#choralsinging

[aureuspublishinglimited]

Carol Nadolig 1916 by Meuryn Hughes. 1st performance Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, NJ, 17/12/23, conductor Jim Moyer. Listen 44:30 to 47:30 https://fb.watch/p0gELVMJrE/ Côr Rehoboth Cymru, Delta PA programed both in their service of Lessons & Carols . Free download from www.aureus.co.uk

[thephiladelphiachorus]

Saturday, November 23rd- Concert Information:

www.thephiladelphiachorus.org

#philadelphiachorus

#chorus

#choruslife

#choir

#choirmusic

#choirlife

#choirconcert

#choralmusic

#choralsinging

#choralconcert

[joetwistmusic]

Choir friends, I’m so excited to announce that my “Australian Song Cycle”, a celebration of Aussie natural wonders and a call for action on #ClimateChange is almost completely available to purchase scores at #SingScore, thanks so much to the amazing Ruth McCall for all your help! The work was premiered by @samallchurch and @sydneychamberchoir and had been receiving a number of performances sound Australia since 💖🙏😍🙏 #composer #choralmusic #choralsinging #choirsforclimate #choirconductor #choirchoirchoir #choirlife #choirmusic #choir #choirdirector #choir #climateaction #climateactionnow https://www.instagram.com/p/CelGTrVpzm2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[incarnationsf]

Date & Time: Friday April 29, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Details at sunsetarts.wordpress.com Program: Choral works by Vivaldi, Palestrina, Handel, Leonard Bernstein, John Rutter, Leo Delibes, Brahms, Stephen Sondheim, and others. @sfgirlschorus #sf #sfevents #livemusic #liveperformance #sunsetdistrictsf #sunsetdistrict #choir #choirmusic #choral #choralmusic #choralsinging #classicalmusic #episcopal #episcopalian #episcopalchurch #diocal (at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcqJ5HULOuD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[schopfer]

Great seeing the maestro for lunch today! #maestros #maestro #greaterphiladelphia #greaterphiladeliachoralartssociety #music #musicians #musiciansofinstagram #pats #choral #choralmusic #choralsinging #patspizzeria (at Pat's Pizzeria) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSrz4UpgeKq/?utm_medium=tumblr

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Quarterly Meeting #2 (Year 2) - 7th December 2017

There was a good turnout tonight for the second quarterly meeting of Year 2 of Neighbourhood Theatre.  The meeting began with an update of recent projects and events.  These included Sing Before You Speak Again (SBYSA), the beautiful show that was created in response to Wings (more details in the blog below).  This has since toured to some of the centres and homes where the creative team ran initial workshops and created the show’s songs and lyrics, meaning many of those who’s stories are told by the piece have been in the audiences.  

Members who were part of the SBYSA company talked about the experience of being in this show, and other members who had seen it also shared their responses.  This felt like a really nice way of honouring the company’s work, and the people who’s stories were being told in the songs; and a great way of sharing feedback about the project.  Although SBYSA is not explicitly about Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Aphasia or Dementia, it is clear that the show has opened the eyes of many - cast and audience members alike - to members of society who are not always given a voice, and created more awareness of the people who live with these conditions.  

NhT member, Jennifer, who performed in SBYSA, talked about how, when she was performing, she was thinking about someone she knows who has suffered a stroke, and how she “was trying to give a voice to this particular person” through her performance.  It is striking to think of the varied ways in which this piece has reverberated through people’s lives.

Imogen then talked about Suppliant Women, a recent production in the Main House, for which there was a community chorus of women, drawn from Southwark and Lambeth through NhT members’ contacts.  The play itself is 2,500 years old, and tells the story of fifty women who flee their homes to escape forced marriage and seek asylum in Greece.  Two thirds of the audiences who saw this show had never been to the theatre before, and 80% had not been to the Young Vic before.

