Latest Blog Posts

It isn’t the latest story, but it is still great news that Chanticleer will sing in Chicago at the ACDA National Conference.   From December 2008:  

Finally, a vibrato controversy I can sit back and enjoy: Performance practice covers countless topics, most of which have been written about extensively, but there’s one issue which I’d like to raise here: orchestral string vibrato.  It has become commonly accepted in the 21st century that until the post-war period string players did not use […]

  I was delighted to receive a message from Martin Morrel, who sent me this note after reading my previous posts on Monteverdi: I happened to run across your interesting post, which prompts me to call your attention to my Web site, www.italianmadrigal.com. I have made available quite a number of transcriptions of Monteverdi madrigals, […]

A virtual choir festival in Estonia: Thousands of people across Estonia on Friday took part in a landmark virtual choir festival, gathering in front of big screens to sing the small Baltic state’s cherished anthems. Organisers said crowds massed at over a hundred open-air locations in this nation of 1.3 million people to perform eight […]

Ah the joys of a new year!   We are all in that mode, aren’t we?  Read here how Terminal Degree sees the first few days: There’s fear in the eyes of the freshmen and transfers. They’re walking around with crumpled schedules, asking for directions, and wandering into the wrong classrooms. One young man was […]

The choral conductor by definition has stepped into a highly visible position of leadership. A worthy leader is not satisfied with doing only good work–it is our desire to move from good to great. In Jim Collins' writing on moving good organizations to great organizations, he offers key ideas for moving in this direction. • […]

It's the millennium for the Abbey of Solemnes — this French abbey, which has been the world center for Gregorian chant scholarship since the 19th century, was founded in the year 1010.    When I was an undergraduate and took a course in chant, I found the early manuscripts fascinating, particularly the ones which pre-dated […]

This graphic demonstration of Bach’s “Crab Canon” from the Musical Offering has been making the rounds in my various social networks recenty.  A great visual demonstration is offered here, and will make an appearance in my music appreciation course this fall!   If you haven’t seen it before – I hope you enjoy it!  

The September issue of the Choral Journal is out and ready for you to peruse it – online of course.   Did you know that all of the back issues of the Choral Journal are available for download?  ACDA Membership has value!

      Truth #1 As Conductor, You Make the Difference. Before you lead you have to believe you can have a positive impact on others. When you believe you can make a difference, you position yourself to hear the call to lead.  Truth #2 Integrity is the Podium on which you Stand. If people don’t believe […]