Showing posts with label adult choir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adult choir. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, February 24, 2014
Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose
The Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance is proud to present
the North American Premiere
of
by
Alexander L'Estrange
 |
presented by
The Medicine Hat College Adult Choir
The Medicine Hat College Children's Choir
The Medicine Hat College Girls' Choir
and
The Tartone Singers
directed by
and accompanied by
Fiddle and Accordion in a Jazz Quintet
Ahoy! is an exciting piece about King Henry VIII's famous ship the Mary Rose. Composer Alexander L'Estrange creatively combines traditional sea shanties, Tudor tunes, and some good old British favourites to bring this work to life. Adopting the same successful formula of combining Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and Jazz Quintet that he used in Zimbe, L'Estrange adds a fiddle and accordion to truly bring the nautical theme to life.
Some highlights of this performance will be the well known songs Greensleeves and Drunken Sailor, a piece with no words, and texts written by Shakespeare, and King Henry VIII himself!
Thursday, April 10, 2014
7pm
Medicine Hat College Theatre
Tickets: $10
Available at the MHC Conservatory of Music and Dance (403-529-3880) or at the door
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Ian Tyson Concert
Hello Adult Choir,
After sending our recording in (which was awesome, by the way), I heard back from Ian Tyson's tour manager. He explained that Ian doesn't use technology too well and that, in his opinion, things were just running a bit too tight to make our collaboration work.
That being said, I still think our rehearsal on Tuesday was a worthwhile experience. We pushed ourselves to new heights, made some glorious sounds, and we should be proud.
Well done! See you next week!
After sending our recording in (which was awesome, by the way), I heard back from Ian Tyson's tour manager. He explained that Ian doesn't use technology too well and that, in his opinion, things were just running a bit too tight to make our collaboration work.
That being said, I still think our rehearsal on Tuesday was a worthwhile experience. We pushed ourselves to new heights, made some glorious sounds, and we should be proud.
Well done! See you next week!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Bad weather, bad men
Be reminded! All MHC choirs start back this week! The Children's Choir and the Adult Choir are always seeking new members. If you or someone you know is interested in singing, please contact the Conservatory 403-529-3880.
Adult Choir - Tuesday, January 8; 7-9pm
Girls' Choir - Wednesday, January 9
Children's Choir - Wednesday, January 9; 5:45-6:45
This semester the Adult Choir will be preparing for a concert titled "Bad weather, Bad men" which will feature Canadian folk songs pertaining to the title. Also, the Girls' Choir will be adding to their list of Canadian repertoire in preparation for their upcoming tour to Scotland!
See you this week!
Adult Choir - Tuesday, January 8; 7-9pm
Girls' Choir - Wednesday, January 9
Children's Choir - Wednesday, January 9; 5:45-6:45
This semester the Adult Choir will be preparing for a concert titled "Bad weather, Bad men" which will feature Canadian folk songs pertaining to the title. Also, the Girls' Choir will be adding to their list of Canadian repertoire in preparation for their upcoming tour to Scotland!
See you this week!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Bad...
Repertoire for the MHC Adult Choir Winter 2013 season is all ready to go... The title of this post is your hint. More details to come!
Friday, November 2, 2012
One month until Christmas...concert!
The Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance is proud to present this year's annual Choral Christmas Concert! The MHC Children's Choir, Girls' Choir, and Adult Choir will be featured in this upcoming concert. We are also proud to be accompanied by the MHC Academy Orchestra in presenting Camille Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio. Read on to learn a bit more about the Academy Orchestra's and Adult Choir's upcoming performance.
Born in Paris, France and best known for his composition Carnvial of the Animals, Saint-Saëns quickly learned music theory, piano, several languages, math, and various other academic subjects. After his intelligences were discovered, his teachers were quick to help nurture his abilities. Saint-Saëns soon became friends with many other composers such as Liszt and Fauré. In addition to his many natural abilities, Saint-Saëns supposedly also had perfect pitch!
What is perfect pitch? The best way to explain this gift is to imagine how fresh (or un-fresh) your brain is in the morning. If you were asked to sing or identify a 'G' right after waking up, most people would not be able to produce the correct answer. However, a select few are able to do this without any trouble. Identifying or producing a pitch is as natural and easy as identify or producing a commonly spoken English word. It is important to consider this talent in light of the morning because many people have something called relative pitch. Relative pitch means that once you know that you have successfully identified a note, you are able to successfully identify every note you hear afterwards. This means that at any point during the day you can relate the pitch you already know to the pitch you are hearing and you are then able to identify it. When you wake up in the morning however, you have nothing to refer to thus making it impossible to identify a pitch without a prior reference point.
