[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I’ve always known that I’m more interested in traditional songs, but I’ve only just realised that it’s the vocal quality that I&rs...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Do you have to be able to read music to sing? Lots of people believe so and are put off joining choirs, or even singing at all, as a result.   &n...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s that time of year again. Summer is over and choir starts back. We choir leaders will be thinking about which songs to teach for the next s...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]It’s that time of year again when you still have time to to pop to the local garage for last-minute presents. What on earth can you get for the choral...

The 2012 National Small Chorus Champions proudly showing off their gold medals just before a "Parade of Champions" public concert. In the warmup room in the Bruce Mason Centre Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand.

2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 翁佳芬 伴奏: 許溎芳 詞：余光中 曲：劉聖賢 〈祈禱〉這首詩的文字，簡短卻強烈、深刻，每一次讀它，每一次有不同的感動。當我碰上生活中的低潮、需要找尋倚靠與安全感之時，這首詩的字句似乎表達出我內心想說的話。在決定為〈祈禱〉這首詩譜寫旋律的當下，我嘗試使用音樂理論的曲式、對位等手法來設計整首合唱作品，最後總覺得，音樂的形式設計無法刻劃出這首詩的字裡行間所存在的情感與意涵。當我換個方式，一遍又一遍地細細朗讀這首詩，...  more2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 翁佳芬 伴奏: 許溎芳 詞：余光中 曲：劉聖賢 〈祈禱〉這首詩的文字，簡短卻強烈、深刻，每一次讀它，每一次有不同的感動。當我碰上生活中的低潮、需要找尋倚靠與安全感之時，這首詩的字句似乎表達出我內心想說的話。在決定為〈祈禱〉這首詩譜寫旋律的當下，我嘗試使用音樂理論的曲式、對位等手法來設計整首合唱作品，最後總覺得，音樂的形式設計無法刻劃出這首詩的字裡行間所存在的情感與意涵。當我換個方式，一遍又一遍地細細朗讀這首詩，很奇妙地，感動到我內心深處的旋律，有如泉湧般地浮出，終於在第三版的主旋律被記錄下來之後，頓時的意念，清楚地告訴我：「就是這個旋律」。 「吻」是這首詩的關鍵字，每一個吻代表不同的安慰與幫助。為了表現每一個吻帶來的安慰，我讓主旋律在四個聲部之間穿插，時而起、時而落，有如甘泉綿綿不斷地湧出。並且，在前後兩個大樂段裡，相同的文字、相同的旋律，卻唱出不同的節奏。文字與音樂的感動，因不同的時間而有不同的層次。 〈祈禱〉對我而言，不僅僅是宗教，也是親情、友情、愛情。當我完成這首作品時，我要感謝余光中先生，用這麼美的詩句、簡潔有力的文字，將豐沛的情感以最直接的方式記錄下來，使我在不同的時間、空間，都能被碰觸到心靈深處渴望安慰的一面。同時，我也要感謝高雄室內合唱團的指揮翁佳芬教授，以及每一位合唱團員，因為與你們一同享受合唱，才能讓我譜寫出動人的樂章。 （劉聖賢 自述） 【歌詞】 請在我髮上留下一吻， 我就不用戴虛榮的桂冠； 請在我手上留下一吻， 我就不用戴燦爛的指環。 請在我眼上輕輕地一吻， 吻乾我眼中寂寞的清淚； 請在我胸上輕輕地一吻， 吻消我胸中不平的塊壘。 在這寒星顫抖的深夜， 我多麼苦盼你的暖嘴 能蓋在我這冰冷的唇上， 使它不再唱人世的傷悲。  less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Hark the herald angels sing. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge. Slade’s Merry Christmas everybody. White Chr...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In 2010 artist Susan Philipsz won the Turner Prize  for "a sound piece consisting of her own frail beautiful voice singing a Scottish lament over the ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I’m booked to run a singing workshop for someone, I always make sure that I get there early. I usually arrive to find people milling aroun...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In 2014 a Britney Spears recording escaped into the wild which demonstrates that without Auto-Tune her singing can be less than perfect (Experience t...