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Introduction to Choral works

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  • 09-05-2010 8:34am
    #1
    PoleStar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 774 ✭✭✭


    Hi.

    Every so often when I flick onto Lyric fm I hear some great choral music. Not the Halleluiah type church music (although I do understand that much of it was written for church) but minor key sounding dark and ominous stuff.

    I never have listened to any of this stuff and would have no idea where to start.

    Anyone got any recommendations?

    Thanks!


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    #2
    funky penguin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    Unaccompanied (a capella) is, in my opinion, the best kind of choral music, but you can't beat a bit of Verdi on a Sunday:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdT1Mw4QJT8


    Listen to the rest of the Requiem if you get a spare hour. Phenomenal mix of Opera sensibilities (above), with sacred music (Agnus Dei). The Libera Me is also a personal favourite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL3bvaL2s


    I still get shivers of excitement at the thought of singing it. Excellent way of starting a fugue.

    Everyone loves this one: :D


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrML6s1wNHk



    If you want REALLY dark.....look no further than Ligeti's Requiem. Here's the Lux Aeterna. I really want to sing this in a choir sometime:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgRZnsAgKng


    As Horowitz would say..."very scary music!!"


    Now, I'm going to inundate you with gorgeous music I recently sang at a gig in Maynooth!

    Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium. As a lecturer put it..."like stepping into a hot bath"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5ken3RJBo


    Duruflé. Great singing on this recording actually....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457nVpxJDkA


    Britten. This is a tough piece to get into, but rewarding. Starts about halfway through the piece, after a tenor solo.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlRArv0kF8


    We finished with this Whitacre piece.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zOcXPeSufA


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeU7okc6HQ


    Great choral piece with 'pop' sensibilities. I find people either hate him or love him. I love it.

    Hope you enjoy at least one of these! :)

    PS, just listening to this as I saw your post, pretty nice!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgIIchCvBY4


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    #3
    Sinfonia
    Registered Users Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭Sinfonia


    Bruckner's Motets are absolutely wonderful, particularly:
    'Christus Factus Est'
    'Os Justi'
    'Locus Iste'
    'Ave Maria'
    'Vexilla Regis'

    Also try Arvo Part:
    'De Profundis'
    'Solfeggio'
    'Da Pacem Domine'


    Some quite dark ones in there, you should like 'em!

    Also try Dvorak's Mass in D, and Fauré's Requiem


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    #4
    funky penguin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    Ah crap, Bruckner! I KNEW there was someone I was forgetting!! Definitely one of the best choral composers ever, knew exactly how to write for a choir.

    Oh! And Rachmaninov's Vespers.....could go on forever I think.


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    #5
    PhiliousPhogg
    Registered Users Posts: 288 ✭✭PhiliousPhogg


    I came across this Thomas Tallis piece at this installation in New Zealand. Think it's very atmospheric for it's time (1573), more like something Arvo Part would come up with (but I know very little about choral).



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    #6
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    Ah I find Bruchner really boring to be honest,
    I've sung Locus Iste (Bass) like 50 times and I'm still not a huge fan.
    +1 for Whitacre and Pärt though! Also can't beat a good bitta Górecki when the time is right.

    Will post more later (battery low) =).

    Edit.

    One of my favourite Whitacre Pieces; 'Water Night'
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOYey4kGSq8

    Whitacre conducts his debut choral work 'Cloudburst'
    The rain part always gives me the shivers.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zqp0OpzMAI

    Górecki - 'Totus Tuus'
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-fogvEMTs

    Came across this guy last year, Very nice.
    Not one of his best works but cool none the less.
    Lukaszewski - 'Ave Maria'
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lacvoa4xwmQ


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    #7
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    funky penguin wrote: »
    If you want REALLY dark.....look no further than Ligeti's Requiem. Here's the Lux Aeterna. I really want to sing this in a choir sometime.

    Good luck man, it's for like 16 solo parts, each one at a semitone to each other, I'd say the tuning would be fierce difficult!
    Jaypors
    etc.
    :D


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    #8
    funky penguin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    Have you sang any of Bruckner's other pieces? :P

    Yeah, the Ligeti would be mad hard, but it sounds so cool!!! :D

    That Tallis piece is fantastic.


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    #9
    kawaii
    Registered Users Posts: 2,327 ✭✭✭kawaii


    Brahms' Deutsches Requiem is pretty rad.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg7sU5B_ibM


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    #10
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    funky penguin wrote: »
    Have you sang any of Bruckner's other pieces?

    No I havn't had the chance really, but I remember seeing his symphony No.4 in the concert hall and I was almost falling asleep the whole way through! 'T'was a shame, but I just didn't like hearing the same theme 30 times in different 'variations', once or twice is enough I think. So me and Bruckner are not on speaking terms =P


    Arvo Pärt - 'Magnificat'. Quite a dark and powerful work.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbxnnC22gwY&feature=related


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    #11
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    Ohoh, BTW there's one of the best choirs in Dublin performing tomorrow night in the Pro Cathedral!

    The Mornington singers present......
    A Midsummer Night's Dream (Sat 15th May 2010, 8pm)

    Program includes

    Veljo Tormis - Jaanilaulud (St. John's Day Songs)
    Pēteris Vasks - Mate Saule (Mother Sun)
    Eric Whitacre - Sleep, This Marriage, Water Night
    Arvo Pärt - ... which was the son of...
    James MacMillan - The Gallant Weaver, A Child's Prayer
    David Lang - Again (After Ecclesiastes)

    I can't go =(,
    but it should be great!

    http://www.morningtonsingers.org/


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    #12
    DougL
    Registered Users Posts: 245 ✭✭DougL


    Norrdeth wrote: »
    Ohoh, BTW there's one of the best choirs in Dublin performing tomorrow night in the Pro Cathedral!

    Thanks for the plug! Still on a buzz after that concert...it was a good sing.

    I just happened across this thread tonight. I'm loving all the youtube clips.

    -Doug


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    #13
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    Hey no probs, I was there last year and it was so good that I bought the 'Solas' CD.

    Keep up the good work! =D
    Ben.


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    #14
    MugsGame
    Registered Users Posts: 165 ✭✭MugsGame


    Norrdeth wrote: »
    +1 for Whitacre and Pärt though!

    ...

    One of my favourite Whitacre Pieces; 'Water Night'
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOYey4kGSq8

    Probably worth pointing out that this is the title track on a new CD released by the Mornington Singers who are also mentioned earlier in the thread (declaration of interest - I sing with the choir.).


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    #15
    Eph1958
    Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭Eph1958


    'Heard excerps from Pendereckis St Lukes Passion on Lyric in the car one night......scary, brilliant stuff. Would love to get to a Penderecki concert or even sing in a choral work. Enjoy.


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    #16
    funky penguin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,352 ✭✭✭funky penguin


    I got to sing his Benedictus in September....conducted by the man himself!!! Excellently written, very flowing, a joy to sing.


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    #17
    01mirelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 76 ✭✭01mirelly


    Faure's Requiem is the most beautiful and haunting work ever. I have sung it numerous times now including the Royal Albert and its defiantly worth a listen


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    #18
    Norrdeth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Norrdeth


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXg7MWqx15U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lacvoa4xwmQ&feature=related

    Pawel Lukaszewski


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