Mondnacht by the Cascadian Chorale April 3, 2013
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Cascadian Chorale, Gary Cannon, Joy Decoursey-Porter, SATB
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One of the most forward thinking choral ensembles in the US is the Cascadian Chorale under the direction of Gary Cannon. At a recent performance they premiered Mondnacht by composer Joy DeCoursey-Porter.
This is a beautiful work and hot off the press. Check it out!
Working With A Rock Band- Cloud Cult March 7, 2013
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Cloud Cult, Craig Minowa, Jack Senzig, Love, Teh Choir
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Children’s Choir of teh Internet had a great opportunity to work with the band Cloud Cult last summer. The culmination of that work has just been released by the band. Their new album “LOVE” includes the choir on the closing track “The Show Starts Now.”
As a choir director this was a unique experience for me. I have not done much recording with the choir and it was an adventure to figure out an economical way to make the recordings. FInding a way for the kids to listen to the accompanying track and still be able to hear themselves sing was a challenge. There was some bleed over from the dollar store head phones which I had worried would ruin the recordings but it all turned out terrific.
Cloud Cult is an unusual band in that their messages are very positive. They are environmentally conscious and try to leave as small a carbon footprint as they can. Listen to the album a couple of times and it will work it’s way into your heart and life. You can hear the album on NPR’s First Listen: http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172490177/first-listen-cloud-cult-love
It is available on iTunes and the band’s website: http://www.cloudcult.com/love.cfm
Here’s an article on American Songwriter about the band and the album: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/03/recording-cloud-cults-latest-album/
Directors, we can’t be afraid to think out of the box. This has been an incredible chance for my kids and I. I used the opportunity to launch a new community music program called Our Musical Life Inc. which will do a lot of good in my city. Check us out at OurMusicalLife.org The project also lead to our “6 Days of Minecraft” video and a Radiohead cover due out soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxl8jrUlEJ0
6 Days of Minecraft, Children’s Choir of teh Internet February 13, 2013
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: children's choir, internet, minecraft, song
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If you are a gamer and a choral musician you are going to love this!
It Gets Better “Testimony” by Stephen Schwartz January 20, 2013
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Wether a church choir or gay men’s chorus, singing brings people together. There is nothing quite like the friendship and understanding that being part of a singing community brings. This piece has the added benefit of providing an important message to young people struggling with who they are and how they are perceived. It does get better.
Title: Testimony
Composer: Stephen Schwartz
Voicing TTBB a cappella
Choir: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Director: Dr. Timothy Seelig
Directors, Who Follows You Matters January 19, 2013
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Gifford Racine Choir Accent Griffin
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When leaving a position, it is always difficult worrying about the singers you leave behind. High school directors know it is difficult to replace someone who did a great job as the kids will usually revolt. I left my elementary school two years and was followed by a tremendously talented teacher and director. Keith Griffin has raised the bar. Listen to the singing ability of these children. It is an honor to have had such an amazing director step up. Thanks Keith!
Title:River Song
Composer: Roger Emerson
Choir: Gifford Accent Choir
Director: Keith Griffin
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Available: JWPepper http://www.jwpepper.com/3144631.item
British Military Wives Choir September 1, 2012
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There are so many ways that that music can bring a community together. I found this particularly moving.
Will.i.am and Children’s Choir Sing from Mars August 29, 2012
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Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am worked with a S.T.E.M. school and many other musicians to make a recording to be broadcast from Mars. He and those children are the first human voices to sing from the surface of another planet. This is an amazing opportunity for all involved and really highlights the need for music programs to be involved in the community. The name of the school and choir has been omitted from early press releases about this, but having NASA and Will.i.am as partners certainly gave these kids an educational experience they will never forget.
Here’s the article. Unfortunately it is currently blocked from embedding. http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/hip-hop-media-training/am-teams-nasa-premiere-reach-stars-mars-220744171.html
Need a Hit for Your Next Concert? June 20, 2012
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There are some songs that you just know will be a hit. Imagine this song with kids voices or even being sung by your community or college choir. I hope to cover it myself but I would love to see dozens of choirs spreading the news about this incredible song writer. I scour the pop charts and alternative music sources for songs that I think my kids will sound great on and that appeal to me. It is difficult to find music that is appropriate for children yet moving for adults. Craig Minowa of the band Cloud Cult writes song after song that fits the bill. I may use this blog for a series of posts about him as I prep for a more formal article on ChoralNet.
Warning: Have a box of Kleenex.
Transistor Radio by Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult
This is from the album Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus available on the band’s website or iTunes. As an album, their most recent release Light Chasers is more solid but every songs like that above plant a seed in your soul that makes everything else they perform beautiful. If you haven’t checked out Cloud Cult in the past, do your musical palette a favor and sample some.
Running With the Wolves
Unexplainable Stories This song opens the album Light Chasers. A related song There’s So Much Energy In Us closes it.
