#choral music and harmonies and and

[queenlucythevaliant]

For your song asks: 14, 22, 23 (I’m excited!!)

14: Harmonies that remind me what music is for

"Gold (A Capella)" from Once

"Flight," Sutton Foster and Megan McGinnis

"All is Well," shape note song

"Underneath the Stars," Voces8

"Crucifixus," Antonio Lotti

"From Heaven Distilled a Clemency," Terik O'Regan

"Who Is Like Unto Thee," Simon Khorolskiy

"Hymn of the Axciom," Vienna Teng

"Let Us Sleep Now" from Britten's War Requiem

22: Songs that remind me of myself

"Anyone Can Whistle," Sondheim

"No One Else" from Great Comet

"You're On Your Own Kid," Taylor Swift

"The Composer," Sarah Sparks

"The Analog Kid," RUSH

"Saturn," Sleeping at Last

"Soldier," Fleurie

23: Songs that remind me of Liz 💙

"Have You Heard," The Gray Havens (And the "Longing for Heaven Hours" playlist more generally)

"Lamentaciones de Jeremias," Z.R. Stroope Fellow choir girl!

"Till We Have Faces," Heath McNease

"Letters from the Atlantic," The Arcadian Wild

"Walz Across Texas," Willie Nelson

[finelythreadedsky]

underrated point of difference in the conventions of ancient and modern theatre is that the ancient chorus is all one gender and age group while a modern ensemble is more usually mixed, at least in terms of gender. must consider this more.

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

god So Long London is so beautiful

[whumpy-daydreams]

there's a lot wrong with christianity but they kind of went off with choral music that shit slaps

[automaticfrenchhorn]

Some choral writing today, with an emphasis on some of the chords that have been interesting me lately. Specifically, the minor6 chord with an added major 7th, the minor b6 b9 chord that I've used in a few studies already, and a major add4 chord like in my Ionian mode studies.

I chose six-part because four voices simply isn't enough to express the chords I wanted. I could have written divisi into a standard SATB choir, but then the six parts wouldn't have been balanced equally.

As always, these pieces are welcome for anyone and everyone to play! All I ask is that you share it with me, because I'd love to hear it done by live players!

[aarontap]

Out this week!

[wordsvomit101]

That awkward moment when you realized that your big bro got laid with the person you tried to kill.

Author Notes: Credits to @eternal_auditor & @jazeswhbhaven, I got this idea for this shameless worldbuilding headcanons for Heaven and Angels thanks to both of them and the latter's "Angel Bros Headcanons: Michael Flips" post. I also just want to write the scenario in general. Warnings: Raphael is a caution flag himself, depictions of violence, thoughts of brutalizing and eating someone (being directed at MC) by Raphael, a lot of name-calling from Raphael directed at MC

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

(Heaven - Time of Councils and Assemblies)

In the tranquil embrace of Heaven, evening descends like a gentle caress, casting a soft golden hue upon the timeless realm. As the radiant sun dips below the horizon of ethereal clouds, the celestial landscape is bathed in hues of pink, orange, and purple, creating a breathtaking tapestry of colors that stretches across the vast expanse of the heavenly domain. The sky is like a canvas painted lovingly by the hands of God, with the colors of a thousand sunsets, each stroke a masterpiece of divine artistry. The clouds, like celestial brushstrokes, dance across the canvas, their forms ever-changing, their edges illuminated with an ethereal glow.

Amidst the celestial splendor, angelic beings gracefully glide through the sky upon the archways of purest gold span the thoroughfares of Heaven, their graceful curves reminiscent of angelic wings in flight. Beneath these archways lie crystal atriums, their transparent walls revealing the celestial wonders of Heaven in all their resplendent glory. Their iridescent wings shimmer with divine light, flying gracefully as if they dance and pirouette in ethereal ballets, painting radiant trails of luminescence across the sky.

The lower-ranking angels engage in celestial chorales, their melodious voices intertwining in harmonies that resonate throughout the Heaven. The soaring soprano of archangels blends seamlessly with the velvety alto of cherubim, weaving a symphony that would uplift the soul and transport the listener to realms of pure bliss. The music reverberates through the celestial expanse, like a cosmic symphony conducted to worship the Almighty.

For middle-ranking angels, their beloved duty during the Pilgrimage to the Mount of Revelation to commune with their dear creator has to be despairingly pushed to merely Contemplation of Sacred Texts and attending to the Halls of Eternal Wisdom, a lesser, but an honorable duty nonetheless.

