SOUND BOARD

Minimum 24 track desk (see platform layout guide).
The mixing console / sound desk should be centrally placed, in order to obtain the best stereo listening position, as recommended by your engineer, in accord with the facilities available.

SPEAKERS

Aim to have 2 main stereo speaker stacks on stage left and stage right, hooked up to side and overhead or rear speakers in order to bathe the audience in wonderful sound, as an aural experience. Speakers should provide a full frequency range for music amplification, with no distortion.

HEADPHONES

Two pairs of headphones - for the conductor and drum kit player - are essential. We recommend the quality of the Sony Professional MDR/7506 dynamic stereo headphones, that enclose the ear fully.

• Conductor: must have separate volume control with prefade of African tape only.

• Drum Kit: : must have separate volume control with prefade of the African tape only.

Note: Some experienced percussion players also like to have a feed of the African tape in their own headphones.

MICROPHONES

• Choir: 4-8 mics, as high as possible, angled at the choir so that their natural sound can be enhanced to match the level of the African tapes. The choir mics could also be suspended (flown). Note: the choir sound usually has no reverb, but in an outdoor venue, it is worth experimenting.

• Children's choir: 2-3 mics, no reverb

• Soprano solo: 1 mic, extra sensitive, suitable for operatic & close mic styles

• Piano: 2 mics, in stereo, HI and LO, for this key instrument

• Lead & bass guitars: (DI) Direct Injection into sound desk. Note: both instruments need to have some working stage sound from their own amplifiers (the less the better)

• Drum kit: minimum 3 mics, 1 in kick drum, and 2 overheads

• Percussion 1 & 2: suggest mics on the following, especially in outdoor or large venues:
  Timpani (2 mics); 3 Tenor drums (1 mic); Congas/Bongos/ Sus. Cymbal (1 mic); Bass drum/ Tam-tam (1 mic); Ethnic/ Other (1 mic)

• Organ/electric synthesiser (if used) DI into sound board.

• Lapel mic for pre-concert talk (optional)

MONITORS (FOLD BACK)

• 4 stage monitors - choir to hear piano (essential) and soprano solo (prefade) and African tape (postfade)

• 1 stage monitor - piano to hear African tape (postfade)

• 1 stage monitor - soloist to hear herself, piano and tape (postfade)

• 1-2 stage monitors - percussion area to hear African tape (postfade)

AFRICAN TAPE PLAYBACK

The African recordings are provided on USB stick or CD and are hired from the publisher (See Performance Planning). These are especially produced tracks to be played in during the performance as per the full score. There are 15 production tracks and also some test tracks for the sound engineer. Please note the fade-in and fade-outs are present on each track as required.

LIGHTING AND FX

(Optional, as desired for performance.) A variety of stage lighting colours can be utilised in a theatrical setting. It is very important there is sufficient light for the choir to read their scores. Sometimes dramatic lighting effects can be added. For example, in Movement 7 the Crucifixus during the thunderstorm.