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Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Other types of music > Vocal music > Choral music
for SATB and chamber ensemble Inspired by Geertgen's painting
Nativity at Night, Candlelight Carol centres around the love of a
mother on that first night in the stable. The orchestral material
is compatible with both the SATBB and SSAA versions.
for children's choir, SATB chamber choir, and SATB double choir
This monumental cantata for massed forces was commissioned by David
Hill and The Bach Choir and premiered as part of the 2012 BBC
Proms. Setting a specially commissioned text by Charles Bennett,
Chilcott skilfully uses both metred and unmetered sung and spoken
lines to highlight the text's environmental message. While the
musically interlinked choirs sing of humanity's negligence towards
nature in a series of dream images, the endearing and innocent
tunes of the children's choir ultimately evoke a sense of hope for
the future. Creating a unique opportunity for adult and children's
choirs to collaborate, this captivating piece offers a fun and
educational performance experience for singers both young and old.
A History of Western Choral Music explores the various genres, key
composers, and influential works essential to the development of
the western choral tradition. Author Chester L. Alwes divides this
exploration into two volumes which move from Medieval music and the
Renaissance era up to the 21st century. Volume I surveys the choral
music of composers including Josquin, Palestrina, Purcell, Handel,
and J.S. Bach while detailing the stylistic, textual, and
extramusical considerations unique to the topics covered.
Consideration of Renaissance music includes both sacred and secular
works, specifically addressing the growth of sacred music, the rise
of secular music, and the proliferation of sacred polyphony from
Josquin to Palestrina. Discussion of the Baroque era is organized
by geographic location, exploring the spread of Baroque style from
Italy to German, France, and England. Volume I concludes by
examining the aesthetic underpinnings of the early Classical and
Romantic eras. Framing discussion within the political, religious,
cultural, philosophical, aesthetic, and technological contexts of
each era, A History of Western Choral Music offers readers
specialized insight into major composers and works while providing
a cohesive understanding of choral music's place in Western
history.
for soprano solo and SSATB unaccompanied Setting a text spoken by
Nurse Edith Cavell on the eve of her execution in 1915 and
re-fashioned by the poet SeA!n Street, McDowall has created a work
of haunting beauty full of gently lamenting harmonies.The sombre
subject matter makes the piece equally suitable for funerals and
Remembrance Day celebrations. Standing as I do before God is
featured on the CD A Multitude of Voices by the choir Sospiri on
Convivium Records.
for SATB (with divisions) and soprano saxophone Setting the
original Latin text of the hymn better known as 'Hark! a thrilling
voice is sounding', Jackson creates an Advent piece of beautiful
stillness. The largely homophonic choral parts, with a soloist
supplying a gentle contrapuntal line, are contrasted with light and
graceful interjections from the saxophone. The result is a quietly
moving piece ideally suited for a reflective moment during an
Advent service.
In recent decades, cognitive neuroscience research has increased
our understanding of how the brain learns, retains, and recalls
information. At the same time, social psychologists have developed
insights into group dynamics, exploring what motivates individuals
in a group to give their full effort, or conversely, what might
instead inspire them to become free loaders. Art and Science in the
Choral Rehearsal explores the idea that choral conductors who
better understand how the brain learns, and how individuals within
groups function, can lead more efficient, productive, and enjoyable
rehearsals. Armed with this knowledge, conductors can create
rehearsal techniques which take advantage of certain fundamental
brain and social psychology principles. Through such approaches,
singers will become increasingly engaged physically and mentally in
the rehearsal process. Art and Science in the Choral Rehearsal
draws from a range of scientific studies to suggest and encourage
effective, evidence-based techniques, and can help serve to reset
and inspire new approaches toward teaching. Each chapter outlines
exercises and creative ideas for conductors and music teachers,
including the importance of embedding problem solving into
rehearsal, the use of multiple entry points for newly acquired
information, techniques to encourage an emotional connection to the
music, and ways to incorporate writing exercises into rehearsal.
Additional topics include brain-compatible teaching strategies to
complement thorough score study, the science behind motivation, the
role imagination plays in teaching, the psychology of rehearsal,
and conducting tips and advice. All of these brain-friendly
strategies serve to encourage singers' active participation in
rehearsals, with the goal of motivating beautiful, inspired, and
memorable performances.
for SATB and organ or piano or orchestra or brass This anthem
combines original music by Mack Wilberg, words by David Warner, and
the celebrated hymn tune 'Old One Hundredth', which emerges from
heralding voices, cleverly and majestically interwoven. Hymn of
Praise is on the CD 'Glory! Music of Rejoicing' (2012) recorded by
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra on Temple Square.
