History

Articles

A National Library of Men's Choral Music

Michael Doan | Composing/Commissioning, History, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Technology

As all-male colleges went coed in the 1970s, they left something important behind: their music. The Washington Men's Camerata is working to preserve this historic resource. Read more

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Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem

An Act of International Reconciliation

Dr John Evans | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Impact/Value, Performance, Repertoire

As the world celebrates the centenary of this central figure of 20th century classical music, noted scholar John Evans illuminates the power and impact of his great choral-orchestral work. Read more

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A Chorister's Front Row Seat on History

Singing for the Soviets during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Jody Kerssenbrock | Community Outreach, History, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance, Professional, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

The Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra’s 1962 tour of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union was more than anyone bargained for. Jody Kerssenbrock, then a 25-year-old chorister, remembers what it was like to be in "enemy" territory during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world came as close as it ever has to a nuclear war. Read more

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Hope and Hard Work: Government Support of the Arts in the U.S.

Ann Meier Baker | Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Fundraising, General, Government/Policy, History, Impact/Value, Research/Data

During campaign season, "government support" comes up often as a discussion topic. As the U.S. approaches its November election, it feels like an appropriate time to remind ourselves about how government support applies to the arts. Here are some thoughts from Chorus America to get you started. Read more

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The Human Singing Voice in the Age of Twitter

Eric Friesen | Community Outreach, General, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Participation, Singing, Social Media

Though the river of time engulfs us in change, the purity and beauty of the human singing voice remains a constant. Read more

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Member Spotlight: Roland Carter

Preserving and Performing African-American Music

Chorus America Staff | Civic Engagement, Conducting, Diversity, Education, History, Impact/Value, Performance, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

Choral conductor and composer/arranger Roland Carter has a passion for finding and performing the rich array of choral music from the African-American tradition. While at the 2012 Chorus America Conference in Minneapolis, Chorus America talked with Carter about his life and work. Read more

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Should the United States Change Its National Anthem?

Kevin Frey | History, Performance, Repertoire

"Get rid of the 'Star Spangled Banner,'" said political commentator Bill Press on a recent episode of his talk radio show. He skewered the song for its violent and militaristic language, and called for its end. But is this view justified? Chorus America's Kevin Frey examines the history of the song, current performance practices, and its significance to Americans. Read more

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Mothers and Music Education: The Influence and the Impact

Jan-Marie Petersen | Families, History, Impact/Value, Singing

Mom. It's one little word, but such an enormous job. In celebration of mothers, we asked members of our Facebook page to tell us: "What impact did your mother have on your life in music?" Read more

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The Rise of the Professional Chorus

Matthew Sigman | Careers, History, Innovation, Management/Leadership, Professional

We look back on the emergence of professional choruses in North America and the role of professional singers in bringing them public acclaim. Read more

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Verdi's Requiem: Under the Influence

Jeffrey Baxter | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Composers don't exist in a vacuum; they are continually influenced by their predecessors and peers, their culture and society. Here, we look at some of the influences (and influencers) reflected in Verdi's Requiem. Read more

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Resources

The Choral Works of Hamish MacCunn (1868–1916)

Jennifer Oates | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Performance, Repertoire, Research/Data, Singing

This issue provides insight into the music of Hamish MacCunn, Scottish romantic composer, conductor, and teacher. Jennifer Oates gives us a complete listing of MacCunn's choral works, including audio file examples. Read more

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The Jubilee Songs of 1872 and 1884: Reconciling Reconstruction(s)

Chorus America Staff | Audiences, Diversity, History, Research/Data

American Choral Review 53.1 Read more

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Two Composition Lessons from Handel

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Education, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Handel’s practice of borrowing from other composers allows us the opportunity to probe into the great composer’s style and creative thought processes. A number of scholars have shown without question that the majority of Handel’s borrowings transform his source materials into new creations entirely his own. But what does “entirely his own” really mean? Read more

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The Vocal Chamber Music of Hans Gal

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Performance, Repertoire, Research/Data, Singing

American Choral Review 52.1 Read more

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The Psalm Settings of Georg Philipp Telemann: A Brief Guide to Research

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 196 Read more

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Robert Schumann's A Cappella Choral Works

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Performance, Repertoire, Research/Data

American Choral Review 51.2 Read more

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Going for Baroque

Jason Paulk | History, Performance, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Technique/Tool

Sure they wore different fashions back then, but did they sing differently too? Check out these tips and warm-ups that will help you to sing difficult baroque pieces like the B Minor Mass with more ease and authenticity. Read more

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Healey Willan's Missa Brevis Settings for St. Mary Magdalene

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

American Choral Review 51.1 Read more

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The Choral Music of Harry Somers and Harry Freedman

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 194 Read more

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Johannes Eccard and the Late Sixteenth-Century German Partsong

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

American Choral Review 50.2 Read more

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Events

Time Zones ~~ Bach and Chaplin Merge!