Saint-Saëns is rumored to write his Oratorio de Noël, or Christmas Oratorio in less than ten days in order to meet pressures from his employer. It includes a small string orchestra, organ, harp, soloists, and choir. Because there are no harp players who live in Medicine Hat, we will substitute some sort of keyboard instrument for the harp. Also, in order to allow the choir (and audiences) maximal enjoyment, the majority of the solo, duet, and trio parts will be sung by the entire choir. Saint-Saëns modeled several movements after the most famous (even at his time) Johann Sebastian Bach, including the initial Prelude and movements echoing the same theme. Written in 6/8 time, these 'pastoral' movements are reminiscent of shepherds in their fields who played instruments like flutes and recorders while tending their sheep.
Perhaps the most famous movement of Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio is the last movement. Familiar to most choral music fans, it is a strong, triumphant, and fitting end to the joyous re-telling of the Christmas story.
We look forward to you joining us at this joyous concert! Join us on Sunday, December 2 at 3pm at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church to hear some glorious music!
Merry Christmas!
Born in Paris, France and best known for his composition Carnvial of the Animals, Saint-Saëns quickly learned music theory, piano, several languages, math, and various other academic subjects. After his intelligences were discovered, his teachers were quick to help nurture his abilities. Saint-Saëns soon became friends with many other composers such as Liszt and Fauré. In addition to his many natural abilities, Saint-Saëns supposedly also had perfect pitch!
What is perfect pitch? The best way to explain this gift is to imagine how fresh (or un-fresh) your brain is in the morning. If you were asked to sing or identify a 'G' right after waking up, most people would not be able to produce the correct answer. However, a select few are able to do this without any trouble. Identifying or producing a pitch is as natural and easy as identify or producing a commonly spoken English word. It is important to consider this talent in light of the morning because many people have something called relative pitch. Relative pitch means that once you know that you have successfully identified a note, you are able to successfully identify every note you hear afterwards. This means that at any point during the day you can relate the pitch you already know to the pitch you are hearing and you are then able to identify it. When you wake up in the morning however, you have nothing to refer to thus making it impossible to identify a pitch without a prior reference point.
Saint-Saëns is rumored to write his Oratorio de Noël, or Christmas Oratorio in less than ten days in order to meet pressures from his employer. It includes a small string orchestra, organ, harp, soloists, and choir. Because there are no harp players who live in Medicine Hat, we will substitute some sort of keyboard instrument for the harp. Also, in order to allow the choir (and audiences) maximal enjoyment, the majority of the solo, duet, and trio parts will be sung by the entire choir. Saint-Saëns modeled several movements after the most famous (even at his time) Johann Sebastian Bach, including the initial Prelude and movements echoing the same theme. Written in 6/8 time, these 'pastoral' movements are reminiscent of shepherds in their fields who played instruments like flutes and recorders while tending their sheep.
Perhaps the most famous movement of Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio is the last movement. Familiar to most choral music fans, it is a strong, triumphant, and fitting end to the joyous re-telling of the Christmas story.
We look forward to you joining us at this joyous concert! Join us on Sunday, December 2 at 3pm at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church to hear some glorious music!
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Back to School, Back to Singing!
It's time to start gearing up for another year of fantastic music making! Here are some reminders and some information about the upcoming season:
First Rehearsals
MHC Adult Choir - Tuesday, September 11, 7pm
MHC Girls' Choir - Wednesday, September 12, 7pm
MHC Children's Choir - Wednesday, September 12, 5:45pm
Reportoire
MHC Adult Choir - Christmas Oratorio (Oratorio de Noel) by Camille Saint-Saens. Check out some info on Saint-Saens, and listen to a sample here.
MHC Girl's Choir - A selection of music composed by Canadians including an a cappella Latin Mass by Stephanie Martin, We Rise Again which was made popular by the Rankin Family, and two modern motets about being female, Sisters and This Morning by Gwyneth Walker
MHC Children's Choir - a bunch of fun yet challenging stuff, just like always!
Concert
All three groups will share a Christmas Concert this year. Sunday, December 2, 3pm, Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church
First Rehearsals
MHC Adult Choir - Tuesday, September 11, 7pm
MHC Girls' Choir - Wednesday, September 12, 7pm
MHC Children's Choir - Wednesday, September 12, 5:45pm
Reportoire
MHC Adult Choir - Christmas Oratorio (Oratorio de Noel) by Camille Saint-Saens. Check out some info on Saint-Saens, and listen to a sample here.