Even higher above, amidst ethereal spires and resplendent palaces that grace the heavenly expanse, angelic artisans toil diligently within the Halls of Artistry. Their deft hands sculpt magnificent statues and weave intricate tapestries, each a testament to the wonders of creation. They yearn for the day when their divine creator will bestow upon them a glimpse of their artistry, even a millisecond of recognition for their unwavering dedication to him would be more than enough.

While other angels tend to the flourishing celestial flora in the Gardens of Eternal Bliss. Radiant blooms burst forth in a splendor of colors, their petals shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence. The angels nurture these heavenly gardens with love and care, a single damage to a petal of these beautiful flowers is enough to have their heads roll to the disgusting pit of Hell, however making a mistake in God's favorite garden is an even bigger sin.

It is a mundane day for all of them.

Bang!

"Sir-!"

Creak!

"AAAAAA-!"

Crunch!

"I have yet to finish my prayer-!"

Snap!

However, it wouldn't be a normal day if there wasn't a Raphael brutally tearing and eating fleshes of every angel on his path to the Chamber of Divine Counsel to meet with other Seraphs. His blood-caked shoes thundering over polished marble as he swaggers through the vaulted corridors of Heaven, his crimson-smeared wings unfurling like banners of carnage. Red marred his short blonde hair and white attire. With each wrathful step, he leaves a trail of dismembered angel carcasses, their alabaster feathers floating like ethereal snowflakes in his wake. His crimson eye fully emits an aura of violence and fury.

Thump!

Bursting into the Chamber of Divine Counsel with enough force to make the office tremble, the room was bathed in an ethereal glow, and the other Seraphs present, Gabriel and Michael, sat in their resplendent chairs, their expressions inscrutable. Raphael's form, however, drenched in the gore of his victims, stood in stark contrast to the pristine surroundings. He only has one thought of personally feasting upon that purple hair wench's flesh when she is still alive and making her watch herself being devoured alive and cut off her tongue so she couldn't even voice out her pain.

"Why... Why is it always her...! That bitch!"

The pure white chairs, crafted from the finest celestial ivory, bore the brunt of his rage, splintering and crumbling under his kicks. Yet Gabriel and Michael, their faces devoid of emotion, paid him little attention.

"If you insist on throwing a tantrum, I implore you to do so in a realm more suited to such sorrowful displays. Hell would accommodate your temperaments more appropriately."

Michael stood tall over the intricately designed long table with a mindmap and countless brainstorming notes. Standing in a place Brother Lucifer used to stand in each council meeting. His glare locked on the furious blonde seraph before him. A frown, as if carved in stone, creased his handsome face, adding an air of solemnity to his prideful demeanor. Around his neck, a regal purple choker, embellished with ornate gold rings and shimmering gemstones, encircled his throat. At its center, a prominent gold ring held a solemn cross pendant, its gentle clinking accompanying his every movement.

In a swift motion, Michael tilted his head to the left, displaying effortless grace as he dodged the flying chair hurtling towards him at high speed. The chair collided with the wall, its impact leaving a deep dent in the panel, a testament to the force behind the throw.

"Shut that shitty mouth of yours! Maybe try to go down there yourself to ask why our dear brother is entertaining trash!" As Raphael spoke, his voice trembled with anger and frustration, his words dripping with venomous accusation. A few veins already popped on his crazed, striking appearance. Filled with unrepressed anger that led him to kill his spies who reported to him and fly from the dungeon up here.

Yet Michael continued to look at his notes, his face blissfully indifferent. His right hand continued to write on many of his papers on the white table.

"He has simply strayed from the right path."

Brother Lucifer’s footstep-less feet headed for the vile tiny red devil.

'Stop it.'

However, he couldn't say the same about his head. Memories he had been trying to wipe from his mind for years served only to haunt him. Taunting him of the gut-wrenching event more than a hundred years ago.

In the silence, pure white hands pushed through the grass and preciously held up the rotten red thing.

'Don't dirty your hands.'

His brother stroked that thing's body so softly with his hands so similar to how he once did with Michael's face. Those strong, beautiful hands that once held his face so tenderly to wipe his tears away. As he placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

'Brother...'

"I remain confident in my ability to guide him back to the right path." 

