Subject: FAQ: rec.music.a-cappella Frequently Asked Questions (Part 3 of 3)
Date: 22 Nov 1994 01:40:40 GMT
References: <acappella-faq.21Nov94.pt2@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au>
X-NNTP-Posting-User: bpqui1
Summary: This posting lists frequently asked questions, with answers, about a cappella music, its performers, and its fans. Please read this before posting to the rec.music.a-cappella newsgroup.

Version: 2.2

Part Three: Internet A Cappella Resources
*****************************************

 o What's the difference between rec.music.a-cappella and alt.music.a-cappella? 
 o Is there a rec.music.a-cappella FTP site? 
 o Can we store arrangements at the FTP site? 
 o Does anyone have the <lyrics/chords> to <song>? 
 o Do any CD directories exist over the Internet? 
 o Do any music tutorials exist for FTP access? 
    o Jazz Primer 
    o rec.music.compose GEMS 
 o Are there any music typesetting programs I can use? 
 o Are there any electronic mailing lists dealing with a cappella music? 
    o Friends of the Bobs 
    o Barbershop singing 
    o Sacred Harp (Shaped Note) singing 
 o Is there any a cappella information available on the World Wide Web? 
 o How can I get my albums reviewed on the Internet? 
 o Where can I get the latest version of the A Cappella FAQ? 

Internet A Cappella Resources
=============================

Q. What's the difference between rec.music.a-cappella and alt.music.a-cappella?

   Originally, the only a cappella newsgroup was alt.music.a-cappella. In
   August '93, a vote was put forward to create a newsgroup 
   rec.music.a-cappella which, aside from having better USENET status,
   (supposedly) reaches more network sites than an alt group. The vote was an
   overwhelming success (342:34 in favour), so the group was created. Thanks to
   Steve Simmons for suggesting the rec group and controlling the voting
   process.

   The charter of the group is as follows:

   rec.music.a-cappella:   For a-cappella music of all styles.

   For friends, fans, and singers of all flavors of pure vocal
   music. Barbershop, madrigals, chorales, rockers and folkies
   are all welcome provided the instruments are left home (or
   mostly home).

   The alt group is still used, but very rarely, and usually by people who are
   unaware of the rec group. I still crosspost this FAQ to alt.music.a-cappella
   and alt.answers, partly because it lets alt readers know of the rec group's
   existence, but mostly because it takes up about twenty extra bytes on each
   machine to do so.

Q. Is there a rec.music.a-cappella FTP site?

   Yes! Greg Weiss <grweiss@phoenix.princeton.edu> has kindly
   volunteered to maintain an FTP site at Princeton University. 

   The main directory is pub/rec.music.a-cappella, and within it is a copy of
   this file (called FAQ), a directory containing archives of postings to the 
   rec.music.a-cappella and alt.music.a-cappella newsgroups (archive), and a
   directory containing text files of various information (info).

   To find out what's currently in both of these directories, check out Greg's
   up-to-date README files in each directory.

   All of this is available for anonymous FTP at:

   princeton.edu (128.112.128.1).

   To do this from UNIX, type "ftp princeton.edu", login as "anonymous", and
   use your email address as the password. Typing "HELP" at a prompt will
   describe the available commands. The normal files can be downloaded using
   the standard "get" command, but the compressed files (those which end with
   .Z) must be downloaded using binary mode, and either viewed using the
   "zcat" command, or uncompressed by simply typing "uncompress <filename>.Z"
   at your UNIX prompt.

   Thanks to Greg for providing this service, which will ensure that the
   worldwide network a cappella community continues to grow.

   If you don't know about FTP (File Transfer Protocol), ask someone at your
   site to find out if you have access to the service. If you've tried using
   FTP yourself but know it won't work, try sending "help" in an email message
   to an ftp-by-mail server (please choose the nearest to you):

    o ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com 
    o ftpmail@src.doc.ic.ac.uk 
    o ftpmail@cs.uow.edu.au 
    o ftpmail@grasp.insa-lyon.fr 

Q. Can we store arrangements at the FTP site?

   This has been a topic of much discussion, nearly since the inception of the
   newsgroup. Most people have said that they would love to see an electronic
   collection of a cappella arrangements on the Internet, but a few have raised
   doubts concerning the legality of such a venture. Until such problems are
   resolved, we can't store arrangements on the network.

   However, this doesn't stop us storing arrangements of original songs (ie
   written by the contributor) on the princeton site, and of course we can
   store lists, reviews and other information as well.

Q. Does anyone have the <lyrics/chords> to <song>?

   Before you post a request for lyrics to the newsgroup, please check out the
   archive at:

   ftp.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4)

   in the directory pub/music/lyrics

   A caveat: the lyrics on this site were submitted by people in good faith,
   but do not take their words as gospel. If you are recording or performing on
   a large scale, it would probably be worth checking out the lyrics against
   some sheet music or the lyric sheet from the album, if possible.

