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New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

Award winning cabaret artist Stearns Matthews will be the first male singer to record December Songs

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New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

New Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs

Award winning cabaret artist Stearns Matthews will be the first male singer to record December Songs

Award winning cabaret artist Stearns Matthews will be the first male singer to record December Songs

Award winning cabaret artist Stearns Matthews will be the first male singer to record December Songs

Award winning cabaret artist Stearns Matthews will be the first male singer to record December Songs

Stearns Matthews
Stearns Matthews
Stearns Matthews
Stearns Matthews
2 Campaigns |
Jersey City, United States
$6,083 USD by 110 backers
$6,018 USD by 108 backers on Jul 8, 2017
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects
Overview
December Songs is a compelling modern song cycle by Tony-winning composer-lyricist Maury Yeston. Multi-award winning NYC musician Stearns Matthews has performed it live, and is embarking on making a studio recording of the piece--the first-ever commercial recording with a male singer!

Hi! I'm Stearns Matthews.

Chances are, if you're seeing this page, you know who I am. But if not, the short version is: I'm a MAC and Bistro Award winning cabaret singer based in New York City. For more info, check me out here: www.stearnsmatthews.com.

In December of 2015 and 2016, I presented a benefit concert in Montclair, NJ. Both years, the first half of the concert was comprised of Maury Yeston's beautiful song cycle December Songs. December Songs is a "retelling" of Franz Schubert's Winterreisse, with a cabaret sensibility. The songs in both December Songs and Winterreise are linked as a sequence of reflections by the singer taking a lonely walk in winter, thinking back on lost love. December Songs crosses over the line from classical music to Broadway to cabaret.
 

What's so special about THIS recording of December Songs?

I love singing December Songs. It is a beautiful journey to take as an actor, and it all happens in ten songs--about 35 minutes of music.

There have been at least six complete recordings made of December Songs, but all are performed by women. Having a male singer brings a very different perspective to the piece--one that I think is important to preserve as a recording.

In addition to that, I've written parts for woodwinds and double bass. In the 2016 concert, world-class player Amy Crafton played the woodwind parts, and she'll also play on the recording. My dear friend and brilliant collaborator Markus Grae-Hauck will be at the piano. The bassist has yet to be recruited, but it will be someone just as accomplished and virtuosic.
 

    What We Need

    In 2014, I recorded and released my award-winning debut solo album, Spark. I raised about $20,000 for that project, and I'm happy to say that this one won't cost nearly as much!

    The fundraising goal for this project is $4,000. There are several reasons it's so much less:

    • The instrumentation is much smaller,
    • We'll have the studio and musicians at a very discounted rate,
    • We won't need to spend time selecting and arranging music, and
    • Because December Songs is a somewhat "niche" piece, I've made the decision to only release the recording digitally.

    The money raised here will pay for:

    • Studio time
    • Mixing
    • Compensation for the instrumentalists (piano, woodwinds, bass)
    • Mastering
    • Fees for digital release
    • Mechanical royalties
       

    Every Little Bit Helps.

    Truly. Every single dollar raised in this campaign is important! If you can only give $5, I'm just as grateful as if you gave $1,000!

    But hey, I understand as well as anyone that money is tight sometimes!

    If you can't make a contribution here on Indiegogo, I would appreciate it so much if you'd spread the word--on social media, in person, your email list... carrier pigeon... anywhere!!

    Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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    Choose your Perk

    featured

    My birth year! FUNFETTI.

    $84 USD
    If you know me, you know my favorite thing (aside from the musical Cats and cheese) is FUNFETTI... That delicious cake that has sprinkles in it, and it's amazing. You can basically make ANY sweet confection into Funfetti. Cupcakes, cookies, BROWNIES... You'll get a whole batch of your own, plus lots of other stuff. Good perk, right?
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Signed copy of Spark
    • Birthday phone call
    • Funfetti treats
    Estimated Shipping
    September 2017
    1 out of 5 of claimed
    Ships to United States of America

    EVERLASTING GRATITUDE!

    $5 USD
    Your name will be listed on the December Songs section of my website (coming soon!). I'll also owe you a huge hug.
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    5 claimed

    EARLY DOWNLOAD!

    $25 USD
    You'll get an early download of the whole album when it's finished! Won't it be cool to have it before it hits iTunes?
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2017
    29 claimed

    BIRTHDAY PERK: BDAY PHONE CALL

    $45 USD
    I'll call you on your birthday and sing to you!
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Birthday phone call
    Estimated Shipping
    July 2017
    1 out of 10 of claimed

    A THANK-YOU PHONE CALL!

    $50 USD
    You'll get a personal phone call from me to say thank you for your contribution! Won't it be nice to chat? Start thinking of topics now...
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Thank-you phone call
    8 claimed

    BIRTHDAY PERK: VOICE LESSON!

    $65 USD
    You'll get a one-hour voice lesson with ME!! This price is a drastic reduction from my usual rate-- and we'll have fun! We can sing anything you want. Even December Songs. :-) We can do the lesson in person in North Jersey or NYC, or via Skype.
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • One-hour voice lesson
    Estimated Shipping
    September 2017
    3 out of 5 of claimed

    AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF SPARK

    $100 USD
    Receive an autographed copy of my debut album, SPARK. Already have it? The holidays are never far away...
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Thank-you phone call
    • Signed copy of Spark
    Estimated Shipping
    August 2017
    4 claimed
    Ships worldwide.

    COMPS TO THE RELEASE SHOW!

    $250 USD
    Won't it be cool to be in the room when it happens? I'll be having some release shows in New York in the fall, and YOU'LL BE THERE! You and a guest will be comped for the cover charge. (Transportation to and from NYC not included.)
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Thank-you phone call
    • Signed copy of Spark
    • Comps to the release show
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2017
    3 claimed
    Ships worldwide.

    BIRTHDAY PERK: A STUDIO VISIT!

    $300 USD
    THIS is cool. You'll get to come check out a recording session while we're in the studio. See the magic in the making! (Transportation to and from Union City, NJ not included.)
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Thank-you phone call
    • Signed copy of Spark
    • Studio visit
    Estimated Shipping
    July 2017
    0 out of 2 of claimed

    WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SONG?

    $500 USD
    Pick your favorite song and I'll whip out my phone and record a video of me singing it to you! Yup, any song in the world. (Be kind.....) :-)
    Included Items
    • Named listed on website
    • Early download of the album
    • Thank-you phone call
    • Signed copy of Spark
    • Comps to the release show
    • Your favorite song on video
    Estimated Shipping
    August 2017
    0 claimed
    Ships worldwide.
    Tags for this project

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