The Book of Psalms is often called the hymnal of the scriptures. Jewish and Christian congregations share this common heritage of praise, lament, and prayer. Of the 150 (or 151, depending on how you count them) Psalms, our congregations would be hard-pressed to even loosely recite, let alone sing, more than a dozen. How can […]
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New Choral Music from Mexico
For the past five years, VocalEssence, through its ëCantarÈí program has brought composers from Mexico to Minnesota to be in residence at elementary and high schools, composing music for the young people in selected schools culminating in a May concert where all the music is performed. This session will demonstrate some of the music that […]
Music of the Muslim World: Building Bridges, Creating Understanding
With America’s changing demographic and the difficult international situation, there is an urgent need to connect to music of the Muslim world. This choral music is little understood or known. Thus, this session focuses on repertoire, getting participants to understand the great diaspora of music of the Muslim world by singing a selection of pieces […]
Multi-Media Choral Performances: Laser Lights, Modern Dance, and Choral Singing
This interest session will briefly discuss multi-media music theory and its implications for the development of multi-sensory concerts. Video and audio excerpts will be examined as important dos and don’ts for conductors wishing to develop multi-media concerts. Interest session participates will discuss their own attempts at multi-media performances and collectively brainstorm ideas for concerts that […]
Mad Men: Advertise, Recruit, and Welcome Male Singers into Your Program
“Why We Sing” starts the conversation, but it’s the answers that dictate how and where we correctly recruit male singers. Don Draper, television’s most famous advertising mogul, believes, “When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him. He has a million reasons for being anywhere, just ask him.” Discover, compare […]
The Legacy of Lawson-Gould
Sixty years ago, Robert Lawson Shawand and Walter Gould founded the Lawson-Gould Publishing Company. Its publications originally featured the choral works of Robert Shaw, Alice Parker, Leonard DePaur, and Roger Wagner. Since 1953, approximately 3,500 titles have been published in the catalog, including additional works by Robert DeCormier, Dave Brubeck, Samuel Adler, James Erb, Lloyd […]
