tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509271070816178622024-03-13T05:53:05.655-07:00Washington Men's CamerataThe Washington Men's Camerata honors the tradition of men's choral music by providing beautiful performances, promoting the choral art and preserving the repertoire.Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-43069986317580666652010-03-24T06:56:00.001-07:002010-03-24T08:47:00.039-07:00IMC National SeminarThe biennial 2010 National Seminar of Intercollegiate Men's Choruses took place from March 18 - 20 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Host Ethan Sperry and his singers put on a great conference, with 19 male choruses singing over the course of the three day event. The festivities began with a performance from the University of Kentucky Men's Chorus and conductor Jefferson Johnson. This group is only 8 years old, but they sing beautifully. Their final number, <span style="font-style: italic;">Every Woman is a Riddle</span> from Lehar's <span style="font-style: italic;">Merry Widow</span>, featured a chorus member in drag. Oy. Click on a pic to enlarge it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ofsWKI7FI/AAAAAAAAAGw/uyqq6VkiDRk/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ofsWKI7FI/AAAAAAAAAGw/uyqq6VkiDRk/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205145608219730" border="0" /></a><br />Next came TenBucsWorth, a small ensemble from East Tennessee State University directed by Tom Jenrette. They really straddled the fence between traditional glee club repertoire and an a cappella group, singing everything from a Wolf part song to an arrangement of <span style="font-style: italic;">Unchained Melody</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6oftZPyOqI/AAAAAAAAAHI/wFdbcRCfKEc/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6oftZPyOqI/AAAAAAAAAHI/wFdbcRCfKEc/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205163617073826" border="0" /></a><br />Next up was the St. Ignatius High School Men's Chorus from Cleveland. This group is open to men in grades 10 - 12 without audition. They gave the first of three Seminar performances of Ola Gjeilo's <span style="font-style: italic;">Ubi Caritas</span>. They also gave the only scheduled performance of the Biebl <span style="font-style: italic;">Ave Maria</span>. Conductor Jason Falkofsky invited the audience to join in during the third verse, and by the end, the hall was echoing with glorious sounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of9792L9I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/OxTXkbFgkps/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of9792L9I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/OxTXkbFgkps/s320/IMG_0248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205447814983634" border="0" /></a><br />The evening concert session ended with a performance by the host group, The Miami University Men's Glee Club led by Ethan Sperry. These guys exhibit such joy when they sing that it's a real pleasure to experience their performances. They sang <span style="font-style: italic;">An Aboriginal Song</span> by Tormis, another bass drum spectacular!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of-Dype4I/AAAAAAAAAHY/VRN9iLmBbco/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of-Dype4I/AAAAAAAAAHY/VRN9iLmBbco/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205449915497346" border="0" /></a><br />After the evening concert session, a few of us visited a local watering hole to catch up and mingle with the locals. Here I am with Bruce McInnes, long time conductor of the Amherst College Glee Club and current director of Mastersingers USA.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of_fHxflI/AAAAAAAAAHo/alHbKoDgAM4/s1600/IMG_0251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of_fHxflI/AAAAAAAAAHo/alHbKoDgAM4/s320/IMG_0251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205474431729234" border="0" /></a><br />The next afternoon's concert session began with a performance by the Men's Ensemble from the Choirs of Central Bucks High School-West in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Their conductor, Joe Ohrt, is a legend in the field, having commissioned more than 350 pieces for his choruses over his 19 years at the school. The group frequently uses props (in this case, bamboo sticks and picture frames) and often performs with guest composers participating. For this concert, composer Ola Gjeilo improvised at the piano during performances of two of his works (including the second Seminar performance of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ubi Caritas</span>). Here are the Central Bucks men with the Roxbury Latin men.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogLVuJzBI/AAAAAAAAAIA/xWH4r7qvKRI/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogLVuJzBI/AAAAAAAAAIA/xWH4r7qvKRI/s320/IMG_0254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205678066781202" border="0" /></a><br />The next performance was from the DePaul A Cappella Men led by Clayton Parr, 2010 recipient of IMC's Marshall Bartholomew Award for service to the male chorus world. This group is actually half of the SATB DePaul A Cappella. Clayton brought the men, who had learned a special program of music from the Republic of Georgia. Clayton is probably the foremost expert on Georgian music in the US, and his men did a fantastic job on a demanding program.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogLB_nzSI/AAAAAAAAAH4/bWoGNQStVZU/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogLB_nzSI/AAAAAAAAAH4/bWoGNQStVZU/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205672771341602" border="0" /></a><br />Next came the Hamilton (Ontario) Police Male Chorus. This group, now in its 51st year, is the only male police chorus remaining in Canada. Let by Miami University Glee Club alumnus Steve Becker, they sang a varied program of lighter fare and earned an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd. There's an original member still singing with the group. They had the best outfits of any chorus at IMC, so I'm sorry I didn't get a picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6opvKG2QhI/AAAAAAAAAJo/-OyZ2vuhWgo/s1600/MaleChorus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6opvKG2QhI/AAAAAAAAAJo/-OyZ2vuhWgo/s320/MaleChorus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452216189029073426" border="0" /></a><br />The afternoon's final performance came from The Roxbury Latin Glee Club, Chorus and Latonics, who sent a small group of men (21) from the 75-voice Glee Club. Roxbury Latin, founded in 1645, is the oldest continuously active school in the US!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of_hzWXwI/AAAAAAAAAHw/WNXdklhGigM/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6of_hzWXwI/AAAAAAAAAHw/WNXdklhGigM/s320/IMG_0252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205475151372034" border="0" /></a><br />After the concert came the first of several events featuring Jameson Marvin, the conductor of the Harvard Glee Club, who will be retiring this spring after 32 years. During this mass sing, Jim coached us on two pieces and told us we were flat a lot. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMMQXExI/AAAAAAAAAII/Sb0ftJ2ibqE/s1600/IMG_0255.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMMQXExI/AAAAAAAAAII/Sb0ftJ2ibqE/s320/IMG_0255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205692705772306" border="0" /></a><br />Friday evening's concert session began with a performance by Measure for Measure, an adult men's chorus led by Steve Lorenz. They sang a nice variety of mostly standard repertoire. I forgot to take a picture, but was able to download this one from their web site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6osYyaAyzI/AAAAAAAAAJw/qHZJL84HRbI/s1600/m4m-group-photo-2009_700p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6osYyaAyzI/AAAAAAAAAJw/qHZJL84HRbI/s320/m4m-group-photo-2009_700p.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452219103244766002" border="0" /></a><br />Next came the Varsity Men's Glee Club from the University of Illinois led by Barrington Coleman. They sang the fiendishly difficult <span style="font-style: italic;">Froelich im Maien</span> by Richard Strauss, and did one number that featured their well-known subset, The Other Guys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMDlkflI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/7l3vXG6LwCA/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMDlkflI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/7l3vXG6LwCA/s320/IMG_0256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205690378813010" border="0" /></a><br />This is The Naperville Men's Glee Club, from Illinois, the only chorus singing at the Seminar with a female conductor, Bonnie Roberts. The sang the third seminar performance of Ola Gjeilo's <span style="font-style: italic;">Ubi Caritas!