Fiffaro Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 I have been asked for suggestions for a work or works that would be suitable for performance by a collection of school choirs, ranging from auditioned to open to any student, with ages from around 11 years 18. The work will be performed in the Melbourne Town Hall where we are hoping to utilise to best effect the substantial organ there. Information about the organ is provided on the following Organ Historical Trust of Australia web page:https://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/MTH.html A number of years ago, this school performed Britten's Saint Nicolas, with some help from staff members and other ring-ins, and the choral director certainly is not averse to taking on big projects, but suggestions for shorter works that would feature the organ would also be welcome. I would very much appreciate any suggestions for works that would make good use of the organ. And I posted here because so many of the members have experience of both choral music and organ music. (Trying a bit harder...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Cooke Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Thanks, Fiffaro for trying harder! A thought or two as an immediate response... Parry - I was glad, Parry - Blest pair of Sirens Parry - Hear my words ye people Rutter - Gloria Rutter - Te Deum Schubert - Mass in G Fauré - Requiem Handel - some Messiah choruses Haydn - Insanae et vanae curae Stanford - Te Deum in B flat Handel - Let the bright seraphim - (an opportunity for a soprano solist) & Let their celestial concerts Handel - The heavens are telling and/or Achieved is the glorious work Berstein - Chichester Psalms - All of these (except possibly the Rutter Gloria) can easily be organ only and they are all things I have done in the past with school choirs. Is this the sort of thing that you might have been looking for? Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Fairhurst Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Sumsion's 'They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships'? Written for Repton Prep School, and a wonderful bit of word-painting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotto Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb Britten - Hymn to St Peter Bairstow - Blessed city, heavenly salem Durufle - Requiem (challenging for choir & organist!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolsey Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Mathias: Let all the world in every corner sing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handsoff Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Stainer: The Crucifixion ...and yes, I really mean it! I am very fond of this work with its drama, word-painting and simply wonderful hymn tunes. A good tenor soloist is clearly needed and I'd allow you to omit the Prelude! I know it's unfashionable to like Stainer at the moment but his time will come again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Drinkell Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 I like it too! It's had a bad press for a long time, but I think this is passing. It's fun to play, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHM Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 8 hours ago, Richard Fairhurst said: Sumsion's 'They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships'? Written for Repton Prep School, and a wonderful bit of word-painting. A great piece, and as Richard said, "a wonderful bit of word-painting". As Vox Humana will recall, I have often said to choir tour concert audiences "If you don't feel sea-sick by the end of it, we haven't done our job well enough".😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHM Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Martin Cooke's first response (above) mentioned Parry's "Blest Pair of Sirens". This was written for a Diocesan Choirs' Festival (in Salisbury, if I remember correctly), and there is a substantial semi-chorus part (presumably written for the resident cathedral choir) which could be taken by a group of more competent choristers, or even a solo quartet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiffaro Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 Wow! Lot's of ideas! So many thanks and much appreciated. Some I know but hadn't thought of in this context and many to have a listen to, such as Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens, that I don't know. Sumsion's They that go down to the sea in ships is the first unknown suggestion I listened to. How could I not have come across it before! 😊 Handsoff, Stainer's time might be coming. There has been a performance of the Crucifixion in recent times in Melbourne, Australia. I'd like to think we are at the forefront of the revival rather than the tail-end of musical fashion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 On 11/12/2018 at 19:05, DHM said: As Vox Humana will recall... Quite a few times! Thinking back to my grammar school days I can remember the school choir singing - and enjoying - the following: Brahms - How lovely is thy dwelling place (from the Requiem) Britten: Noye's Fludde Bach: Christmas Oratorio pt.1 (needs soloists) Bach: Cantata 140: "Wachet auf" (also needs soloists) Other approachable possibilities (but, again, all requiring soloists): Vivaldi: Gloria Vivaldi: Magnificat Pergolesi (attrib.): Magnificat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
father-willis Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 On 11/12/2018 at 19:08, DHM said: Martin Cooke's first response (above) mentioned Parry's "Blest Pair of Sirens". This was written for a Diocesan Choirs' Festival (in Salisbury, if I remember correctly), and there is a substantial semi-chorus part (presumably written for the resident cathedral choir) which could be taken by a group of more competent choristers, or even a solo quartet. Was this not, 'Hear my Words ye people' ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHM Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 15 minutes ago, father-willis said: Was this not, 'Hear my Words ye people' ? Apologies - a “Senior Moment” on my part. It was indeed “Hear my Words”. And that, too, would make an excellent addition to the lists above (for the reason I erroneously quoted). 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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