Latest Blog Posts

Chris Rowbury rails against choir uniforms: Why not simply listen to the choir on the radio or on CD? There is nothing to look at: everyone looks and sounds the same, they’re even encouraged to use the same mouth shape and facial expression. If there is something special about hearing the choir live, then simply hide […]

So many boring pictures of choirs.     Here is one I really like, the Choir of Sidney Sussex College that I found on Eric Whitacre’s blog.     Who else has a great choir pic?

I wish I had thought of this, from Clef Notes and Drama Queens by Tim Smith.  A blog featuring Britten: On this Veterans Day, I wanted to share something from Benjamin Britten’s profound “War Requiem.” The composer interwove the ancient Latin Mass for the Dead with haunting poetry of Wilfred Owen to create a musical […]

Laurel Masse, a singer, takes notes on the rhythm of words in her revived passion for language: What I have been discovering in acting – illuminated by the skills of the wonderful actors I am working with – is that the words themselves have a melody, subtle, but strong. Though I've often told shy, first-time […]

Alex Ross takes notice of this article by Tim Mangan and makes some very interesting comments on the future of the superstar conductor.  Take a look: The specifics can be debated, but a larger point seems clear. With the complicated cultural and financial pressures now circling orchestras, the modern music director needs more than ever […]

I love it when I see someone relate Stephen Covey’s ideas to choir.  Helping You Harmonise supplies another great insight with the conductor’s circle of influence:   I have a lot of conversations with choir directors, and one of the things I’ve noticed is that there is a strong correlation between how happy or unhappy […]

Two ChoralBlogs back I wrote about the efforts the American Choral Directors Association continues to make as it works at being a transparent organization. My previous blog highlighted the ACDA audition process, the Choral Journal publication process, and our election of leaders. Today I would like to outline what we are doing to be transparent […]

There is so much promise in this video:   1.  Left handed conducting 2.  Inexpensive instruments 3.  A replacement for handbells in church?  

(one in an occasional series highlighting ridiculous inclusive-language overkill, without regard for the scansion, meaning, or music.)   Today’s example is a relatively mild one, yet with important philosophical ramifications. This week’s lectionary includes Psalm 149, whose fourth verse begins as follows: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people… at least in the distant […]

These mass events are really catching on and I love it: