Lyric came from a Chinese poem written by famous Poet, Bai Ju Yi. "In bloom, she's not a flower; Hazy, she's not a haze. She comes at midnight hour; She goes with starry rays. She comes like vernal dreams that cannot stay; She goes like Morning c...  moreLyric came from a Chinese poem written by famous Poet, Bai Ju Yi. "In bloom, she's not a flower; Hazy, she's not a haze. She comes at midnight hour; She goes with starry rays. She comes like vernal dreams that cannot stay; She goes like Morning clouds that melt away."  

On Christmas Eve Morning 2017, I was approached by a member of our congregation who said he had been inspired by the Holy Ghost to write some words and that he would like me to set them to music. To begin with I wasn't sure, since they seemed somewhat re...  moreOn Christmas Eve Morning 2017, I was approached by a member of our congregation who said he had been inspired by the Holy Ghost to write some words and that he would like me to set them to music. To begin with I wasn't sure, since they seemed somewhat repetitive, but as the day progressed to the early afternoon I found that I was also inspired (I even missed lunch!). The piece varies in mode from D Dorian to A Aeolian. The performance is by me (multi-tracking).  

"Stella" is dedicated to my friend Kristina, who introduced me to this remarkable French poem by Victor Hugo written while in exile on the Isle of Jersey. It is a complex layered poem exploring a multitude of interactions with the Morning star - in na...  more"Stella" is dedicated to my friend Kristina, who introduced me to this remarkable French poem by Victor Hugo written while in exile on the Isle of Jersey. It is a complex layered poem exploring a multitude of interactions with the Morning star - in naturalistic, religious, spiritual and seemingly political terms. Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choraltracks.com) for recording "Stella." To purchase the sheet music for this song, please contact: info@leadingnote.com. I would like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 26 years. I would also like to thank my friends in our "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey.  less

It all began with the idea one Morning that the "other tune" for Nahum Tate's carol "While shepherds watched" is, of course, the Yorkshire ditty "On Ilkley moor bar t'hat". Well, as the day progressed to afternoon, other tunes got added, resulting in ...  moreIt all began with the idea one Morning that the "other tune" for Nahum Tate's carol "While shepherds watched" is, of course, the Yorkshire ditty "On Ilkley moor bar t'hat". Well, as the day progressed to afternoon, other tunes got added, resulting in a curious potpourri for choir and piano. The choir gets to sing "On Ilkla Moor", the Este psalter tune known to all, and also Auld Lang Syne. The second voice, in its madrigalian way, gets a sly English cadence!. Meanwhile, the piano also gets some sly references to "Sing a song of sixpence" and "Scotland the brave". I sang it in G (ATBB) on this video, to fit my multitrack range, but mixed choir versions are also available on musicaneo: in C (SATB) (fairly high for the sopranos) http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196257_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies.html#196258 and in Bflat (SATB) (fairly low for the basses) http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196257_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies.html#196257  less

When I wrote Galaxies I thought "No matter how far away we are, each person is like a star that shines and gives warmth to those who love and value. It is like a galaxy where each star, although separated by thousands of Light years, is part of a communit...

Bienvenue! to the Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus, 180 stripling singers who inspire their audiences with exceptional music brimming with power. We may be studying physics, philosophy or French in our off hours, yet once we don the Blue Blazer our v...  moreBienvenue! to the Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus, 180 stripling singers who inspire their audiences with exceptional music brimming with power. We may be studying physics, philosophy or French in our off hours, yet once we don the Blue Blazer our voices and hearts are unified in singing about all that is good in the world. Reverent to rambunctious, Hebrew to Hindi, our brotherhood would like to share it all with you.  

A fun community choir that meets on a Friday Morning 10am - 12noon at Hunston Village Hall, Chichester, West Sussex.

With much valued assistance from the Tea Time Choir and the Morning Chorus. Brilliant version of this song performed on 19th July 2013 at St John's Church, Gloucester on a stonking hot day (30 degrees plus)

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

This Blog was originally published:Themes & Variations by Musican & Producer Kelly Galbraith http://kellygalbraithblog.com/2014/05/13/visions-of-paradise-choral-musings-on-heaven/     This beautiful May Morning was the first time ...