“Five from the Folder: Mixed Voices” by Joshua Bronfman

FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: MIXED VOICES by Joshua Bronfman

 

1. “Sanctus from Missa In illo tempore.” Claudio Monteverdi. CPDL #12019.

Extreme polyphony, as if Monteverdi was trying to prove that he actually could write music in the old, prima pratica style. Ranges are a little wide, but once the piece settles into the voice, it becomes much less taxing. Absolutely gorgeous.

 

2. “Ad Te Levavi.” Vytautas Miskinis. Carus.

Harmonies are exciting and sound fresh, and Miskinis really knows how to write a phrase. Piece has some dissonance, but is accessible to high school groups. Ends with stunning aleatoric section.

 

3. “Gloria” from Missa sine nomine. César Alejandro Carillo.

Seems harmonically similar to Myskinis, in that it is modern yet tonal, however they feel quite different. A wonderful opener, it works for both good high school choirs and college groups.

 

4. “Ich bin das Brot des Lebens.” Wolfram Buchenberg. Carus.

Not terribly difficult, but demands on the low basses are significant, but, if you’ve got the basses, this piece is a real stunner. It’s also like, $17 dollars for the score (which includes three other great pieces), so there’s that. But I love it. My students do too.

 

5. “Walk in Jerusalem.” Rollo Dilworth. Hal Leonard.

Has been in our folders for the past two years, it could become a permanent piece, along with our Alma Mater. It’s super easy, audiences love it, and the choir can get enough of it. It’s just flat out fun, plus it’s super easy to put together for those “service”-type performances like graduation or convocation.

 

(“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 )