I. A WATER WHEEL TURNS Inside water, a water wheel turns. The star circulates with the moon. We live in the Night ocean wondering, What are these lights? Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. ...  moreI. A WATER WHEEL TURNS Inside water, a water wheel turns. The star circulates with the moon. We live in the Night ocean wondering, What are these lights? Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. Performed by the Millennium Consort, Martin Neary, conductor, and the Pomona College Choir, Donna Di Grazia, director. Water Ruminations is a setting of six poems by the thirteenth-century poet Rumi, in English translations from the Persian by Coleman Barks, for double choir and organ. The poetry sings of literal and spiritual connections between water and sky, a drop of water and human life, flowing water and love, drinking water and its container, the giddiness of spring and rolling seas, and the ocean's gifts and singing. Its images, from 800 years ago, speak to us with both vivid immediacy and transcendence. The idea for the piece originated with the Mellon Elemental Arts Initiative, which proposed funding activities that would involve students in ar...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I don’t know what it’s like in other parts of the world, but here in the UK it’s notoriously difficult to get any kind of review of a con...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I was much younger I used to think that once you knew everything and were vastly experienced, only then would you become confident.   photo ...

That Choir Remembers - November 8, 2015 (conducted by Craig Pike) Metropolitan United Church, Toronto ON Recorded by Kris O'Reilley All Night Vigil, Op 37 ('Vespers') - Sergei Rachmaninoff III. Blessed Is The Man www.thatchoir.com

The Lassus Scholars, named after the great Renaissance composer Orlande de Lassus, seek to achieve excellence in expression and interpretation in all musical styles from the 16th century to the present day.

The fundamental connection between music and scenic performance – this will be the intent with which CHOREOS wants to produce a new quality of musical scenic performances. The long-term experience of scenic choreographic work with different choirs shows ...  moreThe fundamental connection between music and scenic performance – this will be the intent with which CHOREOS wants to produce a new quality of musical scenic performances. The long-term experience of scenic choreographic work with different choirs shows us that singing or experiencing music is always connected to a primal impulse to movement. This primal impulse is unfolded our production, connect it to space and light and bring it all together in our performance. The result is a new musical work in a physical wholesomeness in which sound and movement do not compete but complement and enhance each other in fruitful ways. We are not interested in creating pictures for the music – we enhance the uncompromising sound to another level of perception, we heighten and amplify the body consciousness of our singing performers. We use the knowledge about the space and the powerful energies therein for our performances of choir singing. The dialogue between the perception of the inside and outside, the area of tension ...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   To make singing as accessible as possible, I don’t use sheet music when I teach. This often freaks out people who are used to having a score in their...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last time I wrote about whether it’s better to be over-rehearsed or under-prepared. I talked about people who like to spend a long time working on on...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Over the years I have run choirs and singing groups all based on the same principles, but in different locations. The general mix of genders, ages, backgro...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I have to admit that I’m not really a lyric person. I might have been listening to a particular pop song in English for years when I suddenly realise...