With the approach of New Year, it is all too easy for the spirit of Christmas to fade away all too soon. I started to feel it myself, so decided that the full Ghosts of Christmas Eve by Tran-Siberian Orchestra (and guest performers) was in order, and I offer it to others here.
Do try to find three-quarters of an hour to watch this from start to end, preferably uninterrupted – though there are natural breaks here and there in case of need.
There are a number of excellent solo and group performances, a simple but important storyline behind all that transpires and why it is presented in the exact form that it is; and of course there's Ossie Davis as the Caretaker, for which part he was the perfect choice...
Showing posts with label Christmas 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas 2013. Show all posts
Monday, 30 December 2013
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
O Holy Night
This is the night! Not necessarily correct by the literal calendar, but the one on which we celebrate our dear saviour's birth, as the lyrics say in this most precious of Christmastime songs and carols.
This is, as I always feature, Michael Crawford along with what I now learn (despite indications to the contrary in previous year) are children from the St Bartholomews Episcopalean Church in New York. My apologies for unwittingly passing on incorrect attributions in previous years – but little angels are still angels no matter where they live!
Although the resolution and clarity are a little lacking in this version, it is the best I can find currently on-line; and the comments at its YouTube page are among the most consistently positive and uplifting I have ever read for any video...
This is, as I always feature, Michael Crawford along with what I now learn (despite indications to the contrary in previous year) are children from the St Bartholomews Episcopalean Church in New York. My apologies for unwittingly passing on incorrect attributions in previous years – but little angels are still angels no matter where they live!
Although the resolution and clarity are a little lacking in this version, it is the best I can find currently on-line; and the comments at its YouTube page are among the most consistently positive and uplifting I have ever read for any video...
Night In The Galactic Railroad Train
Some reading this might remember this music from the Isao Tomita concert extract I posted a few weeks ago. It's from his Symphony Ihatov; and I do believe it might be he who makes a guest appearance in what follows, conducting this work.
This time the music is set in context, based on Kenji (sometimes written 'Kenzi') Miyazawa's Night On The Galactic Railroad, a full-length movie made in 1985, and the video here is very well done. A familiar performer also features in places, though the train and the landscape are perhaps the real stars here.
Stay with this: it's well worth it especially in full-screen and high definition – and it is a fitting video for Christmas Eve: we know that the Christmas Story was the first step on Planet Earth toward the Easter Story and the cross...
This time the music is set in context, based on Kenji (sometimes written 'Kenzi') Miyazawa's Night On The Galactic Railroad, a full-length movie made in 1985, and the video here is very well done. A familiar performer also features in places, though the train and the landscape are perhaps the real stars here.
Stay with this: it's well worth it especially in full-screen and high definition – and it is a fitting video for Christmas Eve: we know that the Christmas Story was the first step on Planet Earth toward the Easter Story and the cross...
Christmas Eve, Sarajevo
Yes, it's time for the perennial Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the one with the truly delightful child, the scraggy kittens and the snow-covered piano and rather distinguished orchestra conductor outside.
I make no apologies for re-posting this wonderful, magical and yet modern mini-masterpiece of video on this day each year. The occasion just wouldn't be quite the same without it...
I make no apologies for re-posting this wonderful, magical and yet modern mini-masterpiece of video on this day each year. The occasion just wouldn't be quite the same without it...
Monday, 23 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Merry Merry Christmas
I have been looking for some time (months!) for a version of this with English subtitles or captions, without success, but in the end have decided to go with it anyway as it's just such a delight. Yes, I know I did this with Snow Miku just a few days ago, but it bears repetition as you will see.
Miku in her Santa costume is irresistible – even though some leggings might have been beneficial in the cold, snowy weather. A garter on one side isn't going to keep her warm!
For any visitor here who (a) likes this costume concept and (b) has access to Nico Nico Douga, there's a nice video here of three Lat Teto models, the lead one in a (somewhat different) Santa outfit, performing the famous World Is Mine. It is worth noting, in regard to this, that Teto's screams are very good, though Miku's are probably still the best in the business...
Miku in her Santa costume is irresistible – even though some leggings might have been beneficial in the cold, snowy weather. A garter on one side isn't going to keep her warm!
