[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In July 2010, after ten years leading Woven Chords, we had our final Concert together.   Little old ladies by Arty Smokes   As always, we h...

Composer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Northern LIghts". In mid-April, 2011, Ola spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus for a project in which he joined the choir in ...  moreComposer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Northern LIghts". In mid-April, 2011, Ola spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus for a project in which he joined the choir in recording 3 of his compositions. On this video, Gjeilo adds an improvised accompaniment (in a one-take rendition) to his composition "Northern Lights"-- which is published as an unaccompanied piece. Because of his view that improvising is a wonderful snapshot of artists "at that moment", the project was entitled "In the Moment". The other composition to which he created an improvised accompaniment was "Ubi Caritas". He also accompanied the choir on "The Ground", which includes CWU's resident faculty quartet -- the Kairos String Quartet. Here are the other "In the Moment" YouTube URL's: The project's trailer/preview video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrvEgQl57b0 Ubi Caritas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_7mcGqsKP8 The Ground: http://www.yo...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There’s a strange thing that happens in choirs just as a Concert is coming up. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong.     Benny G...

Scores Available: https://musicspoke.com/downloads/almas-de-barro/ contact@santiagoveros.site https://www.santiagoveros.site Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santiagoveros CANTALA, Lawrence University Women’s Choir perform a perfect version o...  moreScores Available: https://musicspoke.com/downloads/almas-de-barro/ contact@santiagoveros.site https://www.santiagoveros.site Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santiagoveros CANTALA, Lawrence University Women’s Choir perform a perfect version of "Almas de Barro" by Santiago Veros live in Concert on October 11, 2022 in Lawrence Memorial Chapel under the direction of Santiago Veros. "Almas de Barro" Music and lyrics by Santiago Veros. Foreward: Santiago Veros wrote Almas de Barro at the age of 19, dedicating it to a young woman who at the time was shy and with whom he rarely talked. This piece intimately describes the moments during music theory classes when the two would look at each other continuously, youthfully, and silently, as if unable to do anything else. The piece, written as a counterpoint assignment, was intended to be performed during music theory class as a declaration of love. The idea was to make a musical representation of those moments. The piece begins without words, the ...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many choirs dress identically when they perform. Some have a choir uniform, some choose a particular colour for a particular Concert, some have specially m...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People sometimes welcome a distraction from watching rows of identically dressed choristers singing with books in front of their faces.   Photo by...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s only September, but many choirs are already thinking of their Christmas Concerts. Christmas is also the time of year when choirs release new CDs...

"Across the Vast, Eternal Sky" (Gjeilo) performed by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director), the Kairos String Quartet, and Ola Gjeilo (piano). In May, 2013, composer Ola Gjeilo spent 3 days on the Central Washington...  more"Across the Vast, Eternal Sky" (Gjeilo) performed by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director), the Kairos String Quartet, and Ola Gjeilo (piano). In May, 2013, composer Ola Gjeilo spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus, joining the choir in recording 4 of his pieces. This performance is from that session. The other pieces were "Sanctus" for a cappella choir, and "Luminous Night of the Soul", accompanied by the composer at the piano and joined by the Kairos Quartet -- the resident faculty string quartet at CWU. The final piece, "Ubi Caritas II: Through Infinite Ages", was recorded both in an unaccompanied rendition (how it is written and published) and in a version with Mr. Gjeilo improvising an accompaniment to the choir. This was Ola's second time on CWU's campus. His first visit was in the spring of 2011 and yielded 5 videos of his music, a wide-ranging interview with the composer and other bonus material. It resulted in a DVD entitled "In the M...    less

“Dark Night of the Soul” (Ola Gjeilo) is sung by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) joined by Ola Gjeilo on the piano and the Kairos String Quartet (comprised of CWU string faculty) TEXT: One dark night, fired...  more“Dark Night of the Soul” (Ola Gjeilo) is sung by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) joined by Ola Gjeilo on the piano and the Kairos String Quartet (comprised of CWU string faculty) TEXT: One dark night, fired with love’s urgent longings —ah, the sheer grace!— I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled. In darkness, and secure, by the secret ladder, disguised, —ah, the sheer grace!— in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled. On that glad night, in secret, for no one saw me, nor did I look at anything, with no other light or guide than the one that burned in my heart. - St. John of the Cross (1542-1592) ABOUT THE WORK: “Dark Night of the Soul was written in 2010, and premiered that year by the Phoenix Chorale. The text, three stanzas from St. John of the Cross’ magical poem Dark Night of the Soul, was suggested to me by Joel Rinsema, Executive Director of the Phoenix Chorale, and I fell in love with its passio...    less

A brilliant moment from our Concert in Stirling's Tolbooth Theatre. :-) 5/5/15