Conducting Men's Choirs

SKU: GI.G-7961

ISBN 9781579998356. English.

Conductors are artists—but they also have a singular responsibility to go beyond the music to nurture the inner voices of their ensemble members.In Mentoring in the Ensemble Arts, author Tim Sharp examines the mentor/protégé dynamic and its critical impact on the lives of ensembles and their conductors. Sharp draws from research, his own experience as a choir conductor, mentor, and protégé, and his travels as Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association. The result is a profound portrait of this rarely discussed aspect of a conductor’s life. Coming full circle, Mentoring in the Ensemble Arts reinforces a conductor’s own desire to develop his or her own personal learning community to continually strive for excellence by being a protégé to other leaders.The goal of this book is to help the conductor realize the full potential of the mentor/protégé relationship and to assist both mentor and protégé in achieving the best possible benefits of these relationships. The result will be better music making and more fulfilled human beings for generations to come.Tim Sharp (BM, MCM, DMA) is Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the national professional association for choral conductors, educators, scholars, students, and choral music industry representatives in the United States. He represents choral activity in the United States to the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). Sharp, himself an active choral conductor, researcher, and writer, has varied his career with executive positions in higher education, recording, and publishing. Prior to his leadership of ACDA, Sharp was Dean of Fine Arts at Rhodes College (Memphis, TN), and earlier, Director of Choral Activities at Belmont University (Nashville, TN). His research and writing focuses pedagogically in conducting and score analysis, and various published essays betray his eclectic interests in regional music history, acoustics, creativity, innovation, and aesthetics. He has conducted university, community, church, and children’s choirs, and continues to serve as a choral conductor and clinician in the United States and internationally. Sharp resides in Edmond, OK, with his wife Jane and daughter Emma. .

SKU: GI.G-10449

ISBN 9781622775613.

Creating excellence is not magic, the process known only to a few people with supernatural insights and abilities. . . . Vision, persistence, and strategy are the foremost reasons for the creation of excellence in musical performance and they are characteristics of all notably successful choral and orchestral conductors and their ensembles. — from the Introduction In Creating Excellence in Choirs and Orchestras, noted scholar and conductor Dennis Shrock uncovers the key factors and proven strategies that lead to the achievement of excellence in music ensembles at any level, from youth and volunteer groups to professional ensembles. With the use of numerous historical references and examples, primary source quotations, and music excerpts, Shrock lays out fourteen elements that contribute to an ensemble’s success. The first seven are foundational theoretical concepts: goals, focus, attitudes, structures, procedures, responsibility, and ontology. The subsequent seven elements address practical techniques: study, warm-ups, sound, cohesion, expression, conducting, and repertoire. While the book highlights the choral and orchestral mediums specifically, all concepts can be applied to any type of ensemble, from marching bands and wind ensembles to string quartets and vocal chamber groups. Further, the recommendations herein are not exclusively for the benefit of conductors. Music teachers, church musicians, ensemble members, and administrative staff will glean from these pages as well. According to Shrock, excellence is an attainable goal for anyone with a vision, a persistent commitment to that vision, and creative strategies to facilitate that vision’s realization. With this inspiring premise at its core, this insightful text guides readers as they embark on their own quest for musical excellence. Dennis Shrock is considered one of the top choral scholars in the United States and has received a number of awards for his work. He has conducted numerous choral and orchestral ensembles throughout his career, including the Chorale and Accademia Filarmonica at the University of Oklahoma, the Canterbury Choral Society, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra, and Oklahoma City Philharmonic. He is also a noted author, having written three books for Oxford University Press as well as six books for GIA Publications.

SKU: BO.B.3436A

English comments:
On 11th March 1911, the great pianist and composer Enric Granados performed this piece as an absolute premiere at Barcelona's modernista concert hall Palau de la Musica Catalana. In spite of the great success achieved on the day of the premiere by this ambitious work for piano, organ and three choirs whose words in Catalan were provided by an unknown writer, the piece was never again performed or published. Its manuscript was assumed to be lost for decades and it was even thought that it might have been burnt in a fire. Finally, the pianist and Granados specialist Douglas Riva recovered it and offered it to Boileau Editorial de Musica for publication. El Cant de les estrelles was performed once again on 22nd March 2007, 96 years after its first performance, in New York's Ascension Church, with Douglas Riva himself at the piano and Dennis Keene conducting.

