Estonian Choral Singing

Remember last year we had Martins from Latvia (Here is the kind of choral experience he has at home):



This year we have an Estonian visitor. Check this out. I have this DVD. It makes me cry:



I was in the audience in Louisville for this performance (so I am among the thousands singing...). These guys could really sing. This made me cry, too...

Anthem of Peace by Willberg

This was written in 1991 for a Festival of Song in Estonia (as Estonia was achieving independence from the Soviet Union). It combines an Estonian folksong (in English) with the American spiritual We Shall Walk in the Valley of Peace.

This performance, by a South Dakota festival choir is interesting. They have an inter-generational All-State (cool!) and it's a pretty good performance. (We won't be using the brass).



Another performance, by an Ohio All-State. Different acoustic, different approach...

Choral Reflections on Amazing Grace by Roger Ames

Here is a nice performance by Westminster Choir College Schola (enjoy the birdsong at this outdoor performance):



This piece was written in response to 9/11. If we can get the text across, it should sound magnificent in Holy Name.

As usual, lots of additional performances available at YouTube...

Twa Tonbou: Three Drums

Here are some YouTube videos of the piece with the most foreign language. Note that though it is in Haitian French (Pronunciation Guide and IPA included with the printed music) most of the text is nonsense syllables -- drum sounds.

A good performance by USC Chamber Singers:



A very spirited performance by the Kokopelli choir in a live acoustic. (Note memorization and movement!)



Concordia (MN) Chapel Choir. So white, it hurts!



Lots more (worse) performances available if you search "Twa Tonbou" at YouTube. This has been a real hot festival and contest piece for the last couple of years.

Happy New Year!

This NYTimes article on How to Train the Aging Brain applies to most of us in Symphony Chorus.

Does putting oneself on the line by standing up in public to perform a choral concert every six weeks, or so, meet Jack Mezirow's description of a "dis-orienting dilemma?"?

Our Beethoven and SOUL music should be here for our first rehearsal on Tuesday, January 5th.

Here's to making a difference in the New Year - through the power and beauty of choral singing!