so who here has recorded Haydns creation??

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:13 pm

I have a run of this starting tommorow and running through the 13th.

This one is a smaller church, good acoustics(though not cavernous reverb like Matthews Passion)

Just curious to see what others have done with this piece. any and all suggestions welcome..

Thanks as always.

Teddy
church website http://www.kircheinheddesheim.de/
edit
some pictures of the churchs interior (and exterior)

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:43 pm

It looks a wonderful venue! Will you have the band on the front of the raised section and the choir in tiers behind, as in your second photograph? Where will the soloists be - with the choir, or moving to stand in front of the band for their solos?

It looks as though you may be able to sling a couple of crosswires from either side at about 4m height. Since your sound source would be relatively compact, you could probably get away with two 90 or 110 degree pairs of suspended SDC mics (one pair for the band, one for the choir) plus floor stands with spot mics for soloists. You could even experiment with MS techniques for the overheads if you have several performances in hand and different microphones available.

It must be over 30 years since I last recorded The Creation. I remember almost breaking down at the great C major tutti, so emotionally powerful was it. The music (and the buildings) doesn't change, even if our technology does.

I really envy you this one!

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:45 pm

It looks a wonderful venue! Will you have the band on the front of the raised section and the choir in tiers behind, as in your second photograph? Where will the soloists be - with the choir, or moving to stand in front of the band for their solos?

It looks as though you may be able to sling a couple of crosswires from either side at about 4m height. Since your sound source would be relatively compact, you could probably get away with two 90 or 110 degree pairs of suspended SDC mics (one pair for the band, one for the choir) plus floor stands with spot mics for soloists. You could even experiment with MS techniques for the overheads if you have several performances in hand and different microphones available.

It must be over 30 years since I last recorded The Creation. I remember almost breaking down at the great C major tutti, so emotionally powerful was it. The music (and the buildings) doesn't change, even if our technology does.

I really envy you this one!

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:48 pm

BigRay wrote:

Just curious to see what others have done with this piece. any and all suggestions welcome.

My only experience with the Creation is as a singer, but I have a question for you. I notice that the soloists are behind the orchestra. Is that common where you are?

Here they're most often in front of the orchestra, almost in line with the conductor and this setup causes problems for me with mic placement. In the main mics the solo singers will become far left or far right. If I'd want omni outriggers they'd go directly in front of the solo singers.

best regards
Lars

Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:37 pm

No, they are in front. The pictures of choirs that you see are past performance pictures. Typically the soloists are in front of the choir here..

Mr. Boswell, you hit it head on. The choir is on risers behind the orchestra. All soloists will move to the front.

My only experience with this piece has been as a soloist, (Basso) ..but recording will be an amazing experience...I am learning so much here in Germany.

Thanks for the replies, Lars and Mr. Boswell.

larsfarm wrote:

BigRay wrote:

Just curious to see what others have done with this piece. any and all suggestions welcome.

My only experience with the Creation is as a singer, but I have a question for you. I notice that the soloists are behind the orchestra. Is that common where you are?

Here they're most often in front of the orchestra, almost in line with the conductor and this setup causes problems for me with mic placement. In the main mics the solo singers will become far left or far right. If I'd want omni outriggers they'd go directly in front of the solo singers.

best regards
Lars

Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 1:46 pm

I recorded Creation in a small venue once. Choir behind orchestra on risers. Soloists in front row of choir, but not stepping out for solos.

I was able to use ORTF pair behind conductor with in-line flanked omnis (total spread was 2 meters). I stuck spot mics on short stands behind orchestra/in front of choir - positioned in front of soloists. Directional mics with good rear rejection. The trick with the main mics was raising them high enough for the proper balance. Once I found that balance, the spots were just icing.

In the end I went sans-spots. The main array (ORTF w/ flanks) was gorgeous and gave me everything I wanted.

I also did a few Messiahs and a Rutter Requiem in the same venue with the same setup.

Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 2:18 pm

Well, I went with two pairs of MG m930s , and one pair of m300s on the orchestra(ortf), with a Jecklin Disc(Schoeps CMC62S) and two flanking u87s on the Choir.(card)

Soloist duty will be covered by my AKG 426B in blumlein.

It works, thank the Lord!Thanks for the suggestions!

Teddy

Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 9:51 pm

I think we've recorded Creation six times so far over the years. It's a wonderful piece indeed. We've done several "Mutlitmedia" versions of it where there was a large screen overhead with visuals. In those cases, we went with sectional mics; couldn't use anything overhead due to the projections.

Just about every instance I can remember had the soloists to the left of the conductor. (Stage right)

Glad it worked out for you!

Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 10:38 pm

Hey Teddy!
Good luck and enjoy. Nice venue.
A pleasure chatting with you. Thumbs Up

Jim

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 12:15 am

JoeH wrote:

I think we've recorded Creation six times so far over the years.

...and on the seventh, you rested, right?

Sorry, couldn't resist! Cool

Mike

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:07 pm

Thanks all!

I am recording it on Wednesday in a Castle(yep, a bonafide German castle!)

That should be interesting.... Laughing

Jamz, pleasure speaking with you too sir!

Teddy

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 5:33 pm

I was researching, being a nerd, listening to the rough files on the DEVA, and, being a singer and all, while going through the Score to compare my knowledge of the piece with how this particular Bass soloist handled the Arias and Recitatives...Noticed that some of his notes seemed to sit awfully high for the register in which they were written.. I called the director up, and indeed they were tuned to 448, patterned after the GewandHaus in Leipzig..

Im glad the bass was not me!

That piece goes up to D as it is written with normal tuning, and me being a real bottom dwelling bass..Wouldnt want to sing Es and Fs..

Teddy

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