For any visitor here who (a) likes this costume concept and (b) has access to Nico Nico Douga, there's a nice video here of three Lat Teto models, the lead one in a (somewhat different) Santa outfit, performing the famous World Is Mine. It is worth noting, in regard to this, that Teto's screams are very good, though Miku's are probably still the best in the business...
Voc-Xmas 2013 – How Many Nights Until Christmas?
Not many now; but here's Vocalekt Visions' original song of that title from two years ago, featuring GUMI and CUL and lead vocalists – and don't they go well together? There is also a chorus of SF-A2 Miki, Iroha Nekomura, Miku and Gakupo.
No English words are provided, unfortuinately, though there are some obvious ones actually in the song. As it happens, with this song, it isn't essential (though it would be helpful) and it is essentially a getting-in-the-mood number, which it does well enough as is, complete with cartoon-y graphics.
This is also yet another reminder of just how good the two primary driving forces of Vocalekt Visions – Tempo-P and neutrinoP – were as a composing team, and it is so good that the bond between them has just this past few weeks been re-established, after a period of several months when they were going separate ways. Perhaps, in a way, that 'mending of fences' is the best Christmas present the Vocaloid community will have this year...
No English words are provided, unfortuinately, though there are some obvious ones actually in the song. As it happens, with this song, it isn't essential (though it would be helpful) and it is essentially a getting-in-the-mood number, which it does well enough as is, complete with cartoon-y graphics.
This is also yet another reminder of just how good the two primary driving forces of Vocalekt Visions – Tempo-P and neutrinoP – were as a composing team, and it is so good that the bond between them has just this past few weeks been re-established, after a period of several months when they were going separate ways. Perhaps, in a way, that 'mending of fences' is the best Christmas present the Vocaloid community will have this year...
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Let's Split says Chuck
This is the 'gone viral' Chuck Norris one-minute Christmas greeting video, for anyone who hasn't yet caught it. Well, it is only a couple or so days old...
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Santa Baby
Sweet Ann (the Vocaloid developed here in Britain, in collaboration with an outfit in Sweden) here performs Santa Baby. The (English, of course for this) words are provided but are hardly necessary. Whoever produced them didn't know how to spell 'yacht' either(!)
It's a very good effort, especially as it was made three years ago, but Giuseppe is very good, as we found with his Big Al work a couple of days ago...
It's a very good effort, especially as it was made three years ago, but Giuseppe is very good, as we found with his Big Al work a couple of days ago...
Friday, 20 December 2013
Voc-Xmas – The First Christmas
Although there are no English words provided, this is such a delightful and uplifting number that I thought it merited inclusion in this season of Vocaloid Christmas songs. This is Len with The First Christmas, by MusukaP.
The video is fairly simple, but effective in the context, with some development including scene changes, which doesn't happen nearly often enough with this style of music-video imagery...
The video is fairly simple, but effective in the context, with some development including scene changes, which doesn't happen nearly often enough with this style of music-video imagery...
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Silent Night, by Miku
It's a bit old now, hence the low resolution; and this is just two verses of Silent Night, but it is nicely done and suits the mood, I think. It just feels right...
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
I am grateful to Channel Miku 39 for pointing me to this three-year-old version of the seasonal classic performed by vocaloid Big Al.
It's generally very good, and despite a little awkwardness with some of the pronunciation should be easy for anyone to follow without the aid of the captioning, even by those who don't already know the words Big Al's voice is definitely a strong, masculine one that isn't overpowering.
I have been looking toward the idea of adding a male Vocaloid to my set-up here one day if I become a true producer and earn enough to pay for one,and think I might have found him...
It's generally very good, and despite a little awkwardness with some of the pronunciation should be easy for anyone to follow without the aid of the captioning, even by those who don't already know the words Big Al's voice is definitely a strong, masculine one that isn't overpowering.
I have been looking toward the idea of adding a male Vocaloid to my set-up here one day if I become a true producer and earn enough to pay for one,and think I might have found him...
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Wizards in Winter – New Light Show
As is an annual tradition on this 'blog, I am featuring a light show set to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's excellent Wizards in Winter. I searched for a new one, created this year, and ploughed through (at least part of each of) more than a dozen 2013 videos of this.
