arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
I’ve been creating music as a career for a long time – my first paid commission came about 20 years ago, and my work is now fairly evenly divided between teaching/conducting and writing for choral ensembles. While virtually all of my work over the last 10+ years has been on […]
When we teach dynamics, students learn that forte means loud. In Italian, forte more precisely means strong. But I think even that doesn’t do enough. Dynamics are relative – a forte passage in a vocal jazz piece might feel very different from a forte passage in a Gospel piece, for […]
I tend to be less particular about texts than some composers. I know many composers who don’t involve the commissioning ensembles at all in selecting the text, or who retain final veto, or who control the text decision in some other ways. I personally think of myself as a hired […]
I like to program only repertoire I love – I love the text, or I love the arrangement, or I love the melody, or I love the concepts it teaches – but it’s never attainable for all singers in a choir love all the pieces in their folders. As a […]
Love must be at the center of great music-making. Not always romantic love, but love nonetheless. Love of friends. Love for the human connection. Love for music. Deep connection is at the core of all the best music I’ve ever experienced. The connection comes from love. Without that core, the […]
I’m working on a MIDI guide track for part-learning, and am heeding the advice of Anders Edenroth, who suggested moving beyond a simple clave-style click track. Even though the final track will be a cappella, there is value in giving a rhythmic foundation that helps singers feel the groove as […]
A student mentioned that he’d been having trouble memorizing music recently. In particular, he’d been struggling with memorizing the words. He’s a fine young musician; learning melodies or even tricky harmony lines comes quickly for him. But he was puzzled over why the words weren’t staying in his memory more […]
It’s a good thing to make great music with a group. It’s a better thing to make great music with a group of friends. It’s the best thing to make the best music you’re capable of with a group of friends. For the first, you need a good choral leader. […]
I’m in the background watching my son discuss a merit badge he’s working on with a counselor, and thinkng about the motivation that comes from discrete, earnable achievements. Of course, concerts are the ultimate discrete achievements – specific pieces are brought from unfamiliarity to performance in a limited amount of […]
I like to imagine myself ready to answer this question at any moment in my rehearsal. Why are we doing this particular warmup? Why are we singing this particular repertoire? Why are we spending ten minutes on this particular 4-bar phrase? Why are you taking time away from singing to […]