I'm just adding my support to the anti-league table sentiments expressed by most people. Specifically, where choirs are concerned, I find some choirs suited to certain repertory. But in general I find Radio 3's efforts to do a top 10 quite pathetic....you can almost hear presenters with gravitas gritting their teeth as they go through the motions.
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You notice that they seem to be the '20 Greatest Choirs' that the record industry judges to be 'greatest'? On sales perhaps?
'Erm....musical skills?'
'Whadya mean? You mean they also sing? The only music I know is cash registers, mate'Comment
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The next thing will be the 20 best choirs who can't stand still
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Yes, they have a fantastic tradition...and some Byulgarians produce their voices rather differently which I find fascinating.Choirs from the Baltic states, Scandinavia, central Europe, Germany, Bulgaria etc frequently do well and are much admired for their choral technique and repertoire
The tradition, I suspect, relies on a lot of rehearsing (the French word 'repetition' seems appropriate...though vocally, they don't seem to do enough of it!) whereas in the UK there are a lot of expert singers who can make a very good fist of anything that is chucked in front of them. Another feature of East/North European choirs is that the men sing with a more straight and un-coloured voice. This is very good for blending.
I'm off to Norway for Christmas (airports permitting..English airports, that is!) and look forward to hearing the amazing Nidaros Jentekor, at Trodheim Cathedral.Comment
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They will be the ones whose recording companies don't provide Gramophone with substantial advertising revenue, no?Starter for 10 - Which choirs are glaring omissions?Comment
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Alas, so much of this kind of thing is excused as being 'just a bit of fun'. So that's all right then.Originally posted by decantor View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Yes, the Nidaros Cathedral Girls' Choir - I'm sure it will be a wonderful concert - on the 28th I think. Their cathedral robes are a sort of dull bluish-green - but they do look spectacular in their Norwegian folk dress - a riot of colour and amazing embroidery. I do hope they'll be performing in their folk costume, Ardcarp.
You may even go to Hell when in Trondheim - it's only just up the road !
Gledelig Jul !Comment
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Here are the girls in their Norwegian folk costumes:
Don't know what the first piece is. I think the next piece (from about 2.30) might be "Søk Herren" (Seek the Lord) by Norwegian composer Knut Nystedt ?Comment
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i.e Seek ye the Lord while he may be found ...Comment
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Interesting, given the name of the thread's originator, that no-one has mentioned a Welsh Male-voice Choir.
Oh, not THAT sort of choir?
As you were.
Give me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFax...eature=related any day.Comment
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Here's a great choir with a great anthem, specially for The Prodigal Son (Y Mab Afradlon) and Amateur51:
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Splendid stuff, Oldcrofter - many thanks!
For different reasons, I've always been very fond of this version ...
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One of my "great" male choirs is this one, Orphei Drängar from the old university city of Uppsala, Sweden. This song, Kristallen den fina, is one that's very dear to all Swedish hearts:
There are many songs which everyone in Sweden associates with student male voice choirs, often ones which greet the spring or midsummer. This is one example, Glad såsom fågeln (Happy as the bird in the morning):
From my own alma mater Lund University in the south-west of Sweden, the Lund Male Student Choir sing a song celebrating the flight of Winter and the welcome arrival of Spring: Vintern rasat ut:
I can't think of many young male choirs in this country except those associated with Oxbridge colleges, cathedrals etc., most of whose repertoire is ecclesiatical. Maybe message boarders know of some good British young male choirs. There are plenty of good male voice choirs in the UK, but they are predominantly senior citizens.Last edited by Oldcrofter; 21-12-10, 23:53.Comment
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Sweden has a wonderful tradition of singing, BBC Wales made a documentery about a day life in the Sweden Choral Educational system. I participated in it and got to know such fine pieces as Sven David Sandström's En ny himmel och en ny jord
Sandström/Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord
Otto Olsson's Ave Maris Stella
It also has a rich tradition of folk songs which have been cleverly arranged for choirs
David Wikander's Kung Liljekonvaljestunning
and everyone's favourite encore Alfven's Och jungfrun hon gar i ringen
Enjoy these ...... and thank you Old Crofter Diolch yn fawrLast edited by Y Mab Afradlon; 21-12-10, 23:28.Comment
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