MHC Girl's Choir - A selection of music composed by Canadians including an a cappella Latin Mass by Stephanie Martin, We Rise Again which was made popular by the Rankin Family, and two modern motets about being female, Sisters and This Morning by Gwyneth Walker
MHC Children's Choir - a bunch of fun yet challenging stuff, just like always!
Concert
All three groups will share a Christmas Concert this year. Sunday, December 2, 3pm, Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Zimbe!
Zimbe! is a brilliant fusion of traditional African song and jazz, in a
format which is already drawing together singers of all ages, ability and
nationalities across the globe. The music is accessible, instantly likeable and
fun to learn as well as to perform.
Composer Alexander L'Estrange,
himself a highly regarded jazz pianist and bass player, has chosen songs from
all over Africa and arranged them wonderfully, interleaving the choral writing
with the instruments of the jazz ensemble.
This is a work which forges links
between adult choirs and massed children's choirs, placing singing at the heart
of the community as it always has been in Africa. And, since jazz grew out of
blues which itself sprang from the mouths of African people, what better
accompaniment for these songs than a jazz quintet? Zimbe! is at times touching and moving,
at other times funky and grooving and all of the time incredibly uplifting both
for performers and audiences alike.
Check out the Zimbe! website for information on CD recordings, iTunes tracks, part learning help, and other interesting and helpful resources. Also check out the Zimbe! Facebook
site.
The MHC Adult Choir is welcoming new members who are interested in singing, meeting new people, and preparing a concert of African works. No experience is necessary, only an interest in music and a desire to work hard and enjoy the results. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining, please contact Bradley van Middelkoop,
Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 7-9pm at the Cultural Centre and begin on January 10. Looking forward to an exciting term learning some fantastic African choral music!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Adult Choir - Fall 2011 - Gustav Holst
Hi All! I hope you are having a fantastic summer! Just looking ahead to the Fall semester and our Christmas concert and thought I'd give you some advanced info! So, for all you keeners, you can check out the following links of Gustav Holst's Christmas music, which of course, we will be featuring in our 2011 Christmas concert.
Christmas Day, A Choral Fantasy on Old Carols - Score! - Listen!
Lullay my Liking - Score! - Listen!
Four Old English Carols - Score!
1. A Babe is Born - Listen!
2. Now Let Us Sing
3. Jesu, Thou the Virgin Born
4. The Saviour of the World is Born - Listen!
Personant hodie - Score! - Listen!
Psalm 86: To my humble supplication - Score! - Listen!
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Score! - Listen!
This is not an exhaustive list of reportoire for our concert, but it should give you keeners a good start!
Looking forward to seeing you all Tuesday, September 13, 7pm at the Cultural Centre!
Christmas Day, A Choral Fantasy on Old Carols - Score! - Listen!
Lullay my Liking - Score! - Listen!
Four Old English Carols - Score!
1. A Babe is Born - Listen!
2. Now Let Us Sing
3. Jesu, Thou the Virgin Born
4. The Saviour of the World is Born - Listen!
Personant hodie - Score! - Listen!
Psalm 86: To my humble supplication - Score! - Listen!
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Score! - Listen!
This is not an exhaustive list of reportoire for our concert, but it should give you keeners a good start!
Looking forward to seeing you all Tuesday, September 13, 7pm at the Cultural Centre!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Adult Choir TOUR!?!?!?!?!?!?
In the summer of 2009, the MHC Girls' Choir went on tour to France and The Netherlands. One week of the trip was spent at a very unique choral music festival - Europa Cantat Utrecht 2009. The Europa Cantat festival takes place every three years and allows individual singers, choristers, and ensembles to meet people from around the world, and listen and perform choral music with one another.
From July 27 - August 5, 2012, the festival takes place again, this time in Torio, Italy. The website (Europa Cantat Torino 2012) is still under construction, however, you can get a good idea of what the festival will look like by checking out the Utrecht 2009 link above.
Because the Girls' Choir (and all of the accompanying adults) enjoyed the last festival so much, I am proposing that the MHC Adult Choir attend the 2012 festival in Torino. I realize that the summer of 2012 is quite far in the future, however, because of the logistical nature of a trip such as this it is important to start thinking about it as early as possible.
A few words about how the festival is organized:
Each registrant chooses an "atilier" or a choir that he/she will join for the duration of the festival. The choice of atiliers is amazing; choirs range from hip hop to classical to stage production and more. At the end of the week, each atilier performs what they've prepared. Each atilier is conducted by a world renowned guest clinician.
