[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   You work on a song in choir week after week, but slowly things seem to get worse. You worry about getting the words right, you can’t seem to re...

'Reconciliation' and 'Only Remembered' sung by The Peace Through Folk choir in support on the occasion of the Coope Boyes and Simpson 'CODA' last tour concert in Leek on May 11th 2017

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]I’ve been praised many times by the singers I work with for being so patient. Which makes me wonder: what’s the alternative?I must admit that I ...

"Suite de Lorca" by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Text by Federico García Lorca. Performed by the Chamber Singers ensemble of The Girl choir of South Florida on Friday, May 18, 2012, at All Saints Episcopal Church in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Artistic Directo...  more"Suite de Lorca" by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Text by Federico García Lorca. Performed by the Chamber Singers ensemble of The Girl choir of South Florida on Friday, May 18, 2012, at All Saints Episcopal Church in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson. Translated Text: 1. Cancion del Jinete (Song of the Horseman) Cordoba. Distant and alone. A black nag, the giant moon, and olives in my saddlebag. Even if I know the way, I never will reach Cordoba. Over the plain, through the wind, a black nag, the bloody moon. The Reaper is watching me from the tall towers of Cordoba. Oh, such a long road! Oh, my valiant nag! Oh, the Reaper awaits me before I ever reach Cordoba! Cordoba. Distant and alone. 2. El Grito (The Scream) The arc of a scream curves from hill to hill. Ay! From the olive trees, a black rainbow over the blue night. Ay! Like a viola's bow, the scream has made the long strings of the wind vibrate. Ay! (The people of the caves put their ...    less

"Stand Still" by Dan McGrath, arr. Gayle Giese. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the combined choirs of the Girl choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wa...  more"Stand Still" by Dan McGrath, arr. Gayle Giese. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the combined choirs of the Girl choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese, Violin: Allen Giese.  

The Brooklyn Tabernacle choir singing Thou, Oh Lord, from I'm Amazed DVD. I do not own this video.

"Carmel Highlands" by Daniel Kallman. Text by Janet Loxley Lewis, from "The Selected Poems of Janet Lewis". Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert choir...  more"Carmel Highlands" by Daniel Kallman. Text by Janet Loxley Lewis, from "The Selected Poems of Janet Lewis". Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert choir ensemble of the Girl choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Below the gardens and the darkening pines The living water sinks among the stones, Sinking yet foaming till the snowy tones Merge with the fog drawn landward in dim lines. The cloud dissolves among the flowering vines, and now the definite mountain-side disowns The fluid world, the immeasurable zones. Then white oblivion swallows all designs. But still the rich confusion of the sea, Unceasing voice, sombre and solacing, Rises through veils of silence past the trees; In restless repetition bound, yet free, Wave after wave in deluge fresh releasing An ancient speech, hushed in tremendous ease.  less

"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, arr. Roger Emerson. Recorded live on May 3, 2015, at All Saints Episcopal Church in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers and Men's Auxiliary ensembles of the Girl choir of South Florida. Artistic Dir...  more"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, arr. Roger Emerson. Recorded live on May 3, 2015, at All Saints Episcopal Church in fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers and Men's Auxiliary ensembles of the Girl choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah You say I took the Name in vain I don't even know the Name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah I did my best, it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you and even though it all went wron...    less

The Major Minors Children’s choir have teamed up with their friends the Hutt Valley Singers to perform this special concert for Mother’s Day. The Children’s choir which is in its 4th year of singing is looking forward to performing its f...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   In most formal choirs you’re told exactly where to stand when performing. There is often a fixed set-up which varies little from concert to concert....