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMuSEe7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/S2LtPSxrB7Y/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogMuSEe7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/S2LtPSxrB7Y/s320/IMG_0257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205701839748018" border="0" /></a><br />The final chorus of the night was The Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, the first GALA chorus to sing at IMC. They sang Gwyneth Walker's arrangement of <span style="font-style: italic;">How Can I Keep From Singing?</span> as well as a cute Christmas medley by Tim Sarsany.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogYfxcIYI/AAAAAAAAAIg/6Ll3WAmG77I/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogYfxcIYI/AAAAAAAAAIg/6Ll3WAmG77I/s320/IMG_0258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205904103219586" border="0" /></a><br />The Saturday afternoon concert session was made up entirely of choirs from Ohio. Let the battle begin. First up were members of The Singing Men of Ohio and their director, Peter Jarjisian. They sang Lee Hoiby's <span style="font-style: italic;">Last Letter Home</span> and threw down the gauntlet with their bright green blazers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogY7NYaxI/AAAAAAAAAIo/LlO4SkQn6Ik/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogY7NYaxI/AAAAAAAAAIo/LlO4SkQn6Ik/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205911468174098" border="0" /></a><br />Next up was the Baldwin-Wallace Men's Chorus and conductor Frank Bianchi. This group was formed in 2008 as a town and gown ensemble that features about 1/3 community members and 2/3rd students. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZO2LBvI/AAAAAAAAAIw/CiI24pSsDpI/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZO2LBvI/AAAAAAAAAIw/CiI24pSsDpI/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205916739536626" border="0" /></a><br />Next came The Kent State University Men's Chorus and conductor Ben Ayling. For some reason, they don't have colored blazers. What were they thinking? I forgot to take a picture (my bad), but found this on their web site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ozLdwdWLI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/DvXya3v2N4k/s1600/2006-Fall-KSU-Mens-Chorus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ozLdwdWLI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/DvXya3v2N4k/s320/2006-Fall-KSU-Mens-Chorus.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452226570944862386" /></a><br />The concert session ended with the blinding red blazers worn by The Ohio State University Men's Glee Club and their director, Bob Ward. They were the only choir on this concert session to not perform a piece by Seminar host Ethan Sperry. I guess Bob didn't get the memo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZbt00NI/AAAAAAAAAI4/0-rzeVeKeeM/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZbt00NI/AAAAAAAAAI4/0-rzeVeKeeM/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205920194187474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The final concert session on Saturday night featured four of the finest collegiate men's choruses in America. Most of the concert sessions were performed twice so all of the singers and other audience members would be able to hear the performances. I attended the concert sessions in the Chapel, which is why the pictures look different. First up was The Miami University Men's Glee Club, singing everything from Josquin to Tormis. The highlight for me was a new arrangement by Ethan of A.R. Rahman's Wedding Qawwali. Rahman, a friend of Ethan's, has written the scores for more than 100 Bollywood musicals, including the oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZ-JFclI/AAAAAAAAAJA/EIHLat0P2jQ/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogZ-JFclI/AAAAAAAAAJA/EIHLat0P2jQ/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205929435329106" border="0" /></a><br />The Rutgers University Glee Club and conductor Pat Gardner dazzled us with their glorious sound and a fantastic performance of Elliott Carter's <span style="font-style: italic;">Tarantella</span>. They also did <span style="font-style: italic;">Brothers, Sing On!</span> in the original language!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogjT7fedI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mAglnllfYiA/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogjT7fedI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mAglnllfYiA/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452206089902717394" border="0" /></a><br />The Morehouse College Glee Club and conductor David Morrow will host the 2012 National Seminar in Atlanta. They sang a wide variety of pieces, but their performance of Betehelemu (arranged for them by former conductor Wendell Whalum) brought the house down. I've never heard them sing is better!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogjtn7iSI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/jtJ8RnN-PY0/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogjtn7iSI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/jtJ8RnN-PY0/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452206096799992098" border="0" /></a><br />And, finally, Jim Marvin and The Harvard Glee Club with their beautiful, elegant performances of works ranging from Gregorian chant and Renaissance pieces to the fiendishly-difficult Emblems by Elliott Carter. It's definitely going to be the end of an era when Jim retires this spring!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogkHGjfqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/R8t19cgQf3E/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogkHGjfqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/R8t19cgQf3E/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452206103639326370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogkexyaDI/AAAAAAAAAJg/6uriiKKdb3U/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S6ogkexyaDI/AAAAAAAAAJg/6uriiKKdb3U/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452206109994674226" border="0" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-34917488538446569202010-03-15T17:17:00.000-07:002010-03-15T17:30:20.027-07:00Washington Men's Camerata with the Virginia Glee ClubThe Camerata joined the <a href="http://www.virginiagleeclub.org">Virginia Glee Club</a> for a joint performance on the Glee Club's <a href="http://virginiagleeclubontour.blogspot.com/">Tour of the Northeast</a>. The concert, on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, was great fun for the singers and for those who came to hear us. Here are a few pictures from the concert. Click the pics to make them larger.<br /><br />Here, the two groups rehearse before the concert begins.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OvjmCUrI/AAAAAAAAAGI/P7s8ZatTpWU/s1600-h/Camerata+%26+Glee+Club.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OvjmCUrI/AAAAAAAAAGI/P7s8ZatTpWU/s320/Camerata+%26+Glee+Club.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449019915568829106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We sang a few pieces from our upcoming <a href="http://camerata.com/purchase.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brush Up Your Shakespeare</span></a> concert on our own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OwuphfLI/AAAAAAAAAGY/TDD-DOB6r5A/s1600-h/Copy+of+2010-03-10+20.48.38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OwuphfLI/AAAAAAAAAGY/TDD-DOB6r5A/s320/Copy+of+2010-03-10+20.48.38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449019935716113586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OwP7xE5I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/3p9pEWknosw/s1600-h/Copy+of+2010-03-10+20.48.28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OwP7xE5I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/3p9pEWknosw/s320/Copy+of+2010-03-10+20.48.28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449019927471133586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here we are singing a gorgeous performance of the Biebl Ave Maria to close the concert.