SKU: GI.G-7799
UPC: 785147779902. English. Text Source: Trad.
Either of these pieces would be a great introduction to a slightly chromatic style of choral writing—enough of a challenge to be interesting, but not so difficult as to leave the choir disillusioned! Outside of a couple places, the range for all voices is well within a comfortable span.
SKU: PE.EP68578
ISBN 9790300759630. English.
Of Time and Passing (2016) is a cycle of three choral songs written specifically for the London-based ensemble, VOCES8, taking into consideration their versatilityand ability to beautifully intone a range of vocal colors with precision and grace.
The first song, I. Life, sets my translation of the poem A Vida by Brazilian poet Olavo Bilac (1865-1918), a poet I discovered while studying Brazilian Portuguese at the University of Michigan. I was drawn both to the simplicity of the text and to the possibilities of teasing out dual contrasting moods. In the beginning and end, this song explores a texture that is very much alive: wave-like contours, throbbing sounds, and plenty of flowing movement. Rising eighth-note motives in particular emphasize the fleetingness of life. But in the middle of the song, the listener is given a slowed-down atmosphere to savor life's beauty.
II. To Everything a Season capitalizes on VOCES8's ability to effectively interpret popular genres a cappella. This ancient text is taken from Ecclesiastes (dated around 300 B.C.) but I set it to a modern, rhythmically-regular and percussive pop-style idiom. Since popular music in whatever era is designedto appeal to a specific ?present time?, it is by its very nature ephemeral, and therefore seemed an apt metaphor to evoke the transitory nature of seasons.
III. Into Your Hands, confines the writing into no more than four parts, often with octave unisons.This creates a more direct and word-focused setting in which the Psalmist?s urgent words are placed at the forefront. Largely homophonic, this song is at times chorale-like, at times madrigal-like,finally relinquishing it?s tension into peaceful rest, proclaiming ?You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God??
- Daniel Knaggs
SKU: BA.BA07414
ISBN 9790006559183. 27 x 19 cm inches. Text Language: Latin.
Based on the well-known bible text “Sing unto the Lord a new song†(Psalm 96:1-3), this upbeat composition with strong dynamics and flowing block chords alternating with fast-paced polyphony brings across this joyful message and enthuses singers.Originally conceived for male choir, women’s voices have now been added so that this version for mixed choir presents a further dimension of colour. This version also makes it possible to divide the choir into two groups, one for women and another for men, and to have them sing either together or as separate units. The version for mixed choir was premiered in Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden) on 26 October 2013, with the Uppsala Cathedral Singers conducted by Ulric Andersson.“My music is my own and I have never tried to be original. That has always been my motto and I have only tried to use music to express all the feelings which life has to offer. This has led people to describe my music as ‘so sad that it sounds like birds who have lost their wings‘ but also as ‘the happiest classical music that we have ever heard’.My compositions are almost all sacred. They express not only my own faith but also my appreciation and respect for the timeless texts that have been used for centuries and centuries.â€MÃ¥rten Jansson (b. 1965), elected member of the Föreningen svenska tonsättare (the Society of Swedish Composers), graduated from the Royal College of Music, Stockholm (KHM) with an MFA degree in Music Education, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Voice. For more than ten years he was the music director and conductor of “Carmenâ€, one of the most prominent womens’ vocal ensembles in Sweden. He currently teaches choral conducting and music theory as well as giving vocal tuition at the Bolandgymnasiet and Musikskolan in his home town of Uppsala.Please find a recording of Cantate Domino performed by the Riga Recording Studio Singers (Latvia) by clicking on Multimedia.
SKU: OU.9780193378346
ISBN 9780193378346. 12 x 8 inches.
For SSAATTBB and organ This poignant anthem was originally composed to be sung at a funeral. It is a beautifully composed work, sufficiently sombre for such an occasion, but with a celebratory element which is uplifting and comforting.
SKU: CA.7070100
ISBN 9790007252267. German/English. Text: Meyer, Conrad Ferdinand.
Friede auf Erden op. 13 is regarded as Arnold Schoenberg's last tonal composition and is one of the few choral works of the Second Viennese School. On the same day that he completed his op. 13, Schoenberg made the first sketches for his 2nd String Quartet, a key work in atonal music. Although Schoenberg later orchestrated Friede auf Erden, he intended the piece to be performed unaccompanied.To help rehearsing the work, this choral score contains the piano transcription made by Anton Webern for use in rehearsals for the planned first performance. The text for op. 13 is a secular Christmas poem by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. At the time of its composition (1907), Schoenberg thought the vision of a reine Harmonie unter Menschen (pure harmony amongst people) described in the poem was conceivable, but he later distanced himself from this idea. What remained is a composition of great artistic power and depth - a real showpiece for ambitious choirs!
SKU: CA.7070110
ISBN 9790007252274. German/English. Text: Meyer, Conrad Ferdinand.
“Friede auf Erden†op. 13 is regarded as Arnold Schoenberg’s last tonal composition and is one of the few choral works of the Second Viennese School. On the same day that he completed his op. 13, Schoenberg made the first sketches for his 2nd String Quartet, a key work in atonal music. Although Schoenberg later orchestrated “Friede auf Erdenâ€, he intended the piece to be performed unaccompanied.To help rehearsing the work, this choral score contains the piano transcription made by Anton Webern for use in rehearsals for the planned first performance. The text for op. 13 is a secular Christmas poem by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. At the time of its composition (1907), Schoenberg thought the vision of a “reine Harmonie unter Menschen†(pure harmony amongst people) described in the poem was conceivable, but he later distanced himself from this idea. What remained is a composition of great artistic power and depth – a real showpiece for ambitious choirs!. Score available separately - see item CA.7070100.
SKU: HL.49045940
Artfully combining the old with the new - that is one of the hallmarks of Alwin M. Schronen. That this versatile balancing actor andbearer of numerous compositional prizes succeeds in mastering this artistic balancing act, he proves once again in his sacred choralcomposition Hodie Christus natus est. This Latin-speaking work for 8-part mixed choir a cappella (SSAATTBB) is based on the antiphonto the Magnificat of the Christmas Vespers. Schronen opens his Christmas song with the literal intonation of the traditional Gregorian melody. After this beginning, alternating between male and female voices, the composer lets the entire choir join in the jubilation of thanks for the birth of Jesus. He manages to lift the listener with his very own musical language in other heavenly realms. A wonderful, but at the same time vocally demanding piece of music, which is equally suitable for the use of church music asit is for concert use.
SKU: CA.4067949
ISBN 9790007076627. Language: Latin.
This first edition of a mass by Biber offers a new glimpse of the colourful and contrastful world of the Baroque. Since the publication of his Missa Salisburgensis in 1903, no mass with this kind of many-voice scoring has appeared in print. This edition not only enriches the multi-choir repertoire, but also is an important contribution to study of an Austrian composer, who has long been known chiefly for his violin compositions. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4067900.
SKU: CA.4067915
ISBN 9790007076603. Language: Latin.