Concert du 22 juin à la salle Gaveau (Voice Dance)

Sionna are a vocal trio based in Limerick, Ireland.The members of Sionna (shunna) met and studied on the banks of the River Shannon at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, where they benefited from a unique and diverse training in world song, Grego...  moreSionna are a vocal trio based in Limerick, Ireland.The members of Sionna (shunna) met and studied on the banks of the River Shannon at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, where they benefited from a unique and diverse training in world song, Gregorian chant, sean nós and medieval polyphony. The river Shannon is named for the Goddess Sionna, whose myth tells how she sought out the hazelnuts of wisdom, believed to contain éigse, the spirit of inspiration and creativity. Since their inception in 2012, Sionna have been privileged to share the stage with some of the best names in Irish music today.  less

Song of Praise and Thanksgiving

Free sheet music. Please get in touch! • facebook: David [dot] basden.9 • New email: deebee123 [at] bigpond.com A new setting – straightforward, text-driven, no extremes of range – no divisi, but has drone sections where staggered breathing would nor...  moreFree sheet music. Please get in touch! • facebook: David [dot] basden.9 • New email: deebee123 [at] bigpond.com A new setting – straightforward, text-driven, no extremes of range – no divisi, but has drone sections where staggered breathing would normally be used. Erratum: Bar 9 should read "et spes" – it's been corrected in the score.  

Delicate, hushed, and suspenseful, this perfectly captures the expansive and meditative feeling of Whitman’s poignant poetry. This is great for any sized choir, though the long lines, slow pace, and lush harmonies will lend itself particularly well to lar...  moreDelicate, hushed, and suspenseful, this perfectly captures the expansive and meditative feeling of Whitman’s poignant poetry. This is great for any sized choir, though the long lines, slow pace, and lush harmonies will lend itself particularly well to large ensembles. Four part mixed chorus Audio Credit: The First Recordings Project – J. David Moore, Conductor  

I recently completed this short setting of the Pater Noster. It should be fairly straightforward for most choirs – no divisi, no extremes of range. One feature is that the tenor part only goes up to D – this will enable "spare" basses to help out if neces...  moreI recently completed this short setting of the Pater Noster. It should be fairly straightforward for most choirs – no divisi, no extremes of range. One feature is that the tenor part only goes up to D – this will enable "spare" basses to help out if necessary. I'm happy to share the sheet music free of charge – please contact me for the PDF. • Facebook: David.basden.9 • New email: deebee123 [at] bigpond.com  

Psalm 23 is dedicated to my aunt Patricia Shaw of Vancouver, as this is her favourite Psalm. Two points of note: First, the composition grew out of the feeling that all 4 voices should start on the same note, grow outwards and then come back to that...  morePsalm 23 is dedicated to my aunt Patricia Shaw of Vancouver, as this is her favourite Psalm. Two points of note: First, the composition grew out of the feeling that all 4 voices should start on the same note, grow outwards and then come back to that same note at the end. The rest just seemed to evolve on its own, seemingly guided by some external force. Second, unusually, I have asked choirs (where possible) to sing this without any breaks, via staggered breathing, as I wanted to highlight the deep conviction underlying the words of the Psalm, as one single thread of deep belief that moves from beginning to end. Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choraltracks.com) for recording "Psalm 23." As always, comments are welcomed. Email me at rain@magma.ca, if you'd like more info. I would like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 26 years. I would also like to thank my friends in our "Ad ...    less

This is based on the anonymous English poem (with added 2nd verse by David Dunning) about a centipede who loses her concentration: Verse 1 A Centipede was happy quite Until a frog in fun said "Pray tell which leg comes after which?" (with a left r...  moreThis is based on the anonymous English poem (with added 2nd verse by David Dunning) about a centipede who loses her concentration: Verse 1 A Centipede was happy quite Until a frog in fun said "Pray tell which leg comes after which?" (with a left right right left right) This raised her mind to such a pitch she lay distracted in a ditch Considering how to run. Verse 2 She stopped and thought and, mystified, Soliloquized on this; Put right foot first and found it left Her left leg wrong right side This raised her mind to such a pitch she lay distracted in a ditch Considering how to run.  less

This classic Motown tune was a hit at Chor Leoni's Bard Boyz performances (June 2011). The arrangement is by Keith Sinclair (who is also in the backup Dance quartet) and the soloist is second tenor, Jordan Back.