[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...

Canterbury Girls Choir perform the Cups Song at the Boughton Under Blean Summer Sing concert. July 2015

This is a very popular church Song, but is a bit unusual in that it originated as a folk Song about driving a car. Usually it is the church Song which is incorporated into the folk culture. In the Sotho language: "I also like to see the angels on Moun...  moreThis is a very popular church Song, but is a bit unusual in that it originated as a folk Song about driving a car. Usually it is the church Song which is incorporated into the folk culture. In the Sotho language: "I also like to see the angels on Mount Zion, with all the blessed people." This is from The OK Chorale's second public concert in March 2013 at St. Mary's Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.  

World premiere of "Do you Know the Song the Angels Sang" by Villa Park, IL composer John Milne. Sunday, 12/2/19 Congregational Church of Batavia, IL

This setting of the 98th Psalm (Sing a new Song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.) comes originally from my cantata “The Manchester Magnificat”, based on Audrey Vaughan’s poems about the religious and social history of the city. The oratorio was...  moreThis setting of the 98th Psalm (Sing a new Song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.) comes originally from my cantata “The Manchester Magnificat”, based on Audrey Vaughan’s poems about the religious and social history of the city. The oratorio was first performed in Manchester Cathedral in 1994. This psalm forms the climax of the whole cantata and provides an expression of optimism after the tragedies of the previous sections. In this “extracted” version, the tragic surroundings of the history remain in the background and the purebubbling joy of the psalm itself shines forth. Enjoy the complex rhythms and let your hair down! This performance by Daniel Shaw's Composer's Choir (based in Connecticut) is a brilliant rendition of the piece and will, I hope, encourage other church choirs and concert choirs to consider including it in their repertoire.  less

"A Sad Song" by Randall Thompson, from the Song cycle "Rosemary". Text by Stephen Vincent Benét. Recorded live on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Christ Lutheran Church in Oakland Park, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir ensemble of the Girl Choir of S...  more"A Sad Song" by Randall Thompson, from the Song cycle "Rosemary". Text by Stephen Vincent Benét. Recorded live on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Christ Lutheran Church in Oakland Park, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson. Rosemary, Rosemary, There's a Pig in your garden, With silk bristles frizzy And tushes of snow! But Rosemary was cautious, She said, "Beg your pardon! I'm really too busy To look down below." Rosemary, Rosemary, There's a Bird in your kitchen! His voice is gold water, He says, "Pretty Poll!" But Rosemary heard nothing, Putting stitch after stitch in The dress of a daughter, Her thirty-sixth doll. Rosemary, Rosemary, A silver-ringed Rabbit! He bridles and gentles And wants you astride! "I prefer," said Rosemary, "To ride a Good Habit." She went buying black lentils- She did till she died.  less

Bob Chilcott's "Song of the Crib" Sunday, December 4, 2016 Congregational Church of Batavia, IL

altitalienischer Hymnus "Alta Trinita Beata" aus dem 15. Jahrhundert

Song of life - Lyrics by Robert Prizeman, Music by Takatsugu Muramatsu

Christmas might be one of the most beloved holidays in the world. Its traditions could vary very much between cultures, countries, or even families - some celebrate it as a religious holiday, some as a feast of love and Peace. There are so many things th...