   The chords to songs can sometimes be gleaned from the entries in the guitar
   tablature archive at:

   nevada.edu

   The songs submitted here are organized according to group name, and a
   comprehensive index can be downloaded. Many songs are written in tab,
   which is harder to work out but will give you individual notes; but other
   songs have the chords written out with the song lyrics, which are sometimes
   all an arranger needs (you can usually work out the melody on your own if
   you have a recording).

Q. Do any CD directories exist over the Internet?

 o Recently, an Internet service called the Compact Disc Connection was
   initiated. It is actually a commercial venture (you can order the CDs in
   their catalogue), but it can also be used to look up albums by a particular
   group or artist and obtain track listings of most albums.

   To use the service, telnet to:

   cdconnection.com (199.35.15.2)

   (This is a new address as of 4 April 1994)

   Menus will take you through the directory.

 o Noteworthy Music, a US mail-order catalogue, has started an internet
   connection through NetMarket. Their WWW interface is at:

   http://netmarket.com

 o The ftp.uwp.edu archive also stores discographies for many groups, and
   welcomes additions!

Q. Do any music tutorials exist for FTP access?

 o The Jazz Primer was written by Marc Sabatella for the readers of the 
   rec.music.bluenote newsgroup (jazz and blues music). It was written
   specifically for those who want to learn more about jazz and blues theory,
   to improve their performing, improvising, or listening ability. 

   It assumes a basic knowledge of music and notation, and recommends that you
   have access to a piano and the ability to play simple examples on it. The
   primer discusses, among many other topics, chord/scale relationships (in all
   modes), scale types, and chord voicings.

   This text file (4064 lines, 29 sheets when printed using a2ps) can be read
   at several levels, depending on your previous knowledge and experience. It
   can be used as a harmony tutorial, improvisation guide, or technical
   discussion of chord/scale relationships.

   Although instrumental jazz music is discussed throughout, the techniques can
   obviously be applied to arranging and composing a cappella music. I can
   recommend this file as an introduction to harmony and chord/scale
   relationships, but if you prefer verbose texts which continually emphasize
   the topics, this isn't for you. It packs a lot of information into a small
   space.

   The file may be obtained via FTP from:

.ftp://ftp.njit.edu/pub/jazz-primer/primer.asc

   Or via the World Wide Web...

.http://ftp.njit.edu/pub/jazz-primer/primer.html

 o The GEMS series of articles on music composition were written by Matthew
   Fields, <fields@eecs.umich.edu> for readers of the newsgroup 
   rec.music.compose. It consists of five parts, each dealing with a different
   aspect of music theory and/or composition. 

   The files may be obtained via FTP from ftp.hyperion.com, or via gopher at 
   gopher.cic.net. Matthew tells me:

   "Gems 5 may have a notice trimmed off. If so, please splice it in on the
   bottom. The missing notice is as follows: 

           ORCHESTERSTUECK Op.16 No.1
           (Arnold Schoenberg)
           Copr. 1952 by Henmar Music Corp.
           Permission for use granted by C.F. Peters Corp."

Q. Are there any music typesetting programs I can use?

 o A program called MuTeX exists which enables users on most operating
   systems to typeset single-staff music and lyrics, but a better option for a
   cappella arrangers/composers is MusicTeX, a polyphonic system written by
   Daniel Taupin <taupin@frups51.bitnet>. The latest version is
   available via anonymous FTP from: 

   nic.stolaf.edu

   MuTeX is also available at this site.

   A TeX-and-music mailing list also exists: to join, send a request to 
   <mutex-request@stolaf.edu>.

   Be warned! The MusicTeX output looks nice, but is by no means easy to get!
   You have to type in everything as text, using sometimes convoluted
   commands, and many of these commands are in French. For those with MIDI
   keyboards, a MIDI-to-MusicTeX program can be obtained somewhere, but
   I can't remember where! Try archie if you're interested, and let me know
   what you find!

 o An FAQ list containing lots of information on notation programs is posted to
   the rec.music.compose newsgroup regularly, and is available at the Princeton
   FTP site. 

Q. Are there any electronic mailing lists dealing with a cappella music?

 o The Friends of the Bobs (FOBS) maliing list discusses all aspects of the
   Bobs, a contemporary a cappella group. To subscribe, write to 

   <fobs-request@netcom.com>

 o There is also a mailing list for fans and performers of barbershop music,
   which you can subscribe to by emailing 

   <bbshop-request@cray.com>

   Also, you can request a digest of the bbshop list, where a number of
   postings are gathered into one message which is mailed directly to you. To
   receive this, again mail the above address. At the moment, Skip Gundlach 
   <skip@ice.bae.uga.edu> posts the digests to the newsgroup, but he
   may not continue doing so if enough people don't thank him for it!

 o Discussion and announcements of Sacred Harp singing, based on "The Sacred
   Harp" songbook published in 1844 and using shaped note notation, can be
   contacted on 

   <shaped_note-request@tahiti.umhc.umn.edu>

Q. Is there any a cappella information available on the World Wide Web?

Is there what!

 o A Cappella Links 

   Greg Weiss <grweiss@phoenix.princeton.edu>, as well as
   maintaining the FTP site, also maintains the A Cappella Links page at 
.http://www.princeton.edu/~grweiss/acappella.html

   It contains pointers to this FAQ, various a cappella groups' pages, and
   other more general music sources accessible via the Web.

 o A Cappella Lives! 