It is clear from the subject-matter of Supplicant Women that it tackles issues which connect with marginalised peoples but, like SBYSA, it has created far-reaching - and perhaps less predicted - reverberations.  NhT member, Ben, talked about the importance to her of being a black woman in the cast, and “being the change that I want to be in theatre”.  She spoke of how she felt as a young person going to the theatre and wanting to see “kids that look like me and sound like me”, and how it “is nice to look and see yourself reflected back at you”.  This last sentence sums up the particular importance of the Young Vic’s integration of community work with their programming.

Lily then talked about the two-week How to Win Against History workshop currently happening (see below for more information), and Imogen talked about new show The Jungle, opening tonight.  The Jungle is a new play from Good Chance Theatre, about the Jungle encampment in Calais.  NhT members had been invited to a dress rehearsal of the show earlier today and one member talked of how “she didn’t know [before seeing the show] what it was like in the Jungle” -  a simple but clear statement of, again, increased awareness of another part of our society that does not always get a voice.

There are lots of exciting events to come for NhT members, including a Costume workshop on the 18th December, in response to members’ requests for more contact with different departments at the Young Vic, and further insight into the creative process.  

In January, new Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah, takes up his post, and will be attending the first Neighbourhood Theatre meeting of 2018, on 6th March.  Members are invited to have questions ready to put to Kwame. 

The show Brothers Size is returning to the Young Vic, and NhT members are invited to its press night on 26th January.  Alongside this production, there will be a community project run with young men in prisons rehabilitating from excessive drug use to create a new piece of writing.  The text created will then be performed by young men outside prison at risk of offending.  

The Choir With No Name project will kick off early in 2018, and will see three groups rehearse separately for four weeks, leading to a performance to an invited audience at The Workshop, a community space in Vauxhall, in March.  The project will bring together Choir With No Name members with people from the Young Vic’s local boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.  It is hoped that there will be 200 singers taking part in the final performance.  

[srdill]

Rehearsals for tomorrow’s two performances of Christmas Vespers, a tradition I became a part of in December of 1973. Proud to be a part of it again!Watch for the 8pm show on PBS. . . . #music #choralmusic #vespers #choralsinging #college #choir #bethlehempa #lehighuniversity @lehighu @lehighalumni (at Packer Memorial Chapel) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5yA9A9JZui/?igshid=17axyd94xmrfn

[mrbechamel-blog]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv49aCcBTei/. Sacramento LGBT Wedding Expo Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus . ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ . @sacramento_gmc @outword_magazine . ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ . Settings: 1/100 f/4.5 ISO 800 1/125 f/2 ISO 1000 . ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ . #gaymenschorus #lgbtqia #lgbtqiapd #lgbtqiapdn #instagay #lgbtq #california #sacramento #eventphotographer #lgbtqlove #instalgbtfamily #lgbtpositivity #lgbtqq #lgbtactivist #gayphotographer #mrbechamel #midtownsac #chorus #grouppic #groupphoto #sgmc #sacramentogaymenschorus #sacgaymenschorus #choralsinging #queer #choir #gaynorcal #models #giving #fundraising

[noevilproject]

Ward: Choral Singer, Unitarian Universalist, Mac Consultant - I'm full-time caregiver for my wife (of 52 years) who is homebound due to poor health. I'm also a pro bono Webmaster, List Mom & Facebook Admin for numerous non-profit groups. https://noevil.co/37i2tNq

[stibsky]

“Behind every brilliant performance there were countless hours of practice and preparation.” - Eric Butterworth Photographed by @itsmanuelitosantos #practicemakesperfect #choirlife #choralsinging #concertchoir #vscocam #snapseed (at Cagayan de Oro, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnBLM_Nn_Zy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u3qr7xdn2lt7

[shesgoinhollywood]

YO! Cha girl did it! I'm a choral singer again! My first audition in over a year. You can't tell me NOTHING! lol Music is definitely my path, y'all. . . . . . . #singer #audition #chorale #choralmusic #angelcitychorale #acc #music #musician #sightreading #sightsinginging #choral #choralsinging #choir

