Wow 40 years! Where did the time go? I've always been one of the oldest members of the Stairwell Carollers - if not the OLDEST - at our choir's 20th anniversary in 1997 I was 41, but still didn't look a Day over 30. Pierre had HAIR - and I sh...

Simon Lindley's setting of 'Ave Maria' - under the title of 'Litany for Mary' - was produced originally as a setting for upper voices. the music was devised to short call Order for a Mothers' Union Deanery Service in what was then Leeds Parish Church on...  moreSimon Lindley's setting of 'Ave Maria' - under the title of 'Litany for Mary' - was produced originally as a setting for upper voices. the music was devised to short call Order for a Mothers' Union Deanery Service in what was then Leeds Parish Church on Lady Day - the Feast of the Annunciation - in March 1979. Its accompaniment owes much to the setting of Robert Herrick's 'Litany to the Holy Spirit' by Peter Hurford of some twenty years earlier. 'Ave Maria' has been extensively recorded and broadcast by choirs of all traditions, especially children's choirs. Eventually, a version of the piece for four-part choir emerged during the early weeks of 2003 in response to a request from Gordon Stewart on behalf of the BBC Radio 4 Pilgrim Choir and it is this more recent version that is sung here. This performance was recorded in Leeds Minster on SunDay 28th April 2013 during the recital of 'Music with Minster connections' sung by St Peter's Singers of Leeds, directed by the composer. the organist is David Houl...    less

"Imagining Incense" - Volume 3 and the latest recording by the Vancouver Chamber Choir featuring the choral music of Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer. Visit www.vancouverchamberchoir.com for more information and Order details.

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I was running a one-Day workshop a while back and it seemed to me that the whole thing wasn’t gelling. People seemed uninspired, energy was low, and i...

This piece appears on our new CD. Order now! www.AntiochChamberEnsemble.org - Antioch Chamber Ensemble's performance of Jonathan Dove's "Ring Out Wild Bells" for the 2008 Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC on May 24, 2008 at St. Philip's Episc...  moreThis piece appears on our new CD. Order now! www.AntiochChamberEnsemble.org - Antioch Chamber Ensemble's performance of Jonathan Dove's "Ring Out Wild Bells" for the 2008 Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC on May 24, 2008 at St. Philip's Episcopal Church. For more information about Antioch, visit www.antiochonline.com  

For this final week of Advent, Brethren brings the traditional Austrian Carol, "Still, Still, Still". May these words give you peace and hope as we "dream of the joyous Day to come"...

- CHRISTMAS ALBUMS: http://bit.ly/x-mas-2 - "BEST of 2010-2012" ALBUM: http://bit.ly/a-cappella - Order LEARNING TRACKS: julien.neel (at) gmail.com --- Lyrics (French) Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle, Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à n...  more- CHRISTMAS ALBUMS: http://bit.ly/x-mas-2 - "BEST of 2010-2012" ALBUM: http://bit.ly/a-cappella - Order LEARNING TRACKS: julien.neel (at) gmail.com --- Lyrics (French) Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle, Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous Pour effacer la tache originelle Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux. Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur. Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance. Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur ! --- Lyrics (English) Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour, When God as man descended unto us To erase the stain of original sin And to end the wrath of His Father. the entire world thrills with hope On this night that gives it a Savior. People kneel down, wait for your deliverance. Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer, Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!  less

It's a great tribute to the skill and warm-heartedness of the group of wonderful people that makes up Albion that YET AGAIN we have sold out a concert in Sheffield before the Day. I'm proud of you all that you create and perpetuate something in which so m...

Singing Day with GGCC www.ggcc.org.uk Huge thank to hosts London School of theology www.lst.ac.uk

[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...