This post was originally posted to the Embro Thistle Singers blog.  The other day, there was a question about whether or not a choir director should sing while directing.  This is an age old question but as usual I have my own ideas.  ...

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrigal_In_Casa

【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

Founded in 1967 and based in Paisley, this female choir is actively involved in concert, festival and competition work across Scotland, and further afield. The group has appeared in a wide range of prestigious venues and has performed with many other ch...  moreFounded in 1967 and based in Paisley, this female choir is actively involved in concert, festival and competition work across Scotland, and further afield. The group has appeared in a wide range of prestigious venues and has performed with many other choirs and ensembles throughout the years.  

Kokopelli (founded 1996) is a youth choir for ages 14 to 23. The choir aims to share music across the boundaries of culture and place, using song as a tool of communication and community.

Kokopelli has been a featured ensemble at many events, provinciall...  moreKokopelli (founded 1996) is a youth choir for ages 14 to 23. The choir aims to share music across the boundaries of culture and place, using song as a tool of communication and community.

Kokopelli has been a featured ensemble at many events, provincially, nationally, and internationally. These include the Rocky Mountain National Music Festival, Podium (the biannual conference of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities), the regional conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the International Society of Music Educators conference, and others. In addition to many North American cities, the choir has toured to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Malaysia, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Zambia. Kokopelli is often the ambassador for the choir association and as such, has received several awards for their work with youth, music education, and the African Projects Fund. In the summer of 2013 the choir was featured at the Montana International Choral Festival and in addit...    less

Razzle Dazzle Choir was founded in 2018 in Gdynia, a seaside city in northern Poland. It is a choir ensemble of about 25 people, mainly amateurs. They share an incredible passion for music and are keen on spreading their positive singing energy. The c...  moreRazzle Dazzle Choir was founded in 2018 in Gdynia, a seaside city in northern Poland. It is a choir ensemble of about 25 people, mainly amateurs. They share an incredible passion for music and are keen on spreading their positive singing energy. The choir is known for its modern choral music repertoire, consisting of songs from all over the world as well as pop music masterpieces. The group was awarded a silver medal in pop music category during 5th 'Music Everywhere Festival' in Gdansk in 2019. So far, the choir has performed in several places in Poland, often the non-obvious ones, trying to make choral music available to everyone. The choir’s conductor, Zuzanna Popiołkiewicz, graduated from Conducting faculty at the Academy of Music in Gdansk. In 2012, as a representative of Poland, she led music workshops for the American organization 'Singers of United Lands' in 23 US states, Canada, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia. She conducted choirs such as Symphony Chorus of New Orleans or Nairobi Chamber Choir in Ke...    less

The Choir, composed of over 20 nationalities, is proud to reflect the multicultural character of Europe in Brussels. It is often asked to participate in important European events of which the most recent was the enlargement of the EU to 27 member states. ...  moreThe Choir, composed of over 20 nationalities, is proud to reflect the multicultural character of Europe in Brussels. It is often asked to participate in important European events of which the most recent was the enlargement of the EU to 27 member states. The Choir frequently performs with renowned European symphony orchestras and soloists in Brussels and in many capitals and other cities across Europe.  

Te Deum is a choral ensemble bringing a diverse, international repertoire of sacred music to Kansas City and the surrounding area. We strive to create a musically inspiring, spiritually stirring experience for our patrons. From historically informed pe...  moreTe Deum is a choral ensemble bringing a diverse, international repertoire of sacred music to Kansas City and the surrounding area. We strive to create a musically inspiring, spiritually stirring experience for our patrons. From historically informed performance of early music to meticulously prepared classical works to the most exciting current sacred compositions, Te Deum presents beautiful music in stunning settings. Te Deum was founded by Matthew Christopher Shepard in 2008 to fulfill an expressed need by both Singers and audiences in the Kansas City area to present sacred choral music concerts of the highest quality. The Te Deum Chamber Choir performed its first concert in spring 2009. Since then, the Chamber choir has built an impressive and varied repertoire that spans centuries of time and wide ranges of composition style. In fall 2013, Te Deum began its Antiqua series, offering historically informed performances of repertoire from the 12th-17th centuries with a smaller roster. In addition to ...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   If a singing workshop is just a couple of hours long, then Singers’ energy and concentration will probably be fine.     But for ...