   David Dorr, <dave@pear.wustl.edu>, has started a home page for a cappella
   groups local to Washington U St. Louis, at 
.http://pear.wustl.edu/~dave/acap.html

 o rec.music.a-cappella Album Review Board (RARB) 

   Seth Golub, <seth@wucs1.wustl.edu>, keeps the RARB album
   reviews at
.http://www.cs.wustl.edu/~seth/rarb/

 o A Cappella Database 

   Joel Baxter, <jbaxter@lemur.Stanford.EDU>, keeps the A Cappella Database at
.http://lemur.stanford.edu/~jbaxter/acd.

 o Barbershop Web Pages 

   Wes Morgan, <morgan@engr.uky.edu>, runs the Barbershop WWW
   Page at
.http://s.ecc.engr.uky.edu/~morgan/.

Q. How can I get my albums reviewed on the Internet?

   Through the (strong>rec.music.a-cappella Album Review Board (RARB).
   Here is their information file:

   What IS RARB?

   The Rec.music.a-cappella Album Review Board (RARB) was set up to give a
   cappella groups a chance to have their album reviewed by our board and to
   give potential buyers and listeners some insight about each album. RARB
   review compilations are posted on the rec.music.a-cappella newsgroup and
   submitted to the Contemporary A Cappella Newsletter (CAN). The review
   board is made up of a cappella performers, creators, and fans across the
   country with different perspectives on a cappella.

   RARB is coordinated by Chris Tess, and reviews are compiled, archived, and
   distributed by Seth Golub. Current reviewers are: Todd Biske, Rebecca
   Christie, Jonathan Frome, Brookes McKenzie, Shawn Pearce, Anne Raugh,
   and Alison Sullivan. In addition, some of the compilations include reviews
   submitted by Chris Tess, Beth Popp, and Ken Purchase when they were
   RARB reviewers.

   Five reviewers took each recording home and blasted it on their stereos
   while their friends, roommates, and relatives ran for cover. They gave their
   overall and track-by-track impressions, and rated the album and songs on a
   scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Ratings in parenthesis denote average
   song score from that reviewer or average reviewer score for that song.

   The archives are available through the World Wide Web at
.http://www.cs.wustl.edu/~seth/a-cappella/RARB/

   How To Get Your Album Reviewed

   To have your group's recording reviewed by RARB, you can send either:

    o One CD or cassette and a check made out to "Chris Tess" for $12 per
      album (to cover mail chain costs) 

      OR

    o SIX CDs or cassettes 

   All submissions should be sent to: 

       Chris Tess
       Attn: RARB review
       12560 Bay Shore Dr.
       Florissant, MO 63033-5102

   If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, email Chris 
   <cmtess@artsci.wustl.edu> or call him at 314-741-9460 (6-9pm
   CST only).

Q. Where can I get the latest version of the A Cappella FAQ?

 o The completely up to date version of the FAQ is accessible via the World
   Wide Web, using a browser such as xmosaic (for X Windows) or lynx
   (for a text terminal). The URL to access is: 

   http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~svlad/MainIndex.html

   The advantage of this, as well as being much nicer to look at and a joy to
   use (you click on references to travel to them -- ftp, gopher, news,
   whatever), is that it is updated directly by myself, whenever I get new
   information. So you will always be right up to date (well, as much as I am
   ;-)

 o The second best way is to simply read the rec.music.a-cappella newsgroup.
   The FAQ is automatically generated from the WWW version around the first
   of each month (well it will be soon!), and posted there, so that version
   will always be less than a month old. 

 o If for some reason you can't access the FAQ from news, and you have FTP
   access, have a look at the Princeton FTP site, at: 

   ftp://princeton.edu/pub/rec.music.a-cappella/FAQ

   This is a copy of the current FAQ files posted to the newsgroup.

 o If you only have email access, then how are you reading this? Anyway, try
   sending a message to <mailserver@rtfm.mit.edu> with "help" in the
   subject and see what happens. 

---------------------------------------------------------
Please send comments, corrections, info to Brendan Quinn, 
<svlad@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au> 
-- 
Brendan Quinn...| "Music is the expression of emotion,
svlad@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au.| and politics is merely the decoy of
Monash University, Australia.| perception." - Disposable Heroes
<a href="http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~svlad/Brendan.html">Home Page</a>
