Watch Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir of 2K YouTube Singers, & Watch for a Whitacre-Blessed SL Project Coming Soon!

This is a beautiful and inspiring project conceived and created by renowned American composer Eric Whitacre: "Virtual Choir 2.0", incorporating 2052 singers from 58 countries who uploaded their individual performances to YouTube, where it was composited together to become a international chorus transcending all borders:

Now here's some cool news especially for Second Life residents: Another Whitacre composition will soon be produced in Second Life, with Whitacre's blessing:

"Eric came into SL for an interview late last year and I was able to meet and chat with him a bit," metaverse musical innovator Lorin Tone tells me. "The result of our discussions will be first a video, then a few live SL productions of a piece he composed called 'Godzilla Eats Las Vegas'. Long story short, we're acting it out in SL." (Watch a real world version of that composition here.) Mr. Tone's collaborators include Madcow Cosmos, Marcus Parrott (a former artist for Monty Python), Chantal Harvey (who'll shoot a machinima), and Lauren Weyland providing voice talent. So watch for that soon.

"As you might imagine," Lorin Tone says, somewhat unnecessarily, "A 3D SL performance will be considerably more vivid. And graphically destructive, of course." Sign me up.

Oh yes, when did Eric Whitacre come to Second Life? To be on Paisely Beebe's show, of course. Watch his appearance after the break:

Comments

[Saxon]

LL can keep the virtual chihuahuas. THIS kind of thing is the real promise of virtual worlds.

Thanks for posting the engaging, adult dialog as well as such a beautiful and grand experiment.

Maybe I'm not quite ready to leave SL after all. Hope springs eternal.

[Leonie Smith]

Thanks for the embed Hamlet. I would like to however point out, that the reason Lorin was able to "meet and chat" with Eric was because of 8 months of solid work from My college Bliss Windlow! who almost single handedly brought Eric into Second Life for our interview. ( I have to give her props as she just doesn't get enough!) Yup 8 months of working with his "people" It took 8 months not because of his reluctance to take a chance on us but, firstly we had to convince his "Team" that we were not NUTS! and then working with his very very hectic schedule was problematic. Up until the weekend before the interview, I still doubted every day that it would happen! as he could be called away at any moment. Yes its only a good internet connection Skype ect...but Eric wanted to "Be In" second life, unlike the majority of "star" interviews in SL he wanted to operate his own avatar,(created by Maddox Dupont, which Eric Loved! btw) and learn how to use SL, and have to say out of the 800 or so people I've interviewed on my show, he was one of the most co-operative, and most fun, AND the most technical savvy. He knew immediately how to use gestures and to sit, we had to stop him from playing to do rehearsal ! :) he was an absolute Joy. ( you can see Im a fan). His days are pretty much scheduled months in advance.

At the same time as preparing for the interview I also practiced for a month to be part of the choir. And yes Im in the New 2000 person choir, I have seen myself in there about 4 times (need good eyes!)...the Australian Globe is a smaller one :).

Im glad the amazing Lorin Tone is doing this show it will be very interesting to see. I wish there were more opportunities to bring Artists like Mr Whitacre into SL, to collaborate with SL artists. Can't wait to see it Lorin!

If I may I'd also like to link to the full interview which although long I think you'll agree is very interesting and very entertaining.
regards Paisley Beebe Host/Producer of Tonight Live With Paisley Beebe

http://tonightlivewithpaisleybeebe.com/2011/04/08/the-new-2000-voice-eric-whitacre-virtual-choir-is-up/

[Lorin Tone]

Everything Leonie says is 100% correct, Mr. Whitacre is extremely busy. It took a few months after his interview with Paisley to get an ok on this, but it was worth it for the potential sheer fun and mayhem that will ensue.

Like Leonie, I am certainly a fan of Mr. Whitacre's work, and I'm sure he's glad that I did NOT sing in the choir...I'm not much of a vocalist.

Thanks always to Paisley's team who made this whole insane venture possible to begin with.

[Lorin Tone]

Saxon,

If it's any consolation, Godzilla will stomp a virtual chihuahua in the production.

OK, I can't give too much away.