Jul 23, 2021 21:29
3 yrs ago
42 viewers *
French term

mise en oreilles

French to English Art/Literary Music musicology event
Any snappy ideas for this sort of preparatory 'warming up' seminar about a certain musical genre?

Mise en oreilles (conférence pré-concert)

Discussion

Conor McAuley Jul 29, 2021:
Don't worry about me -- a sudden collapse in my confidence is very unlikely!
ormiston (asker) Jul 29, 2021:
Conor, really very sorry, no offence intended One tends to vote on the actual posted suggestions. Away at the bottom of the discussion I said I had toyed with Appetiser but you are right the event is more of a learning curve. Di keep posting your ideas!
Conor McAuley Jul 29, 2021:
I'll just stick to the facts, writeaway:

I had "attune" in the body of my first answer, as a very secondary suggestion.
For me, "Musical appetiser" was the obvious answer here (another reason why I shouldn't win the question), but the Asker didn't like that, that can happen and that's fine.

As I have already confirmed to Domini, she did nothing wrong at all.

I will also apologise to Domini, if she thinks she has been accused of anything.

The etiquette is complicated.
writeaway Jul 29, 2021:
@Domini You and I posted attune over 10 hours before Conor came in a posted a different answer. Attuned was not the answer posted. All you did was post the answer that was already in the Dbox. Don't worry about it. You did nothing wrong at all.
Conor McAuley Jul 28, 2021:
No problem.

Yes, one of the longest discussions I've seen.
Domini Lucas Jul 28, 2021:
@Conor Except that it was quite a long discussion! I should have read your entry too more fully and carefully too. I skimmed it I think, except that I can't remember the chronology of it all. The clock timings don't always seem consistent when I read them from here. Either way thank you for being so gracious. My interest was in the discussion and not the points, even though they are, of course, always nice to have. 'Til soon, no doubt. Take care.
Conor McAuley Jul 28, 2021:
To Domini I didn't actually read all of the Discussion, as I technically should have, so in terms of ProZ etiquette, if I understand it correctly -- and I should do by now -- you are in the right, so no problem.

I thought the obvious answer was "Musical appetizer" (nothing in English can reproduce the pure lameness of the pun in French, and the inaccuracy of it, since the pre-event thing is a lecture, according to one of my sources).
Domini Lucas Jul 28, 2021:
@Conor @ormiston @Conor So sorry. Did I miss that and not make mention of it? Did yours pre-date my first discussion entry? I have to say I was pretty much focused on the discussion after that for most of the time as I was between things. Also, much of my thought process was on the inclusion of Pre-Concert Sessions.
@ormiston I am so very grateful for the points, but may seem to have missed this or I would not have posted a separate answer without checking with him as well. Happy to forego the points if that is correct form at this point. Either way, thank you again.
Conor McAuley Jul 28, 2021:
...and I don't think that I subconsciously reprocessed writeaway's "Get(ting) your ears attuned", because I don't remember reading her coinage "earset".

Anyway. Let the record show and so on.
Conor McAuley Jul 28, 2021:
Please note At 12 hours, I posted "To tune [or attune] your ears" in my first post.

