Concert: Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Date/Time: 14 Jun 09, 7.30 pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Ticket Price: Standard - S$80, S$60, S$45, S$30, S$20

*10% discount for ArtsFest Club Members
ArtsFest Club Members to quote or key password upon purchase.

10% discount for General Sales Package I (2-3 shows)
15% discount for General Sales Package J (4 shows & above)

20% discount for Local / International Full Time Students, Senior Citizens (60 yrs old & above) and NSFs

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Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album, 2005 & 2009

Come witness the spectacular return of nine-man a cappella choir, Ladysmith Black Mambazo – the voice and soul of South Africa.

Following its raved international debut in Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland, this household name in world music has transcended the poverty and dark times of apartheid to become the cultural ambassador of South Africa. Formed in the troubled 1970s by Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs indigenous Zulu music, blended with the choral traditions and sensibilities of Christian gospel music. Its message of peace, harmony and unity has won the hearts of the world, having been invited to perform at Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, the 1996 Summer Olympics, and concerts for the Queen of England, Pope John Paul II and Nelson Mandela. Three Grammy Awards and numerous nominations attest to the heartrending and spiritual power of its music.

“It’s amazing what real music can do.” – Timesunion.com

In a career that has spanned nearly thirty years Ladysmith Black Mambazo have recorded forty albums, sold over 6 million records and brought home 3 Grammy awards. The group is a national treasure of the new South Africa, in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa. Black Mambazo has also been invited to perform at many special occasions, including two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a concert for Pope John Paul II in Rome, 1996 Summer Olympics and during Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. Time does not seem to be slowing down Ladysmith Black Mambazo as they continue to travel the world, spreading their message of “Peace, Love and Harmony”.


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Choral Masterclass by Stephen Cleobury

((Edited to correct erroneous date))

Date/Time: 26 Jul 09, 11 am

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Ticket Price: $12

Note: Internet Booking starts on 18 May 2009, 9am.
Other Sales Channel starts on 18 May 2009, 10am.

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Learn the finer points of choral singing from one of the world’s most respected music director, Stephen Cleobury, from The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

This choral masterclass will feature the participation of two Singaporean choirs – Singapore Lyric Opera Children’s Choir and The Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/choir/director.html

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Concert: The Choir of King's College, Cambridge

Date/Time: 26 Jul 09, 7.30 pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Ticket Price: Standard - S$88, S$68, S$48, S$28, Box Seat - S$88

*S$24 (Cat 3), S$14 (Cat 4) for Student
S$33.60 (Cat 3), S$19.60 (Cat 4) for Senior Citizen (age above 60 yrs) and NSF

Note: Internet Booking starts on 18 May 2009, 9am.
Other Sales Channel starts on 18 May 2009, 10am.

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Programme
Lobet den Herrn (Ps. 117)
Bach

Hör mein bitten (Ps. 102)
Purcell

ehova, quam multi sunt (Ps. 3)
Purcell

Voluntary on the Old 100th
Purcell

Sonata no.3 (1st movement)
Mendelssohn

Richte mich, Gott (Ps. 43)
Mendelssohn

Hear my prayer (from Ps. 55)
Mendelssohn

Organ Concerto Op. 4 no. 4.
Handel

Missa Sancti Johannis de Deo (Kleineorgelmesse)
Haydn

Komm, Jesu, komm
Bach

“...impeccable intonation, unfailing rhythmic vitality...” – The Times

Experience the pure, angelic voices of the Boys of King's College, one of the world's best known representatives of the great British choral tradition.

Led by music director Stephen Cleobury, this world-famous choir will perform a repertoire of choral favourites from Bach, Purcell, Mendelssohn, Handel and Hadyn, accompanied by a string ensemble comprising some of Singapore’s best musicians – Chan Yoong Han (violin), Michael Loh (violin), Tan Wee Hsin (viola), Chan Wei Shing (cello) and Yang Zhengyi (double bass) – and organist Peter Stevens performing organ solos and an organ concerto.

Internationally recognised as the pre-eminent representative of the great British church music tradition, the choir owes its existence to King Henry VI who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. Today, famous for its many recordings, the choir is heard on radio by millions all over the world and has travelled to the USA and Canada, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Tokyo. The choir has worked with many distinguished soloists and orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Kurt Masur.

Performed in English, Latin and German. 110mins, including 20min intermission.

Explorations: Post-Performance Autograph Signing by Stephen Cleobury 26 Jul 09, Sun

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Concert: Old Friends, New Melodies by AJC Alumni Choir

Date/Time: 26 Jun 09, 7 pm - 9.30 pm

Venue: YMS Arts Centre, 54 Waterloo St

Ticket Price: $12



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Established in 2006, the Anderson Junior College Alumni Choir was formed by a group of choristers that recently graduated from AJC. We felt that two years of singing, performing and competing was simply not enough to measure our passion for music.

So here we are - our first public concert as an alumni choir!

Spread the word and bring your friends along for a night of classics, contemporaries and pop a cappella. Get tickets from any alumni choir member now! We look forward to seeing you at YMS on the 26th of June!