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OxGPdEsI/AAAAAAAAAGg/cIUa8BbTNug/s1600-h/Copy+of+2010-03-10+21.05.45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S57OxGPdEsI/AAAAAAAAAGg/cIUa8BbTNug/s320/Copy+of+2010-03-10+21.05.45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449019942049223362" border="0" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-48695413442528586062010-02-14T20:54:00.000-08:002010-02-14T21:04:40.088-08:00ACDA Eastern Division Convention ProgramFor our performance at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Convention at First Baptist Church in Philadelphia on February 13, 2010, we went green and dispensed with printed programs. Here's what we sang:<br /><br />Franz Biebl - Ave Maria (with the Wellesley College Choir)<br />Hinshaw HMC1253 (TTBB) Wildt's Musikverlag 982405 (SSAA)<br /><br />Veljo Tormis - Laulja (The Singer)<br />Fennica Gehrman KL 78.343<br /><br />Nikolai Golovanov - Dostoyno yest<br />Music Russica MRSM Go 004<br /><br />Randall Thompson - The Pasture (Frostiana)<br />ECS Publishing 2181<br /><br />Fenno Heath - The Lamb <br />Manuscript<br /><br />arr. Patrick Dupré Quigley - Danny Boy<br />Manuscript<br /><br />arr. Gwyneth Walker - How Can I Keep From Singing?<br />ECS Publishing - 6336<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S3jVGbqIyeI/AAAAAAAAAFg/9_URPK19Ts4/s1600-h/19447_1329694036277_1048758516_1289238_4620652_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S3jVGbqIyeI/AAAAAAAAAFg/9_URPK19Ts4/s400/19447_1329694036277_1048758516_1289238_4620652_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438330856530299362" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-23380684793382278112010-02-02T09:17:00.000-08:002010-02-02T09:47:38.118-08:00New Library Acquisition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hfUS4zwvI/AAAAAAAAAE4/fzWQgStGREw/s1600-h/1861541589_2a6c45bb1d.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hfUS4zwvI/AAAAAAAAAE4/fzWQgStGREw/s320/1861541589_2a6c45bb1d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433697752694637298" /></a><br />I've just returned from Oakland, California and the historic Paramount Theatre. The Paramount's music library became the unlikely final resting place of the Loring Club Men's Chorus library. The collection, now in 68 boxes, was gathering dust and taking up space, but no one knew it was there. <br /><br /><br />The Paramount's librarian, Jean Cunningham, put out the word that the library was up for grabs, so I got in touch and arranged to transfer the music to the Camerata's National Library of Men's Choral Music (The Demetrius Project). <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hf-v2S6HI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_xsKHtDxvxk/s1600-h/Paramount+Library.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hf-v2S6HI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_xsKHtDxvxk/s320/Paramount+Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433698482023229554" /></a><br /><br />After a little research, I was able to learn more about the history of the Loring Club and its library. According to a memoir written by David Webster Loring himself, this is how the chorus came to be:<br /><br />David Webster LORING came to California and established his residence in San Francisco in the latter part of the year 1876, and while he became actively identified with business interests here, he will best and longest be remembered and honored for the part which he played in the advancement of the musical interests of San Francisco.<br /><br />Mr. LORING was born in Boston, Massachusetts, September 16, 1836, and was there reared and educated, entering business life at the age of nineteen. A man of exceptional musical talent and a cultivated musician, he was one of the founders of Chickering Club a musical organization, and later became one of the organizers and a charter member of the Apollo Club, which was and now is a leading musical organization for male chorus work in Boston.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hjDUIDlfI/AAAAAAAAAFI/bNOCwuHjVvg/s1600-h/George_B._Loring_-_Brady-Handy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hjDUIDlfI/AAAAAAAAAFI/bNOCwuHjVvg/s320/George_B._Loring_-_Brady-Handy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433701859015759346" /></a><br />In the latter part of 1876, Mr. LORING, moved from Boston to San Francisco, and entered the business life of this city, first with the Horace Davis Flour Mills, and later with the Bank of California. At the urgent request of friends, he organized the LORING Club along the lines of the Apollo Club. Under his direction the club achieved splendid service for the community in the development of the better knowledge of the best of male chorus work. He also organized the Schumann Club, a choral society of ladies, which in its turn, aimed to better the knowledge and appreciation of chorus work for female voices. In addition to these two clubs Mr. LORING was identified with the advancement of the best forms of music in San Francisco, and invariably sought out by visiting musicians, composers and producers. His interest in music was always from the point of view of the amateur. He was never a professional. While the SCHUMANN Club did not survive his death, the LORING Club has continued, and the work which Mr. LORING began is being carried forward with enthusiasm and success. His fine qualities of mind and heart endeared him to all who came within the sphere of his influence, and his musical interest brought him countless acquaintances both at home and abroad. He was a member of the Bohemian Club. The photo is of George B. Loring of Massachusetts. They were probably related.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hkIi_pViI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/8OPDx1bns18/s1600-h/Frank+%26+Jean.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/S2hkIi_pViI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/8OPDx1bns18/s320/Frank+%26+Jean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433703048417990178" /></a><br />So, the library is now packed and ready to come to DC, thanks to the assistance of Paramount Librarian Jean Cunningham. With any luck, it will soon reside in the Camerata's library, along with collections from Yale, Princeton, Temple, Colgate, Davidson and others.Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-49628840445273199622009-11-23T13:36:00.001-08:002009-11-23T13:40:24.389-08:00Alexandria Harmonizers InvitationClick on it to make it bigger...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SwsBHY0MBNI/AAAAAAAAAEw/m68bZ9D9yS4/s1600/Alexandria+Harmonizers+Invitation.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SwsBHY0MBNI/AAAAAAAAAEw/m68bZ9D9yS4/s320/Alexandria+Harmonizers+Invitation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407417004020466898" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-70304170019394193492009-11-23T12:52:00.000-08:002009-11-28T08:50:59.096-08:00Some videos of our concert musicHere's the Bowling Green State University Men's Chorus singing Heleluyan. Their conductor wrote the arrangement just for them.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/edXSbRXK_M8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/edXSbRXK_M8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's a high school men's chorus from Iowa singing He Never Failed Me Yet with orchestra. They're a little drowned out...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y5Vgd6CIyDY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y5Vgd6CIyDY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's a (mostly) men's chorus with a great soloist.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2R0jLyPXJIA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2R0jLyPXJIA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's a version for mixed choir. The soloist is great!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KjIN372jLoQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KjIN372jLoQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And here's a small church men's ensemble from Illinois.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7jLOOrDZrc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7jLOOrDZrc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-46084852700047358102009-09-20T17:02:00.000-07:002009-09-20T14:07:57.199-07:00Choir of the World 2009Here's the video of the winning performance of the Westminster Chorus from Southern California at the 2009 Choir of the World festival in Llangollen, Wales. The first piece is Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque," which we're singing this Christmas. After that, they sing less traditional barbershop versions of "Shenandoah" and "Didn't my Lord Deliver Daniel." Enjoy! <br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4SOj88R1MM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4SOj88R1MM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-9349010637078114402009-09-07T15:13:00.001-07:002009-09-07T15:21:56.219-07:00Directions to rehearsalHere's a map of St. Alban's, in case you're new to the space (click on the map to enlarge it):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SqWFqlxXXaI/AAAAAAAAAEo/_tgk0L1bxTQ/s1600-h/Service.