Virtual Opera. After writing the award-winning Creation Oratorio and dozens of multimedia works, I wanted to combine my love of the audio and the visual into a single large scale work. Find a Great Dramatic Story You need a strong story to write a compelling opera. Fortunately you can easily borrow from thousands of public domain works and modernize them. Think of West Side Story (just a contemporary version of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet) . Many great operas use Shakespeare, the Brothers Grimm , and Biblical stories, all of which include interesting characters, strong themes, and action. Libertaria borrows heavily from messianic stories, but is se

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Songwriter?

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Songwriter? Becoming a successful songwriter is the dream of many musicians. But knowing how to write a song , learn an instrument, and make a successful musical career can seem impossible. Well, it does take a lot of work. Not everyone that wants to be a professional musician will succeed, and many just enjoy writing songs as a fun hobby for their enjoyment. Do I need to Sing or Play a Musical Instrument? This might seem like a simple question, but it actually has a complicated answer. Why? Some songwriters never learned a single instrument yet can come up with great lyrics and catchy melodies. Others have played piano or guitar for years or are trained singers. So what is the answer? As a songwriter, you need to understand different aspects of the songwriting process. That doesn't mean you have to have an incredible voice or be the best guitar player on the block. What it does mean is that you need to know music. There is no better

The Phantom of the Opera - Prague Cello Quartet

Free Sheet Music Download: Classical Music Flute Solo Airborn Sand by Composer Sabrina Pena Young

Free Sheet Music Download: Classical Music Flute Solo Airborn Sand by Composer Sabrina Pena Young FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD: http://imslp.org/wiki/Airborn_Sand_(Young,_Sabrina_Pena) Originally composed during a hurricane in South Florida . Inspired by a news reporter 's comments about "Airborne sand " whipping through her hair, the composer decided to write a work for flute that imitated the movements of sand whirling on a beach during a hurricane. It was subsequently performed at the University of South Florida in Tampa . Flute Solo Related articles Friday Freebie: Old Rugged Cross The Landing - Science fiction Robot music - Sabrina Pena Young Music Marketing Secrets: How to Use Twitter, Youtube, Social Media - S P... Quiz: Which Classical Music Era Are You? Latest iTunes 12.5 Beta Should Please Classical Music Fans After Dark - Romanian Rhapsody concert at the Limerick City Gallery of Art Russian inspiration for Clandeboye Festival The Tran

Free Classical Sheet Music and Free Opera Downloads @ Scribd

Sheet Music (Photo credit: jayneandd ) Awhile ago I decided that I would upload the bulk of my music scores and sheet music to sites like Scribd, the Petrucci Music Library , and Archive.org for free sheet music downloads. Some musicians told me that it was ridiculous to give away my music. The truth is that I don't depend on music publishing sales of my scores, and I would rather inspire a young piano student, percussion ensemble, opera singer, grandma, bored music student, or music teacher to play and study my music than hold on tight to my copyrights and let my music scores collect virtual dust on my hard drive. The Petrucci Library, Scribd, and Archive.org all have dozens of free music scores available for choir, vocal solos, piano, percussion, orchestra, opera, multimedia works, and more. You can see a short list of available free sheet music by checking out the Scores page. You might want to check out scores to my modern opera Libertaria: The Virtual Opera , an ex

Music Secrets: How to Write an Opera, Part 2

Music Secrets: How to Write an Opera, Part 2 After the incredibly positive feedback that I had from Music Secrets: How to Write an Opera, Part 1 , I thought I would talk a little bit about the composition angle of writing, at least how I do it in regards to vocal music . Here's a quick primer for anyone learning some of the basics of writing vocal music for opera, musicals, classical music , etc. 1. The Sketch I have had several great teachers in my life - Dr. Clare Shore , Hilton Jones, Dr. Kristine Burns, Paul Reller , Dr. Frederick Kaufman, Dr. Orlando Garcia, Chuck Owen, etc. My composition prof (and USF SYCOM guru) Paul Reller helped me develop the composition technique that I have had for years. Download the Libertaria: The Virtual Opera Soundtrack at iTunes When I have the time to go through the entire composition process (because sometimes I have to skip a step or two for deadlines), I will start out with pencil, paper, and a piano (or keyboard, in my case).

How to Write Film Music in 5 Easy Steps

How to Write Film Music in 5 Easy Steps How to write film music in five simple steps for any composer. Thanks for checking out this video! Subscribe for more great content! Like this? Then check out AMAZON BESTSELLER Composer Boot Camp 101, a comprehensive guide to songwriting, composition, and film music with 50 exercises for students, educators, and music professionals! DOWNLOAD TODAY

FREE MOVIE Spiritus : Science Fiction Animation | Sabrina Young Film

In this visually compelling animated sci-fi film by Buffalo filmmaker Sabrina Young, a neurotic janitor hitchhikers her way to the dying exoplanet Spiritus to escape the truth of her past in this visually stunning animated machinima film by award-winning Cuban American Director and Composer Sabrina Peña Young. Thrown into the Asylum by her parents after a violent incident, Eleora longs to join the SpaceX crew to journey to Spiritus. Captain Reginald Hunter, a loser playboy, will do anything to stop her from finding the mysterious Ancient alien seer who calls to her light-years away. Created using a combination of original watercolor paintings created by the director's 8-year-old daughter and video-game inspired machinima, and accompanied by Young's riveting electronica Stranger Things inspired soundtrack, Spiritus promises to take the audience to an unforgettable fantasy adventure. Nominated for Best Animation at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival 2019. Directed

COMPOSER SABRINA PENA YOUNG | MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | FILM | CLASSICAL | OPERA

Search This Blog