There’s news of a new recording, in a different arrangement, of Arnold Schoenberg’s 1938 choral adaptation of “Kol Nidre,” one of the Yom Kippur’s central prayers. Schoenberg himself conducted the 14-minute work’s premiere on Oct. 4, 1938, at the Ambassador Hotel’s Coconut Grove Ballroom, which the Society for Jewish Culture, a liberal congregation also known […]
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Stick Time: Conducting Study I
Welcome to Stick Time: Conducting Study. This is the first of what we hope will be a regular feature on ChoralBuzz highlighting outstanding conductors and the successful physical gestures they use. Today let’s learn by watching. We’re going to observe approximately one minute of a brilliant conductor in action, applying a positive analytical eye […]
Stick Time: Using Scores
One of the reasons choral conductors insist that singers memorize their scores is that there is a connection between eye contact between conductor & choir and the cohesiveness of the ensemble (besides, who wants to look at the tops of heads buried in folders). However, note that in this wonderful performance from ACDA's 2011 National […]
New CD of Orthodox Choral Music
For those of you who love choral music of the Russian Orthodox Church, there is a new CD that has just been released featuring new Orthodox choral music of Gennady Lapaev and Kurt Sander. The choir, under the direction of Chicao director Peter Jermihov, consists of church singers from across North America who came to […]
Mind Your Business: Tour Legal Issues
“Consider every imaginable outcome in a tour. Have a plan for risk management – one that if tested in a court of law will prove you upright, fair, and in keeping with the highest order of excellence. While each state and institution has different expectations, what follows are a few important things to keep in […]
Stick Time: Power In Simplicity
A couple years ago, the tour program I was conducting included the William Dawson classic, “Ezekiel Saw De Wheel.” After one evening’s performance, a choral friend remarked, “I’ve been trying to do so much new music, I’d forgotten how powerful that simple piece is!” “Ezekiel” was in her choir members’ folders the next semester. […]