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SqWFqlxXXaI/AAAAAAAAAEo/_tgk0L1bxTQ/s320/Service.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378852296704089506" /></a><br />Hi guys,<br /><br />There are several ways to enter the grounds by car:<br /><br />From Massachusetts Ave., just to the SE of Wisconsin Ave., via Pilgrim Rd.<br /><br />From Wisconsin Ave., either through the St. Alban's Church gates on Lyon Gate Rd.,<br /><br />or<br /><br />on South Rd., just South of the main Cathedral lawn.<br /><br />The main parking is on Pilgrim Rd., where it widens, north of the Amphitheater.<br /><br />The outside staircase to access the choir room is just off Senior Circle, at the bottom of the orange part of the circle, just above the new Marriott Hall (#10 on the map). Just follow the white line (the outside stairs and path) down, around the library (#11) and straight into Steuart (#12).<br /><br />If you're parking the Senior Circle and want to take the elevator, enter Marriott Hall through the big glass doors right off Senior Circle. Walk down the hall until you reach the elevator on the right. Go down to the first floor (I think) and walk straight out towards the "join" between Marriott Hall and Steuart. Continue walking down the hall in Steuart and the choir room will be at the end of the hall on the right.Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-37020980806054664172009-07-02T17:30:00.000-07:002009-07-02T17:35:16.216-07:00CBS Sunday Morning promotes choral singing in North AmericaHere's a great piece that appeared on the venerable CBS show in conjunction with Chorus America's national conference in Philadelphia in June. The story talks about statistics gleaned from Chorus America's study on choral singing in the U.S. and Canada. The Camerata is a proud member of Chorus America. To read more about the study, visit <a href="http://www.chorusamerica.org">www.chorusamerica.org</a>.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6SCgVTMx0qg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6SCgVTMx0qg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-5008545374296142932009-05-29T20:20:00.000-07:002009-05-29T20:33:14.963-07:00More Daemon clips......courtesy of Tim Cashin and YouTube. This is a pretty fast performance. They can go that fast because they sing lightly and there aren't many of them. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/doxt5wnLZdk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/doxt5wnLZdk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's a choirmaster singing the tenor line (of the SATB version, but it's pretty close) to help his choir boys learn the piece:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1XFLGj8OXI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1XFLGj8OXI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And here he is on the bass part:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hO-4CyYBpUE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hO-4CyYBpUE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-70544818187459006262009-05-22T08:06:00.000-07:002009-05-22T08:07:22.471-07:00Alas for those who never singThe Voiceless<br />By Oliver Wendell Holmes<br />1858<br /><br />We count the broken lyres that rest<br />Where the sweet wailing singers slumber,<br />But o'er their silent sister's breast<br />The wild-flowers who will stoop to number?<br />A few can touch the magic string,<br />And noisy Fame is proud to win them:--<br />Alas for those that never sing,<br />But die with all their music in them!<br /><br />Nay, grieve not for the dead alone<br />Whose song has told their hearts' sad story,--<br />Weep for the voiceless, who have known<br />The cross without the crown of glory!<br />Not where Leucadian breezes sweep<br />O'er Sappho's memory-haunted billow,<br />But where the glistening night-dews weep<br />On nameless sorrow's churchyard pillow.<br /><br />O hearts that break and give no sign<br />Save whitening lip and fading tresses,<br />Till Death pours out his longed-for wine<br />Slow-dropped from Misery's crushing presses,--<br />If singing breath or echoing chord<br />To every hidden pang were given,<br />What endless melodies were poured,<br />As sad as earth, as sweet as heaven!Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-86456854810241156802009-05-22T07:30:00.001-07:002009-05-22T07:37:49.469-07:00Blue Tail FlyHere's some interesting history (courtesy of Wikepedia) about the origins and performance practices of Blue Tail Fly:<br /><br />"Blue Tail Fly", "De Blue Tail Fly", or "Jimmy Crack Corn" is a blackface minstrel song, first performed in the United States in the 1840s, which remains a popular children's song today.<br /><br />Over the years, many variants of text have appeared, but the basic narrative remains intact. On the surface, the song is a black slave's lament over his master's death. The song, however, has a subtext of rejoicing over that death, and possibly having caused it by deliberate negligence. Most versions at least nod to idiomatic African American English, though sanitized, grammatically "correct" versions predominate today.<br /><br />The blue-tail fly of the song is probably a Southern variant of the horsefly, which feeds on the blood of animals such as horses and cattle, as well as humans, and thus constitutes a prevalent pest in agricultural regions. Some horseflies have a blue-black abdomen, hence the name.<br /><br />It has been conjectured that it might not have been originally a blackface minstrel song, and might have genuine African American origins. Unlike many minstrel songs, "Blue Tail Fly" was long popular among African Americans, and was recorded by, among others, Big Bill Broonzy. A celebrated live version was recorded by Burl Ives. Another popularizer was the folk singer Pete Seeger. At the 92nd Street Y in New York City in 1993, Ives and Seeger performed the song together in what turned out to be Ives' last public performance. The song was also repeated almost in its entirety by Bugs Bunny in the Warner Bros. cartoon short Lumber Jack-Rabbit, though it is done in Bugs' trademark Brooklyn-Bronx accent.<br /><br />There has been much conjecture over the meaning of "Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care." However, in the oldest version it is "jim crack corn", and "jim crack" has always meant something cheap or shoddily built, and "corn" is an American euphemism for "corn whiskey".<br /><br />Abraham Lincoln was an admirer calling it "that buzzing song" and it was likely he played it on his harmonica. When he was at Gettysburg he was said to have asked for it to be played. <br /><br />When performing their version of the song on their album The Two Sides of the Smothers Brothers, Tom Smothers continually sings, "I don't care, and I don't care...", and when Dick Smothers tells him those aren't the lyrics, Tom replies, "I don't care."<br /><br />Tom Lehrer's satirical "The Folk Song Army" contains this lyric:<br /><br />There are innocuous folk songs<br />But we regard 'em with scorn<br />The folks who sing 'em have no social conscience,<br />Why they don't even care if Jimmy crack corn<br /><br />Allan Sherman included a parody version of the song as the first entry in "Shticks and Stones" on his album "My Son, the Folk Singer":<br /><br />Oh, salesmen come and salesmen go,<br />And my best one has gone, I know;<br />And if he don't come back to me,<br />I'll have to close the factory!<br />Gimme Jack Cohn, and I don't care,<br />Gimme Jack Cohn, and I don't care;<br />Gimme Jack Cohn, and I don't care,<br />But at best he's gone away!Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-42711559298636626972009-05-18T09:12:00.000-07:002009-05-20T10:49:58.356-07:00June 6th ProgramWashington Men’s Camerata<br />Frank Albinder, Music Director<br />Mark Vogel, Accompanist<br /><br />Thanks for the Memories<br />A 25th Anniversary Celebration<br />Saturday, June 6, 2009 Terrace Theater 7:30 p.m.<br />John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts<br /><br />I. Brothers, Sing On! Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)<br /> arr. Howard D. McKinney<br />Spaseniye Sodelal (Salvation is Created) Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)<br /><br />II. Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)<br /> arr. K. Lee Scott<br />Daemon Irrepit Callidus György Orbán (b. 1947)<br /><br />III. On Great Lone Hills (Finlandia) Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)<br /> arr. H. Alexander Matthews<br />Dostoyno yest (It Is Truly Fitting) Nikolai Golovanov (1891-1953)<br />Not heat flames up and consumes (We Two) Steven Sametz (b.1954)<br /><br />IV. Nantucket Elliott Grabill (b. 1983)<br />Alas For Those Who Never Sing Christopher Marshall (b. 1956)<br /><br />V. Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal arr. Alice Parker<br />Gentle Annie Stephen Foster (1826-1864)<br /> arr. Alice Parker & Robert Shaw<br />Promised Land arr. Michael Richardson<br /><br />INTERMISSION<br /><br />VI. Ave Maria (Angelus Domini) Franz Biebl (1906-2001)<br /><br />VII. The Pasture Randall Thompson (1899-1984)<br />Dirait-on Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)<br /><br />VIII. Song of Peace Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987)<br />Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace arr. Ron Jeffers<br /><br />IX. Home on the Range arr. Greg Gilpin<br />Shenandoah arr. James Erb<br />Blue Tail Fly arr. Dwight Bigler<br /><br />X. Danny Boy arr. Patrick Dupré Quigley<br />Loch Lomond arr. Jonathan Quick<br /><br />XI. Zion’s Walls arr. Aaron Copland/Glenn Koponen<br />Away From the Roll of the Sea Allister MacGillivray, arr. Diane Loomer<br />Vive L’Amour arr. Alice Parker & Robert ShawFrank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-68476800069036711972009-04-22T07:09:00.000-07:002009-04-22T07:11:51.867-07:00Notes on Elliott's musicHere are some musings from Elliott Grabill on the two pieces he's written for us:<br /><br />Young Sycamore<br /><br />I must tell you<br />this young tree<br />whose round and firm trunk<br />between the wet<br /><br />pavement and the gutter<br />(where water <br />is trickling) rises<br />bodily<br /><br />into the air with<br />one undulant <br />thrust half its height—<br />and then<br /><br />dividing and waning<br />sending out<br />young branches on <br />all sides—<br /><br />hung with cocoons<br />it thins <br />till nothing is left of it<br />but two<br /><br />eccentric knotted <br />twigs<br />bending forward<br />hornlike at the top<br /><br />William Carlos Williams lived from 1883 to 1963. Although he spent some time abroad, he lived most of his life in Rutherford, New Jersey, a suburb very close to New York City. He worked a full career as a pediatrician. Not surprisingly, his poetry is quite observational. I also suspect he was a people person, judging from both his day job and some of his poems.<br /><br />His poetry contrasts the Romantic Movement that came before him. While I think Whitman, Byron, Wilde, and other Romantic poets directly address broad emotional issues like love and grief, Williams captures beauty and subtly in physical objects and mundane, everyday things. <br /><br />Also different is the way the poetry appears on the page. Notice the complexity of the language in “Not Heat Flames up and Consumes,” (from “We two,” which we are also singing), compared with Zen-like appearance of Williams’ “Young Sycamore.” <br /><br />from “Not Heat Flames up and Consumes”<br />O none, more than I, hurrying in and out:<br />--Does the tide hurry, seeking something, and never give up? O I the same;<br /><br />Due to Williams’ text layout, I get an experience much different from when I read Whitman. With so many line breaks in “Young Sycamore,” I focus more on the words themselves. While it may take several words to create an image in my mind in a Whitman poem, it takes me only one word in a Williams poem. <br /><br />This affected the way I set this poem to music, because I wanted to do justice to each word. In his poem, Williams shows the reader how many beautiful things can be found in a single tree. Note how he jumps around from image to image, and theme to theme: “pavement and the gutter,” “one undulant thrust,” “young branches,” “eccentric twigs.” Because of this, I wanted to write a piece that shifts in tempo, style, and emotion. I chose a recitative format to allow me this flexibility. <br /><br />Diction is important in the performance of this piece. The audience needs to hear the poetry speak—and not just hear it as a nice piece of music. Dynamics are also important for this piece and need to be exaggerated (but not over the top). This is so listeners can distinguish different sections of the poetry. I find youth a major theme in this poem, so feel free to have a sense of humor when performing it.<br /><br /><br />Nantucket<br /><br />Flowers through the window<br />lavender and yellow<br /><br />changed by white curtains—<br />Smell of cleanliness—<br /><br />Sunshine of a late afternoon—<br />On the glass tray<br /><br />a glass pitcher, the tumbler<br />turned down, by which<br /><br />a key is lying—And the <br />immaculate white bed<br /><br /><br />A number of personal experiences came to mind when reading this poem. First of all, look at the title: “Nantucket.” I’ve never been to Nantucket, but I know America’s wealthy elite—people who have been made legendary by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, owns much of it. For those of us not “old money,” it’s a tourist destination. Since the whaling industry would have died down by Williams’ time, I’m assuming that the narrator of this poem is probably a visitor—either of a bed and breakfast, or a private estate. The “smell of cleanliness,” “flowers through the window,” and “tumbler turned down” are all images that I’ve personally experienced either by the sea, or at a bed and breakfast. There’s a certain luxury to the images in this poem, with subtle hints of romance that I find intriguing.<br /><br />I decided to write this piece in the form of a song. The nostalgia and luxury in this poem reminded me of old standards like “The Shadow of your Smile” and “All the Things You Are.” This piece should be sung with the same warmth and sentimentality as these songs.Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-16855185413543277242009-04-05T12:58:00.001-07:002009-04-05T13:28:22.234-07:00Composer KudosHere are a couple of thank you notes from composers whose music we recorded on our new CD. First, a note from <a href="http://www.leehoiby.com/index.php">Lee Hoiby</a> (click the note to enlarge it, click the name to go to the composer's web site):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SdkNrEX48iI/AAAAAAAAAEY/foTh_DIK3h4/s1600-h/Hoiby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SdkNrEX48iI/AAAAAAAAAEY/foTh_DIK3h4/s320/Hoiby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321299468274430498" border="0" /></a>And here's one from <a href="http://www.josephgregoriomusic.com/">Joe Gregorio</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SdkNrs6zszI/AAAAAAAAAEg/1tj6Vt8YMeY/s1600-h/Gregorio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SdkNrs6zszI/AAAAAAAAAEg/1tj6Vt8YMeY/s320/Gregorio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321299479158305586" border="0" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-27201170125627838512009-04-02T06:02:00.000-07:002009-04-06T12:50:22.120-07:00New music on the spring concertHi guys,<br /><br />Here are a few YouTube videos of choirs singing the new/newer pieces on our spring concert. First up, the excellent <a href="http://www.amabile.com/">Amabile Choirs of London</a>, Ontario singing Jonathan Quick's arrangement of "Loch Lomond." For some reason, the Amabile video was removed, so here's the Southern California Vocal Association 2007 Men's Honor Choir instead. No, we're not going to do the beat box stuff at the end.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-w0NWXk1lM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-w0NWXk1lM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's a little-known collegiate group, the <a href="http://www.gleeclub.com/">Cornell Glee Club</a> under the direction of assistant conductor John Rowehl, singing Steven Sametz's "Not Heat Flames Up and Consumes."<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6yBjMwLTrd0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6yBjMwLTrd0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's an unidentified high school district honor choir singing Dwight Bigler's challenging arrangement of "Blue Tail Fly." I'm guessing the video was shot by Zachary B. Krause's mother...