Choral Music
 

So, In the 4 and a half years I've been posting here, I've also been part of a multitude of choirs. It's always been an integral part of my musical "experience", in that if I were to say what instrument I played, it would always be singing above anything else. What surprises me, though, is that in those 4 years, I have yet to see a single thread about choral music in these forums. Surely I am not the only person here who sings in a choir, or at least enjoys listening to choral music?

Personally, I think it's a fantastic experience: there's something about spending an hour singing in tandem with a group of people to create fantastic music that leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment, especially when rewarded with an appreciative audience at the end of all your work!

So am I the only one, after all? Are there other Choristers out there, or will I go sit in the corner and sing bass lines to myself? I had deliberated over putting this in the "instruments" section as voice, but I think it's probably better off here. I just hope it gets seen :P

I'm not a singer myself, but I really enjoy choral music. There's something special about hearing multiple human voices singing simultaneously.

I'm not active in choirs anymore, but I also laid down some basso profundo on the old vocal chords--for years. In high school, college and in church--it was fundamental to my musical education.

Choral music is amazing, imo. Shame how little it's applied in modern music except as a sampled supplement. I personally prefer choral vocals to the standard lead singer style, myself.

Since nobody is presenting any links one of my favorite mostly(I mean it has some instrumentation) choral works, and proof of how creative you can be with human voice:







****ing Christ... I love Ligeti too much.

I was in mid-state choir this year and got to sing this, was mighty fun:



Also have to throw in this all-time fav:



If you're in America you don't get to see it unfortunately :(

Mendelssohn's Elijah is a great choice

I'm a choir person myself. I'm going to be in 5 choirs next fall. And I agree with the OP about how rewarding it is to be in a choir. It's a really amazing experience. Best thing I've ever done.

i was once a member of highschool glee club and college choir in our school and truely, those were the times where i can feel i'm involving myself in music. i don't play any musical instruments but good thing i have my voice with me. being in a choir also gives you that edge to have a convincing judgement when you hear someone sing. i personally, after all of those years i went thru as being part of the choir, i can tell whether a singer is a gifted one, or just mediocre. and everyone can easily tell a hideous voice.

My favorite Stravinsky work:







Maybe it's not everybody's but I love the weirdness of it.

I watched an interesting documentary on choral music on BBC 4 the other night, it was aboout Thomas Tallis iirc. Anyone else see it?

Some friends from university were in the college choir, it was amazing to hear them sing. I always wish that I had the ability to sing like they do, I was always jealous!

Choral music is beautiful, and gives me such a good feeling.

For the past 4 years I've been playing the piano with a College Choir for a local community college in my area. (I play Piano, Violin and Guitar) I really appreciate choral music, and it's great to know there are others!

I'm a total noob to all things classical but this sounds pretty damn fine.

Don't know if you are still around MoonlitSunshine but I am a vocalist myself and one of my friends sings in a choir and it takes a certain skill to be able to harmonize without the tenancy to "take over" or become too forward in the singing. I struggle with that for lack of experience singing in groups.

However, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sound of a multitude of voices blended together. I don't think there is anything quite like that :).

fazstp I would have to say that is my favorite kind of music.... well, maybe not favorite, but in the top 4. When I started in music I always wanted to blend the Russian male Choir sound - much like your example - with western pop. Recently I have come across more artist's who do this and the sound is amazing!!! :)

Hi

I'm a massive fan of choral music, I agree in the respect that nothing, even orchestral playing, gives me more enjoyment than really rewarding work in a choral group.
I'd love to get into listening to more choral music, my favourite work so far is Gabriel Fauré's Requiem.
By the way I'm a Tenor :D

i was basically mooted out of a choir when I was a kid cos i sang out of tune

i've been getting into Bach's sacred choral stuff lately, though

Since I figured out I could actually sing (required sixth grade musical), I was in the school choir. It wasn't until high school that I really started enjoying it. I've always had a feel for harmony so it was fun to contribute my voice to a group. Great memories...

As for listening, I really enjoy all sorts of choral music, and I really like a well executed integration of gregorian chant. Gives me goosebumps. I gotta check out some more Avro Part.

Renaissance was full of beautifully crafted polyphonic vocal music : Josquin des Prés, Thomas Tallis, Carlo Gesualdo (who was a murderer !), Orlando Lassus, Giovanni Palestrina, John Taverner, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Johannes Ockeghem.

Harmonia Mundi and Deutsche Harmonia Mundi have some fine interpretations of Renaissance vocal music. And also The Hilliard Ensemble.

I came across Gregorio Allegri while browsing through iTunes but they only seem to have a handful of tracks by him with one track Miserere appearing on a number of albums. Miserere sounds quite nice but does anyone know if he produced any other notable works?

Not a singer,but as a composer I've written a small mass following classial traditions.There's something really devine in that music,just gives me the goose bumps.

I'm not a singer nor a huge choral music fan, but there are a few composers who write so well for voices that it's impossible not to appreciate. It doesn't get any better than this:

The hardest piece I had to ever translate and sing at University level was Bernsteins Chichester Psalms. The real technical aspect was learning the Hebrew language. If you never have I certainly think it would be a challenge. There were only three guys who could learn the language and sing the tenor part in our entire choir.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...wbmsmUYjPif1kw

What about this Kyrie Eleison:


Victor Atanasov-Kyrie Eleison from Church Chorals Op.7 - YouTube

Holy crap Fred. The lead tenor sounds like a castrato!! :eek:

That was many moons ago Bec. I would have to practice scales for at least six months to even attempt this piece again. And the language is a barrier in itself.

You were able to sing THAT?!

I had no idea you were a singer, let alone on a pro level like that. Much respect Fred.

I'm guessing I could still work it out. I sang that at the Biola Festival along with Brahms Requiem when I was in college. I've never encountered anything as technically difficult vocally on any scale. I'm sure there are pieces out there, but it certainly was the most work i've ever put into something.