this screen might appear when comparing two different singers' recordings of a single title. Corresponding points in the score may be set on each applet so that they may be compared phrase by phrase.
Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne
This CD-ROM is a collection of material acquired from many sources. The recordings vary widely in their inherent interest and audio quality. Information on browsers for this disc is provided below, along with means for contacting the disc's creator, Mike Richter. My hope with this CD-ROM is not to replace commercial release, but to inspire it. In each case, I believe that professional processing from better sources than mine will aid in appreciating the art so inadequately represented here. A capability has been added for playing selections in sequence as described here.
A key design decision for this project was the use of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and of a World-Wide Web browser to access it. Many factors dictated that choice, notably the availability of browsers operational on a wide range of computing platforms. We have verified its operation on PC's and Macintosh's of several types and with different operating systems, and (to a lesser extent) on a Unix system. Since you have reached this point, you are presumed to have found a browser and been able to access at least this text.
The choice of browser, helper application(s) and the way that you adapt them
can alter your perception of these files. One notable example is the sound
files, which are in the .WAV format. Some software configurations will begin to
play a selection as soon as the link is clicked; they are very convenient for
'easy listening'. Other configurations will load the selection before offering
you options for starting play; they are advantageous for comparisons of
selections. For example, using the opera.exe browser on this disc in a Windows
3.1 environment,
this screen might
appear when comparing two different singers' recordings of a single title.
Corresponding points in the score may be set on each applet so that they may be
compared phrase by phrase.
Because there are so many hosts, browsers and applets, it is impractical to recommend specific software or configurations even at the time of publication. As computing evolves, the options will become even more numerous. Wendy Fuller-Mora has kindly provided a file macread.txt with assistance for the Macintosh user. Many of those using Unix systems will need to work with their administrators to configure a system.
Mike Loojimans has developed a program for sequencing audio files such as on this disc for Windows environments. That program is included on this disc in two forms: if you are running in Windows 95 or NT and use the licensed opera browser, it is integrated into the system and links are provided on the pages you will see. Otherwise, you may unzip jukebox.zip, install it on your hard drive, and use it as you see fit.
A small but highly satisfactory browser has been licensed for inclusion on this disc as opera.exe. Information about it is available here. opera.exe will run in any version of Windows from 3.1 on by issuing the command x:\opera.exe where x is the letter of your drive.
Mike Loojimans' Jukebox program is also expanded on this disc in separate directories depending on the drive letter of your CD-ROM. For a CD-ROM which appears as drive D:, find juke.exe in JUKE_D; for a CD_ROM as drive E:, use JUKE_E; etc. If your drive letter does not appear, please install juke.zip to your hard drive and make up your own list. The sequences implemented should be self-evident from the directory that appears when you open a file: Go to the Files menu and select Open. The various concerts and the Wesendonck Lieder are implemented for you. If you wish, you may also put an icon for the appropriate version of the program onto your desktop.
Any observations you may have on this disc will be welcome. The easiest way to feed back is to send me e-mail at mrichter@mindspring.com or to browse my web site at http://mrichter.simplenet.com
If you prefer to use conventional mail or telephone, the editor/publisher
can be reached at:
Michael Richter
2600 Colby Avenue
Los Angeles, California, USA
90064-3716
310-477-7969 (voice)
310-235-0116 (fax)
(All personal information above is accurate as of June 1997.)