<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E0wwFIgAySw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E0wwFIgAySw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Here's the Massillon, Washington High School Men's Chorus singing "Daemon Irrepit Callidus." It was the only clip I could find of a men's choir singing it. If you can find another one, let me know and I'll post it.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uk4m2K-hEWQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uk4m2K-hEWQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />And finally, here's "Away From the Roll of the Sea" sung by the MMEA All-State Men's Chorus. I don't know which "M" it is, though. It could be Missouri, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota or Maine. <br /><br /><object height="264" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xVxi0ONQzmE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xVxi0ONQzmE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="264" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Enjoy!Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-44591078978857174352009-03-25T08:00:00.000-07:002009-03-25T08:20:54.024-07:00Post-Concert Soiree<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKVFjDpXI/AAAAAAAAADw/3FO9CMq6rmo/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKVFjDpXI/AAAAAAAAADw/3FO9CMq6rmo/s320/camerata+cd+party+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317144036191217010" border="0" /></a><br />The reason for the celebration!<br />Party coordinator Chris Ritthaler makes<br /> some last-minute preparations while<br />blurry singers try to focus on the concert.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKNjwexRI/AAAAAAAAADo/gQKoX7Istz0/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKNjwexRI/AAAAAAAAADo/gQKoX7Istz0/s320/camerata+cd+party+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317143906861630738" border="0" /></a><br />Yum...cake<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKD9cwqoI/AAAAAAAAADg/R3CcP8QJ9hA/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpKD9cwqoI/AAAAAAAAADg/R3CcP8QJ9hA/s320/camerata+cd+party+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317143741959547522" border="0" /></a><br />Kasi mans the Camerata's<br />Center for Commerce and Merchandising<br />(the CD table)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJ8kYWbII/AAAAAAAAADY/_IKpilk30qo/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJ8kYWbII/AAAAAAAAADY/_IKpilk30qo/s320/camerata+cd+party+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317143614971079810" border="0" /></a><br />Is it the champagne, or are they naturally blurry?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJwuFn4qI/AAAAAAAAADQ/DXkapXztXEw/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJwuFn4qI/AAAAAAAAADQ/DXkapXztXEw/s320/camerata+cd+party+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317143411418456738" border="0" /></a><br />Frank tries to find a polite way to tell David Petrou<br />that he has schmutz on his arm.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJoFu7iMI/AAAAAAAAADI/XjvFSctxoYY/s1600-h/camerata+cd+party+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/ScpJoFu7iMI/AAAAAAAAADI/XjvFSctxoYY/s320/camerata+cd+party+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317143263146903746" border="0" /></a><br />A good time was had by all!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-1427746258710709232009-03-14T10:23:00.000-07:002009-03-16T13:08:33.120-07:00Sacred & Profane Program Notes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvoqtxc-DI/AAAAAAAAAB4/ErpZFYD11Sw/s1600-h/180px-Liszt_1858.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvoqtxc-DI/AAAAAAAAAB4/ErpZFYD11Sw/s320/180px-Liszt_1858.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313096005952796722" border="0" /></a>Franz Liszt, flamboyant pianist, renowned conductor, enthusiastic teacher and cerebral composer, had a soap opera-worthy life. From humble beginnings in a small Hungarian village, he eventually experienced musical triumphs in many of the world’s greatest cities. Yet he would also suffer personal tragedies that led him to seek semi-retirement in a monastery near Rome. As a composer, he’s best remembered for his technically demanding piano works, some of them only playable by Liszt himself. As a pianist, he was the toast of Europe. Some consider him to be the greatest pianist of all time. Liszt’s wild piano music and evocative symphonic works were his most popular, but he also composed music for the voice, writing more than 70 solo songs, five Mass settings and one Requiem. Three of these six large-scale choral works are for men’s chorus: The Requiem, the Male-Voice Mass (1848) and the Szekszárd Mass (1869).<br /><br />The Male-Voice Mass and the Szekszárd Mass are essentially the same piece. Liszt composed his first mass in 1848, not long after he gave up his career as a touring virtuoso (at the age of 35!) to concentrate on composing. Liszt wrote the Mass in Weimar, and the first performance took place there on August 15, 1852 in a Catholic church in celebration of the birthday of Louis Napoleon, President of the French Republic.<br /><br />In 1857, Liszt wrote to a conductor about performing the Mass:<br /><br />“I fear that the preparation of this work will cost you and your singers some trouble. Before all else it requires the utmost certainty in intonation, which can only be attained by practicing the parts singly (especially the middle parts, second tenor and first bass)—and then, above all, religious absorption, meditation, expansion, ecstasy, shadow, light, soaring—in a word, Catholic devotion and inspiration. The Credo, as if built on a rock, should sound as steadfast as the dogma itself; a mystic and ecstatic joy should pervade the Sanctus; the Agnus Dei (as well as the Miserere in the Gloria) should be accentuated, in tender and deeply elegiac manner, by the most fervent sympathy with the Passion of Christ; and the Dona nobis pacem, expressive of reconciliation and full of faith, should float away like sweet-smelling incense.”<br /><br />At around this same, Liszt suggested that some wind and brass instruments could be added to the performing forces in order to double and reinforce the voice parts. While Liszt had originally intended the Mass to be essentially a cappella, the chorus had difficulties with intonation, so he added a simple organ part to double and provide support for the voices. Liszt was going to write the additional instrumental parts himself, but when presented with sketches by Johann Herbeck, a Vienna church musician, Liszt expressed delight with the work and urged him to complete the orchestration. This version of the Mass has never been published, though it was performed in Jena in 1858.<br /><br />In 1865, Liszt visited the Hungarian town of Szekszárd and promised a new Mass to Baron Antal Augusz for a new church then under construction. Liszt found he was unable to complete a new work, so he revised his earlier Male-Voice Mass into what is now known as the Szekszárd Mass. This version of the Mass was given a public rehearsal in Buda on September 23, 1870, but for reasons that remain a mystery, the subsequent performance was cancelled. The premiere finally occurred in Jena, in 1872.<br /><br />Stylistically, the Szekszárd Mass looks both backwards and forwards. The harmoic language and partwriting owe an enormous debt to the great Italian Renaissance master, Palestrina. But there are also a number of Listzian touches, including a harmonic language that presages the works of both Brahms and Wagner. There’s a passage in the Mass that sounds as if it’s been lifted wholesale from the Brahms Requiem, except for the fact that Brahms wrote his masterpiece almost 20 years after Liszt wrote the Mass! And Wagner borrowed the most prominent Leitmotiv in Tristan und Isolde directly from a Liszt piano piece. Liszt also quotes medieval plainchant in both the Gloria and the Agnus Dei movements of the Mass. Interestingly, the chant quoted in the Agnus Dei is actually the ancient melody for the invocation at the beginning of the Credo. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvo7-q3NTI/AAAAAAAAACA/QuCyitnQTl0/s1600-h/140px-Liszt_at_piano.