[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]   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...

SATURDAY 25 APRIL at 7.30pm ST MARY'S CHURCH, WIRKSWORTH, Derbyshire DE4 4DQ - website www.wirksworthteamministry.co.ukWe return to this beautiful venue for a special spring concert, with Songs fresh for 2015. All proceeds from this concert wi...

[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] 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”.  ...

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：周鑫泉 2011年高雄室內合唱團首次與周鑫泉老師合作：以詩人余光中的詩作為題材，讓作曲家以合唱創作為之詮釋。繼去年委託創作並出版〈答案〉(余光中原詩名〈江湖上〉)及〈昨夜你對我一笑〉後，高雄室內合唱團今年再次邀請周老師以混聲合唱的形式創作余光中的〈珍妮的辮子〉。 在這闕充滿故事性的詩品裡，在短短三段、每段四句的詩節中，余光中一方面簡單地描寫外表從長長辮子到一頭捲髮的...  onclick="$(this).getParent().getNext().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">moreone;">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：周鑫泉 2011年高雄室內合唱團首次與周鑫泉老師合作：以詩人余光中的詩作為題材，讓作曲家以合唱創作為之詮釋。繼去年委託創作並出版〈答案〉(余光中原詩名〈江湖上〉)及〈昨夜你對我一笑〉後，高雄室內合唱團今年再次邀請周老師以混聲合唱的形式創作余光中的〈珍妮的辮子〉。 在這闕充滿故事性的詩品裡，在短短三段、每段四句的詩節中，余光中一方面簡單地描寫外表從長長辮子到一頭捲髮的珍妮，一方面則又深刻地表達詩人內心一縷淡淡失落的複雜感傷：曾幾何時，珍妮那雙如夢般天真、純樸的辮子，竟變成今日「鮮」染、時髦的捲髮？在變化中，詩人感嘆、感懷著珍妮丟掉的豈僅是辮子。 在這首〈珍妮的辮子〉中，周老師以三段式的樂曲形式忠實地與詩人的詩作架構呼應。雖然代表「珍妮」的主題一如詩人與珍妮的相遇，在頭尾段落中重覆出現，然而隨著「辮子變捲髮」，鋼琴伴奏卻發生了截然不同的和聲變化。至於那個名叫「珍妮」的女孩究竟長相為何？忽而五聲音階調式，忽而西洋爵士和聲，作曲家頑皮地把中國內蒙民謠〈虹彩妹妹〉和美國知名詞曲作家佛斯特（Stephen Foster, 1826-64）的〈美麗的夢仙〉（Beautiful Dreamer） 做了一番跨越時空、令人莞爾的「選美」對話。 透過前奏與尾奏的串連音符，作曲家一如詩人同樣在思索、發問：在轉瞬飛逝的歲月裡，當社會不斷快速發展，審美觀、價值觀隨之不斷變遷，還有什麼樣的美好值得在記憶中好好珍藏？ （周鑫泉自述） 【歌詞】 當初我認識珍妮的時候， 她還是一個很小的姑娘， 長長的辮子飄在背後， 像一對夢幻的翅膀。 但那是很久，很久的事了， 我很久，很久沒見過她。 人家說珍妮已經長大了， 長長的辮子變成捲髮。 昨天在街上我遇見珍妮， 她拋我一朵鮮紅的微笑， 但是我差一點哭出聲來， 珍妮的辮子哪兒去了？  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]   A while back I taught a song wrongly. Not for the first time!     Even though I corrected myself quickly, the original version stuck in peo...

We are an open access community choir based in Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. We are open to all. We perform locally at many community events.

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of Songs from traditions across th...