Entire choirs can register for the festival and therefore have the opportunity to put on several concerts of their own repertoire throughout the week. As the MHC Adult Choir, we would likely have a very Canadian repertoire list and perform concerts dressed like Canadians (whatever that is...).
The great thing about this set up is that we can determine our level involvement depending on how many people are planning to go. If we have a group of people who constitute a viable choir (that is, enough sopranos, altos, etc.) then we can register as a choir. If not, then we register as individuals, but still attend as a group.
There are certainly many things to consider regarding an Adult Choir tour. At this point, I'd just like you to consider whether this would be an option for you. Spouses, families, and friends would all be invited, of course, and they could determine their own level of involvement. There would also be opportunity to extend our tour to include other Italian destinations if we want.
Consider it and email me with your thoughts!
From July 27 - August 5, 2012, the festival takes place again, this time in Torio, Italy. The website (Europa Cantat Torino 2012) is still under construction, however, you can get a good idea of what the festival will look like by checking out the Utrecht 2009 link above.
Because the Girls' Choir (and all of the accompanying adults) enjoyed the last festival so much, I am proposing that the MHC Adult Choir attend the 2012 festival in Torino. I realize that the summer of 2012 is quite far in the future, however, because of the logistical nature of a trip such as this it is important to start thinking about it as early as possible.
A few words about how the festival is organized:
Each registrant chooses an "atilier" or a choir that he/she will join for the duration of the festival. The choice of atiliers is amazing; choirs range from hip hop to classical to stage production and more. At the end of the week, each atilier performs what they've prepared. Each atilier is conducted by a world renowned guest clinician.
Entire choirs can register for the festival and therefore have the opportunity to put on several concerts of their own repertoire throughout the week. As the MHC Adult Choir, we would likely have a very Canadian repertoire list and perform concerts dressed like Canadians (whatever that is...).
The great thing about this set up is that we can determine our level involvement depending on how many people are planning to go. If we have a group of people who constitute a viable choir (that is, enough sopranos, altos, etc.) then we can register as a choir. If not, then we register as individuals, but still attend as a group.
There are certainly many things to consider regarding an Adult Choir tour. At this point, I'd just like you to consider whether this would be an option for you. Spouses, families, and friends would all be invited, of course, and they could determine their own level of involvement. There would also be opportunity to extend our tour to include other Italian destinations if we want.
Consider it and email me with your thoughts!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Mozart Missa Brevis in D minor
Happy Winter Adult Choir!
As you know, we are going to tackle Mozart's Missa Brevis in D minor this semester. I've put together a playlist of some good videos on YouTube that will help you learn this piece. Click here to check it out!
Because the Missa Brevis is short (it is literally translated as "short mass" and only includes the Mass Ordinary) we will have to learn something else in order to fill out a concert. I am currently considering a few options, but haven't come to a final decision. You can, however, expect something that will compliment Mozart for the first half of our concert.
Enjoy the videos and we'll see you back for our first rehearsal on
Tuesday, January 11, 7pm, MHC Cultural Centre!
Happy New Year!
As you know, we are going to tackle Mozart's Missa Brevis in D minor this semester. I've put together a playlist of some good videos on YouTube that will help you learn this piece. Click here to check it out!
Because the Missa Brevis is short (it is literally translated as "short mass" and only includes the Mass Ordinary) we will have to learn something else in order to fill out a concert. I am currently considering a few options, but haven't come to a final decision. You can, however, expect something that will compliment Mozart for the first half of our concert.
Enjoy the videos and we'll see you back for our first rehearsal on
Tuesday, January 11, 7pm, MHC Cultural Centre!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
MHC Christmas Concert
Tuesday, December 14: 7pm
College Theatre
Tickets $5/$10 at Cultural Centre or at door
Join the MHC Adult Choir, Girls' Choir, Children's Choir, and Junior Children's Choir in a choral celebration of Christmas! Hear Christmas carols old and new, and from near and far! This will be a sold out show, so get your tickets early!
Merry Christmas!
College Theatre
Tickets $5/$10 at Cultural Centre or at door
Join the MHC Adult Choir, Girls' Choir, Children's Choir, and Junior Children's Choir in a choral celebration of Christmas! Hear Christmas carols old and new, and from near and far! This will be a sold out show, so get your tickets early!
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A Dreadful Practice - a MHC Choir Halloween Concert
Saturday, October 30, 7pm
College Theatre
Tickets $5/$10 at Cultural Centre or door
Join the MHC Adult Choir, Girls Choir, and Children's Choir as we sing about witches, trolls, dragons, and more! Featured works: The Witches' Scene from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, The Witches' Chorus from Verdi's MacBeth, and Hall of the Mountain King from Grieg's Peer Gynt.