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 170px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvo7-q3NTI/AAAAAAAAACA/QuCyitnQTl0/s320/140px-Liszt_at_piano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313096302546335026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Szekszárd Mass is filled with lush harmonies that exemplify Liszt’s mastery of the male chorus genre. He fully understands and exploits the ranges of the different vocal sections and creates a large-scale work that is both grand and meditative. All of Liszt’s Mass settings were intended for use in actual church services, to today’s performance in the historic Church of the Epiphany is a fitting tribute to this long-neglected masterwork by one of western music’s most interesting and innovative composers.<br /><br /><br />Damian Močnik is a young Slovenian composer who lives in Cerklje, where he teaches music and conducts two adult choirs. The bulk of his compositional output is for chorus, and this setting of a text by Ovid is meant to be a choral salutation. The fanfare-like vocal line beautifully reflects the text’s invocation to sing and love music.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbvpTCXTP1I/AAAAAAAAACI/d_RDOmFje-0/s1600-h/200px-Janacek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbvpTCXTP1I/AAAAAAAAACI/d_RDOmFje-0/s320/200px-Janacek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313096698675019602" border="0" /></a>Leos Janáček is best known today as the composer of popular operas and orchestral works. But from his youth spent as a choirboy in an Augustinian monastery to his adult careers as organist and choir director, sacred music played an important role in Janácek’s musical life. The Ave Maria is an intriguing work. Instead of setting the traditional text of the prayer to Mary, Janácek uses the opening phrase of that text as a recurring theme throughout the piece. The majority of the text is a Czech translation of a portion of Lord Byron’s “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” talking about the love of nature. The music is in a folk style, with frequent changes of tempo, duets between the different parts, and the unusual harmonies typical of much of Janácek’s music.<br /><br />Ambrož Čopi is another young Slovenian composer/conductor/educator whose music has won many awards in his native land and received performances around the world. Čopi conducts the Obala mixed choir and Komorni Zbor Nova Gorica, the Chamber Choir of Nova Gorica, a small town in western Slovenia on the Italian border. His setting of the Marian prayer Totus Tuus is lushly neo-Romantic, with rich harmonies and frequently-changing meters. The piece is dedicated to the Chamber Male Choir Celje.<br /><br />Močnik’s setting of a passage from Isaiah (translated back into English from a Slovenian translation by the composer’s wife) is strongly related to plainchant in terms of both structure and a free sense of meter. There are also elements of folk music in some of the harmonies and rhythms, though the writing is most strongly influenced by the meaning and structure of the text.<br /><br />Janáček was an avid collector of folk songs and was active in the promotion and preservation of folk music from various ethnic and geographical populations of central Europe. Therefore, it’s not surprising that he wrote a number of folk song arrangements for chorus. The two on today’s program actually come from different sets, but were grouped together as a pair by editor Antonin Tučapsk´y. True Love is a simple love song that juxtaposes elegiac, free-meter direct exclamations of love with more descriptive, metrical passages about the nature of love itself. The Soldier’s Lot also juxtaposes two different musical ideas. The first, quite martial, speaks of the nature of war and the second, more lyrical, invokes the emotions surrounding a soldier’s service in battle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvps25SysI/AAAAAAAAACQ/6GyHB-5Eo2c/s1600-h/280px-Bart%C3%B3k_B%C3%A9la_1927.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbvps25SysI/AAAAAAAAACQ/6GyHB-5Eo2c/s320/280px-Bart%C3%B3k_B%C3%A9la_1927.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313097142272969410" border="0" /></a><br />The Hungarian composer Béla Bártok was also a champion of folk music and one of the fathers of the modern ethnomusicology movement. He was one of the most prominent composers of the 20th century, and his orchestral works are considered part of the standard repertoire and are widely-performed today. All of his music is infused with a strong sense of nationalism, best exemplified by his frequent use of folk melodies. Bártok settings of Five Slovak Folk Songs incorporate many of his standard compositional techniques, including the use of modes (instead of the normal major-minor scales of western music) and alternating meters that mimic the rhythmic instability of some of the original folk melodies and texts.<br /><br />Another pioneer in the field of ethnomusicology, Zoltán Kodály was a composer, educator and composer. Though he was born in Hungary, he spent most of his childhood in Slovakia, and was imbued with a deep sense of native folk music from the earliest age. Kodály was a mentor and life-long friend to Bártok, with whom he worked to catalog and preserve folk music. Kodály received a PhD in philosophy and linguistics, but he also studied music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. In addition to the influences of his native folk music, he also spent time in Paris studying with Charles Widor and delighting in the music of Claude Debussy. Eventually, he returned to Budapest and became a professor at the Liszt Academy. Kodály is also remembered for developing a philosophy of music education and composing a great deal of music for children. Though these principles are often referred to as the Kodály Method, Kodály didn’t actually develop a comprehensive teaching curriculum. Nevertheless, the principles he espoused remain important in music education around the world. Just last week, the Camerata gave the opening night concert for the National Conference of the Organization of American Kodály Educators here in Washington, DC.<br /><br />The three works by Kodály on today’s program are actual choral songs, not simply folk song arrangements. Evening Song is one of Kodály’s most popular choral works. The beautiful, lyrical tenor melody is supported by rich, warm harmonies from the other voice parts. The Peacocks is an excellent illustration of the pitfalls of performing music in translation. Indeed, most of the editions of the songs on the second half of today’s program contain only English translations of the original Hungarian, Slovakian and Czech texts. While the fullest character of the music comes through when sung in the original languages, the translations do capture the essences of the originals, while also providing some amusing accidents of misplaced syllabic emphasis. The Soldier’s Song is a tour-de-force about the pains of love and loss suffered by a soldier going off to war. Kodály’s use of the snare drum and trumpet provide just the right martial touch to drive home the point of the text.Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-37763527932403892172009-03-11T15:37:00.003-07:002009-03-11T15:44:05.135-07:00Our new CD!Hi guys,<br /><br />Here's the CD booklet art for our new recording. Click on it to enlarge it. We'll have them sometime next week. Enjoy!<br /><br />Frank<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbg-D5FVOTI/AAAAAAAAABw/8uYEMkJzzvg/s1600-h/CD-Cover.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/Sbg-D5FVOTI/AAAAAAAAABw/8uYEMkJzzvg/s320/CD-Cover.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312063997067213106" border="0" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-89967987000522516542009-03-10T09:53:00.000-07:002009-03-11T14:23:31.341-07:00Thursday night's concert detailsHi guys,<br /><br />Our opening night featured performance for the national conference of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators is nearly upon us! This is a huge opportunity for us on a number of levels: we'll be singing for a national audience of music educators (someone at the ACDA convention told me that OAKE has never featured a men's chorus before), we'll get to singing some of the music for our March 22nd concert in public beforehand, and we'll be paid a fee, which is vital for the continued financial health of the Camerata.<br /><br />I know there are a lot of questions about Thursday's performance, so here are some details:<br /><br />Time: <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We need to be there to warm-up and practice at 6:45.</span> The concert could start as early as 7:30 or as late as 8:00. We follow the presidential address (the president of OAKE, not Barack), so they can't give us an exact time.<br /><br />Locations: The Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Rd. NW, WDC, 20008.