Everybody Here is a Cloud
AppleChor Covers Cloud Cult May 23, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: AppleChor, Chemicals, Choir, Cloud Cult, Collide, Cover, Elementary, Racine, WI
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AppleChor the 4th and 5th grade choir from Red Apple School in Racine, WI recently sang a cover of Chemicals Collide. The performance was part of this science magnet school’s water theme. The audience created the sounds of a rainstorm and then the kids sang with the band Above the Fold. They were then asked by Cloud Cult to record some music for their album due out in Fall 2012.
A Night Vigil (Náttsöngur) by Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir April 22, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Iceland, Premier, SATB
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Can’t Get any Hotter off the Press than this. Premiered on April 19, 2012 in Iceland.
Movement 1 Qui se Deo
Movement 2 Divine tactus flamine
Movement 3 Cum invocarem
Movement 4 Gloriatur
Movement 5 Nomen Dei sanctissimum
Title: Náttsöngur (A Night Vigil)
Composer: Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir
Voicing: SATB organ and Soprano
Conductor: Magnús Ragnarsson
Ensemble: Philharmonic Society Choir
Premiered at Langholt Church
A Red Red Rose by James Mulholland February 29, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Mullholland, Red, Rose, SATB
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This down tempo ballad is a standard in the repertoire. Very approachable by high school mixed choirs.
This is the Coronado High School Concert Choir of Henderson, NV.
from lawmom6 YouTube channel
Title: A Red, Red Rose from Four Robert Burns Ballads
Composer: James Mulholland
Voicing: SATB also available TTBB
Accompaniment: Piano
Ensemble: Coronado High School Concert Choir
Director: Eric Fleischer
Publisher: European American Music Corp. #49012599
Game Changer for Conductor/Composer Relationship February 8, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: choralnet, composer, conductor, market new works, showcas
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From ChoralNet
The ChoralNet Composers of Choral Music Community has gone to great lengths to create a new interface between composers and conductors. We recognize the difficulties in searching through individual composers’ websites, trudging through so many listings to find the one piece that fits your needs. We also understand that many of you have given up on performing new music, especially that which was composed by self-published composers. What we felt was needed was a filter to help you find only the best of our work.
We have created the Composition Showcase to act as that filter. Published and self-published composers have put together a little marketplace of quality works. Each composer has been limited to posting only three selections in the same voicing and a total of six pieces in all different voicings. There are age requirements and other oversight tools to help refine the repertoire choices presented.
All pieces have at least a partial PDF to peruse; most have a recording of a choir or a virtual recording and all have a streamlined method for purchasing from the composer or publisher. About 50 works have been prepared for you so far with new works being added everyday. The interface is easy to use and will save you a lot of time.
The Composition Showcase is in its beta version and ready for you to peruse and improve with your suggestions and/or critiques. Even if you are not currently looking for repertoire, please help us refine this tool that was created to serve your needs. You can join our community to start your own post in our forum, comment on the posts of others or contact Jack Senzig our community editor. Your input is essential to allow us to serve you better.
The Composition Showcase is part of an overall effort to improve the relationship between conductors and composers. This is just one of several planned steps along the way.
If you join our community, I suggest you set your Subscription email options under your My ChoralNet tab to digest. We are the most active community on ChoralNet and would not want to bombard you with an email every time someone posts or comments.
Ave Maria by Franz Biebl Sung by Concordia January 26, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Ave Maria, Biebl, Clausen, Concordia, Moorhead
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The Concordia Choir from Moorhead, MN under the direction of René Clausen performed this classic of the repertoire. I feel this is too difficult for high school but send me a link to your choir’s performance and I will move it to the appropriate category.
from theconcordiachoir Youtube Channel
Title: Ave Maria (Angelus Domini)
Ensemble: The Concordia Choir
Director: René Clausen
Voicing: TTBB and TTB trio
Accompaniment: A Cappella
Publisher: Hinshaw Music #HMC1253
Also available SATB, SAATTBB and SSAA
Yale Spizzwinks Sing Lady Gaga Bad Romance January 11, 2012
Posted by joinchoir in Uncategorized.Tags: Yale a capella men Gaga Romance
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This is a lot of fun. Note the visual starting at about 3 minutes in.
from caldwellj youtube channel
Wanting Memories sung by Something Extra January 9, 2012
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If I had to pick one song to listen to for the rest of my life i think it would be this one. Sweet Honey in the Rock performed this several albums ago. This rendition is sweet and was an excellent way for the Yale’s Something Extra vocal ensemble to present their senior members.
from caldwellj YouTube Channel
Title: Wanting Memories
Composer: Ysaye M Barnmell
Voicing: SATBB
Ensemble: Something Extra, Yale
Publisher: The Musical Source MS/YMB103 http://www.ymbarnwell.com/publishedsongs.php
