指揮：連芳貝 / 鋼琴：莊憶芬 / 獨唱：羅崧慎、白庭潔 / 朗誦：林昶緯 　　本曲作者艾瑞克‧韋塔克（Eric Whitacre, 1970－）為美國知名作曲家。即使高中時被學校樂隊開除，他後來仍堅持夢想，在拉斯維加斯的內華達州立大學開始積極地學習作曲與合唱指揮，當時也譜寫了〈豪雨〉這首歌曲。之後他前往朱利亞德音樂學院（The Juilliard School of Music），師習於曾獲奧斯卡奬的作曲家約翰•克里利亞諾 （John Corigliano），並取得碩士學位，從此成為世界上最受歡迎的作...  more指揮：連芳貝 / 鋼琴：莊憶芬 / 獨唱：羅崧慎、白庭潔 / 朗誦：林昶緯 　　本曲作者艾瑞克‧韋塔克（Eric Whitacre, 1970－）為美國知名作曲家。即使高中時被學校樂隊開除，他後來仍堅持夢想，在拉斯維加斯的內華達州立大學開始積極地學習作曲與合唱指揮，當時也譜寫了〈豪雨〉這首歌曲。之後他前往朱利亞德音樂學院（The Juilliard School of Music），師習於曾獲奧斯卡奬的作曲家約翰•克里利亞諾 （John Corigliano），並取得碩士學位，從此成為世界上最受歡迎的作曲家之一。他的專輯《豪雨與其他作品》收錄了無伴奏合唱作品，目前在世界上仍是暢銷專輯，並在2007年被葛萊美提名為最佳合唱團演出。 　　韋塔克以獨特的作曲風格聞名，曲中往往有繽紛而又不和諧的和弦，也蘊含隨性之感。〈豪雨〉即採用隨性曲風來表達沙漠突然發生雷雨的驚險與興奮。先是一些微弱的聲音，由小而大不斷增強直到一個高潮，合唱團藉由鼓掌、彈指以及手鐘來模仿雨的聲音，創造出「雷雨」的意象。突如其來的風暴隨即消失後，只剩下雨音的迴聲。 　　〈豪雨〉的歌詞出自於墨西哥詩人奧克塔維奧‧帕斯（Octavio Paz, 1914－1998）的詩篇，卓越的詩歌創作讓他在1981年獲得西班牙語文學的最高榮譽「塞萬提斯奬」（Premio Miguel de Cervantes），1990年成為第十位以西班牙語寫作的諾貝爾文學獎得主，同時也是中南美洲第四位諾貝爾文學獎得主。  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Many men (and some women) complain about not having much vocal power on low notes. photo by GigNroll.com If you have good power, control and volume in the ...

Very new group full of hard working singers

Come try us out for 3 free rehearsals, and then it's a quick voice check (not really an audition) and you're one of us! We're a group of about 20 men & women, and sing in 3 or 4 (or more) part harmony. Quorum love to raise money for local causes - ...  moreCome try us out for 3 free rehearsals, and then it's a quick voice check (not really an audition) and you're one of us! We're a group of about 20 men & women, and sing in 3 or 4 (or more) part harmony. Quorum love to raise money for local causes - covering all sorts of charities, in all sorts of venues. Quorum Singers of St Albans has been singing for over 25 years, and perform around 3 times a year in St Albans or locally in Hertfordshire. We rehearse once a week on Wednesdays, throughout the term time, and can often be found performing in Christopher Place around Christmas time!  less

I Thank You God was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and premiered at the National ACDA Convention in February, 1999. The text is adapted from the E.E. Cummings poem of the same name. Composer Gwyneth Walker writes: "Thi...  moreI Thank You God was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and premiered at the National ACDA Convention in February, 1999. The text is adapted from the E.E. Cummings poem of the same name. Composer Gwyneth Walker writes: "This is a poem of grandeur and of praise. Therefore it might be expected that this musical setting would aim at vastness, grandeur and awakening." Walker accomplishes this through a variety of means. First, the piano introduction includes slowly unfolding piano arpeggios which focus on open intervals of octaves, fifths and fourths, exploiting the full range of the piano keyboard. The composer also takes the singers on a harmonic journey which begins in a low register in C minor, and then travels through a number of other key areas until it reaches the distant key of G-flat. At this point, the voices are drawn closely together into a tone cluster containing the pitches G-flat, A-flat and B-flat, only to open apart into the glorious C major chords which conclude the ...    less

VokalArs, an all-female music group, started rehearsing at the end of 2004 with the intention of consolidating a professional chamber size choir who would offer unconventional, high artistical quality concerts. Its components are professionals, whether si...  moreVokalArs, an all-female music group, started rehearsing at the end of 2004 with the intention of consolidating a professional chamber size choir who would offer unconventional, high artistical quality concerts. Its components are professionals, whether singers or related to other areas of music or those who, despite having another occupation, have a solid musical background and an extense vocal and choral experience. The unique sonority of a female group of singers, usually a capella, has been widely explored throughout the history of music by many composers from all times, both male and female. Examples of such music can be found from the Middle Ages up to contemporary music; however it is not until Romanticism that works are composed specifically for female choirs. Thus, a particular genre is born that will keep its own entity up to the present times. This genre has been especially cultivated as of late by female artists and composers. Both aspects, that is presenting works written for female choir as well ...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is a lack of men in many community choirs (Why men won’t sing).     The Tenor by Paul Helm   One of the results of th...

The Hazelnuts (or in Hebrew – the Hazel Sisters – האחיות לוז) are a Jerusalemite Doo-wop group, who’s just released their debut EP on April 2014. The Hazelnuts are a vocal trio, accompanied by guitar, contrabass & washboard, inspired by the America...  moreThe Hazelnuts (or in Hebrew – the Hazel Sisters – האחיות לוז) are a Jerusalemite Doo-wop group, who’s just released their debut EP on April 2014. The Hazelnuts are a vocal trio, accompanied by guitar, contrabass & washboard, inspired by the American vocal groups of the 1930's. The group aims to expose the audience to the magic of this genre, which is almost completely forgotten. The Hazelnuts' concert combines original songs - preserving the musical spirit of the genre and poured into a contemporary feminine point of view, and in addition - stylistic adaptations of cotemporary songs and authentic pieces from the thirties. Band Members: Yifeat Ziv, Talya Amzaleg, & Shira Z. Carmel – Vocals, Songs and Arrangements Ariel Givant – Double Bass / Dotan cohen – Guitar / Yoav Elkayam – Washboard ********************************************* BANDCAMP - http://thehazelnuts.bandcamp.com/ FACEBOOK -less

July 31st 2015 Deadlline   Tomorrow ends the deadline to sign up for our Video Competition for Treble and Women's Choirs.   http://www.wac-contest.eu/    

Founded in 1967 and based in Paisley, this female choir is actively involved in concert, festival and competition work across Scotland, and further afield. The group has appeared in a wide range of prestigious venues and has performed with many other ch...  moreFounded in 1967 and based in Paisley, this female choir is actively involved in concert, festival and competition work across Scotland, and further afield. The group has appeared in a wide range of prestigious venues and has performed with many other choirs and ensembles throughout the years.