[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

#Muzaria #DarrenBartlett #dmbmusic Song OF PEACE - Revisited 2021 In 2002 my Brother Wayne and I wrote a Song for the BBC Choirboy of the year, James Eager. Last year my Nephews Jake & Oliver recorded a new vocal and we captured them in a video. Thi...  more#Muzaria #DarrenBartlett #dmbmusic Song OF PEACE - Revisited 2021 In 2002 my Brother Wayne and I wrote a Song for the BBC Choirboy of the year, James Eager. Last year my Nephews Jake & Oliver recorded a new vocal and we captured them in a video. This year I have spent several months creating a new video with some stunning winter scenes for your pleasure. I hope you enjoy this Song once again this year. * Copyright Darren & Wayne Bartlett - DMBMUSIC * * Flying over the clouds footage used by kind permission of Cloud9* * All additional Footage courtesy of pexels.com & pixabay.com* www.darrenbartlett.co.uk Copyright DMB MUSIC 2000-2020 www.dmbmusic.co.uk  less

"A Song of Peace" written by Jonathan Adams, published by Pavane Publishing, P1337 and beautifully sung by Matthew Curtis, Choral Tracks LLC.

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

For the 25th anniversary concert, Bell'Arte alumni joined with current choir members, with Stephen Hatfield conducting his own compositions, including "Hard Shoulder". Stephen Hatfield on Hard Shoulder: Written to Honour the House of Compassion, a ...  moreFor the 25th anniversary concert, Bell'Arte alumni joined with current choir members, with Stephen Hatfield conducting his own compositions, including "Hard Shoulder". Stephen Hatfield on Hard Shoulder: Written to Honour the House of Compassion, a Toronto outreach to street people, Hard Shoulder is narrated by the street people themselves. Although there is no explicit language, the reality of life on the streets is still presented in an unvarnished way that hits audiences where they didn't expect to be hit. The struggle of the homeless, and of the people who wish to help them, is presented without platitudes, without sentimentality, and without easy answers, but the final message of the piece is humanitarian with a capital H.  less

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

The second of three movements by composer Joseph Dillon Ford for male chorus, based on Dante's The Divine Comedy (L'inferno), sung by the dwsChorale. Video recreated in Honour of the composer Vidi una porta, e tre gradi di sotto per gire ad essa, di ...  moreThe second of three movements by composer Joseph Dillon Ford for male chorus, based on Dante's The Divine Comedy (L'inferno), sung by the dwsChorale. Video recreated in Honour of the composer Vidi una porta, e tre gradi di sotto per gire ad essa, di color diversi, e un portier ch' ancor non facea motto. [I saw a portal, and three stairs beneath, Diverse in colour, to go up to it, And a gate-keeper, who yet spake no word] Poi pinse l' uscio a la porta sacrata, dicendo: "Intrate; ma facciovi accorti che di fuor torna chi ' n dietro si guata" [Then pushed the portals Of the sacred door, Exclaiming: “Enter; but I give you warning That forth returns whoever looks behind.”] Io mi rivolsi attento al primo tuono, e ' Te Deum laudamus' mi parea udire in voce mista al dolce suono. [At the first thunder-peal I turned attentive, And _”Te Deum laudamus”_ seemed to hear In voices mingled with sweet melody.]  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