His brother's hand was holding Michael’s ray of light. The light in Brother Lucifer’s hand had stopped in front of the disgusting beast's chest, unable to advance further. He was again protecting worthless things that didn't deserve his grace.

'Why did you save it?!'

When his brother finally stood before Michael on his third step, black energy, not white, began to flow from his body.

'No-NononononoNONO-'

From his beloved brother’s head, the gorgeous head of the Morning Star, bright red horns that were the same color as the vile thing that tempted him began to grow.

'Brother- Brother Lucifer please!'

"You shall witness it in due time."

"I love you, my brother. Which is why I will give you one last chance. Return."

Crack!

The force of Michael's left hand left a massive crack in the opulent crystal marble table that trailed down to the other end of it. Effectively bringing clarity back to Raphael as the blonde gazes at Michael's hard knuckle gripping the table painfully, ignoring the blood pooling down to the marble floor and further dirtying the former pristine chamber.

Michael's abrupt actions were met with an air of knowing silence from the two. It wouldn't be far-fetched if they possessed a secret understanding of his motivations that would elude outsiders.

"Hmph," a scoff rang out and pierced the silence of the room, originating from the slender man with platinum blonde hair seated to Michael's right. His face, though classically handsome with a pale complexion, remained stoic and emotionless, belying the arrogance that dripped from the single syllable he uttered.

"Then you better live up to those words."

Gabriel's lean was a graceful movement, his body sinking into the chair as if it were a throne. His arms crossed over his chest, the crisp white of his shirt contrasting sharply with the gleam of the gold chain that adorned his white jabot ruffle shirt. The fabric of his sleeves rustled softly against the delicate filigree, creating a symphony of subtle sounds that echoed through the silent room. His eyes, deep and enigmatic, surveyed the scene before him, his expression a mixture of amusement and quiet contemplation.

"Furthermore, even in his current state, Brother Lucifer still demonstrates a reverence for God. It is conceivable that his actions are merely a symptom of his yearning for God's divine presence."

In this timeless realm, where Gabriel proudly proclaims to reign supreme as the epitome of seraphic obedience, there exists but one for whom he would willingly surrender his esteemed position: Brother Lucifer. The firstborn of God's creations, Brother Lucifer's devotion to his Maker surpassed all others, earning him the title of Morning Star. His brilliance illuminated the heavens, casting an unrivaled radiance that even Gabriel's wings could not obscure.

It was Brother Lucifer who instilled within the celestial choirs the rituals and observances that expressed their gratitude to the Almighty. Yet amidst his unwavering piety, Brother Lucifer adhered to a solitary discipline known only to himself. Only a select few had glimpsed this secret regimen, elusive even to those who had followed his every step for countless eons.

Solitary would not be said without Brother Lucifer's name being attached to the word. He found solace in his own construction of hallowed sanctuaries. These Majestic Temples of Worship at odd places in Heaven served as his solitary refuge, where he could commune with the divine without the distractions of others. His devotion ignited a spark in other angels, who, inspired by his example, crafted Halls of Artistry. They sculpted countless colossal statues of the Almighty, their grandeur exceeding the limits of mortal imagination.

No one dared step one foot into his havens, they were for Brother Lucifer alone, and death would be upon those who broke that unspoken rule.

Yet there were times he allowed Gabriel to join him during Celestial Meditation in the secluded Garden of Eternal Reflection, a sacred sanctuary hidden deep within the heart of Heaven. Here, amidst the fragrant blossoms and tranquil pools, Brother Lucifer let Gabriel join his silent meditation and prayers. It was one of the highlights of Gabriel's day when his brother was still around.

"Not if he is messing with the descendant of Solomon."

Raphael's voice now had the former rage in it that reminded him of what he came here for, to be in these two insufferable presences. He could barely believe it when one of his spies uttered those words out of their useless mouth. That Lucifer? The Morning Star? His brother who despises Solomon as much as any other angel and the one that would bite another head off if they recklessly touched him even in the rendezvous night at the sacred Eternal Flame at the heart of Heaven where they allowed themselves to let loose for a bit?

It sounds fucking unbelievable, but when they show him a picture of that purple-haired vixen bumping parts with his brother, it sends him off the reels. He kills most of the spies and storms out of his favorite dungeon to here.

