“Five from the Folder: Men’s Voices” by Joseph Piazza

FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: MEN’S VOICES by Joseph Piazza

 

1.  “Jubilate Deo” from Cantiones sacrae et profanae.  Henk Badings.  TTBB. Harmonia-Uitgave, Hilversum H.U. 3419a.

Rhythmic, energetic setting of Psalm 66. Contrasting homophonic & contrapuntal sections employing stacked 4ths and 2nds.  Imitative cannons at the fifth especially playful & succinct. Contemporary & joyful. Moderate difficulty.

 

2.  “Fölszállott a Páva.” Zoltan Kodaly. Editio Music Budapest 3241.

Masterful part-writing, long elegant phrases, declamatory parallel chord structure lend to the nobility and pride of people longing for freedom and justice.  The Hungarian text calls for social change and equality.

 

3.  “Laulaja.” Einojuhani Rautavaara. Fennecs Gehrmans 9790550093119

Text taken from epilogue of the Kalevala, the epic Finnish poem. Rhythmic & declamatory opening and closing passages in b minor frame the middle section which employs octatonic scale passages & open expansive part writing.

 

4.  “Responsorium et Hymnus no.1 Adspice Domine de sede op.121” (Vespergesang).  Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Caus-Verlag Vertrieb GMBH

Much in style of Bach motet, first movement reveals beautiful independent lines for each of three voices moving through traditional harmonies & key relationships.  Themes and countermelodies weave together in elegant countrapuntal lines brought together for a homophonic texture in concluding phrases.  

 

5.  “My Souls Been Anchored in the Lord.” Moses Hogan (ed. Eklund). Hal Leonard 08753675.

Exciting traditional spiritual. Broad opening statement prepares us for the Allegro in rhythmic syncopated block chords with sustained & chromatically shifting bass lines that provide energy & excitement.  Piece relies on verse refrain from with a final section of call and response for the chorus which leads to a climactic choral shout in rhythmic counterpoint.

 

(“Five from the Folder” provides brief, text-length reviews of vocal works currently in the folders of choral directors throughout the United States.  To share five from your folder, contact Scott Dorsey at )