(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Instrumentation of the Basso Continuo in Early Seventeenth-Century Vocal Music,” by Steven Zopfi) During the first half of the seventeenth century, composers created enormous quantities of vocal music employing the new basso-continuo method. Inherent in this new method was a flexibility of instrumentation. Composers rarely specified […]
CJ Replay: Choir Tour Horror Stories
(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “What If . . . ? Dealing with the Unexpected in Tour,” by Nina Gilbert [p.55]) Debbie Coleman, now at Bonaire Middle School, Georgia, shares her bad driver story from her years at Warner Robins High School, Georgia. “At Six Flags, we instructed our students not […]
CJ Replay: Choirs & Tires (Both Go Flat)
(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Choral Flatting: Sometimes it’a a Matter of Register Transition,” by Mel Unger) Have you ever wondered why it is harder to sing some pieces in tune than others? And why, when these pieces are raised a semitone, the problem disappears? Flatting seems particularly problematic in F […]
CJ Replay: Special Needs Students in the Choir
(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Adapting Choral Rehearsals for Students with Learning Disabilities” by Vicki R. Lind) Although there has not been a great deal of research specifically on choral music participation, it is likely that choral music directors working in today's schools will have singers with learning disabilities enrolled in […]
Name That Choir Tune (No. 19)
“Five from the Folder: Mixed Voices” by Gregory Douma
FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: MIXED VOICES by Gregory Douma 1. “O Quam Gloriosum est Regnum.” Tomas Luis de Victoria. CPDL A great example of the Renaissance motet, this piece is accessible like Palestrina’s “Sicut cervus” but a bit more complex. 2. “Der Tanz.” Franz Schubert. CPDL As the title implies, this is a […]