Latest Community Posts

I am looking for any recmmendations for a JS Bach aria for soprano – using cello and organ….will be used in a Holy Thursday/Good Friday type service…..any help is appreciated!!    

Help!!!! I am so frustrated. I teach in a small private school and we are currently rehearsing for our very first H/S musical scheduled for the end of April.  We have a relatively strong cast of 11. When rehearsals began, we laid out all the expectations concerning attendance, memorization, communication, and above all making this commitment a […]

Are there any choir conductors (or choral singers) out there in Lucca, Italy? If so, could you contact me privately, as I have several questions I would like to ask of you.   Thank you, Martin 

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 […]