[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Sarcastic remarks from X Factor judges. Teachers telling kids to “stand at the back and just mime”. Being made to stand up and sing solo to get...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I always teach songs by ear. Despite my strong belief in the oral/ aural tradition, there is an increasing number of handheld recording devices appearing i...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There are times in most choirs when a soloist or a small ensemble is required. These roles can be allocated by the MD but in many cases singers are a...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I ran a gospel singing weekend recently. One of the songs was flagging a bit so I suggested people ham it up a bit and be more “American”.  ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Some people are put off when they come across a song with foreign words. They prefer to sing songs in English. photo by Chell Hill Not only are they missin...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]Sometimes I bring a great song to choir and for some reason the singers really struggle with it. photo by Clear Path International How do you decide whethe...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I used to run a small women’s choir of 12 singers. One day it dawned on me that my job was to make myself redundant.     I researched,...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Apparently singing is the UK’s second most popular activity after sport.     Photo by Shaunette Babb   According to The Gua...

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 詞：馬偕 曲：鄭智仁 編曲：鄭智仁、萬益嘉 1872年，加拿大傳教士馬偕（1844-1901）登陸打狗後北上淡水，在當年艱困的環境下傳教行醫並娶平埔族女子為妻，1880年建立滬尾偕醫院，亦即馬偕醫院前身；1895年出版的《福爾摩沙紀事》（Far from Formosa）書中記錄他返加拿大述職並吐露他對台灣深刻的愛。 人生的最後，長眠於他衷心所疼愛的台灣土地--現今淡水中學內，竹...  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 詞：馬偕 曲：鄭智仁 編曲：鄭智仁、萬益嘉 1872年，加拿大傳教士馬偕（1844-1901）登陸打狗後北上淡水，在當年艱困的環境下傳教行醫並娶平埔族女子為妻，1880年建立滬尾偕醫院，亦即馬偕醫院前身；1895年出版的《福爾摩沙紀事》（Far from Formosa）書中記錄他返加拿大述職並吐露他對台灣深刻的愛。 人生的最後，長眠於他衷心所疼愛的台灣土地--現今淡水中學內，竹林搖曳的墓園。2001年，後人為紀念馬偕逝世百週年，將馬偕書中的心意撰寫有：英文版〈最後的住家〉（My Final Resting Place）；華語版（墓園石碑）及台語版，並委由主內李奎然前輩譜曲發表。至今，共有6位作曲家為台語版〈最後的住家〉譜曲（李奎然、鄭明堂、金希文、何嘉駒、陳永鑫、鄭智仁）；筆者內心非常感佩這位外國傳教士奉獻台灣這塊土地的精神，故在不同的時空，以當年馬偕同樣的心境為〈最後的住家〉台語版譜曲。 2010年11月7日，作曲前筆者陪家父 瑞堂醫師返母校淡水中學拜訪馬偕墓園，與父親在細雨微風中憑弔這位心懷台灣的故人；除了蒐集詩篇史料，也請教過二十多位資深教會人士、台語專家；詩篇在完成譜曲後同時打上羅馬拼音，讓人得以依循傳唱。謹以此曲獻給每一位疼惜台灣這塊土地的人。 （鄭智仁自述） 【歌詞】 我全心所疼惜的台灣啊，我的青春攏總獻乎你。 我全心所疼惜的台灣啊，我一生的歡喜攏佇遮。 我在雲霧中，看見山嶺，從雲中隙孔，觀望全地。 波浪大海中，遙遠的對岸，我意愛佇遮，眺望無息。 我心未通割離的台灣啊，我的人生攏總獻乎你。 我心未通割離的台灣啊，我一世的快樂攏佇遮。 向望我人生的續尾站，佇大湧拍岸的響聲中。 在竹林搖動的蔭影內，找著我一生，最後住家。  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Two weeks ago I wrote about how individuals choose where to stand within their part (Don't stand too close to me! - finding the right place to stand in yo...