Happy Halloween!
College Theatre
Tickets $5/$10 at Cultural Centre or door
Join the MHC Adult Choir, Girls Choir, and Children's Choir as we sing about witches, trolls, dragons, and more! Featured works: The Witches' Scene from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, The Witches' Chorus from Verdi's MacBeth, and Hall of the Mountain King from Grieg's Peer Gynt.
Happy Halloween!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Looking ahead to Fall 2010
Hello Choirs! This may be a bit premature, but I've started plans for the fall. The MHC Adult Choir, Girls' Choir, and Children's Choir are going to bring Medicine Hat a fantastic 2010/2011 concert season! We are going to start off with a Halloween concert. I know, I know - you're worried. But you shouldn't be. It is going to be light-hearted, accessible, and a ton of fun. Check out the tentative program:
MHC Halloween Concert (please send suggestions for a better title...)
Saturday, October 30, 7 pm (TENTATIVE)
MHC Adult Choir
MHC Halloween Concert (please send suggestions for a better title...)
Saturday, October 30, 7 pm (TENTATIVE)
MHC Adult Choir
- Harvest Hymn - Ryan Taylor - I like the text in this piece. It may be a stretch for a Halloween concert... we'll see...
- A Halloween Quodlibet - Ryan Taylor - this is a piece that will continue teaching us how to have fun with choral music. A quodilbet is a group of songs that can be sung at the same time.
- Ho, Ho, Ho, Dido & Aeneas - Henry Purcell - Purcell is a famous English composer and he just happened to write an opera with a scene full of scary witches, perfect for Halloween. We will do part of a scene from this opera. These are the chorus parts:
- Score 1
- Score 2
- Score 3
- Recording (this recording includes the recitatives, and duets which happen between each chorus part - we will do the entire scene as heard here. If you're interested in seeing the scores for the other sections, click here)
- Deamon Irepit Calidus - Gyorgy Orban
- Recording (the tempo in this recording is quite slow, but it allows for you to hear each part better. We'll go as fast as snot. Check out other youtube videos to see how differently each choir does this song!)
- Score - this piece is relatively new so it is not available in the public domain and therefore I cannot link to it. You'll have to wait until September to see the score for this!
- Translation:
- Daemon irrepit callidus
Allicit cor honoribus;
Daemon ponit fraudes inter laudes, saltus, cantus
Quidquid amabile daemon dat
Cor Jesu minus aestimat.
Cordis aestum non explebunt, non arcebunt, Daemon!
The demon sneaks expertly,
Tempting the honorable heart;
He offers trickery amid praise, dance, and song.
However amiably the demon acts,
it is still counted less than the heart of Jesus.
Poor, passionate, undisciplined demon!
- Old Abram Brown - Benjamin Britten
- Witches Chorus, Macbeth - Giuseppe Verdi
- Score (pages 8-16)
- Recording
- Translation:
- Che faceste? Dite su!
Ho sgozzato un verro!
E tu?
M’è frullata nel pensier
La mogliera d’un nocchier
Al dimòn la mi cacciò
Ma lo sposo che salpò
Col suo legno affogherò
Un rovaio io ti darò
I marosi io leverò
Per le secche lo trarrò
Un tamburo! Che sarà?
Vien Macbetto. Eccolo qua!
Le sorelle vagabonde
van per l'aria, van sull'onde
Sanno un circo lo intrecciare
Che comprende e terra e mar.
What did you do? Say now!
I’ve slaughtered a boar,
And thou?
To me fluttered in thought
the wife of a sailor
she cast me out to the devil
But the spouse who sailed
with his ship, I’ll drown.
I’ll give thee a north wind
The billows I will raise
I’ll drive him onto the shoalsA drum! What will it be?
Hail now, Macbeth!
The sisters vagabond
go through the air, go on the waves
They know a circle how to weave
- The Fate of Gilbert Gim
- A Tragic Story - Benjamin Britten
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Music of the Americas
MHC Adult Choir Spring Concert
Tuesday, April 13; 7 pm
Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church
This high energy concert features folk songs and spirituals from North and South America and is easily accessible to all audiences. Come be inspired and leave whistling one of these catchy tunes!
Tuesday, April 13; 7 pm
Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church
This high energy concert features folk songs and spirituals from North and South America and is easily accessible to all audiences. Come be inspired and leave whistling one of these catchy tunes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