"Pardon?" Michael's mismatched eyes bulged, his neck creaking and twitching as he stared up at Raphael in a frenzy of incomprehension, his falsely composed display gone. The mere hint of the truth was liable to send the black-haired Seraph into a rampage and murder them all.

"Are you suggesting..." Gabriel's face, previously etched in stoicism, crumbled into a mask of horror. He couldn't believe the words that had escaped Raphael's lips, but he couldn't shake the realization that was slowly creeping upon him. He desperately wished that the words that came out of Raphael's mouth were nothing more than a cruel jest, but the look in his eyes said otherwise.

"I said, he's with the descendant of Solomon, that purple-haired harlot...that traitor....that cheat- That tempting trash!"

It pissed Raphael off even more as he raised his voice volume, veins now appearing on his throat, especially at the reminder of his text with that two-timer. The sheer self-satisfied energy radiating off his phone screen almost makes him fly down to Hell to choke that bitch until her brain pops out of her head himself.

"This is preposterous...impossible..." Michael's jaw hung slack, his eyes wide with disbelief as Raphael's accusations cut through the air like a madman who had just been cheated on. His normally steady stance faltered, replaced by a palpable sense of hysteria that made his body tremble. He stumbled backward, his back colliding with the cold, unforgiving wall as if seeking solace from the onslaught of emotions that threatened to consume him. The wall provided no comfort, its smooth surface a stark contrast to the turmoil raging through his body.

"I'm not joking. I heard her talking about Lucifer, his scar, his... 'thing'," The mere mention of his beloved brother's private part sends shivers down his spine as his voice quivered. The thought of that conniving bitch taking full advantage of the trust Brother Lucifer had placed in her made his blood boil with simmering rage. And that she dared to go against her promise to him as if those moments they shared in the poisonous sky of Hell meant nothing.

"She knows his exact measurements!- You know what, look at this shit yourself!" With a resounding slam that echoed through the room like a thunderclap, he unveiled the damning evidence: a collection of photographs frozen in time, capturing moments of intimate interaction between Lucifer and the individual in question.

The images fell upon the table with a heavy thud, causing the fragile surface to tremble under the weight of their revelation. Despite the force of impact that threatened to shatter the fragile table beneath them, the pictures remained intact, their unspoken truth radiating from their glossy surfaces like a painful revelation begging to be acknowledged.

Michael's face contorted with a ghastly twitch as if he were attempting to conjure laughter, but the sound that escaped his lips was more akin to a hollow echo in the thick, suffocating atmosphere. "Shut up," his mind struggled to piece together the unthinkable truth that lay sprawled before him like a macabre revelation. Denial, a feeble shield against the onslaught of evidence, crumbled before the weight of reality, leaving him quaking.

"I swear before Thrones of Heavenly Majesty I will make her rue the day she even touched him. She corrupted him and brought him over to the side of temptation. God would never-" As Gabriel's solemn vow echoed through the room, the air crackled with the intensity of his conviction, thick with the gravity of impending retribution for the sinner.

His words struck a nerve, exacerbating Michael's fraying composure. The gravity of the situation bore down upon him like a suffocating weight, his anger bubbling to the surface in fervor.

"FUCKING SHUT UP! IT'S NOT REAL! IT'S NOT REAL!" Michael's voice cracked with anguish and insanity, his outburst sending shockwaves through the chamber. In his distress, the chamber was engulfed in an inferno, casting eerie shadows that danced upon the walls. In the distance, the echo of Michael's despair mingled with the desperate prayers and curses of those trapped within the blazing office. The once-orderly chamber had become a scene of utter chaos and destruction.

"O, Almighty Creator," Gabriel's voice trembled with urgency, his words a fervent entreaty to the absent God above. "Grant us clarity in this hour of darkness, illuminate our path with Your divine light."

Meanwhile, Gabriel's attempts at prayer offered little solace as he grappled with the implications of Raphael's revelations.

His murmurs grew more frantic with each passing moment, a desperate attempt to find solace in the face of unsettling truths. "Guide us through this tempest, O Lord, for we are adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Let Your wisdom be our compass, and Your mercy our salvation."

But despite his fervent appeals, only shrieks and flames answer back, echoing throughout Heaven from the burning chamber they're in.

"She said she'd only do that with me..." Raphael’s voice cracked with bitterness, each word laced with venomous resentment. His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms as he fought to contain the seething anger threatening to consume him whole. "...she lied...she lied..."

