[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir] There are plenty of studies now about the many benefits of singing together. But they only look at the experience of the singers in a choir.   I&rsqu...

This is an a cappella arrangement of the tune Stowey, which is a traditional English folksong often paired with these words by Frances Chesterton: How far is it to Bethlehem, not very far? Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the l...  moreThis is an a cappella arrangement of the tune Stowey, which is a traditional English folksong often paired with these words by Frances Chesterton: How far is it to Bethlehem, not very far? Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little child, is He within? If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass or sheep? May we peek like them and see Jesus asleep? If we touch His tiny hand, will He awake? Will He know we've come so far just for His sake? Great Kings have precious gifts and we have nought Little smiLes and little tears are all we have brought. for all weary children Mary must weep Here, on His bed of straw, sleep, children, sleep. God in his mother's arms, babes in the byre Sleep as they sleep who find their heart's desire.  Less_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getPrevious().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">Less

Anne Frank: A Living Voice was commissioned by the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) in celebration of its Silver Anniversary. The text is based upon excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank, taken from the 1952 and 1991 English translations of the book. The...  moreAnne Frank: A Living Voice was commissioned by the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) in celebration of its Silver Anniversary. The text is based upon excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank, taken from the 1952 and 1991 English translations of the book. The full musical work was premiered in 2004 by the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Anne Frank was between the ages of 13 and 15 when she wrote her Diary, while living in a secret upstairs annex over a warehouse in Amsterdam with her family, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer. Despite the fears and frustrations she experienced in over two years of hiding from the Nazis, Anne learned how to survive, even to find beauty in small things and to hold on to her ideals. Composer Linda Tutas Haugen writes: "My goals for this composition are to honor the life of Anne Frank and to gain a deeper understanding of what she, her family, and friends experienced during the Holocaust." The text excerpts are chronologically arranged, and span more than two years. They portray...    Less_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getPrevious().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">Less

The Elgar Chorale is a Worcester-based group of up to 40 singers, founded by Dr Donald Hunt which has always specialised in English music, with a particular emphasis on the works of Edward Elgar. Since its formation it has presented well over 100 perfor...  moreThe Elgar Chorale is a Worcester-based group of up to 40 singers, founded by Dr Donald Hunt which has always specialised in English music, with a particular emphasis on the works of Edward Elgar. Since its formation it has presented well over 100 performances and ppeared at each of the Worcester Three choirs Festivals from 1981 to 1996. Performances have included world premières of works by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Herbert Sumsion and Howard Blake, and a British première of Leonard Bernstein’s Missa Brevis. The Chorale was also the principal choral group at the highly successful Elgar Festivals at Worcester in 2007 and 2009, and last year enjoyed a concert tour in Devon, singing at Colyton, Dartmouth, Exeter and Torquay. It is proud to have Dame Janet Baker, C.H as its Patron.  Less_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getPrevious().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">Less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir] Nothing lasts forever. There will come a time when you will leave your choir and need someone else to take over.     Who will you hand over to...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir] When I started my most recent community choir The OK Chorale back in 2011 I decided it wasn’t going to be a performing choir.     Brig...

This is the whole sequence. Composed by David Warin Solomons performed in Southwell Minster. by Manchester Cathedral Voluntary choir Conducted by Jeffrey Makinson Organ played by Paul Walton Cantor in Gloria: David Shipman Alto soloist in Sanctus an...  moreThis is the whole sequence. Composed by David Warin Solomons performed in Southwell Minster. by Manchester Cathedral Voluntary choir Conducted by Jeffrey Makinson Organ played by Paul Walton Cantor in Gloria: David Shipman Alto soloist in Sanctus and Benedictus: Richard Lowe Separate videos are also available for each section: Kyrie: https://youtu.be/sN83YtFaL4M Gloria: https://youtu.be/hyprqsck_tg Sanctus and Benedictus: https://youtu.be/C_vew5Ga7lU Agnus Dei: https://youtu.be/fksOsl18abA  

Wade in the Water - arr.: Moses Hogan - The Waldorf Students choir, conductor: László Bencze, soloist: Johanna Bakó. Recorded on 23. 06. 2018. at the Night of the Museums in the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest.

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the choir]   Sometimes I describe my job as being the guy who stands out front and waves his arms about. “I point, you sing” is what I tell the choir. &nbs...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   When a choir has been going for a long time and you want to revive some of your old repertoire, you will find that a lot of the newer members won’t ...