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View their concert details on facebook, alternatively for tickets, e-mail them at ajalumnichoir@gmail.com.

Looking for commentary on VJC Choir's concert

Hi all,

If you were at last night's Symphony of Voices, do let us know how you felt the choir did. A list of their programme would be most useful as well :)

E-mail us at singforharmony.gmail.com or yeshamiel@gmail.com

Thanks again!

Listening Recommendations: Nox Aurumque by Eric Whitacre

Hi all,

Apologies for the late post. Here's this week's listening recommendation:

Nox Aurumque's composer Eric Whitacre's latest work, and was only recently premiered in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 22 Mar 09. He (or his compatriots) has very kindly posted a pretty high quality video on youtube!

Here's a quote from his official blog regarding the piece:

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Nox Aurumque (Night and Gold) is the piece that just received its premiere in Minneapolis last month. As the name implies, it is sort of a ‘companion’ piece to Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold).

In writing it, I wanted to echo some of the musical material in Lux Aurumque, while at the same time filling it with themes from Paradise Lost. I asked Charles Anthony Silvestri (Sleep, Leonardo Dreams, Lux Aurumque, Her Sacred Spirit Soars) to write me an original poem in Latin, and as usual, he knocked it out of the park. Here’s the translation:

NOX AURUMQUE

Gold,
Tarnished and dark,
Singing of night,
Singing of death,
Singing itself to sleep.
And an angel dreams of sunrise,
And war.

Tears of the ages.
O shield!
O gilded blade!
You are too heavy to carry,
Too heavy for flight.

Gold,
Tarnished and weary,
Awaken!
Melt from weapon to wing!
Let us soar again,
High above this wall;
Angels reborn and rejoicing with wings made
Of dawn,
Of gold,
Of dream.

Gold,
Singing of wings,
Singing of shadows.

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The piece, as Mr Whitacre puts it, sounds like a haunting reminder of his other pieces as he borrowed a couple of motifs from his other works, e.g. Paradise Lost, Lux Aurumque. *For more on this, visit his blog post*.

The piece will be published once the other choirs who commissioned this work perform it! :)

Enjoy!

Sing-ing Sunday: Debussy

I think this is a good arrangement and rendition of Debussy's Trois Chansons (which includes Dieu qu'l la fait bon regarder! and Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain) for trombone quartet. Very lovely brassy sounds.

While I can't find any videos of Singaporean choirs singing Dieu qu'l la fait bon regarder!, many school choirs have sung Yver.



Here is NJC choir's version of Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain.

Concert: Thank you for the Music (SLO Children's Choir)

Date/Time: 7 Aug 09, 3.30 pm, 8 Aug 09, 3.30 pm & 7.30 pm.

Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio

Ticket Price: $18 (Discounts available, view SISTIC website for more details)

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Feature works from Classical, local and Asian folksongs and contemporary music

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Afterthoughts on the SYF season

Hey guys,

Thought I should do a summary of the SYF season (or at least what I heard).

Generally, the overall level of choral singing has improved! Kudos to all performers and conductors for their hard work. There were much less 'cringe'-worthy moments, and there were definitely performances which made you feel like you were in the concert hall, rather than 'judging' or 'critiquing'. This was especially so for the JC category.

In addition, I'll just like to point out that the sound upstairs is VERY different from what you perceive in the stalls. I had the benefit of actually listening to choirs on both levels (not during the competition). As such, it may explain why there were some 'shocks' when the results came out.

The JC/ IP schools generally gave decent performances, what some of them lacked in musicality, they made up for it with technical difficulty or vice versa. However, none of the schools (including the G/GwH schools) managed to conquer all 3 pieces. There were a few which were close (I won't mention who), but still fell short of doing so. Pitching has generally improved though the intricate bits (e.g. end of phrases, sustained notes) still need some work. It was in this category where you could tell that every school had their niche tone/ genre of pieces which they were most comfortable performing, which made it interesting and enjoyable to listen to.

The Sec schools (imo), have improved the most. Schools, which did not have an established brand-name, have stepped up and produced choirs which may be comparable to that of choirs in international competitions. Tone is more cohesive than before, though many of the schools would benefit from voice training (yeah I know it's difficult and not cheap, but that's the ideal situation). However, conductors tend to re-use past repertoire, or the practice which my friends call recycling, and I generally didn't like. One example was Ti Hor Hor. I remember hearing that piece so many times within that short span of time in which I was there listening.

Lastly, I thank you all readers for your time, comments and all during the SYF season. Finally, to all performers and choristers, thank you for your hard work. I hope you have produced music which have touched you in one way or another, and continue to do so for many years to come.

Concert: SLO Youth Choir in Concert

Date/Time: 6-7 Aug 09, 8 pm

Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio

Ticket Price: S$18

Please add to above price $3 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets above $20 and $1 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets $20 and below. Charges include GST where applicable.

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A musical journey with famous tunes from operas, folksongs, musical theatre and pop culture.

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