News

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  Memento Rerum by Isabella Leonarda
  I am delighted to share this repertoire blog contribution by Dr. Andrew Bruhn, an excellent conductor and composer who is the Director of Choral Activities at Illinois State University  in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. It happens that I share his fondness for the work of Isabella Leonarda and programmed her Magnificat in our Behind the Walls: Music from the Italian Convents concert with the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana a few years ago. I hope to program this piece soon, ideally Andrew Bruhn’s published edition from Hinshaw Music!   Voicing: SATB a cappella (or with continuo) Why do singers… Read more: Memento Rerum by Isabella Leonarda
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  Among the Fuschias by Harry T. Burleigh, arr. Marques L. A. Garrett
  I have decided to resume the Repertoire Blog function of my website, with contributions from friends and colleagues who would like to write about their favorite choral pieces. The first entry is one of mine, though: Among the Fuschias from Five Songs of Laurence Hope by Harry T. Burleigh, arranged for SATB chorus and piano by Marques L. A. Garrett. Score Preview and Choral Recording Voicing: SATB chorus and piano Why do singers like it? Among the Fuschias has gorgeous Romantic melodies and lots of dynamic contrast. Each phrase really lends itself well to expression, depicting the breathlessness… Read more: Among the Fuschias by Harry T. Burleigh, arr. Marques L. A. Garrett
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  In Tír na nÓg: Chorus meets Irish trad band
  My 17-year-old self, who frequently scoured Half Price Books for books on Irish folklore, would be excited about this one: a poem by 19th-century Irish poet Ethna Carbery about a loved one being lured into the Otherworld. My initial plan was to coerce my Turas bandmates into singing and playing it with me on my album of original fiddle tunes, which is still in progress. After all, AnneMarie’s favorite key to sing in is B minor. However, once plans were afoot to reprise the combined Eureka College Music+Turas concert, I decided to write a choral arrangement.… Read more: In Tír na nÓg: Chorus meets Irish trad band