St Helens Male Voices a brand new choir with a fresh approach, formed to bring men of all ages and backgrounds together to sing. We have a simple philosophy, we all love to sing but we want to do it in a professional way without the rigid formality and st...  moreSt Helens Male Voices a brand new choir with a fresh approach, formed to bring men of all ages and backgrounds together to sing. We have a simple philosophy, we all love to sing but we want to do it in a professional way without the rigid formality and structure of traditional male voice choirs. We love to sing and perform a wide range of musical styles from pop and rock to classical standards. If it is good music we will sing it. We are looking for new singers to join our friendly new choir, both experienced and beginners. Come along, experience something new and get excited!  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]     This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just use the contact form if you want to submit a question.   Morning St...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Size is in the eye of the beholder. How ‘big’ a choir is depends on the context of course, but working with a large group of singers in any ci...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In most formal choirs you’re told exactly where to stand when performing. There is often a fixed set-up which varies little from concert to concert....

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes old choir repertoire becomes stale.   Photo by quinn.anya   Well-loved songs start to wear out and lose their sparkle. What can ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Have you ever been swept along by the enthusiasm of a singing session only to feel drained at the end or with a sore throat and aching legs?   ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] When I started my most recent community choir The OK Chorale back in 2011 I decided it wasn’t going to be a performing choir.     Brig...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] The rehearsal begins and the Altos looks around in panic: “Where’s Carol?” Carol is a strong, confident singer, but she’s not here thi...

III. WATER FROM YOUR SPRING What was in that candle's light that opened and consumed me so quickly? Come back, my friend! The form of our love is not a created form. Nothing can help me but that beauty. There was a dawn I remember when...  moreIII. WATER FROM YOUR SPRING What was in that candle's light that opened and consumed me so quickly? Come back, my friend! The form of our love is not a created form. Nothing can help me but that beauty. There was a dawn I remember when my soul heard something from your soul. I drank water from your spring and felt the current take me. Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. Performed by the Millennium Consort, Martin Neary, conductor, and the Pomona College Choir, Donna Di Grazia, director. Water Ruminations is a setting of six poems by the thirteenth-century poet Rumi, in English translations from the Persian by Coleman Barks, for double choir and organ. The poetry sings of literal and spiritual connections between water and sky, a drop of water and human life, flowing water and love, drinking water and its container, the giddiness of spring and rolling seas, and the ocean's gifts and singing. Its images, from 800 years ago, sp...    less

Sung at a choral course in Nottingham in 1977 Sing we and chant it While love doth grant it Not long youth lasteth And old age hasteth Now is best leisure To take our pleasure All things invite us Now to delight us Hence, care, be packing! No ...  moreSung at a choral course in Nottingham in 1977 Sing we and chant it While love doth grant it Not long youth lasteth And old age hasteth Now is best leisure To take our pleasure All things invite us Now to delight us Hence, care, be packing! No mirth be lacking! Let spare no treasure To live in pleasure