[thephiladelphiachorus]

Saturday, November 23rd- Concert Information: www.thephiladelphiachorus.org

#philadelphiachorus #chorus #choruslife #choir #choirmusic #choirlife #choirconcert #choralmusic #choralsinging #choralconcert

[thestarmovement]

@Regranned from @breagalvinofficial - Santa & her crew at our Kilbourne Singers Holliday Choir retreat!! #choir #kbs #kilbournesingers #7hours #holiday #holidaytheme #elves #reindeer #Christmas #singing #vocals #choralsinging #santa - #regrann #TSM #singer #Brea #Santa ready for the #holidays #DecemberShowcase #thestarmovement

[joyciemaemarie]

Eba! Eba! Achuchu Achuchu :) 😍😍😍😍 Congrats sa atin teachers. :) #ChoralSinging #2ndPalcer

[justdreamichelle]

Down with KCP, Wells 2016: A Day In the Life

Last July 11-17, I spent the most amazing week in Wells, Somerset, England singing with The King’s Counterpoint choir at Wells Cathedral. 

The King’s Counterpoint had been around for 2 years when a they secured a week long residency at Wells Cathedral, in Wells, Somerset, England.  Typically choirs won’t be assigned for a residency for 2 years out, but the directors had some connections and they secured us a spot for 9 months out.  There was a lot of fundraising going on behind the scenes to help with the cost of the choir going abroad, and we had a lot of practicing to do!  

As a resident choir you are to sing the services everyday.  Due to the nature of Anglican churches, that means you’re learning new music for every day.  We received our music in late May, had only 11 rehearsals as a choir (most of our work is done on our own), before we hopped on a plane to head to the UK. 

The members of the choir changed throughout the two years, and we only have concerts every 3 months, so it had been hard to form a bond with members, this experience changed everything.  We started bonding without SUPER early flight to Atlanta, a 10 hour layover, a 7 hour flight to London, a 3 hour line for customs, and a 3 hour bus ride.  By then we knew more about EVERYONE in the choir, including how we handle stress :) In addition to that bonding time, majority of us stayed together in the dorms for the Wells Cathedral School, so we lived together, shared bathrooms (men and women), and ate breakfast in the cafeteria together every morning. 

We had a pretty routine schedule most days that looked like this:

7:00am              Wake-up, get ready 8:00-9:00am      Breakfast in the cafeteria 9:30-11:30am    Rehearsal in the Choir School 11:30-3:30pm    Lunch, Free time 4:00pm-4:45pm Rehearsal in Cathedral Quire 5:15pm-6:00pm Evensong 6:00pm-?           Dinner, Free time

I never sang for a service at an Anglican Cathedral so much of this was foreign to me.  As a resident choir, you participate in Evensong every day, and on Sunday also the Matins and Eucharist.    You also had to wear a uniform consisting of closed toe black shoes, a black Cassock (long robe), and surplice (a white tunic that goes over the Cassock).  I grew up in a Evangelical Mennonite church turned nondenominational community church, so I was lost on just about everything: how to sing a chant; what a “Mag & Nunc” or “Preces & Responses” were; and even the titles of the services. 

Here’s a breakdown of the service and what it all is (to the best of my knowledge and memory).

Evensong:  It is a primarily sung service in the evening after the work day has ended, and before dinner.  It is held in the quire and follows this format:

Introit: We used a choir member who is also a Organist to play our introit

Preces & Responses: Melodic prayers led by a cantor, followed by the choir singing the response     Cantor: O Lord, open thou our lips:     People: And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.     Cantor: O God, make speed to save us:     People: O Lord, make haste to help us.     Cantor: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.     People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,                                        world  without end. Amen.     Cantor: Praise ye the Lord.     People: The Lord's name be praised.

