Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Hugo Distler's Death, two successful vocal ensembles from Leipzig perform together on a single CD for the first time. The three- and four-voice motets recorded by the young ladies of the Sjaella sextet and the five yo...  moreCommemorating the 70th anniversary of Hugo Distler's Death, two successful vocal ensembles from Leipzig perform together on a single CD for the first time. The three- and four-voice motets recorded by the young ladies of the Sjaella sextet and the five young gentlemen of the Ensemble Nobiles represent some of the highlights from Distler's choral oeuvre: the Jahrkreis op. 5, and the Geistliche Chormusik op. 12. One of the composer's best-known works, the totentanz op. 12 no. 2, stands at the heart of this disc. The fourteen motets for Eternity Sunday contained in the totentanz op. 12 no. 2 were set to music by Hugo Distler and form the work's musical part. Distler accompanies the motets with non-musical verses that narrate a dialogue between Death and his numerous victims.While on the present recording some of the victims' roles are spoken by the singers themselves, Heinz-Martin Benecke lends Death his charismatic voice. The totentanztopos is known especially through its pictorial representations of Death'...    less

12-14 July 2024 Come and sing choral music by Charles Villiers Stanford in the magnificent setting of Queens’ College, Cambridge, in an exclusive weekend course hosted by the Royal School of Music to mark the centenary of the composer’s Death...

Regarded as one of the finest masterpieces of all Western Music, this passion setting brings to music the text of Matthew 26 and 27 concerning the suffering and Death of Jesus Christ. The evangelist tells the story, arias convey the inner feelings of us h...  moreRegarded as one of the finest masterpieces of all Western Music, this passion setting brings to music the text of Matthew 26 and 27 concerning the suffering and Death of Jesus Christ. The evangelist tells the story, arias convey the inner feelings of us humans as we gaze upon the Golgotha scene and choruses and chorales reflect on our own place in the drama. Bach's incredible work of art stands alone in its complete telling of the crucifixion story in a manner which stirs and moves the soul of the performer and listener. This is a mountaintop experience not to be missed.  less

Recorded on 5/3/2024 at Our Beautiful Savior's Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ as part of our "Modern Madrigals" concert. ​Text: "The silver swan, who living had no note, When Death approached, unlocked her silent throat; Leaning her breast against ...  moreRecorded on 5/3/2024 at Our Beautiful Savior's Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ as part of our "Modern Madrigals" concert. ​Text: "The silver swan, who living had no note, When Death approached, unlocked her silent throat; Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, Thus sang her last, and sang no more: 'Farewell, all joys; Oh Death, come close mine eyes; More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.' " - Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625) Program notes: A famous text also famously used by Gibbons himself for his own Madrigal, Hailstork here pays homage to the work's 16th-century roots. An early composition (written while in college) from the proflic composer, Hailstork combined his own language with his love for choral literature to create a piece reminiscent of the Renaissance with a modern flair. The harmonic language harkens back to a hexachordal modality of the 16th century, uses an unaccompanied SATB choir, and employs varied moments of imitative polyphony and homophony. This short wor...    less

The work was composed by Franco Prinsloo to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Death of William Shakespeare. 126 of the 154 Sonnets were addressed to – and inspired by – a beautiful Young Man who embodied for Shakespeare everything that was finest i...  moreThe work was composed by Franco Prinsloo to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Death of William Shakespeare. 126 of the 154 Sonnets were addressed to – and inspired by – a beautiful Young Man who embodied for Shakespeare everything that was finest in the world. The work is a melancholic love song that is based on a folk like melody underlined by a constant pedal point, resembling the sound of bagpipes.  

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final composition, Requiem, was finished after his Death by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr. According to his wife, Constanze Mozart, the ailing composer had come to believe he was writing the piece, initially commissioned by a ...  moreWolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final composition, Requiem, was finished after his Death by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr. According to his wife, Constanze Mozart, the ailing composer had come to believe he was writing the piece, initially commissioned by a German count, to be played at his own funeral — and indeed some sections were. Requiem was later performed at the funerals and commemorative services of Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn, and Frédéric Chopin. Centuries later in 1960, “scraps of paper” containing Mozart’s unrealized ideas were discovered, prompting new versions of the Requiem. Mozart Requiem Robert Levin edition Downtown Voices The Choir of Trinity Wall Street NOVUS NY Stephen Sands, conductor Sonya Headlam, soprano Pamela Terry, mezzo-soprano David Vanderwal, tenor Neil Netherly, bass  less

...a man in his twilight years is contemplating his coming passing, metaphorically describing Death ‎as the setting of the sun.‎ Gilad Hochman's BEYOND NINE LAKES for Choir a cappella (2014), based on a traditional Latvian song (w/ Score) Composed f...  more...a man in his twilight years is contemplating his coming passing, metaphorically describing Death ‎as the setting of the sun.‎ Gilad Hochman's BEYOND NINE LAKES for Choir a cappella (2014), based on a traditional Latvian song (w/ Score) Composed for and recorded by Youth Choir Kamēr under conductor Jānis Liepiņš. Amber Songs (CD) / European Capital of Culture program Rīga 2014 Premiere: 15.-16. March, 2014. The Great Hall of University of Latvia  

http://www.keystoneacappella.com Get our music: http://loudr.fm/artist/keystone-a-cappella/wq72B After Michael Jackson's untimely Death in June 2009, Amy arranged "I'll Be There" as a tribute to his life and music. On August 7, 2009, five of the futur...  morehttp://www.keystoneacappella.com Get our music: http://loudr.fm/artist/keystone-a-cappella/wq72B After Michael Jackson's untimely Death in June 2009, Amy arranged "I'll Be There" as a tribute to his life and music. On August 7, 2009, five of the future members of KeyStone performed this arrangement at the summer concert of The A Cappella Project - Philadelphia. When KeyStone formed nearly two years later, "I'll Be There" became one of their first songs. We recorded this video in memory of Michael, with gratitude and love. Music by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Willie Hutch, Hal Davis Arrangement by Amy Howe Lead vocals: Amy Howe, Josh Schrager This video was recorded live using a smart phone from the interior of an SUV. It is unedited, unmastered, and has minimal mixing. Check out our YouTube channel for other #KeyStoneInTheCar videos  less

We are a network of choral singers worldwide in 200 choirs who have been called to sing at the bedsides of people who are dying. Our repertoire is all original, written by choir members and has emerged as a new tribal choral tradition that honors Death a...  moreWe are a network of choral singers worldwide in 200 choirs who have been called to sing at the bedsides of people who are dying. Our repertoire is all original, written by choir members and has emerged as a new tribal choral tradition that honors Death as a natural, expected, sometimes very inspiring event in a life. While we don't require auditions, our welcome process is rigorous. This kind of singing is spiritual work and is deeply rewarding for those who are called to it.  

An excerpt from movement IV of my Requiem (2007) as performed by the Orlando Chamber Singers under the direction of Gregory Ruffer. text: Keats (from Ode to a Nightingale) Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with e...  moreAn excerpt from movement IV of my Requiem (2007) as performed by the Orlando Chamber Singers under the direction of Gregory Ruffer. text: Keats (from Ode to a Nightingale) Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call'd him soft names in many a musèd rhyme, to take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, to cease upon the midnight with no pain