by I made a Spotify playlist of the music I write about in Imperfect Harmony and it looks like my publisher has solved my technical difficulties. If you go to this new link the music should be playable now. I also put together this page with links to YouTube videos of the same pieces.
A German Requiem
Written by Johannes Brahms from 1865-1868
The Chichester Psalms
Written by Leonard Bernstein in 1965
Messiah (The Lift Up Your Heads chorus.)
Written by George Frideric Handel in 1741
Toward the Unknown Region
Written by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906
Mass No. 11 in D Minor, aka Missa in Angustiis
Written by Joseph Haydn in 1798
Ave Maria
Written by Franz Xaver Biebl in 1964
The version written for men’s voices.
The version written for men and women’s voices.
(I’d be curious to hear which you like better.)
Missa Simile Est Regnum Coelorum, the Agnus Dei II
Published by Tomás Luis de Victoria in 1576
I really love this one (which you can tell when you read the book).
The Last Invocation
Written by Randall Thompson in 1922
This is a link to an album in the Apple store, so you’ll need to click on The Last Invocation.
Memoranda
Written by Dylan Chan in 2005
Let us Cheer the Weary Traveler
Written by R. Nathaniel Dett in 1926
O Magnum Mysterium
Written by Morten Lauridsen in 1994
The Peaceable Kingdom, the Ye Shall Have a Song chorus
Written by Randall Thompson in 1936
Water Night
Written by Eric Whitacre in 1995
Fate and Faith Songs
Movement 1
Movement 2
Written by Britlin Losee in 2011
Requiem, Dies Irae section, Lacrimosa chorus
Written by Giuseppe Verdi in 1873
This version of the Requiem was conducted by Herbert von Karajan, who makes a brief appearance in my book. He’s absolutely mesmerizing to watch. To see him go nuts, click here. He’s conducting another section from the Verdi Requiem. (I love this requiem. Okay, I love all requiems.)
A picture I took at the end of one of our concerts. I’m giving myself symbolic applause for putting this page together.
All those links! And all the work to get them! I give you symbolic applause also!
Haha. Thank you!
I am loving your book. I have been a choral singer for almost 60 years. No longer, but not because I can’t sing, but I can’t see to drive at night, and where I live you have to drive. And rehearsals are at night.
I’m just reading the chapter on Memoranda and was so glad you posted it on youtube. A capella is very scary, but I love singing it. I always hoped to to Rachmaninov Vespers, but other than summers spent at the Berkshire Choral Festival (have you done that?) there would be no opportunity, and they year they did it I couldn’t go.
My favorite part of the book is when he told you to sing Soprano 2, and then you got it! I am an alto and sing alto 2 if it splits, and have sung tenor 1 when needed, and I love hearing all the voices. I love to sit in the middle of all the parts during summer sings. I was so glad you figured out how special singing something in stead of the melody is. And it must be wonderful singing in quartets. I did that for a little while with a small chamber choir, but they weren’t confident enough to continue it. John Oliver has the Tanglewood Festival Chorus sing in quartets – from memory – when they sing with the BSO. He also conducts at Berk Ch Fest, and sings in quartets, I have never gotten his week. At 73 I’m probably too old to go now, and he hasn’t conducted there in a while. But I had some wonderful conductors there.
If I lived in NYC I would certainly still be singing somewhere. Like you, singing has gotten me through some really awful times. Now I do a lot of listening – go to a lot of opera and listen to it, or watch videos at home, and when I’m home,sing along. But it’s not a chorus. Can you imagine singing in the Met Chorus. That has got to be one of the best jobs in the world – and one of the most work!
Anyway, just wanted you to know how much I love the gook. Send a copy to BCF and see if they want to carry it in their store. I found out about it from a woman I met there, and have stayed friends with. And I just sent information on it to another chorister – and just thought of another I should write to as soon as I finish this. Sorry I went on so long.
Oh, this is such a lovely post. You should write a book! I don’t know what to say, but thank you so much for this. I loved this excitement in your words. And yes, I can imagine singing in the Met Chorus and also think that has got to be one of the best jobs in the world (singing AND costumes!!).