Comentarios del Espanol:
El 11 de marzo de 1911 el gran pianista y compositor Enric Granados interpreto esta obra, con caracter de estreno absoluto, en el modernista Palau de la Musica Catalana de Barcelona. Esta ambiciosa obra para piano, organo y tres coros, con texto en lengua catalana de autor desconocido, tuvo gran exito el dia de su estreno pero no se volvio a interpretar mas y tampoco fue editada. El manuscrito de El cant de les estrelles se dio por perdido durante decadas e incluso se penso que se habia quemado en un incendio. Finalmente, el especialista en Granados y pianista Douglas Riva lo recupero y ofrecio su edicion a Boileau Editorial de Musica. El Cant de les estrelles ha sido de nuevo interpretado el 22 de marzo de 2007, 96 anos despues de su estreno, por el propio Douglas Riva al piano bajo la direccion de Dennis Keene en la Iglesia de la Ascencion de Nueva York.

SKU: GI.G-995

UPC: 785147099529.

“I would tear a hole in the sky so I could pull out the heart of the moon for thee.” From “As I Walk the Silent Earth” by Thomas LaVoy Performed by the Westminster Williamson Voices, conducted by James Jordan. Works by: Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Thomas LaVoy, Stephen Paulus, Aaron Copeland, Blake Henson, Benjamin Britten, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Dan Forrest, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Arvo Pärt, Alice Parker, Anton Bruckner, and Maurice Duruflé. Produced by James Whitbourn   A stunning new recording from James Jordan and the Westminster Williamson voices. Music opens us to a more radiant and brilliant life through sounds and words. There is music that, by its very nature, “tears a hole in the sky”—the “sky” of our spirits and souls. Certain music, certain composers, and certain performances have a way of “tearing a hole” into us perhaps even bringing new meaning to what we do and how we live. The music of Hole in the Sky has a common thread in that all the pieces, in some way, provide an illuminative hole, through both sound and text, into a deeper understanding of life and living. It explores the many worlds of choral sound. From Ola Gjeilo’s “The Spheres,” to Mendelssohn’s stunning work for women’s choir, “Veni, Domine,” to “She Weeps Over Rahoon” by Eric Whitacre, to the joyful “Jubilate Deo” of Benjamin Britten, this music will touch the depths of your soul. Be bold, take a breath, and dare to fall through. Westminster Williamson Voices under James Jordan is one of the great choirs of the world. Theirs is a sound which can set the soul at rest. James Whitborn.

SKU: GI.G-5527

ISBN 9781579991609. English.

Forced to find a way to correct persistent intonation problems in his own choir, author James Jordan with the help of Matthew Mehaffey embarked on the development of a new method of choral ensemble solfege. Choral Ensemble Intonation: Method, Procedures, and Exercises presents this innovative new method, along with procedures and exercises, sure to improve the aural skills of any choir. Not just a temporary fix, this method encourages the building of intonation skills within the confines of the choral ensemble rehearsal. The method includes overall steps for reading a new work and teaches how solfege syllables can promote good intonation through good diction. In addition, the authors provide techniques for maintaining a consistent tempo, running a choral warm-up, and utilizing the accompanist to achieve better intonation. Jordan and Mehaffey also share listening techniques for the choir and discuss how the use of physical movement can assist intonation and good vocal production. Plus, conductors are given tools for modal analysis that will greatly improve the teaching and learning process. This book, video, and exercise octavos are based on the premise that instructors must teach singers what to hear and what to listen to, helping their choirs to sing with more beauty and less effort, all the while creating better musicians. Choral Ensemble Intonation: Method, Procedures, and Exercises has been created to be used in conjunction with a video demonstrating many of the concepts discussed in the book, and featuring the Westminster Choir College Chapel Choir. Two choral octavos of exercises published under the same title, one with shorter exercises, and the other containing fuller studies in all the modes composed by Roger Ames. The companion DVD includes rehearsal techniques and teaching procedures for choirs at all levels! James Jordan is one of America's most respected choral conductors and educators. He is associate professor of conducting at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, a leading center for the study and performance of choral music, where he is conductor of the Westminster Chapel Choir. Prior to his appointment to the Westminster faculty, Jordan served as chair for music education at the Hartt School of Music. His study of the psychology of music has been with Edwin E. Gordon. Jordan's conducting text, Evoking Sound, was his first book with GIA Publications, Inc. His second book, The Musician's Soul, is enjoying critical acclaim throughout America. Matthew Mehaffey is assistant professor of music and the director of choral activities at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. As an author, Mehaffey contributed a postscript essay to James Jordan's revolutionary book The Musician's Soul. He holds a master's degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and a DMA in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.

