Latest Community Posts

Hello all,    I’ve recently taken over volunteer-directorship of a small ensemble of an all-volunteer college women’s A Capella group whose current repertoire is mostly barbershop and the occasional pop song cover with a little bit of Gospel thrown in there.   I’d like to expand their rep and library, and they’ve pretty much given […]

Even with a masters in music from a very fine seminary, I have always wondered why it is considered appropriate to perform settings of requiem masses during Lent?  Certainly the mass text refers to the deaths of mortal humans, not Christ, so what is the justification of performing one during Lent? 

The County of Hawaii is planning to fire its entire band which has been in existence since 1883. These musicians are among our community’s finest and are the very musicians hired by our local choral groups when instrumental accompaniment is required.  We’ve already lost the Honolulu Symphony due to bankruptcy.  The Hawaii County Band however, […]

Dear Collective Choral Wisdom:   I have a middle school group this year that simply will not sing, no matter what I do.  They’re not inattentive or disruptive, they just don’t make sounds.  Most of them look like they’re mumbling, but little or no sound comes out.  I’ve tried everything I know to do.  If […]

I’m preparing Light Divine by Alexander Archangelsky, edited by Rod Walker. The mm is half note at 76. Should it say quarter note at 76. A half note at 76 seems exceptionally fast to me.

I would like to set my violin sections antiphonally for my upcoming concert.   There are several reasons for this:   1.  When not independent, the second violins are doubling the alto part, which is on my right.  This would help in cueing and hearing, right?   2.  There are times when I really want the two violin parts […]

I have had no response to my posting of over a month ago, so I’m trying again.  I have been searching unsuccessfully for the Jan Bender anthem “I am the Good Shepherd.”  (I’ve checked with the original publisher, usual commercial sheet music sources, internet, etc.)  Does anyone have this in their choral library that would be willing […]

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra and Chorus are performing Mahler 8th for our fall 2010 opening concert.  We are starting to rehearse it this month.   Does anyone know of a company or a choral organization who might have made part-learning aids for this piece and would be willing to let us use/purchase them?  I have searched but […]

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus celebrated the debut performance of its newest choir, Emerging Voices – which is one of only a few in the country to serve boy vocalists with changing voices – at a special concert and fundraiser on February 19, at the home of Antoinette Adams and Frederic Cohen in San Marino.   […]

 Does anyone know of an orchestration for “The Prayer” (the Sager/Foster version) ?  I’m doing it with my SSA choir  (In F) and would like to add our schools orchestra to the mix.  Thanks.