Disappointingly, most were of low technical quality, poor sound, or were somewhat lacklustre as these shows go. One even started half-way through. I don't know what has happened: it suggests that much, perhaps most, of the sheer creativity and attention to technical and other matters has passed its peak and is now in decline. Or it could just be a bad year and 2014 will be back to the higher standard we have witnessed before.
In the end, I found two that were worthy of inclusion here, and I think this one is fractionally better than the other one, overall (despite having been taken in a way that makes the house seem to be listing to one side), so here it is for your enjoyment...
Disappointingly, most were of low technical quality, poor sound, or were somewhat lacklustre as these shows go. One even started half-way through. I don't know what has happened: it suggests that much, perhaps most, of the sheer creativity and attention to technical and other matters has passed its peak and is now in decline. Or it could just be a bad year and 2014 will be back to the higher standard we have witnessed before.
In the end, I found two that were worthy of inclusion here, and I think this one is fractionally better than the other one, overall (despite having been taken in a way that makes the house seem to be listing to one side), so here it is for your enjoyment...
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Merry Merry Christmas
Continuing the Merry Christmas theme from the previous post, now that the term has become acceptable again this year, who better than Snow Miku 2014 to give us this long-established seasonal song. The English words haven't been provided, but we all know them anyway so that is no hardship.
With a brief switch to a different stage, and an animated (in both senses!) performance, this certainly keeps hold of one's attention, and I think might well become the definite Vocaloid video of this number. It certainly deserves to be so...
With a brief switch to a different stage, and an animated (in both senses!) performance, this certainly keeps hold of one's attention, and I think might well become the definite Vocaloid video of this number. It certainly deserves to be so...
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Merry Christmas To The World
This is a really nice seasonal song by Rin, who seems here to be the perfect choice to perform Merry Christmas To The World in a delightful arrangement.
It doesn't get much better than this, although it is true that the full English words (some of it is already in English) would have been welcome...
It doesn't get much better than this, although it is true that the full English words (some of it is already in English) would have been welcome...
Monday, 16 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Angels We Have Heard On High
This is the Hatsune Chorus with quite a nice arrangement of this traditional carol...
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Jingle Bells
With the voices of (alphabetically) Gakupo, GUMI, Iroha, Miki, Miku and Yukari, it's Jingle Bells as produced by my composer/producer friend neutrinoP, whose real name also happens to be Miki, and whose home town this is – Hunedoara in Romania – and where these scenes were shot (by someone called Pixelino) last Christmas (2012).
I think those responsible for the decorations in Hunedoara did a splendid job, much better than we tend to do in similar sized towns here in Britain. Perhaps our local council might like to watch this and have a bit of a think about their own offerings...
I think those responsible for the decorations in Hunedoara did a splendid job, much better than we tend to do in similar sized towns here in Britain. Perhaps our local council might like to watch this and have a bit of a think about their own offerings...
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Lux et spes KOBE
It's not in English, but this is so nice that I don't think the lack of English words really matters, any more than it does for Latin Christmas and other songs, carols and hymns. That said, I shall of course post the English-subtitled (or captioned) version if and when it appears and I find it!
On the subject of Latin, there are some Latin words (just a few) within this, captioned at top-right, about three and a half minutes in...
This video features the ever-charming fairy Vocaloid Lapis Aoki, whose delightful voice is absolutely perfect here...
On the subject of Latin, there are some Latin words (just a few) within this, captioned at top-right, about three and a half minutes in...
Caelum lucidumLux et spes means 'light and hope', I should explain for those who do not know Latin. – and no, 'Levis corde' does not mean a brand of corduroy jeans(!)
Levis corde
Plenus lumine noctis
KOBE
This video features the ever-charming fairy Vocaloid Lapis Aoki, whose delightful voice is absolutely perfect here...
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Voc-Xmas 2013 – Macne Nana
Not a Caribbean plantain dish or drink, but the admittedly unusual name of a new Vocaloid whose English voicebank is due to be released next month (January 2014), more than four years after the original (Japanese) release. I am grateful to Channel Miku 39 on Facebook, for spotting this before I did, and providing a link to the short (52 seconds) Soundcloud demo below.