SKU: CA.402500

ISBN 9790007187941.

The anniversary edition for all choirs! With their extensive forces and complex parts, the performance of Beethoven's choral-symphonic works is hugely demanding for many choirs. For the major Beethoven anniversary in 2020 Carus is therefore expanding the repertoire of works available for mixed choirs. The Choral Collection Beethoven (ed. Jan Schumacher) contains especially attractive arrangements of Beethoven's music from three centuries. Contents include the choral-symphonic repertoire in versions with piano accompaniment, some lesser-known unaccompanied works, and some seldom-performed works, such as pieces from his incidental music. During his lifetime Beethoven was so admired that contemporaries arranged his music - mainly the well-known instrumental works - for chorus. Some of these choral works were even performed at Beethoven's own funeral. Subsequent generations of composers have also immersed themselves in Beethoven's output. In addition, for the anniversary Carus has commissioned choral arrangements of Beethoven's works from several contemporary composers. The Choral Collection Beethoven contains around 40 secular and sacred choral movements in a wide range of styles. Editor Jan Schumacher has created an indispensable resource with the Beethoven Choral Collection, particularly for amateur choirs, but the edition is also suitable for vocal ensembles and chamber choirs. Guaranteed enjoyment of Beethoven's music well beyond the anniversary year. * 41 choral settings for SATB, some with piano accompaniment * well within the capabilities of amateur choirs * suitable for concerts, church services, and many social occasions * also contains arrangements of Beethoven's vocal and instrumental works from three centuries, by composers including Gottlieb Benedict Bierey, Heribert Breuer, Peter Cornelius, Gunnar Eriksson, Gunther Martin Gottsche, Clytus Gottwald, John Hoybye, Hans Georg Nageli, Peter Schindler, Ignaz Ritter von Seyfried, Friedrich Silcher, and many others * CD with selected works included with the conductor's score (Deutscher Jugendkammerchor, conducted by Florian Benfer) * economical choral edition (editionchor) available Contents (selection) * Choruses and canons: Auld Lang Syne, Gluck zum neuen Jahr, and Das Reden / Schweigen and many more. * Historic arrangements for chorus, including from the Moonlight Sonata, the Appassionata, the 7th Symphony, and many other works. * New arrangements for chorus, including the songs Bitten, Ich liebe dich, Marmotte, and many others. * Arrangements for chorus and piano, including the choral movements from the Choral Fantasia, the oratorio Christus am Olberge and the incidental music Die Ruinen von Athen, and the finale of the 9th Symphony.

SKU: CF.CM9735

ISBN 9781491161159. UPC: 680160919741. Key: A minor. Latin, English. Christopher Smart and ZRS.

