[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week in How to teach (and learn) a song by ear 1  I wrote about the oral tradition, teaching by ear, starting notes and breaking a song down into...

The Cantica Nova Vocal Ensemble partecipate to the Ohrid Choir Festival 2010 in Macedonia.

The Apollo Chorus of Chicago is the area's premier volunteer Choir and one of the oldest Musical groups in the United States. Its 125-plus auditioned members include men and women of all ages, races, creeds, and occupations brought together by their love...  moreThe Apollo Chorus of Chicago is the area's premier volunteer Choir and one of the oldest Musical groups in the United States. Its 125-plus auditioned members include men and women of all ages, races, creeds, and occupations brought together by their love of singing. Each season, Apollo presents the masterworks of Western choral Music, from Baroque to Broadway. The group has also been featured in several television, recording, and live performance collaborations. Year after year, critics and audiences alike delight in the artistry and passion of Apollo's performances.  less

The 43 singers from Akron, Ohio under the direction of Mrs. Arlene Jacobs are touring Sicily & Malta from June 26 to July 6 with Incantato Tours. During a visit to Catania, the girls and boys sang for a newly-wed Sicilian couple

"Unclouded Day" , from "Heavenly Home: Three American Songs" TTBB Arr Shawn Kirchner 2018.

【貳和唱】音樂會 時間 / 2015年6月28日 地點 / 高雄市文化中心至善廳 指揮 / 林志信 鋼琴 / 楊郁雯 Nocturnes By Morten Lauridsen 夜曲 莫頓‧勞律森 莫頓‧勞律森（Morten Lauridsen，1943─）是美國重要的當代作曲家，曾於1994至2001年擔任美國洛杉磯大師合唱團（Los Angeles Master Chorale）駐團作曲家，也在南加大音樂學院（USC Thornton School of Music）教授作...  more【貳和唱】音樂會 時間 / 2015年6月28日 地點 / 高雄市文化中心至善廳 指揮 / 林志信 鋼琴 / 楊郁雯 Nocturnes By Morten Lauridsen 夜曲 莫頓‧勞律森 莫頓‧勞律森（Morten Lauridsen，1943─）是美國重要的當代作曲家，曾於1994至2001年擔任美國洛杉磯大師合唱團（Los Angeles Master Chorale）駐團作曲家，也在南加大音樂學院（USC Thornton School of Music）教授作曲長達30餘年，並於2007年獲得美國國家藝術獎（National Medal of Arts）。他的音樂呈現出古典保守傳統的特質，以簡單的樂曲結構來表現合唱人聲之美，而且在此簡單與純淨的結構中，流露著歌詞豐富的內涵，與如詩如畫般的美感。 《夜曲》是一套四首的聯篇合唱作品，主體的前三個樂章完成於2005年，第四樂章則於2008年加上，其主題與第一樂章相呼應，是為跋。不同於一般的連篇歌曲，這套夜曲的歌詞並非出自同一位作者的同一套詩作，而是分別來自三個不同國籍作者的作品：第一樂章與第四樂章是德國詩人萊納．瑪利亞．里爾克(Rainer Maria Rilke，1875－1926)的法文詩，第二樂章是智利詩人巴勃魯．聶魯達(Pablo Neruda, 1904-1973)所寫之情詩，第三樂章則取材自美國作家詹姆斯．魯弗斯．艾吉 (James Rufus Agee; 1909- 1955)的詩作。作曲家勞律森精準而巧妙地掌握了它們共同的特點：夜晚、浪漫的愛情、以及神秘主義的語彙，藉著豐富的和聲色彩，使得這幾首不同來源的詩作完美地結合成為一個整體。 4. Epilogue—Voici le soir (Night has come) 跋—夜晚降臨 此曲的歌詞亦為萊納．瑪利亞．里爾克(Rainer Maria Rilke)所寫的法文詩。勞律森以豐富而帶有爵士色彩的調式和聲，再次激發了聽者對夜色與愛情的想像！在無伴奏人聲的吟誦之後，鋼琴再次加入，呈現與第一樂章相同的主題，全曲最後在縈繞不已的神秘氛圍中悄然結束…. voici le soir, pendant tout un jour encore je vous ai beaucoup aimées collines émues c’est ...    less

Noctis performing at their summer concert at St Michael's Without, Bath on July 2nd, 2016. Conducted by Francis Faux www.noctisChoir.com

@ Çanakkale Choir Festival Conductor is directing the performance of the audience when they begin to sing. Such a great moment...

VRC ensemble, is a non-auditioned rock/pop Choir, accompanied by a live, professional band, performing at various venues in Toronto. We sing in 3 or 4 part harmony and have a great time!

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of us don’t like the sound of our singing voice. Some people won’t even sing in front of others because they don’t want to inf...