The Poohratorio is based on chapter 8 of A A Milne’s “Now we are Six” (The expotition to the North Pole) It is set for various voices (spoken and sung) and either guitar or guitar with other optional instruments following the guitar part. Each character...  moreThe Poohratorio is based on chapter 8 of A A Milne’s “Now we are Six” (The expotition to the North Pole) It is set for various voices (spoken and sung) and either guitar or guitar with other optional instruments following the guitar part. Each character has his own theme (leitmotif). This 1989 recording was created by the composer using his voice, classical guitar and various electronic instruments.  

Artistic Director and Conductor of The Australian Voices Gordon Hamilton explaining his ideas about "Social Music"

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   A few years ago I was asked by BBC Radio Suffolk to create a choir from scratch to perform in a concert in aid of children in Need: The Big Night Out...

Arvo Pärt: Nunc dimittis Luke 2:29-32 Downtown Voices - http://DowntownVoices.net Stephen Sands, Conductor - http://StephenSands.net TRANSLATION Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen:...  moreArvo Pärt: Nunc dimittis Luke 2:29-32 Downtown Voices - http://DowntownVoices.net Stephen Sands, Conductor - http://StephenSands.net TRANSLATION Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer, 1662 ORIGINAL TEXT Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.  less

    The Major Minors children’s choir in New Zealand, is celebrating 5 years of singing this month. The choir that started out as a 3 month project with no name  in 2012 is in final preparations for a special anniversary concert i...

Downtown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net...  moreDowntown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net) Amy Schroeder, violin Jennifer Liu, violin Jessica Meyer, violin Mike Nicolas, cello Mitchell Vines, pianist Elizabeth Bates, soprano Ola Gjeilo’s Dark and Luminous Night portrays the passage of the soul from mortality to its union with God. Based on the 16th century poem by a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, St. John of the Cross, the piece depicts a soul leaving its “still house” and venturing into the night. Seemingly fearless, the soul is guided out of the darkness by the light of love; Luminous Night reveals the soul’s fulfillment. Lyrics: St. John of the Cross 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 l...    less

Downtown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net...  moreDowntown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net) Amy Schroeder, violin Jennifer Liu, violin Jessica Meyer, violin Mike Nicolas, cello Mitchell Vines, pianist Elizabeth Bates, soprano Ola Gjeilo’s Dark and Luminous Night portrays the passage of the soul from mortality to its union with God. Based on the 16th century poem by a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, St. John of the Cross, the piece depicts a soul leaving its “still house” and venturing into the night. Seemingly fearless, the soul is guided out of the darkness by the light of love; Luminous Night reveals the soul’s fulfillment. Lyrics: Charles Anthony Silvestri/St. John of the Cross Long before music was sung by a choir, Long before silver was shaped in the fire, Long before poets inspired the heart, You were the Spirit of...    less

Founded in 2006, The Sessions Voices are one of the most renowned vocal ensembles of Italy. They take their name after Bruce Springsteen’s album The Seeger Sessions, since their first concert took place at a lecture on American Folk Music when Springstee...  moreFounded in 2006, The Sessions Voices are one of the most renowned vocal ensembles of Italy. They take their name after Bruce Springsteen’s album The Seeger Sessions, since their first concert took place at a lecture on American Folk Music when Springsteen was touring Italy in 2006. In 2011 they published their first CD, Songs of Freedom, a collection of protest songs with a strong connection to the Civil Rights Movement. In 2015 TSV published their first original single, “Graces (Dropping Again)” written by ZogaroS. In 2017 TSV will release a concept album of 16 songs and vocal interludes composed and produced by all the girls. “Broken Dream”, written by Chiara Cortez and Emanuele Jorma Gasperi, is the first single published to launch the record.  less

La Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a co...  moreLa Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a couple of vocalize additions above and below it. The pdf file contains the score and a separate guitar part. The sound sample is performed by the composer. Let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia as in the Baroque time Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia It spans all the centuries up to now (la la la) (cu cu cu!)  less