Technically, the Macne series – comprising six characters – are neither Vocaloid nor UTAU, both of which are PC-run systems whereas the Macne series (four sisters, their father, and another about whom I have no info as yet), as the name suggests, are for the Apple Mac'. The voicebank is embedded within the software rather than a separate file, so the software structuring is markedly different – although I gather that a way has been found to 'acquire' the voicebank for use with at least one UTAU editor.
It's a somewhat child-like female voice – as the artwork suggests (I am no expert at this, but am guessing at a 13-14 year old... UPDATE: officially 14-15 years) – but is good at both Japanese (as far as I could determine) and English, even without pronunciation 'tuning', none of which was applied here. Nearing in mind that there is a somewhat limited range of sounds (phonemes) supplied with Macne Nana – just 104 – this is a good achievement.
Interestingly, her younger sister, Macne Petit (yes, I spotted it too: it should be 'Petite' for a female!) has the same voicebank with fewer sounds, and was therefore cheaper to buy, though an expansion pack was later released to extend the range of phonemes for Petit.
So, here is the new Vocaloid Macne Nana with Deck The Halls in both languages. If the player doesn't appear first time (a bug I have mentioned before) just force a page reload and it should then be visible and its controls accessible...
Technically, the Macne series – comprising six characters – are neither Vocaloid nor UTAU, both of which are PC-run systems whereas the Macne series (four sisters, their father, and another about whom I have no info as yet), as the name suggests, are for the Apple Mac'. The voicebank is embedded within the software rather than a separate file, so the software structuring is markedly different – although I gather that a way has been found to 'acquire' the voicebank for use with at least one UTAU editor.
It's a somewhat child-like female voice – as the artwork suggests (I am no expert at this, but am guessing at a 13-14 year old... UPDATE: officially 14-15 years) – but is good at both Japanese (as far as I could determine) and English, even without pronunciation 'tuning', none of which was applied here. Nearing in mind that there is a somewhat limited range of sounds (phonemes) supplied with Macne Nana – just 104 – this is a good achievement.
Interestingly, her younger sister, Macne Petit (yes, I spotted it too: it should be 'Petite' for a female!) has the same voicebank with fewer sounds, and was therefore cheaper to buy, though an expansion pack was later released to extend the range of phonemes for Petit.
So, here is the new Vocaloid Macne Nana with Deck The Halls in both languages. If the player doesn't appear first time (a bug I have mentioned before) just force a page reload and it should then be visible and its controls accessible...
Monday, 9 December 2013
Christmas 2013 – Angels We Have Filmed From High
Well, sort of... (to quote Premika Eaton as Laurie in S P Somtow's cult classic 'The Laughing Dead')
It's the second week of December and the world is now well and truly in Christmas mood – at least those parts of our planet that recognise and celebrate this time. Therefore I shall feature some appropriate videos from now on, mixed in with other posts, as I have done for the past several years. This year, some will feature Vocaloids as a bonus.
I am grateful to my composer/producer friend 'Mr Neutrino' for sharing this highly unusual performance of Angels We Have Heard On High performed by The Piano Guys on one piano, and filmed from all angles via a walking toy, a model train, and a radio-controlled helicopter among others.
There is a commercial bit at the end, after the performance, for their new album and sheet music nooks. It's worth letting that play through to the end on one's first watching of this, especially for the 'monkey business' just after...
It's the second week of December and the world is now well and truly in Christmas mood – at least those parts of our planet that recognise and celebrate this time. Therefore I shall feature some appropriate videos from now on, mixed in with other posts, as I have done for the past several years. This year, some will feature Vocaloids as a bonus.
I am grateful to my composer/producer friend 'Mr Neutrino' for sharing this highly unusual performance of Angels We Have Heard On High performed by The Piano Guys on one piano, and filmed from all angles via a walking toy, a model train, and a radio-controlled helicopter among others.
There is a commercial bit at the end, after the performance, for their new album and sheet music nooks. It's worth letting that play through to the end on one's first watching of this, especially for the 'monkey business' just after...
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