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Meet in the Harding Room.</span> It's on the Mezzanine level of the main hotel building on Woodley Rd.<br /><br />The performance will take place in the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom, also on the Mezzanine level. Here's a map. If you click on it, it'll get bigger.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbadJ8dSkxI/AAAAAAAAABo/ruVPRowrYyw/s1600-h/wasdtf11.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbadJ8dSkxI/AAAAAAAAABo/ruVPRowrYyw/s320/wasdtf11.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311605604703441682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A full fact sheet about the Marriott Wardman Park can be found by clicking <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/wasdt-washington-marriott-wardman-park/">here</a>.<br /><br />You can certainly find somewhere to change at the hotel, but please do it before the warm-up. We'll keep singing right up until it's time to do the concert, so there won't be time to change after the warm-up. If you can, come dressed in your tux.<br /><br />The hotel is right near the Woodley Park Metro Station and I strongly urge you to take public transportation or a cab. Parking is available at the hotel, but it's $31.36 to self-park. Valet parking is available for $36.96. The entrance to the garage is on the Woodley Rd. side of the hotel at the top of the main driveway. Continue to the right for the garage entrance.<br /><br />In addition to your folder, you'll also need your song book and the pieces we saved from Christmas. Here's the program:<br /><br />Brothers, Sing On! - Edvard Grieg<br />Spaseniye sodelal - Pavel Chesnokov<br />Halleluyah! - Louis Lewandowsky<br />My Gift - John Chorbajian<br />Totus Tuus - Ambroz Copi<br />Ave Maria - Franz Biebl<br />Evening Song - Zoltan Kodály<br />The Peacocks - Kodály<br />Shchedrik - arr. Mykola Leontovich<br />True Love - Leos Janácek<br />The Soldier’s Lot - Janácek<br />Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace - arr. Ron Jeffers<br />Homesick Blues - Anthony Donato<br />Danny Boy - arr. Patrick Dupré Quigley<br />Vive L’Amour - arr. Parker and Shaw<br /><br />Need something more? Did I leave something out? Let me know and I'll update the post.<br /><br />See you soon!<br /><br />FrankFrank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-90025064327736883462009-03-08T14:10:00.001-07:002009-03-08T14:26:25.342-07:00Chor Leoni in Oklahoma City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ2DQqvmWI/AAAAAAAAABQ/3maO_pgG2zQ/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ2DQqvmWI/AAAAAAAAABQ/3maO_pgG2zQ/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310929290218412386" border="0" /></a>Hi Guys,<br /><br />Yesterday was the last day of the ACDA convention, and Chor Leoni, our brother chorus from Vancouver, British Columbia, played a prominent role in the festivities. They were part of an international concert session that also featured groups from England, Venezuela and Korea. Their program featured some songs we know well, including Bob Chilcott's Five Ways to Kill a Man and Diane Loomer's own Ave Maris Stella. Both Diane and Bob were thrilled to hear that Five Ways is on our new CD, and since Chor Leoni was one of the commissioning choruses of the piece, it was great to hear them do it in person. Later in the day, Diane and the chorus did an interest session on Canadian music for men's chorus. Again, there were a number of pieces we know, including Away From the Roll of the Sea and Jing-ga-lye-ya. It was great to hear the men and visit with Diane, who thinks the Camerata is great! Notice their cool "casual" outfits. They're cust0m made Canadian hockey jerseys, with a special Chor Leoni logo on the front, along with their voice part. The back features their last name and their folder number. What sports team's jerseys should we adapt for the Camerata? :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ2jMbpt-I/AAAAAAAAABY/ZzuBi0sEdus/s1600-h/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ2jMbpt-I/AAAAAAAAABY/ZzuBi0sEdus/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310929838837184482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ26WaLidI/AAAAAAAAABg/grqavCy6PuY/s1600-h/IMG_0062.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oAFIGZMkET8/SbQ26WaLidI/AAAAAAAAABg/grqavCy6PuY/s320/IMG_0062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310930236652358098" border="0" /></a>Frank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250927107081617862.post-87265130940553356452009-03-06T13:11:00.000-08:002009-03-06T20:55:46.840-08:00A new way to stay connectedHi guys,<br /><br />Greetings from Oklahoma City, where it's 80 degrees and there are 3000 choral conductors assembled for the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Because I'm here, I wasn't there on Wednesday night, so thanks to Mark for filling in, and thanks in advance to you for spending some time with your music this weekend!<br /><br />This morning, I attended a session on "Technology for the Choral Conductor" given by my pal Philip Copeland, the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He's a techno-whiz, and he shared lots of fascinating, cutting-edge things to help folks stay in better communication with their choirs. His biggest piece of advice was to establish a chorus blog as a central clearing house for information relating to the choir. So, since I do everything Philip tells me to when it comes to technology, here's our blog: http://washingtonmenscamerata.blogspot.com. Now, instead of your having to log in to the member section at camerata.com, you can visit our blog to read important communications from the conductor, download mp3 files to aid in your studies, read program notes, translations and other tidbits about our music, etc. If you'd like to see Philip's blog for the UAB choirs, you can visit <a href="http://uabchoirs.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />For those of us not on the cutting edge, perhaps a bit of explanation is in order. There are now more than 50,000,000 blogs! Blog is an abbreviation for web log--basically, an online journal. You can access blogs by visiting them directly, usually by creating a bookmark in your browser, just as you do for your other favorite web sites. But the really cool way to stay connected to a blog is by using an RSS reader. You've probably seen those little orange square icons on most web sites, and you might have wondered what they are. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and it's a way for the content to come to you, rather for you to seek out the content. If you subscribe to the Camerata blog's RSS feed, then whenever the blog is updated, you'll receive an email message, telling you that there's something new. Confused? I was too, at first. Here's a short YouTube video that will explain how this all works.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0klgLsSxGsU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0klgLsSxGsU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />We'll see how everyone like using a system like this, and if it seems to work better than email blasts and downloads from the member site, then we can use it more.<br /><br />In the meantime, I send you greetings from Jim Marvin (Harvard Glee Club), Pat Gardner (Rutgers Glee Club) and Scott Tucker (Cornell Glee Club). I just attended a fantastic concert session that consisted entirely of male choirs--a first for an ACDA convention. The first group was technically a treble choir, from the American Boychoir School in Princeton. They were followed by the St. Mary's Varsity Ensemble, a 24-man high school group from Tokyo. After that, the Cornell Glee Club sang a great program, including the Hoiby "Last Letter Home" and the Biebl "Ave Maria." They were rewarded with an enthusiastic standing ovation. And to close out the afternoon, we heard the 120-voice Vocal Majority from Dallas, Texas, one of the finest barbershop choruses in the world. You haven't lived until you've experienced 120 barbershoppers leaping off the risers into a fully-choreographed barbershop version of "Luck be a Lady Tonight." 'Nuf said.<br /><br />Please do take some time to review your music this weekend. Our performance for the Organization of American Kodaly Educators is this coming Thursday, and we have some work to do yet before we're reading to sing!<br /><br />Enjoy the warm weather this weekend and I'll see you soon.<br /><br />FrankFrank Albinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553197736581825409noreply@blogger.com3