The weight of betrayal hung heavy in his heart, suffocating him with its oppressive presence. Raphael's chest heaved with each labored breath, his heart aching with the sting of betrayal. "Fucking cheater..." His words dripped with venom, the bitterness of betrayal poisoning his soul.

With a primal snarl, Raphael's control shattered like glass, shards of rage cutting deep into his consciousness. He lashed out blindly, his teeth sinking into the flesh of a passing stupidly brave angel that came to check on the three Seraphs, the taste of blood a bitter reminder of his own foolishness.

"I hate her..." The words escaped his lips in a guttural growl, each syllable dripping with raw fury. His grip tightened around the angel's trembling form, nails digging into flesh as he sought to vent his pent-up rage on an unwitting victim.

"I'm not sloppy seconds..." Raphael's voice cracked with rage, his crimson eyes ablaze like a firestorm. He tore into the angel's flesh with savage ferocity, his actions a grotesque display of his inner turmoil. "...I'm no side bitch!"

Boom!

— — — — — — — — — — — — — —

"Hm?", in the dim recesses of his grandiose office, Lucifer, who was engrossed in his craftsmanship of carving the statue of the divine, lifted his gaze from his artistic endeavor by the sudden but subtle yet discernible disturbance in the island above the sky of Hell.

His pure white eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Despite the plaster and pigments that adorned his once-pristine garments save for his bloody back that had his broken wings. His form radiated a timeless beauty, marred only by the grim expression on his handsome visage.

The sensation he felt was like a creeping up from above, like a ripple in the placid waters of a celestial lake.

'What are those three getting angry at right now?'

Raon, who was perched upon the plush velvet couch that adorned his office, her tall form immersed in the pages of an ancient tome, looked up swiftly at Lucifer's voice, a rare occurrence after hours of silence.

Once she raised her gaze from the text, her curious eyes meeting Lucifer's form with silent inquiry. Normally, she would wait until Lucifer is willing to tell her what is on his mind, but currently, she is bored and needs a break after reading several magic grimoires Lucifer gave her and practicing with them for almost a whole day.

'Let's just hope he will at least give me a short answer.'

"Um, Lucifer, is there something wrong?" Raon's voice, soft and tentative, carried a note of concern as she awaited his response, her gaze fixed unwaveringly upon him.

Lucifer's answer was measured, his words carrying the weight of foreboding. "I feel there's a disturbance. There would be a storm soon," he left out the part that it was most likely his brothers being angry about something again.

"Is it related to the angels?" Yet the young woman still managed to catch onto the hidden message, her question not directed at ordinary angels but at his brothers as she nervously tightened her grip on her grimoire.

Lucifer nodded solemnly. "Very likely," he confirmed. His gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon but his voice relaxed to ease the lady's tension as he contemplated the unfolding events in the celestial realm.

"Oh, then I will get back to my training-", with a subtle shift of his form, he turned his attention back to Raon, his gaze meeting hers with a serene intensity as he stood up to clean himself with a swipe of his finger. He tidied himself with a cleaning spell and put his tools and statues back into their orderly places without doing so himself physically—a casual display of his magic that Raon wishes to get to one day.

"It's fine," Lucifer assured her, his tone gentle yet authoritative. "Let's take a rest. Care to join me for a walk to the observatory room?" Quietly, he held out his right arm for her to hold on to if she wanted to accompany him.

Raon's heart fluttered at the invitation, her breath catching in her throat as she struggled to contain her excitement. "Really? I-I mean, of course! Please lead the way." Her words spilled forth in a rush of eagerness, her eyes shining with anticipation as she rose from her seat and she excitedly but carefully walked over to Lucifer's spot.

As Raon raised her gaze, a silent query lingering in her eyes, she studied the handsome devil's countenance for the slightest hint of unease. Finding none, she shyly reached out and clasped his arm, a silent agreement passing between them. Together, they embarked on a leisurely stroll, the pace unhurried yet purposeful.

Lucifer, typically swift in his movements, slowed his steps to accommodate Raon, pausing whenever she expressed a desire to linger and marvel at the exquisite white blossoms that adorned Paradise Lost, a sight reserved only for the privileged few. The air was filled with a sense of tranquility and reverence as they meandered through the garden, each step bringing them closer to their destination, yet allowing them to savor the beauty that surrounded them. Unbothered by the chaos that is currently exploding in Heaven.