Orchestral material is available on hire/rental.
Choral Scores is an anthology of music exemplifying distinctive
choral repertoire by the most noteworthy composers throughout the
history of Western music. A companion volume to Denis Shrock's
Choral Repertoire (Oxford 2009), it presents works of salient
importance to the development of choral music in Western culture,
representing the music of the composers, eras, and movements
discussed most prominently in that volume. Including 132
compositions by 124 different composers, each presented unabridged
and in full score, and spanning the entirety of Western music
history, from the medieval era through the twentieth century, and
into the twenty-first, Choral Scores is the most thorough, and
up-to-date collection of choral music available. Complete with an
appendix offering literal translations of texts, as well as
composer and genre indices, Choral Scores is an essential reference
for choral scholars, teachers, and students alike.
for SATB and organ or large orchestra This arrangement of the
well-loved hymn stays true to the jubilation and reverence of
Easter. Wesley's words and the eighteenth-century melody shine
through in a sensitive reharmonization, and a recurring
instrumental passage smoothly connects the verses. Reflecting
common hymn-singing practice, the first verse is in unison, the
second in four-part harmony, and the third returns to unison with a
soprano descant, before closing with a suitably exultant 'Alleluia'
and 'Amen'. Christ the Lord is risen today appears on the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square's latest CD, He is
Risen, which reached No. 1 in both the 'Classical Albums' and
'Traditional Classical Albums' US charts within two weeks of its
release in April 2014.
for SATB unaccompanied This paean to the divine creation of the
world sets part of the Benedicite text from the US Book of Common
Prayer. The four unaccompanied voice parts are used to great
effect, with phrases often beginning in a strong unison before
opening out into rich and colourful harmonies. Helvey highlights
the words through the use of homophonic textures and changing time
signatures to follow the natural stresses of the text.
for SA and piano or orchestra This charming piece brings to life a
magical world that exists in everyone's mind - a land of
make-believe, where there are dragons, giants, and castles in the
air. The composer's wonderfully imaginative words will appeal to
all young and young-at-heart singers, and the approachable melody
and limited divisi make the work ideal for performance by
children's choir.
for SSA and organ Composed in 1977, this triumphant setting of
words from Psalms 136 and 67 is now published for the first time
following the rediscovery of the lost manuscript. Rutter's early
style is reminiscent of Britten, making a feature of parallel
harmonies and scalic runs to impressive effect- ideal to revitalise
the evensong repertoire of upper-voice choirs.
for SATB and piano or orchestra A setting of the hymn Samanthra,
this piece combines the original tune's simplicity with rich
musical texture and majesty - the hallmarks of Wilberg's style. His
voice as the sound features on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's CD
'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: American Folk Hymns &
Sprituals' (SKU5014332). Orchestral material is available on
hire/rental.
for SATB and organ or strings John Rutter's much-loved setting of
the Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6: 24) is here included in the John
Rutter Anniversary Edition, with an illuminating composer's note
and useful performance hints. Also available in a version for upper
voices. Conductor's scores and instrumental parts are available on
sale and hire/rental.
for SSATB and cello Night Flight was written to mark the centenary
of Harriet Quimby's pioneering flight across the English channel.
Setting texts by Sheila Bryer on the mysterious powers of the sea,
earth, and air, McDowall uses vocal clusters and haunting solo
cello lines to highlight the sense of fear, awe, and majesty
experienced by an individual pitted against the elements. Cecilia
McDowall was awarded the 2014 British Composer Award in the Choral
category for Night Flight. The solo cello part is available for
sale separately.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied I my Best-Beloved's am was
written in 1999 for a BBC Singers broadcast concert on the theme of
the Seven Sacraments. This a cappella anthem focuses on the theme
of marriage, setting the nuptial responses from the old Tridentine
Catholic marriage service and stanzas from Francis Quarles's poetic
paraphrase of the Song of Solomon. Gregorian chant is the prevalent
musical influence, and the male and female voices are offset
against each other in an effective contrast.
for SSATB and organ The hymn Come, Holy Ghost lies at the heart of
Celestial Fire. Here, McDowall has woven the exquisite poetry of
Denise Levertov into this expressive and uplifting piece. At times
quietly meditative, Celestial Fire unfolds to a most joyous,
affirmative conclusion. Celestial Fire was commissioned as part of
a trilogy suitable for significant occasions during the church
calendar year by Oakham School; the two other Oakham anthems for
organ and mixed chorus are Light Eternal and Candlemas.
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