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Conducting, Diversity, Families, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

The season of examining time and travel finishes with a juxtaposition of two distinct Time Zones, the first being that of our forebear and namesake, Johann Sebastian Bach, and the second being that of a writer, star and legend of the silent screen, Charlie Chaplin. In combining the musical genius of Bach with the brilliant silent narratives of Chaplin’s films, the Bach Choir bridges these two bountiful eras, creating a thought-provoking connection between artistic genres. Read more

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Mass Enlightenment

646 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC

Laudate Singers | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Education, History, Performance

From Palestrina to Poulenc, Dufay to Kostiainen: 500 years of the Mass celebrated by the pure voices of Laudate Singers. Read more

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Mass Enlightenment

1044 St Georges Avenue, North Vancouver, BC

Laudate Singers | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Diversity, Education, History, Performance, Singing

From Palestrina to Poulenc, Dufay to Kostiainen: 500 years of praise celebrated by the pure voices of Laudate Singers. Read more

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"Letter from Italy, 1944"

LaRosa Lane, Middletown, CT

Joyce Kirkpatrick | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, General, History, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Veterans, PTSD, world premiere, Connecticut artists, letters from Italy – what do these have in common? On April 28, 2013 an epic musical drama will unfold in Connecticut. It is about a World War II, 10th Mountain Division soldier, Dr. John K. Meneely, Jr., who served as a medic in the Aleutians and Italy. At the end of the war suffering from PTSD, he returned home to his young family. For the next 18 years he and his family struggled with his internal battles. Half a century later, their collective story is being told and their triumphs being sung. The soldier’s daughters, Grammy-nominee composer Sarah Meneely-Kyder and poet Nancy Meneely, both Connecticut residents, have woven their physician father’s letters and their family’s story into a poignant saga of courage and compassion. Meneely-Kyder has set her sister’s ringing lyrics to music in a major musical drama, Letter from Italy, 1944. It calls for a cast of five soloists, a large chorus and orchestra. Read more

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10th Mountain Division and "The Last Ridge" - An Oratorio's Backdrop

100 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT

Joyce Kirkpatrick | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Education, General, History

On Friday, February 8, “The Last Ridge: the Epic Story of America’s Mountain Troops and their Assault on Hitler’s Europe” will be presented at 7 PM at Chapman Hall, Middlesex Community College. Author McKay Jenkins will deliver the illustrated lecture, a history of the illustrious 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Read more

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Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Southborough, MA

Robert Eaton | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Education, General, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Singing, Technique/Tool, Technology

Voices of Light merges the legendary silent film masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc, widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, with a live performance of a ravishing score by award-winning composer Richard Einhorn. An incredibly moving composition for solo voices, chorus and orchestra, Voices of Light has been hailed as "a triumph" (Los Angeles Times) and "an overwhelming experience" (Chicago Tribune). Read more

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BACHday Bash 2013

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Fundraising, General, History, Impact/Value, Venue

We hope you can join us as the Bach Choir celebrates its 78th season with scrumptious food & superb libations, an exciting silent auction, and a grand new venue - the historically restored Mansions on Fifth Hotel. All proceeds will benefit the Choir as it continues to present unique and dramatic choral productions. Read more

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Coro Allegro Celebrates 20 Years With Artistic Director David Hodgkins

Boston, MA

kipjld1964 | Careers, Conducting, History, Management/Leadership, Participation

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Show Choir 80th Anniversary Holiday Concert

8300 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024

Houston Choral ... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, General, History, Participation, Performance, Singing, Venue, Volunteer

Houston Choral Showcase celebrates 80 years of singing with a fun-filled holiday show at 3pm on Sunday, December 16th, at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 8300 Katy Freeway in the Memorial Area. This community show choir will present jazzy arrangements of holiday tunes, songs from favorite Christmas movies, holiday classics old and new, comedy, and more. The choir has previously used the names of Greater Houston Chorus and Houston Community Chorus, and any former members in attendance at the show will be invited on stage for a special time of recognition. Tickets for this performance are $15 at the door, with discount pricing for advance purchase online. http://www.houstonchoralshowcase.org. Read more