[autistic-autumn]

Made a 4-part choral harmonization of popipo vegetable juice song.

Did actually post a version of this the other day but it turns out I had some illegal voice leading and harmonies. I fixed all of that, got a better soundfont and spiced up some of the harmonies. At some point I might actually try get miku to sing it but for now this is all I can be bothered doing. I'll probably wake up in the middle of the night realizing there is a parallel 5th in there or something but whatever.

For those of you who are big music heads the score is below the cut:

I'm actually having to do it for a theory course assessment except I'm not meant to know about tonicization at all. All the secondary dominants and fun stuff aren't actually "allowed" because i haven't learnt it. I also tried to make it sound like a subtle metric modulation in the B section just to piss off the professor because he didn't say I couldn't make an implied metric modulation through phrase length and embellishment notes. I was also meant to write my own melody but that's besides the point.

[livelyhearth]

Lively Hearth is a two-woman band based in Los Angeles, making folk music with choral, Broadway, and country inflections. After ten years singing together and eight years as a couple, they moved from New England to California and began performing original songs as a duo. Imaginative and deeply felt, Lively Hearth’s work features seamless vocal harmonies, subtle music theory flourishes, and a touch of wordplay.

Debut single "Hers & Hers" out now! Spotify Youtube Apple Music Amazon Music Pandora iHeartRadio

We are also on Instagram with occasional videos from live performances, with other original songs and some of our favorite covers!

[grntaire]

ranting about things no one cares about bc if i rant to people irl it will hurt their feelings but OUGHHHHH does vibrato totally kill choral music. like 9/10 it’s too much intonation goes out the window and people add it even when it’s not idiomatically appropriate! just bc it’s fun for them even tho it ruins the harmony and overtones and just isn’t the vibe! there is tasteful vibrato but it should not be so wobbly you can drive a truck through it!

[real-antonio-vivaldi]

Do I even NEED an introduction?

Hm, Well, Hello. I'm Antonio Vivaldi, the red priest, and the greatest composer of all time. As you should know, I wrote Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons), my most famous work. Part of Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ("The Contest between Harmony and Invention"), it depicts moods and scenes from each of the four seasons. I also wrote more than 500 other concertos. About 350 of these are for solo instrument and strings, of which 230 are for violin, the others being for bassoon, cello, oboe, flute, viola d'amore, recorder, lute, or mandolin. About forty concertos are for two instruments and strings, and about thirty are for three or more instruments and strings. As well as about 46 operas, I composed a large body of sacred choral music, such as the Magnificat RV 610. Other works include sinfonias, about 90 sonatas and chamber music. Some sonatas for flute, published as Il Pastor Fido, have been erroneously attributed to me, but were composed by Nicolas Chédeville.

I go by any pronouns except she/her, and I'm aroace, so don't even try to Rizz me up (you'll fail anyway). Yes I'm autistic and yes I'm depressed. And yes I will speak some (poor) Italian here.

I'm the best composer, don't even try me. And yes, I hold grudges, every pretty boy does.

If you want to be removed/added to my tag list, please don't hesitate to tell me.

[pargolettasworld]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26kMfhAnsQc

Here is a newish (21st-century, at least) choral setting of Psalm 137 (”By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we thought of Zion.  There on the poplars we hung up our lyres, for our captors asked us there for songs, our tormentors, for amusement: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing a song of the Divine on alien soil?”) in Yiddish.  I love the bright sound of the harmony here -- Psalm 137 is sad and nostalgic, but it’s also angry, and this harmony is as sharp as a knife.

The composer is the choir director and conductor Binuymen “Ben” Schaechter.  In addition to being a choir director and musical theater composer, Schaechter is one of the princes of a great family of Yiddishists.  The “Family” section of his Wikipedia page will astonish you if you have even the slightest connection to contemporary American Yiddish culture.