Psalms:  Psalms of the day following the Anglican Liturgy, that are sung in chant form, ending in the Gloria Patri (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.)

Lessons:  The Priest will give two lessons, one each from the Old and New Testament Canticles: A Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and Nunc Dimitis (Simeon 2:28-32) that follow each of the lessons, each ending the the Gloria Patri.  Prayers: Spoken prayers by the Priest, praying for those of the congregation, state, nation, and world. Collects:  Sung collects, one that follow the liturgy, and two that are standard. Anthem: a celebratory piece that typically expands upon the lessons, psalms, etc., from the day.

We did Evensong Monday-Wednesday, had Thursday off (due to a scheduling error), Friday-Sunday, with the addition of Holy Communion and Eucharist on Sunday, as well. 

Choral Eucharist: the main Anglican service, similar to a mass, taking place on Sunday mornings with prayers, readings from both testaments, and ending with communion. (This program was modified some from it’s traditional form for our service)

Introit

Mass: Benedictus (Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest) & Agnus Dei (O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. ... grant us peace.)

Anthem

Choral Matins: follows the Eucharist and the sevenfold monastic cycle of prayer.  It’s not as common but happens is most British Cathedrals, like Wells Cathedral.  It contains prayers and readings from both testaments.

Psalms

Canticle: Te Deum

Canticle: Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100)

Anthem

We sang some of the most wonderful pieces of music this week.  Some were difficult to get the hang of, but it was well worth the work to hear it all come together in such an amazing cathedral and acoustic.  We were lucky enough to have an ORIGINAL “Preces & Responses” written for us by an English composer, Graham Keitch, who also wrote an two anthems for us!

Here are the pieces we sang:

Magnificant and Nunc Dimittis George Dyson, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F David Hogan, Mount St. Alban Service Graham Keitch, The Charleston Service Herbert Sumison, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A CS Lang, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F Harold Friedel, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F Anthems Let us LOve in Deed and Truth, Larry King Ubi Carita, Ola Gjeilo Absalon Fili mi, Graham Keitch THe Souls of the Righteous, Geraint Lewis Greater Love, John Ireland No Eye has Seen, No Ear Has Heard, Graham Keitch My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord, Moses Hogan Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars, Jonathon Dove

Eucharist Missa Brevis (Benedictus & Agnus Dei), Andrea Gabrielli

Having this experience was certainly amazing.  The choir has been contracted to have a residency in August 2018 at both Canterbury Cathedral (Canterbury, Kent, England), and Westminster Abbey (London, England).  Hopefully everything works out and I’m able to partake in that experience, as well! More pictures from the trip: Traveling there, around the cathedral, around the town, and more!

[youngvicneighbourhoodtheatre]

Final Rehearsals for Sing Before You Speak Again - 24th October 2017

Final rehearsals are underway for upcoming performances of Sing Before You Speak Again.  Walking in to the rehearsal tonight, the anticipation and sense of purpose is palpable - as is the feeling of working together towards something important.  Tonight, several cast members have lost their voices, but have turned up, determined to be present - and determined to get themselves well for the performances next week - a true testament to the cast’s commitment and engagement with the project.

It was exciting to see the cast looking even more confident in their musical abilities as Joe (Atkins, the show’s composer and Musical Director) took them through a warm-up; and to see the piece on its feet, the whole thing taking shape in the room.  The stage is now marked out, and the creative team are joined by a Deputy Stage Manager, who handles all the props needed by the cast.  With only just over a week to go before the show opens, the atmosphere was still calm, supportive and respectful.

I was privileged to speak to two of the cast members this evening, before rehearsals started.  Both stressed the significance of this project, both for their own sense of self, and for what it might offer audiences - specifically those people who may have experience of Stroke, Parkinsons Disease, and Alzheimers, or other neurological disorders.  

It is clear this has been an emotional journey for many of the cast, and I look forward to seeing the final work next week.