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Visiting ViennaBy Robert Farley (cl_kaulana) | cl_kaulana@oocities.com | Vienna Strasse/7000 For those of you who speak the language that could have been the mother tongue of the United States had Leif Erikson had a better public relations agent, we have an elementary chorus from Iceland. Or maybe you'd like to see what a techie wife and an operatic husband can combine their talents to produce. And if you're looking for a way to showcase your vocal group, we have a selection of sites to give you ideas, as well as the first site brought to me via a nomination by another Vienna visitor.
This issue's journey begins with the volcanic island of Iceland. Iceland, as I have learned, puts much emphasis on the musical education of its young people by encouraging the formation of school choirs. This site details the activities of Kór Snælandsskóla, or the Choir of Snæland School, located in Kópavogur, Iceland. The major portion of the site is written in the Old Norse language of Icelandic (which, by the way, was the language of Leif Erikson, who visited the North American shores several centuries before the Italian Columbus -- so why don't Americans speak Italian?). Since not many people outside of Iceland speak Icelandic today, or can even find many of the letters on their computer keyboards, Óskar Guðjónsson, the site's creator has provided an excellent English summary. Guðjónsson and his wife are parents of children who are members of the choir. "Most of the content is self-evident," Óskar relates,"e.g. pictures from concerts and the choir's travel to Norway, members names, performances and repertoire of the two choirs." Though the site is mainly for the benefit of the choir members and their parents, the many beautiful pictures combined with the good layout make it an enjoyable visit for anyone. For the future, Óskar hopes to add audio and video clips, as well as a choir newsletter. And that will only make this great site greater. Collectors' Guide to Opera Recordings and Videos Next stop: New York City, where Liz and Geoffrey Riggs pool their efforts and knowledge to put together a collection of opera video and recording critiques. "My wife, Liz, is the techie in the household, and she has done the lion's share of the design and organization for our site," points out Geoffrey, who is the content provider for the well-done site. Geoffrey began his Internet opera experience with the news group rec.music.opera, where people often post messages asking for recommendations for recordings of a specific opera. Riggs had put together a list of recommended opera recordings for a small library in Maine, and, at the suggestion of a fellow GeoCities site master, decided to start a web site devoted to recommended recordings and videos of operas. Wife Liz proceeded to teach herself HTML and is now learning to use Paint Shop Pro, "so hopefully the site will sprout some tasteful (and small!) graphics in the coming months," Geoffrey said. Besides graphics, the Riggses hope to expand their Collector's Guide to Books on Opera page (.../Vienna/7023/reading.htm), as well as to add more opera critiques, sound clips, and lists of singers. With all the additions in the offing, be sure to visit this site often to find out if your favorite opera or singer has made the list.
While cruising NYC, we'll stop off at a great-looking site that showcases the members and repertoire of the New York City-based Zéphyros Quintet. The webpage was designed and built by band member Doug Quint, who is also a student at the one and only Juilliard School of Music. Zéphyros was formed by Mike Bepko (clarinet) in 1994. "Our flutist (Nadine Hur), hornist (Pat Pridemore) and Mike are the founders that are still in the group," Quint tells me. The group has continually performed with award-winning style, with each of its members being extremely accomplished in their own rights. Visitors to this site will like the "less is more" style that benefits from the straightforward and focused content. The last of three visits to New York City finds us at the web site of The Canby Singers. Some 40 years ago, the late Edward Tatnall Canby started a singing group that still exists, holding its practice sessions each week in the famous Greenwich Village area. One of the members, tenor Randy Johnson, brings us this website, which consists of members names and postings of interest to the group. "The web presents a wonderful way for any community -- including the amateur choral community -- to interact and to present information," Randy explained. "My goal for creating the site was to provide a central location for current information about the group to be disseminated, and to also provide historical information for past members and those interested to come and view." And that is one of the strengths of the Internet and one of the great things about GeoCities. No matter where a person roams, his web site can always be in the same place at GeoCities. From NYC we'll head west and north across the Canadian border to find the homeland of the homepage of a radio show in Toronto called Cinematic Sound. The site's designer and builder, Erik Woods, is also the producer of the program, which has been running for over three years. Originally produced to feature film music as a whole, the website has recently turned its focus to the radio program. An avid film and television music buff, Woods is planning to include some on-demand tunes via the Real Audio plug-in. "Listeners will be able to listen to the show when ever they feel like it. All they will have to do is click and listen," he explained. And finally, to the first site brought to my attention by someone else visiting Vienna. Homesteader Gretchen Lamb sent me a nomination for a stopping point that should definitely be on everyone's bookmark list. The Classical Connection is done by Joe Moreno of Oakland, California. Though it has recently branched out, the site concentrates on Wolfgang Mozart, who would have been 243 years old this past January 27. Gretchen was deservedly complimentary of the site, saying, "While the design is efficient, clean, and elegant, the information was comprehensive and presented with grace and enthusiasm ... It also contains a wide range of listening guides, clips, and analysis for numerous compositions by Mozart. The articles are entertaining, accessible, and pleasurable to read for both musician and amateurs." The site now has four sections, having added a Beethoven Experience, Artist Connections, and a Classical Webzine, which features monthly articles by student composers, knowledgable music lovers, and web master Moreno discussing various compositions, music forms, recordings, genres, etc. "This is a web page of insight, class, and style," says Gretchen of Joe's site. And if you browse through The Classical Connection, you will probably feel the same. I hope you have time to visit these wonderful websites, maybe sign a guestbook or two, and see what it takes to become a place to stop at while visiting Vienna. 
VIENNA LEADERS!! Do you know of a site in your block in Vienna that ought
to be on the itinerary when "Visiting Vienna"?
Why not drop Robert (cl_kaulana) a line
and let him know about it? Absolutely no costs, no hidden fees, no more
time on your part will be asked, it's totally free
and it'll make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Whoever is featured gets to
wear the neat award pictured here, as well as have a link and brief description on cl_k's
Great Sites/Visiting Vienna page. Plus, all submitters and submittees get a brand new car
and a vacation to Tahiti for 10 days and 11 nights, complete with 500 units of the
currency of their choice. Okay, maybe not the last couple of parts, but
definitely the award and the links.
Find out how to join the Vienna Community Leaders. Why not make your browsing count? |
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Three of Zéphyros Quintet's founding members are, left, clarinetist Mike Bepko,
French hornist Pat Pridemore, and flutist Nadine Hur. Behind Hur is bassoonist and
web page designer Doug Quint. Not pictured is oboist James Roe.