[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...

A deliciously bluesy swaying gospel in 12/8 rhythm based on Psalm 23, ‘the Lord is my shepherd’. Our music for your choir - sheet music and mp3's available through www.stoneandtara.com/songbook My Sweetest Lord ©2021 Anke de Bruijn & Peter Duiverman ...  moreA deliciously bluesy swaying gospel in 12/8 rhythm based on Psalm 23, ‘the Lord is my shepherd’. Our music for your choir - sheet music and mp3's available through www.stoneandtara.com/songbook My Sweetest Lord ©2021 Anke de Bruijn & Peter Duiverman For SATB + piano accompaniment. My Sweetest Lord – Psalm 23 Lord, come and guide me, I am lost on the way Feel like a lamb when the night falls You’ll hear me cry and you’ll call out my name Sweetest voice, sweetest noise, let the Lord speak to me Walking in shadows, there’s nothing I fear Walking beside my Jesus There in that valley of darkness is near Sweetest friend, kindest hand, in the presence of you Sweetest friend, kindest hand, in the presence of you I’m gonna have none of the evil and gloom That ole world used to feed me I know you’ll seat me at a table for two Sweetest food, tasting good, in the house of my Lord Sweetest food, tasting good, in the house of my Lord Lord is my shepherd, my soul it is light, Guided to heavenl...    us().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">less

Performance of "The Lord Bless You and keep You" in St. Stephans (Baden, Austria), the church where Mozart premiered "Ave Verum Corpus."

Nidarosdomens Guttekor from Norway sing John Rutter's beautiful song The Lord Bless You And keep You. I am sorry about the ending. The Norwegian lady had to tell people that "Shrek" would be coming up next. Surely she could have waited for a minute !!

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication, let your petitions be manifest unto God with giving of thanks. And the peace ...  moreRejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication, let your petitions be manifest unto God with giving of thanks. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesu Amen. (Words from Philippians IV. vv. 4 - 7)  

Κυριακή Προσευχή (Πάτερ Ημών - Lord's Prayer), συνθέτης Παναγιώτης Γλυκοφρύδης, βιντεοσκόπηση 2018 στον Ι.Ν. Αγ. Μαρίνης Εκάλης, Αττικής, Χορωδία Αγίου Αλεξάνδρου - Lord's Prayer (comp. Pan. Glikofrydis), 2018, St. Marina's Greek Orthodox Church, Ekali, A...  moreΚυριακή Προσευχή (Πάτερ Ημών - Lord's Prayer), συνθέτης Παναγιώτης Γλυκοφρύδης, βιντεοσκόπηση 2018 στον Ι.Ν. Αγ. Μαρίνης Εκάλης, Αττικής, Χορωδία Αγίου Αλεξάνδρου - Lord's Prayer (comp. Pan. Glikofrydis), 2018, St. Marina's Greek Orthodox Church, Ekali, Attica, St. Alexander Choir, www.stalexanderchoir.gr, email: contact@stalexanderchoir.gr  

Praise to Thee, Lord Jesus, who in bitter pain, On the cross did suffer, and for our sake wast slain. Thou reign'st with God the Father in Eternity, Lead us, erring sinners, unto heav'n and Thee. Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. (Lord...  morePraise to Thee, Lord Jesus, who in bitter pain, On the cross did suffer, and for our sake wast slain. Thou reign'st with God the Father in Eternity, Lead us, erring sinners, unto heav'n and Thee. Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. (Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy). (Original words: Ehre sei dir, Christe der du littest Not) Sung at Canterbury Cathedral during our Royal School of Church Music Summer Course in 1986, under Martin How. I (David W Solomons) was one of the altos. John Huntley - a fellow alto - recorded this performance.  us().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">less

Anthem by Charles Villiers Stanford The Lord is my shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture : and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul : and shall bring me forth in the paths of righte...  moreAnthem by Charles Villiers Stanford The Lord is my shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture : and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul : and shall bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake. Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me 'gainst them that trouble me : thou anointedst my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. For Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me. (Psalm 23) Sung at Canterbury Cathedral during our Royal School of Church Music Summer Course in 1986, under Martin How. I (David W Solomons) was one of the altos. John Huntley - a fellow alto - recorded this performance.  us().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">less

Verse anthem by Henry Purcell sung by the dwsChorale Also known as the Bell Anthem Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand! Be careful for nothing but in everything by ...  moreVerse anthem by Henry Purcell sung by the dwsChorale Also known as the Bell Anthem Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand! Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Words from Philippians IV. vv. 4 - 7)  

This setting of the 98th Psalm (Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.) comes originally from my cantata “The Manchester Magnificat”, based on Audrey Vaughan’s poems about the religious and social history of the city. The oratorio was...  moreThis setting of the 98th Psalm (Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.) comes originally from my cantata “The Manchester Magnificat”, based on Audrey Vaughan’s poems about the religious and social history of the city. The oratorio was first performed in Manchester Cathedral in 1994. This psalm forms the climax of the whole cantata and provides an expression of optimism after the tragedies of the previous sections. In this “extracted” version, the tragic surroundings of the history remain in the background and the purebubbling joy of the psalm itself shines forth. Enjoy the complex rhythms and let your hair down! This performance by Daniel Shaw's Composer's Choir (based in Connecticut) is a brilliant rendition of the piece and will, I hope, encourage other church choirs and concert choirs to consider including it in their repertoire.  us().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">less