Thank you and good night.
Samuël Buysschaert Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston Thanks, i know what it is, so it was to help with the brainstorming, but never really thought on how to call it in English. If i had to post an answer or suggestion, i'd probably have said something like "Pre-Concert Lectures" maybe.
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston Yes, I did wonder about whether it should be left in the original, which is why I started Googling English sites. I didn't find it this end (so far). If it is in Ambronay, then that makes quite a lot of sense.
p.s. I love brainstorming exercises. Keeps the little grey cells en forme!
ormiston (asker) Jul 24, 2021:
Hi girls! Thanks for all your input. This IS more of a brainstorming exercise, would be good to see what others think. The term is used as a name for other Ambronay events so perhaps it should not even be translated...
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@writeaway kind of you. Yes, I'm a she too. Without a photo I am often assumed to be a Dominic. Well now we know each other better, hello everyone. :-)
writeaway Jul 24, 2021:
@Domini, @ormiston We posted at nearly the same time, it's just that my post appeared first. So you're hardly riding anyone's coat tails. And I dropped out of the pointzzzz race several years ago.
And guess what, I'm a she too....
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston @writeaway ok. I'll post. But if it comes to points don't worry, as I am riding on @writeaway's coat tails, including (his?) link
writeaway Jul 24, 2021:
@Domini,@Ormiston I am not too concerned about posting an answer since this is more like a bit of brainstorming in order to arrive at some sort of suitable solution.
And apologies @Ormiston. All these years and I incorrectly assumed you were a guy. Oops, my bad.
ormiston (asker) Jul 24, 2021:
@ Domini - it's a kind of introductory seminar Like an initiation ahead of the performance. Do post a suggestion!
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston Also, in terms of phrasing, is the context a programme? A newspaper article? An academic article (you mention an academic introduction to the work)? Or something else? That would affect the wording for me.
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston @writeaway as to an option to post, I would have posted something like "attune your ears with/at our Pre-Concert Session", but felt that I could not steal @writeaway's thunder given the previous discussion entry that overlapped with mine. @writeaway do you want to use attune...ears in a suggested answer?
Domini Lucas Jul 24, 2021:
@ormiston I worked in an empresario's office years ago and we hosted international events for the Athens Festival and elsewhere. I did something similar in Madrid for the 1992 celebrations. Among other duties, we sent out information for the programme and press releases to the papers. We also hosted French and French-speaking ballets and orchestras at times and translated their documentation for local use. Mise en oreilles was not something I had come across, but what I know from what we did send out was that if the audience / wider public knew something by a particular name, that was what we called it so it was recognisable to those who would be interested. Following that practice, if the BBC is calling it a Pre-Concert Session I think it therefore needs to stay in and that it's the rest of the sentence that would need to be adjusted.
ormiston (asker) Jul 24, 2021:
Samuel, you have described it beautifully..! But what should we call it in English?! (Pre concert seminar is what it IS but can it be given a clever title?!)
Conor McAuley Jul 24, 2021:
It's a bit strange, the text, because it talks about a lecture before a concert, to whet people's musical appetites.

The equivalent of talking a lot about food before before eating some...
Samuël Buysschaert Jul 24, 2021:
For opera evenings for example, there is rather often a preliminary session of "mise en oreille" which allows the audience to become familiar with the work, the composer, the performers, by listening to a few extracts.
There is sometimes an explanatory introduction, allowing the performers to present their programme.
Lisa Rosengard Jul 24, 2021:
I considered posting 'inauguration' which is the opening or the initiation of something like the use of a new product. I think it's the introduction of an outstanding performance which can prepare the ears for an outstanding recital.
ormiston (asker) Jul 24, 2021:
Thanks Domini & Writeaway (I'm a She btw!) Yes I'd found that, which has confirmed the second part of the title.
And yes the events involve the festival of Ambronay and they have used 'mise en oreilles' elsewhere. Do post suggestions to see what peers think...
Lisa Rosengard Jul 23, 2021:
Might it be new to the ears?
Domini Lucas Jul 23, 2021:
@ormiston Have you come across these links? https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/er88gw?lang=gd https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezggwh? They seem to fit with what you mentioned earlier and it looks like "pre-concert session" is used as you said, even if it is duller than the French. It would make it recognisable as what it is to the right reader (/ears!) though.
Domini Lucas Jul 23, 2021:
@writeaway oops, sorry. Just saw you mentioned getting ears attuned. Didn't mean to cut across your suggestion. Think it might not have refreshed my end before I wrote it in.
Domini Lucas Jul 23, 2021:
@ormiston Just wondering if you could use attuning ears in some way... Will have to google to see if it runs the risk of meaning something else. Haven't had a chance yet, so just throwing it in as a thought.
writeaway Jul 23, 2021:
Get(ting) your ears attuned 17th century baroque music is a special earset (as opposed to mindset)
ormiston (asker) Jul 23, 2021:
Do post 'setting the scene' . Would work with :pre concert session:;

Join us for a free pre-concert session to discover more about the orchestra and the music being performed. Members of the orchestra will give an insight into what tonight’s performance might involve.
ormiston (asker) Jul 23, 2021:
Agree Althea I had in mind 'pre concert session,' but felt it was a wee bit dull vs the rather nice French. 'Appetizer' is a wee bit much though, n'est ce pas ?!
Althea Draper Jul 23, 2021:
Setting the scene - Pre concert talk ?
https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/setting-scene-ar...
https://greyfriarskirk.com/events/edinburgh-royal-choral-uni...

A bit like mise-en-scène but for a concert.
ormiston (asker) Jul 23, 2021:
That kind of event, yes The composer is Gervais from the 17th century
writeaway Jul 23, 2021:
What is the the certain musical genre? Context please. There are many possibilities depending on the context. Some snappy context would be handy if you want people to give you snappy suggestions.
Do you mean this:
http://www.cnsmd-lyon.fr/agenda/mise-en-oreilles

Proposed translations

+1
17 hrs
Selected

Attune Your Ears at/with Our Pre-Concert Session(s)

As per my discussion entries and BBC Philarmonic link, I believe that if it is called a Pre-Concert Session by those in the know, that has to be included in English so the prospective audience etc. know what it is. Otherwise they will be having to try to work it out (! :-) ). However, even the French link given by @writeaway includes an explanation in the blurb included below the title (I have written this explanation here below, but not repeated the link). Thus, incorporating an explanation in a title written in English seems reasonable.
Les oreilles se préparent avant les concerts du festival via des rencontres animées par les étudiants du département de culture musicale.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2021-07-24 14:40:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Please adjust prepositions and capitalisation accordingly. With all the chit-chat I've not got round to editing!

