Latest Blog Posts
Stick Time: Remembering the Gems
It’s funny how we forget things. A couple years ago, my touring program included Dawson’s “Ezekiel Saw De Wheel.” After the concert a colleague who had been in the audience exclaimed, “Wow! I’d forgotten all about that piece. I’m going to program that!” Sure enough, the score was in her choir’s folders when I […]
Choral Caffeine: Imagine What It Will Do for YOU
(From the article “President Gary Weidenaar interviews Scott Peterson, Richard Nance, and Solveig Holmquist; Three Previous Presidents Provide Perspective on the Organization,” by Gary Weidenaar. Northwest Division Online Newsletter, Fall, 2012) Gary Weidenaar: You have all given countless hours to the organization, but what do you feel ACDA has given you? Scott Peterson: […]
Composition Spotlight: O Captain! My Captain!
Composition Spotlight ~ by Jack Senzig (Each week we look at a piece of useful repertoire from the ChoralNet Community Composition Showcase. A variety of voicings and levels of difficulty will be presented. Enjoy!) O Captain! My Captain! by Andrew Bowling for TTBB and piano (click for partial PDF and audio) Level: High School Men’s […]
How Old Were You?
When was the first time you conducted a real ensemble? I bet for a lot of us, it wasn't until college. Well, this kid is here to make us all feel bad about ourselves… via Slipped Disk
Introducing New Blogger: Richard Sparks
A few weeks ago I announced an opportunity to share the "bully pulpit" (i.e. ChoralBlog) with more authors. It has been extremely successful! We've had a number of guest bloggers (see here, here, here, & here) and new blogger Joshua Bronfman has already been quite active.. Today, I'm proud to introduce another official new blogger to […]
Saturday Respite: Halloween Weekend
A little Halloween weekend nuttiness . . .
GUEST BLOG: “Effect or Meaning” by Edward Palmer
"Effect or Meaning" ~ by Edward Palmer Does music that is composed for “effect” stimulate the natural use of the voice, or does it require an artificial vocal sound that is commonly called, “straight?” Straight vocalizationis limited in its dynamic capability, particularly messa di voce, which is the most effective tool for expression. ”Straight” […]
GuestBlog on Stravinsky’s Mass
Composer Spotlight: Igor Stravinsky’s Mass by Brson Mortensen One of the things that I love most about reading the Choral Journal is the opportunity to see different perspectives on the works of a particular composer. I am energized as I watch a scholar dig deep into a work and show me what they found interesting. […]