[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of us are wary of attending Singing workshops or choirs when we feel that people will be a lot more experienced than us. This is particularly t...

Performance of "Salve Regina" by Josep Vila I Casanas at the 2014 Florilege Vocal de Tours Grand Prix.

It isn’t a myth that what you eat can affect your vocal chords. Many noted professional singers will follow special diets or exclude certain foods from their diet before they go into competition or concert.   Singing in a choir shou...

Walking home after choir one Night my friend and fellow chorister Barbara and I agreed the hardest piece we’ve ever done was Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.   Here’s what I wrote about it at the time, (referring specifically to the Cr...

2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詩：James Agee艾吉 曲：Samuel Barber巴伯 二十世紀美國作曲家巴伯（Samuel Barber, 1910-81）生長於賓夕法尼亞州，畢業於費城寇蒂斯音樂學院，除鋼琴和作曲外，還學習歌唱和指揮。他是傑出的美國新浪漫主義作曲家之一，樂曲中充滿詩情，往往在緊緻與複雜的音樂結構中，展現出乎意外的優美樂句。 〈在這閃亮的夜晚〉原為男中音與鋼琴的獨唱作品，後來改編為混聲...  more2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詩：James Agee艾吉 曲：Samuel Barber巴伯 二十世紀美國作曲家巴伯（Samuel Barber, 1910-81）生長於賓夕法尼亞州，畢業於費城寇蒂斯音樂學院，除鋼琴和作曲外，還學習歌唱和指揮。他是傑出的美國新浪漫主義作曲家之一，樂曲中充滿詩情，往往在緊緻與複雜的音樂結構中，展現出乎意外的優美樂句。 〈在這閃亮的夜晚〉原為男中音與鋼琴的獨唱作品，後來改編為混聲四部合唱曲，歌詞取自美國詩人艾吉（James Agee, 1909-55）的詩集《允許我行旅》（Permit Me Voyage, 1934）中的〈描述天堂〉（Description of Elysium）一詩，旋律主題在女高音、男高音及女低音聲部間交織，情感綿延不絕，而男低音則以長音為全曲和聲支柱，樂曲充滿表現力。 Sure on this shining Night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground. The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining Night I weep for wonder Wandering far alone Of shadows on the stars. 在這星影環繞 閃亮的夜晚， 仁慈必看顧我 在地球的這一端。 北國的歲暮， 萬物皆復甦。 盛夏臨據大地， 我重拾完整的心。 在這閃亮夜晚， 我為奇蹟落淚 獨自漫步 在星影下。  less

  Ever wanted to re-write a masterpiece? Now is your chance! ‪#‎EESC‬ video challenge is back, and this time with music.   ‪#‎Europeinharmony‬ is open to amateur video-makers, choirs and Singing groups from all 28 EU Member States. Th...

This weekend filled up really fast last year, and even though It's not until next May, over half the places have already gone!   Full details and booking form on my website: chrisrowbury.com   BETTER HARMONY Singing — THE SMALL GROUP C...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Singing is very simple really: you open your mouth and the sound comes out.   photo by chaosmunkey   But we often allow our heads (an...

Tania de Jong AM makes the case that people Singing together can change the brain. Pushing the idea that creativity is the strategic tool of the 21st century, she says how our voices have been silenced and that It's not doing us any good. She explains how...  moreTania de Jong AM makes the case that people Singing together can change the brain. Pushing the idea that creativity is the strategic tool of the 21st century, she says how our voices have been silenced and that It's not doing us any good. She explains how Singing is a survival mechanism, how it makes our hearts beat together and can help heal strokes and depression. With Singing, and the potential she believes it has, Tania dedicates herself to enhancing and promoting ingenuity and founded Creativity Australia and Creative Universe to do so. As a leading Australian soprano and through 'With One Voice', Tania works with disadvantaged communities. In 2008 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the arts and for the establishment and development of arts enrichment programs for schools and communities. Connect with Tania: Tw: @TaniadeJong FB: https://www.facebook.com/taniadjongam Ln: http://www.linkedin.com/in/taniadejong G+: https://plus.google.com/102004449932208558046/posts...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I run Singing workshops all over the place (why not book me and try one?).   Photo by C. Moses   At some places the workshops are full and...