P.S. Orchestras/Musicians tune their instruments in advance of performances hence including tune in wording for the attendees seems a good play on words. :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2021-07-24 14:46:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have also just found a link that includes "Get in Tune with... " which you might prefer as that sounds snappier? I can't give you the actual link because the text comes up differently when I click on it, but this is my Google Search link. Or, if it doesn't work as a link, I Googled musicians tune instruments in advance of performance. If you put that in the Search, second entry down entitled Science of Music: Orchestral Tuning Exploratorium. The beginning of the entry then reads Get in tune with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra. Following on from that, I would most likely revise my answer as Get in Tune with Our Pre-Concert Session(s). Sounds snapppier to me. Attune bit more academic. Hope all this helps your ponderings. :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2021-07-24 14:47:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry forogt Google Search link. https://bit.ly/3eSoBnM (care of bit.ly!)
Peer comment(s):

agree writeaway
6 hrs
Thank you very much. That's kind!
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "And thank you all, particularly Althea"
4 hrs

pre-concert warm up seminar

maybe

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2021-07-24 02:11:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

snappy and might work
Peer comment(s):

neutral writeaway : how does this work? warming up the audience or warming up the musicians? isn't this what asker already suggested herself? not so sure about how 'snappy' this is either. /ditto
1 hr
you're a joy as always ...gushing with supportive compliments
Something went wrong...
+1
11 hrs
French term (edited): Mise en oreilles

Setting the scene

A pre-concert talk setting the scene for the music that is to follow. A bit like mise-en-scène but for a concert.

"Setting the scene: the art of the pre-concert talk"
https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/setting-scene-ar...

"This theme will be discussed by Thomas LaVoy and other special guests during a pre-concert talk, setting the scene for an exciting, celebratory evening at Greyfriars Kirk."
https://greyfriarskirk.com/events/edinburgh-royal-choral-uni...
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
2 days 9 hrs
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

pre-concert talks

I suggest considering this term. As far as I can see from the second link, it may imply either cultural discussion or listening to some pieces from the upcoming event
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

Musical appetiser

The wordplay is with "mise en bouche": https://www.wordreference.com/fren/mise en bouche

Matches:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="musical appetiser"&ei=_97...


To whet your musical appetite

More matches than my first suggestion:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="To whet your musical appe...


Musical "aperitif"


Anything along the same lines, really.


At a push,

To tune [or attune] your ears

Someone else got there first, by a millennium or two, it appears...

"Lord, hear my cry! Attune Your ears to my humble prayer!"

!


HTH.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2021-07-24 13:13:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To ormiston: sorry, I read parts of the Discussion, obviously not all of it.

I don't think I subconsciously took the idea in and then outputted it after!

I think the French is a bit artsy-smartsy and the English should really reflect that, but you're the one with the full context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2021-07-24 13:19:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Musical appetite whetter

Musictiser

Eardrum warm-up
(I don't like this one)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2021-07-24 13:21:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And a reworked version of a previous answer:

Ear (and mind [for the lecture part]) attuner

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2021-07-24 14:00:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Might get there in the end...

The term is actually a standard term, used by the CNSMD (see http://www.cnsmd-lyon.fr/agenda/mises-en-oreilles), amongst others, and not a made-up jokey witticism, as you would think.


So:

"« mise en oreilles », mini-conférence durant laquelle chef ou soliste viennent disserter sur la composition du programme et livrer quelques clés de lecture utiles."

https://www.leducation-musicale.com/newsletters/breves1012.p... page 66

So, how about:

"SHORT LECTURE AND SOME KEYS FOR INTERPRETATION"

Dry and precise, fitting to the context.
Note from asker:
I half considered 'appetizer' (see above) but feel the emphasis is on the more academic introduction to the work...
Something went wrong...
1 day 21 hrs

an "ears up"

... including the quotes, I think. This is meant as a jokey analogy with the modern English expression "heads up" (which I find a pretty annoying expression, as it happens, but which I also have to acknowledge is widely used).

The French is obviously playful in the sense that the whole event is about music.
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search