Origins of the Tarantella The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (little spider), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the poison, the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship. Origins of the Text Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as Kit Smart or Jack Smart, was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor's prison, was common during this period if one's debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [Rejoice in the Lamb] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart's writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart's Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance: theraphosa [teh-rah-fo-sa] a genus of tarantula spiders bellicose [beh-lee-ko-sah] hostile; aggressive odiosa [o-dee-o-sa] hateful; vexation tenebrosa [teh-neh-bro-sa] creeping; dark nemorosa [neh-mo-ro-sa] wooded; shady lapidosa [lah-pee-do-sa] stony area; gritty The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work. About the Composer Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico. Performance Notes Text: In Latin, the r is flipped; use s instead of z on endings such as phosa, cosa, and so on; the Latin o is a cross between oh and aw; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an o for consistency. The director will blend the oh and aw in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, tarantula is pronounced tah-rah-n-too-lah (avoid teh-ran-choo-luh) within the confines of this text. Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.
The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (“little spider”), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the “poison,” the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship.Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as “Kit Smart” or “Jack Smart,” was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor’s prison, was common during this period if one’s debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [“Rejoice in the Lamb”] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart’s writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart’s Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance:The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work.Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico. In Latin, the “r” is flipped; use “s” instead of “z” on endings such as “phosa,” “cosa,” and so on; the Latin “o” is a cross between “oh” and “aw”; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an “o” for consistency. The director will blend the “oh” and “aw” in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, “tarantula” is pronounced “tah-rah-n-too-lah” (avoid “teh-ran-choo-luh”) within the confines of this text.Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.
The tarantella is a popular southern Italian dance with origins in the 11th century. (There is even some mention of the tarantella in ancient Greek mythology.) Of the possible sources of the dance, the most popular comes from the villages of Tanto and Tarentum (“little spider”), Italy. During harvest, workers in the field were sometimes bitten by the tarantula spider. To combat the “poison,” the afflicted workers went into a frenetic, almost musical exorcism to sweat the venom out of their pores. In the millennium since, the very energetic nature of the dance has remained, although the curative focus of the dance has given way to more enjoyable endeavors, even stately courtship.Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as “Kit Smart” or “Jack Smart,” was born in Kent, England and suffered from what is now believed to be acute asthma and other health issues as a child. As such, he did not work in the fields, but spent much time reading and writing, a passion that he nurtured for a lifetime. Well known in London literary circles, his career as a writer floundered due to mounting debts and his falling out of favor with the literary establishment: Sadly, he was forced to confinement at St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, though this was based on his mounting debt, and not on insanity. (Confinement, or debtor’s prison, was common during this period if one’s debts could not be paid.) During his confinement, he worked on two of his most famous works, Jubilate Agno and A Song of David. (Part of Jubilate Agno [“Rejoice in the Lamb”] was set to music by English composer, Benjamin Britten.) Smart’s writing style (which, at times, bordered on the absurd), along with his many obsessions, lead to frequent misperceptions of his work and his lucidity. In this present work, portions of Smart’s Jubilate Agno were used in mm. 24-31, 103-110 and 149-156. The remaining text was gathered by the composer, including the rapid, almost patter-like, delivery of words from A-Z in the alphabet. (Christopher Smart had a preoccupation with the alphabet.) These words both rhyme and accentuate the frenetic nature of the spider dance:The convergence, then, of the medieval tarantella (spider dance), the writings of a brilliant poet who bordered on the absurd, and the infusion of strong, descriptive and otherwise random, rhyming words, synthesizes to make dramatic lyrics for this work.Z. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. He has served as Professor of Music at three universities (an Endowed Professor at two), conducted 47 all-state choirs, and directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, among other American venues. Randall guest conducts full-time, and composes from his home studios on Merritt Island, Florida and in Sandia Park, New Mexico.In Latin, the “r” is flipped; use “s” instead of “z” on endings such as “phosa,” “cosa,” and so on; the Latin “o” is a cross between “oh” and “aw”; in the transliteration above, I chose to simply use an “o” for consistency. The director will blend the “oh” and “aw” in the rehearsals to his/her own preference. Lastly, “tarantula” is pronounced “tah-rah-n-too-lah” (avoid “teh-ran-choo-luh”) within the confines of this text.Stomp: This can be done by the entire chorus, or just the first row. It is as much visual as it is auditory. The string quartet is preferred over piano when that option affords itself. I created a piano score that is a viable option and included it in the piano/vocal score if a performance uses chorus/piano.

SKU: PE.EP72698A

ISBN 9790577010519. 210 x 297mm inches. English.

Commissioned by Making Music with funds from the Nicholas Berwin Charitable Foundation

First performance: 12th March 2016, Waltham Singers, conducted by Andrew Fardell, King Edward's Grammar School, Chelmsford.

Music runs through the story of Arion, which begins with a singing competition in Sicily. Arion wins the prize, and this puts his life in danger: his newfound wealth excites the Greed of the sailors who are supposed to be bringing him back to Corinth, and they threaten to kill him.  They allow Arion to sing one last song, and the power of his singing attracts dolphins to the ship.  At The End of his song, he jumps overboard, and one of the dolphins carries him to safety.  So Arion’s musical gift gets him into trouble, but it is also his salvation.  

The idea of being rescued by a music-loving dolphin is very appealing.  In Robert Graves’ account of the myth, the dolphin could not bear to be parted from Arion, and accompanied him back to court, where “it soon succumbed to a life of luxury.”  However, Herodotus says that, after his rescue and return to Corinth, Arion failed to return the dolphin to the sea, and it died there.  Apollo placed the dolphin among the stars, and next to it, Arion’s lyre, in recognition of his musical skill.  This is one of the mythical explanations of the origins of the constellations Delphinus and Lyra.

