The Song of Ruth, a setting of the most famous passage from the Book of Ruth (Ruth 1:16–17), opens with a gentle polyphonic section for the chorus. (“Do not ask me to leave You, or to stop following You; for where ever You go, I will go, and where You sta...  moreThe Song of Ruth, a setting of the most famous passage from the Book of Ruth (Ruth 1:16–17), opens with a gentle polyphonic section for the chorus. (“Do not ask me to leave You, or to stop following You; for where ever You go, I will go, and where You stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and Your God my God.”) The soprano joins the choir for the twice-repeated middle section of the piece. The music here is contrastingly homophonic and intense. (“Where You die, I will die and be buried.”) The tune and harmonies are borrowed from a passage in my piece Selections from “The Song of Songs” for male voice and band. That piece is dedicated to my wife, Ruth, hence the connection. If that were not enough, our daughter is named Naomi! The Song of Ruth closes with a recapitulation of the music from the opening, but with new words assigned to it, and with the soprano soloist providing a descant for it. (“May the Lord cause ill fate to befall me, and more, if anything but death separates me and You.”) Appropriat...    less

"Ancor che col partire" is a four-voice Italian-language madrigal with music by the Italy-based Flemish composer Cipriano de Rore (1515 - 1565). The madrigal became de Rore's most popular work, one of the most widely distributed madrigals of the entire 16...  more"Ancor che col partire" is a four-voice Italian-language madrigal with music by the Italy-based Flemish composer Cipriano de Rore (1515 - 1565). The madrigal became de Rore's most popular work, one of the most widely distributed madrigals of the entire 16th Century Ancor che col partire io mi senta morire, partir vorrei ogn'hor, ogni momento: tant'e il piacer ch'io sento de la vita ch'acquisto nel ritorno: et cosi mill'e mille volt'il giorno partir da voi vorrei: tanto son dolci gli ritorni miei. Although when I leave You it is as if I were dying, I would wish to leave You every hour, every moment, I am so very happy when life comes back to me when I return: and so I wish I could leave You many thousand times a day because my heart leaps with joy when I return.  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] The world can be a terrible place sometimes as we’ve seen in the news lately. It’s hard to imagine how a single person can make a difference. Ch...

Hold On. Callington Community Gospel Choir recorded for BBC Spotlight South West Christmas 2009. If You like this please leave feedback on our website guest book www.ccgc.org.uk

From July 15th to 19th 2020, Vienna, the music capital of the world, will be once again the stage for children and Youth choirs from all around the world. Under the slogan "Coming together to sing, singing for a better future", the Young participants will...

Aequalis Foundation and the International Choral Composition Competition (CICCAG) assisted by IFCM was join the celebration of World Choral Day(december 2018) that commemorated the Centennial of the Armistice of World War I. Singers from all over the wo...

Bless the Lord with Me. Callington Community Gospel Choir recorded for BBC Spotlight South West Christmas 2009. If You like this please leave feedback on our website guest book www.ccgc.org.uk

As this tenth anniversary of the events of 9/11 comes to a close, Brethren would like to offer their rendition of "We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace". May all of us continue to pray for all who lost their lives, those left behind and may God conti...  moreAs this tenth anniversary of the events of 9/11 comes to a close, Brethren would like to offer their rendition of "We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace". May all of us continue to pray for all who lost their lives, those left behind and may God continue to grant us hope and Peace for the future...  

Filmed by BBC Look North and broadcast on Dec 23rd 2010, this is choir with Director Sally Brown singing Ysaye Barnwell's wonderful song. with thanks to the BBC team.

Street Requiem : For those who have died on the street

  by Kathleen McGuire, Andy Payne & Jonathon Welch Friday, 12 June 07:00PM  Street Requiem is a new choral work that aims to bring a sense of Peace, remembrance and hope to many communiti...