module 2: july 14-17
When I’m Laid in Earth (Dido’s Lament)
the basics
Level: Intermediate
Arrangement: SATB
Working Language: Engels
Location: studio 102, Amsterdam-Noord
Conductor: Joep Hegger
why we’re singing this
When I’m Laid in Earth, also known as Dido’s Lament, was originally written as an aria for solo voice with accompaniment. Henry Purcell composed it in 1688 as the closing piece of the opera Dido and Aeneas.
Because the music mirrors the tragedy of the text with such intensity, it has been considered a masterpiece of Baroque opera since its earliest performances.
Below is a performance with solo voice:
the arrangement
…is written so that the main melody travels through the different voice groups. No one has the leading role—which means everyone does: we truly sing it together, as one voice.
The piece has two halves. After a tense opening with chromatically descending (“lament”) basses, everyone enters together on the first phrase, with harmonies that keep widening and a very intimate expression: small, but powerful.
In the second half, the lower voices begin; more and more voices join in, building toward a tragic yet beautiful climax on “remember me!” that keeps resonating in your body for minutes afterwards.
agenda
July 14, 15 & 16
10:00-10:45 group warm-up, vocal technique, vocal expression
10:45-10:55 break
11:00-12:00 rehearsing/learning the song
July 17
10:00-10:45 group warm-up, vocal technique, vocal expression
10:45-10:55 break
11:00-11:30 dress rehearsal
11:45-12:00 concert! You can invite whoever you like.
questions & answers
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We use three levels: beginner, experienced, and advanced.
Beginner: you have (virtually) no experience with singing lessons, choir singing, or learning music.
Experienced: you have one to a few years of experience with singing lessons, choir singing, or learning music. You can read notes reasonably well, and you can imitate/sing back a melody quite well.
Advanced: you have at least five years of experience with singing lessons, choir experience, and learning music. You can read notes, and you can immediately sing back a melody that is sung to you.
Not sure? Then choose one level lower, or choose two modules in a row—first a lower one, then a higher one.
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Nothing is mandatory, and you don’t necessarily have to invite an audience.
But… experience shows that sharing your singing—whether with your own audience or with strangers—makes the experience much richer and more meaningful!
Naturally, the conductor will guide you in such a way that you feel minimal stage fright and can enjoy it to the fullest.
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Basic understanding of English is necessary—but feel free to ask your questions in Dutch or German.
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In vocal group arrangements, S stands for Sorpano, M for Mezzo-Soprano, A for alto, T for Tenor, B for Bass.
Here’s a Wikipedia article explaining it in detail.
Please note that I work with range, not gender! It’s your actual range that matters, not your pronouns. We figure out the distribution of voices on day 1 of the module.
Always feel invited to ask if you have questions.
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Don’t worry. On day 1 of each module, we test everyone’s vocal range and distribute voices along the arrangement.
And if that sounds like a foreign language, the short version is: We’ll figure out what best fits your voice when we start a new song/piece.
more singing in the summer!
