Program Notes: The fact that the text for this work even exists is a miracle. It was written by Abraham ("Abramek") Koplowicz, a Jewish boy who was exterminated by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Abramek was born in 1930 in Lodz, Poland, and died 1944...  moreProgram Notes: The fact that the text for this work even exists is a miracle. It was written by Abraham ("Abramek") Koplowicz, a Jewish boy who was exterminated by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Abramek was born in 1930 in Lodz, Poland, and died 1944 in the infamous concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. He wrote this poem during the time that his family was trapped in the Lodz ghetto. This poem was not found until 1983 when Eliezer ("Lolek") Grynfeld, the poet's half-brother, discovered it among their late father's belongings. Choristers who sing this work will be transported on a magical flight around the world through time and space along with their audiences.  less

A children's nonsense clapping song in the Ashanti language: "Sorry old man, the little boy has made you fall over. Sorry." This is from The OK Chorale's second public concert in March 2013 at St. Mary's Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.

http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Scott_Villard

LSK is one of two boys' choirs in central Kentucky and the only one following the German/Austrian model! For ages 8 - 18+, the choir generally performs several concerts per year, not including religious servies or regular tours. We sing traditional class...  moreLSK is one of two boys' choirs in central Kentucky and the only one following the German/Austrian model! For ages 8 - 18+, the choir generally performs several concerts per year, not including religious servies or regular tours. We sing traditional classical literature arranged specifically for the choir, folk songs, and other works written for trebles. We also sing classical sacred music for various religious servies.  

Audio downloadable at https://davidwarinsolomons.bandcamp.com/track/il-bianco-e-dolce-cigno Madrigal composed by Jacques Arcadelt (this may have been the Inspiration for Orlando Gibbons' The Silver Swan) Performed by the dwsChorale Il bianco e dolc...  moreAudio downloadable at https://davidwarinsolomons.bandcamp.com/track/il-bianco-e-dolce-cigno Madrigal composed by Jacques Arcadelt (this may have been the Inspiration for Orlando Gibbons' The Silver Swan) Performed by the dwsChorale Il bianco e dolce cigno cantando more, ed io piangendo giung' al fin del viver mio. The white and sweet swan dies singing, and I, weeping, reach the end of my life. Stran' e diversa sorte, ch'ei more sconsolato ed io moro beato. Strange and different fate, that he dies disconsolate and I die a blessed death, Morte che nel morire m'empie di gioia tutto e di desire. Se nel morir, altro dolor non sento, di mille mort' il di sarei contento. which in dying fills me full of joy and desire. If in dying, were I to feel no other pain, I would be content to die a thousand deaths a day. Videos taken along the Black Brook in Loughborough  less

The Vokalgruppe VIP consists of eight young singers. All of them are former members of the “Dresdner Kreuzchor” (Choir of the Church of the Holy Cross Dresden) or the “Thomanerchor Leipzig” (St. Thomas Choir Leipzig), two of the most famous Boy's choirs i...  moreThe Vokalgruppe VIP consists of eight young singers. All of them are former members of the “Dresdner Kreuzchor” (Choir of the Church of the Holy Cross Dresden) or the “Thomanerchor Leipzig” (St. Thomas Choir Leipzig), two of the most famous Boy's choirs in Germany. The singers have set themselves the target to present their listeners a wide musical spectrum. Their repertoire consists of vocal music from Renaissance and Baroque to Romanticism to the 20th and 21st century. Important elements are works of Jacobus Gallus, Michael Praetorius, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Francis Poulenc and Rudolf Mauersberger. In addition they also perform with popular music. Music of the “Comedian Harmonists”, “The Beatles”, Billy Joel or the German group “Wise Guys” are also an essential part of their repertoire. At their concerts they perform in varying constellations from four up to eight singers. In 2011 the ensemble attended a master class with the King's Singers. At the a cappella competition “vokal.total” in Graz they...    less

Spring show 2014

"Da pacem Domine" is dedicated to two of my dear relatives named James. I felt the Inspiration to start this piece in the weeks leading up to the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, in which my dear grandfather Jimmy Rain (1895-1974) had serv...  more"Da pacem Domine" is dedicated to two of my dear relatives named James. I felt the Inspiration to start this piece in the weeks leading up to the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, in which my dear grandfather Jimmy Rain (1895-1974) had served in the Canadian forces, in one of the most dangerous roles, as a runner in northwestern France. This song honours his memory and the love that he showed me as a boy and a young man growing up. Shortly after starting this piece, I then learned that my dear cousin Jamie Shaw (1959-2019) was gravely ill and with his permission, I have dedicated this piece to him as well. Jamie's courage, good spirit and humour throughout his illness was an Inspiration to all of us who knew him. "Da pacem Domine" is a musical search for peace: both external peace, between individuals, groups, societies, nations; and internal peace, to find a restful spot within the soul, amidst the serious tensions and conflicts seemingly inherent in the human stream of existence. It explor...    less

The 2012 New Boy group performing Shake the Papaya Down during their first performance on Wednesday 15 February 2012.

This brand new version of Good King Wenceslas is dedicated to my uncle Duncan Shaw of Vancouver. His "retirement project" - developing his own theory of gravity - has been a huge Inspiration in my own compositional journey late in life. Some background...  moreThis brand new version of Good King Wenceslas is dedicated to my uncle Duncan Shaw of Vancouver. His "retirement project" - developing his own theory of gravity - has been a huge Inspiration in my own compositional journey late in life. Some background: I have sung the traditional version of Good King Wenceslas since I was a kid. I fell in love with the lyrics and the story, but have always been puzzled by the way it was arranged, in particular the way that the "las" of Wenceslas lands on the downbeat. When I was young, I thought the lyrics were actually "Good King Wences last looked out!" All to say that I got inspired to create a totally different version. I used the 19th century poem by John Mason Neale, but I wanted to create a different "feel" to the story, to take it back in time to its origins in the Middle Ages - hence the medieval feel to much of the piece. I also felt that since the Wenceslas story is all about a journey, a setting in 3/4 time would create a better sense of that feeling, ra...    less