about the music

intro...

by Andrew

As this is a functional bit of the site, I will slip into first person...

The general idea of this page is so that the choir (and everyone else) can get an idea of what we are doing and possibly why we are doing it. I'll put information about the music here such as where it came from, as well as trying to explain any oddities.

The really useful (I know, it's hard to believe) bit is that I'm going to put almost everything we're doing on here as a midi file. It will sound horrible, but you (the choir) will be able to hear what the notes are. I'm also going to "solo" each individual part, so there will be groups of midi files for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Please do try it, and I hope it helps!

the rhythm of life

As it was requested frequently, I set aside a couple of days to arrange it. The result is a slightly tricky unaccompanied arrangement of the classic number from the musical Sweet Charity. If you would like to hear it rendered by a computer, click on The Rhythm of Life. As it is a computer version, it sounds hideous, but please do not judge it by that.

When you are using these, please remember that the parts split - don't get caught up in the wrong one! I have had a listen and you can hear both parts clearly when this happens, so you should be ok. Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass.

sicut cervus

Possibly one of Palestrina's best loved pieces, this is a setting of a short section of Psalm 46.

The latin text runs: Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. Translated fairly exactly, this means: Even as (sicut) the dear (cervus) desires (desiderat) the water (aquarum) fount/stream (fontes), so (ita) desires (desiderat) my (mea) soul/spirit (anima) of/to (ad) you (te), God (Deus).

Why are we singing it? Well no choir is a good choir until it has done some Palestrina... To understand anything in music as we know it now, you have to understand Palestrina. It really is that essential. Besides which, it is absolutely exquisite.

Here are the whole thing: Sicut cervus.

And the parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass.

last updated 6/10/07