It seems natural to sing a story that has singing at its heart.  When I was asked by the Nicholas Berwin Charitable Trust to write a choral work for Making Music, something that would be within reach of many choirs, and involve children, this story struck me as ideal: the men of the chorus could be the bloodthirsty sailors, and the women could create an atmosphere of mystery for the arrival of the dolphins, represented by children’s voices.  There would be one solo voice: Arion, the marvellous singer.  Andrew Fardell, the conductor who was advisor to this commission, had suggested that I might use the same instrumentation as a popular arrangement of Orff’s Carmina Burana, a work that, as well as using children’s chorus, features a solo countertenor.  I thought the magical, otherworldly quality of this voice would help to convey the extraordinary effect Arion’s singing had on all who heard it. 

- Jonathan Dove

SKU: GI.G-9660

ISBN 9781622773572.

To learn from Alice is to come under a peculiar kind of enchantment . . . To hear her is to be spellbound by a melodic voice. — John Wykoff, from the Prelude The Melodic Voice presents a series of interviews with preeminent composer, conductor, and teacher Alice Parker that offers a fuller and more intimate view of her life and music than ever before. The conversations Cameron LaBarr and John Wykoff document in these pages perfectly capture the essence of Alice’s core philosophies on melody, arranging, singing, music teaching, conducting, and many other topics. During the course of the interviews, Alice discusses a wide range of topics: her childhood, her time as a student at Smith College and Juilliard, the death of her husband, her work with Robert Shaw, living in New York City, experiences with teaching, her compositional process, the importance of folk song, advice for students and teachers, and much more. In the accompanying video component, Alice speaks candidly and directly about many of her most popular and well-loved arrangements, including Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal, Saints Bound for Heaven, What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?, and John Saw Duh Numbuh, among others. Too few have had the privilege of attending one of Alice’s workshops or engaging with her in long conversations and round-the-table singing. But the conversational nature of this book gives everyone the chance to engage with her in a deeper way. Musicians and non-musicians alike are sure to be inspired by Alice’s words. Cameron LaBarr is Director of Choral Studies at Missouri State University. His choirs have performed extensively both at home and abroad, and he has worked as a guest conductor and clinician across the United States, Europe, South Africa, and Asia. John Wykoff is Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Lee University. As an active composer, he writes for choir, orchestra, and chamber groups, and his music has been performed internationally by leading ensembles. Check out this clip below of Alice Parker discussing her beloved arrangement Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal. This is just a small part of the over three hours of video interviews included in the purchase of this resource.

SKU: BA.BA11397

ISBN 9790006568598. 39.7 x 21 cm inches. Text Language: English. Text: Bergling, Tim / James, Etta / Woods, Pearl / Kirkland, Leroy / Pournouri, Ash.

“Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah
Get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before …”

In its original form, “Levels” is more of an instrumental number featuring a short passage from a song by soul-singer Etta James. The energy of this exhilarating electro-pop piece with the inimitable Avicii sound is an ear-catching delight and brings audiences to their feet: a good time is guaranteed!


The editor:

Hans Vainikainen (b. 1976) hails from a new generation of conductors in the Swedish choral tradition. His conducting repertoire covers a wide range of genres and eras, from Mahler’s Eighth Symphony to the Swedish DJ Avicii. In 2005 he won the Swedish Conductors’ Prize, and two years later he was appointed artistic director of the Katarina kyrka, the home of Katarinakörerna, one of Sweden’s largest choral societies.

Hans Vainikainen heads Stockholm’s Katarinakörerna with more than 500 singers in various combinations. Their programmes cover both sacred and secular music. In his search for suitable arrangements, his eye fell on one the world’s best-known pop artists, Tim Bergling, known professionally as Avicii. He then arranged three of Avicii’s best songs for classical choirs, intending them to be encore pieces.

“Hey Brother”, “Levels” and “Without you” are now available for six-part mixed or female choir. The arrangements offer a wide variety of vocal and choral possibilities and attention has been paid that all parts are of the same musical standard. Whether homophonic or unisono, they artfully intertwine from one passage to the next. However, for all their sophistication the arrangements remain manageable and easy to learn, displaying the typical groove of each Avicii song within a multi-layered texture.