[burins]

song meme

tagged by @vinelark and have been picking away at this as typing allows! I suspect this is going to look very silly because I haven't been listening to very much music lately (or when I have it's mostly been on han's Spotify in the car) mostly audiobooks

shuffle your on repeat playlist and list the first 10 songs, then tag 10 people

good luck babe by chappell roan - has anyone not been listening to this song? I'm so happy she's blowing up on a song that's I think legitimately one of her best. also this is a dinahbabs song if I ever heard one. which one is which? great question it's both

be the wheel by theo katzman - I think this showed up on my discover weekly? I'm actually not entirely sure. it's a bop! like most of theo katzman / vulfpeck's stuff the lyrics don't really make much sense, but it's a fun summery tune

where you lead by carole king - so the other reason that I thought this playlist might be a little bit all over the place is because I had my library program playlist on repeat for like two and a half hours on Wednesday. this is from that

what'd i say by ray charles - another one from the library program playlist! Ray Charles is making so many different sounds with his voice in the song and it's a delight

1612 by vulfpeck - This is an oldie! I put it on my crush playlist when I first started dating my spouse :)

masseduction by st vincent - I just relistened to this whole album and it's still so so good. sugarboy is another dinahbabs song

make some room by the suffers - This is a song for cooking brunch.

butterfly by jon batiste - jon batiste has such a beautiful voice

springtime by alison russell - holding you by the shoulders. listen to Alison Russell right now. Do you like harmonies? Do you like incredible vocal performances? Do you like beautiful and hard-hitting lyrics? This album got four Grammy noms and it deserved every single one of them

ameriican requiem by beyoncé - so this song did make me tear up when I first heard it omw to work. The chorus is a little... milk toast, but I am such a sucker for a big choral inflected song. also after listening to so many two-minute 45-second little tidbits of songs it is really nice to sink my teeth into something that is nearly 6 minutes long and actually grows and changes over that duration

tagging (no pressure) @timetoboldlygo @luckydicekirby @uhuraisgay @suedeuxnim @mengyao @blotthis @dancy-nrew @misspickman and anyone else who'd like to do this! if you don't use Spotify just tell me about 10 songs you've been listening to recently

[mildmayfoxe]

please can i pick your musical brain 👀 i'm losing it over the cover of 'bridge over troubled water' by jake collier/yebba/tom legend/tori kelly rn and i wondered if you knew any songs/groups/artists that are similar? i was trying to figure out what it is and was like. secular choral a cappella??? but uhhh not having a lot of luck finding things in the same vein and you came to mind as someone with musical knowledge!

ok HELLO my friend i'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long!! for those interested this is the jacob collier troubled water arrangement which similarly truly blew me away; it's an absolutely stunning piece of vocal arrangement and show of vocal talent that without exaggeration brought me to tears the second and third time i listened to it. a really spectacular arranger and musician- he's won five grammies, one of which for his lionel richie all night long arrangement which is also a lot of fun but a different vibe.

unfortunately i don't have a lot of suggestions for you! the obvious place (to me) to head is just straight to gospel choir. that's where you're going to find the most similar sweeping vocal harmonies like this, especially if you find some big groups. when i was looking around for similar pieces i found the civilization iv theme baba yetu composed by christopher tin & featuring the soweto gospel choir (which is a group i am definitely going to be listening to more of later). christopher tin also composed waloyo yamoni which also just blew me away- i cried!! soweto gospel choir is also in an arrangement of that on spotify, but the youtube link is for a live performance with a different choir- although the male soloist was really spectacular.

otherwise i feel like you could almost just start listening to OPERA if you wanted! you can also find a lot of really fun harmonizations in bluegrass and country music, though nowhere on the scale of big choral arrangements. here's flowers on the wall by the statler brothers for a country example which i enjoy, and here's nobody knows by pastor tl barrett & the youth for christ choir for a gospel song i've enjoyed recently too. since i deviated into more instrumental-heavy stuff with the christopher tin compositions just for fun here's october by eric whitacre which is just an intermediate concert band piece but it's my personal favorite i've ever played because the beauty of it all layered together is unreal. pick out the trumpet lines in there and imagine me playing that. GREAT piece imo. real sweeping triumph and melancholic wistfulness.

LASTLY here's the wikipedia pages for grammies for best arrangement, instrument and vocals and best arrangement, instrumental and a cappella which probably have lots of other interesting things to check out, both in winners and nominees! jacob collier's on both lists.

if anybody has another other suggestions please let me know!! i'm not an expert by any means and honestly my musical knowledge is only mediocre, so would be happy to hear what other people have to suggest :)

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Simple piece today, just a little study with a chorale texture exploring some sonorities I find interesting. The subito piano marking towards the end is interesting, especially with how the horn's sustain doesn't follow the same dynamics as the rest of the group.

As always, these pieces are welcome for anyone and everyone to play! All I ask is that you share it with me, because I'd love to hear it done by live players!