Last Best Songs
If the world was ending and I could only save a few choral works to remember what it was to be human, these are the choral works I would want to remember. They are works that move me to deep emotion, give me chicken skin or make me cry.
TBA
———————————————————————————————————————
Below this line was the original content of this page. It was called “Promoted.” I am keeping it here because it is where I first met some of the people who became my friends in the composers community on ChoralNet. I don’t want to forget how it began.
Check here for videos from publishers, composers etc. This is where videos that are not posted by their director will go.
I WIll Lift Mine Eyes
From joeking864 YouTube channel
Title: “I Will Lift Mine Eyes” by .
Composer: Jake Runestad
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes HL.48020864 SheetmusicPlus #M051479542
Ensemble: Peabody Chamber Singers of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. Jake Runestad, conductor.
Into This World sung by the Belleville Philharmonic Choral and Orchestra Ensemble
INTO THIS WORLD is a new, unpublished (copyright 2010) Christmas Carol performed by the Belleville Philharmonic Choral and orchestra ensemble at St. Lukes Catholic Church, Belleville, Il December 12th 2010. Directed by Robert Howard and written by Charles DuMontier MD it is one of 20 songs in a new Christmas musical “MIRACLES”.
Submitted by the composer.
The Claremont Chamber Choir Performs “The Tree” by Greg Bartholomew submitted by the composer
“The Tree” is an SATB setting by Greg Bartholomew of the poem by 19th Century American transcendental poet Jones Very. The Claremont Chamber Choir, Charles Kamm conducting, performed “The Tree” on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Claremont Colleges’ Garrison Theatre of the Scripps College Performing Arts Center.
The 21st Century (A Girl Born in Afghanistan) by Greg Bartholomew Performed by The Ethos Consortium (posted by the composer)
“The 21st Century (A Girl Born in Afghanistan)” – Greg Bartholomew’s choral setting of excerpts from Kofi Annan’s Nobel Peace Prize lecture. Performed by The Ethos Consortium, conducted by Paul E. Oakley in Charlotte, North Carolina, January 28, 2007.
Choir Directors' Brag Blog 
“The Tree” is an SATB setting by Greg Bartholomew of the poem by 19th Century American transcendental poet Jones Very. The Claremont Chamber Choir, Charles Kamm conducting, performed “The Tree” on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Claremont Colleges’ Garrison Theatre of the Scripps College Performing Arts Center.
Greg,
Thanks for submitting your piece. You get to claim that you started the flood that I fully expect will follow. I very much enjoyed your piece. Have you written anything for treble choir?
Jack Senzig
Thanks, Jack!
For women’s choir (SSAA), I did a setting of a poem by the early 19th Century poet John Brainard, “A Rainy Day.” I don’t have any videos of it, but you can hear a couple recordings (and read the text) on my website at http://www.gregbartholomew.com/rainy.html
For youth choir (unison or 2-part chorus with optional piano accompaniment and option descant), I have an adaptation of the well-known poem on the statue of liberty (“Give me your tired, your poor…”), called “The Promise of Liberty.” Again no video, but you can read the text and hear a demo recording at http://www.gregbartholomew.com/liberty.html
Perhaps it would work for the Gifford Children’s Choir? ‘-)
In any event, I would be interested in any comments you may offer.
best,
Greg
I listened to the SA piece. Since you asked… The range seems a bit held back. You are singing about this huge statue towering over the bay and the melody doesn’t reflect how expansive she is as a statue and a symbol. Could just be the midi file. I suggest people use a clarinet rather than choir settings for uptempo midi recordings. Part of what makes the synthesized “ooh” is a delayed onset which gets a bit muddy on playback. I’ll check out the print music later.
I really enjoyed “The Tree.” If I was still directing a high school ensemble It would definitely be on my to do list.
Wow Greg!
I LOVE your “21st Century” setting of Kofi Annan’s speach. It reminds me of chanting of the scriptures at special times in the church. This gives the piece a holiness that the text certainly deserves. And the choir! I will be looking into these guys for future performances. Thank-you for writing and sharing this gem of the repertoire.
I Will Lift Mine Eyes is very cool, sounds sort of like a delightful mixture of Arvo Pärt and Eric Whitacre. I’d love to hear it live in a church.
Big Voice is feature documentary about a high choir, which is close to being finished. We would like to grow our community of supporters, so could you please help spread the word by sending people to our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCZ7f6cnEysAJDGZTwQ_DIQ. Thank you.