Poem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Video: Ritvars Bluka Style: Līga Banga Live Performance at Latvian National Museum of Arts "High Flight" Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve c...  morePoem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Video: Ritvars Bluka Style: Līga Banga Live Performance at Latvian National Museum of Arts "High Flight" Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air . . . Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. www.latvianvoices.lv  less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week in Part 1 of How to deal with Song lyrics, I looked at the pros and cons of using written words as opposed to learning entirely by ear.   &...

The Vocal Art Ensemble presented their rendition of "O Sapo (The Toad" arranged by Stephen Hatfield as part of their "Cloudburst--Sounds of Nature" concert in May 2011. Intended to chronicle the evolution of Earth's creatures, this piece shows the utter j...  moreThe Vocal Art Ensemble presented their rendition of "O Sapo (The Toad" arranged by Stephen Hatfield as part of their "Cloudburst--Sounds of Nature" concert in May 2011. Intended to chronicle the evolution of Earth's creatures, this piece shows the utter joy of a toad hopping around his kingdom on our green planet. The women dance and the men join in with percussion and 'toad calls'.  

Over the Rainbow, Susanna Lindmark. Coro las Veredas. Enrique Martín, Director. Daniel Garay, cajón flamenco. Song of Hope incluido en Nube, el Cd del Coro las Veredas. Más información: www.corolasveredas.com

Folk Song from the Lepcha Tribe of the Himalayas, India for SAB and Tenor Solo and Maadal Arr. Virgil Sequeira Sung in Lepcha language. This Song sings praises of the motherland of the Lepchas around their sacred mountain Kingtsoom Zaongboo Choo (...  moreFolk Song from the Lepcha Tribe of the Himalayas, India for SAB and Tenor Solo and Maadal Arr. Virgil Sequeira Sung in Lepcha language. This Song sings praises of the motherland of the Lepchas around their sacred mountain Kingtsoom Zaongboo Choo (Kanchenjunga) who calls on her children (the Lepchas) to respect her and their traditions Soprano: Paola Granada Columba (Bolivia) Alto: Zuzanna Rybinska (Poland) Tenor Solo: Virgil Sequeira (India) Bass: Engelhardt #Unaeb (Namibia) maadal: Virgil Sequeira Recorded on the Singers Of United Lands 2012 Tour of USA, Canada, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe at Spartanburg, SC, USA April 2012  less

[This article is a summary of a series that was first posted on my blog Chorus of aproval] Step 1 - Write it! A friend and I have written a Christmas Song for choir. It all started from a throw away comment by a choir member just befor...

A traditional Igbo Christmas folk music dramatized by Two fine soloists. Accompanied by the choir to depict the Christmas cheer and joy of the coming of the Son of God to Earth.

Second movement of Gjeilo's "Sunrise Mass" EnChor Chamber Choir, Lily String Quartet and Corps Bara Dance Heaven and Earth concert, October 2012

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible. He is a great King over all the Earth. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Sing ye praises to God; sing ...  moreO clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible. He is a great King over all the Earth. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Sing ye praises to God; sing praises. Sing praises to our King; sing praises. For God is the King of all the Earth. Sing ye praises every one that hath understanding. God reigneth over the heathen. God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. Sing praises unto our King. Sing praises. Sung at Canterbury Cathedral during our Royal School of Church Music Summer Course in 1986, under Martin How. I (David W Solomons) was one of the altos. John Huntley - a fellow alto - recorded this performance.  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes you might have to learn your Song part from a recording rather than with everyone else together in a choir session.   photo by Kat...