It’s amazing what a slight change of formation can do to for a performance. A choir need not leap about to provide a little visual interest. Here, such a change provides a fresh moment to this concert from the 2011 ACDA National Conference. Of course, a “flash mob formation” (my term) does provide some challenges. […]
Stick Time: Singing in Unison
Unison singing is like wearing spandex. Anything that isn’t great is awful; there’s nothing in between. The first minute of this selection has the men and then the women singing unison passages. Note how they work to match vowels carefully and strive to assre that articulations within this rhythmically-charged melody line are exactly together.
Sunday Inspiration: High Lonesome Mass
Musical expressions of faith come in limitless variety. Here, the text of the Credo from the Ordinary of the Mass is set to bluegrass music. (ACDA members might recognize the banjo player.)
Sunday Inspiration: Westminster Abbey Choir
Take a moment to reflect and refresh.
Stick Time: Singing in English
Ever listen to a choir and wonder what language they were singing only to be shocked to realize they were singing in English? (Having taught in seven states across all four time zones in the continetal U.S. I’ve faced that more often that I would want.) Here’s a choir from Norway singing English and frankly […]
CJ Replay: Tomorrow’s Choral Conductor
“The most effective choral conductors are music educators in the broadest and best sense. They are constantly bringing people and music together in such a way that the members of the choral ensemble experience aesthetic ‘highs’ as well as an enjoyment from participation as group members, and that they learn more and more about music […]