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The motet has notably evolved from its origins in the Middle Ages. To know more visit: https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/why-was-the-motet-important-3e34b722b195

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Why was the motet important?

The motet has notably evolved from its origins in the Middle Ages.

1. Medieval motets: The motet first emerged in the thirteenth century as a mostly secular form, likely as an offshoot of what music historians call the Notre Dame school of composition. They likely derived from the clausula section of plainchant organums, an early form of a cappella vocal polyphony. Medieval secular motets were performed in different local languages over an isorhythmic cantus firmus (a fixed, preexisting melody). Typically the cantus firmus came from older Gregorian chants and was sung in Latin. Notable motet composers of this period include the French Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut.

2. Renaissance motets: As Medieval motets gave way to Renaissance motets, they increasingly featured lyrics drawn from sacred texts. Instead of a Gregorian cantus firmus, Renaissance composers use antiphons (Latin text drawn from Christian liturgy). In many ways, the Renaissance motet became sacred music's answer to the madrigal, which was a popular form of polyphonic vocal music. Key Renaissance motet composers include Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (an Italian of the Roman School of compositional technique), Josquin des Prez (a Frenchman of the Franco-Flemish School), Thomas Tallis (an Englishman), and Giovanni Gabrieli (an Italian of the Venetian School).

3. Baroque motets: The motet did not play the same prominent role in the Baroque era as it did in the Renaissance era, but several composers did embrace it. Most notably among these was J.S. Bach, who used sacred text in German and basso continuo for instrumental accompaniment. As with all of his works, Bach used the motet to display leading-edge techniques in contrapuntal compositions.

4. The Classical era and beyond: The motet has endured through the present day, although composers now enjoy many other polyphonic vocal forms to work from. Mozart composed a Classical-era motet, Ave verum corpus (K. 618), and nineteenth-century composers like Brahms, Bruckner, and Elgar also made use of the form. Avant-garde interpretations of the motet have periodically emerged in twentieth and twenty-first-century classical music.

When talking about the ancient music of the Renaissance, it generally referred to music that was sung in church services, but wasn’t part of the Mass Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei). And since it was a setting of a religious text, it would not be confused with later musical developments that were more secular in nature, such as madrigals, or operas

To know more visit: https://chorsymphonica.org/what-is-a-motet/

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There are many benefits of singing in school. First and foremost, singing is very accessible and practically universal. Almost every kid has a voice, there's no equipment cost, and you can sing anywhere. School leaders have been interested in the positive effects of singing To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/why-is-choir-important-in-schools

[emilymaddison1112]

There are many benefits of singing in school. First and foremost, singing is very accessible and practically universal. Almost every kid has a voice, there's no equipment cost, and you can sing anywhere. School leaders have been interested in the positive effects of singing To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/why-is-choir-important-in-schools

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The absolute best way to recruit others for your choir is to have the choir members do it. But, for this to work, your choir members must be having a good experience. If they don’t enjoy singing in the choir, then it will be difficult to get others to join. Encourage your current choir members to talk to their family and friends about joining. To know more ; https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/what-are-the-best-ways-to-get-people-interested-in-singing-in-the-choir-at-church-440b9b753e64

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The absolute best way to recruit others for your choir is to have the choir members do it. But, for this to work, your choir members must be having a good experience. If they don’t enjoy singing in the choir, then it will be difficult to get others to join. Encourage your current choir members to talk to their family and friends about joining. To know more ; https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/what-are-the-best-ways-to-get-people-interested-in-singing-in-the-choir-at-church-440b9b753e64

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What are the best ways to get people interested in singing in the choir at church?

Every ministry in the church must have a purpose. The church choir is no exception. Choir members must realize how important their ministry is to the church.

Here are four ways to help grow your choir:

1. Invitation by other choir members

The absolute best way to recruit others for your choir is to have the choir members do it. But, for this to work, your choir members must be having a good experience. If they don’t enjoy singing in the choir, then it will be difficult to get others to join. Encourage your current choir members to talk to their family and friends about joining.

2. Information packets for new members

Secondly, many churches have some sort of information packet for new members, and many have some sort of card for them to fill out indicating interests. If your church has this, make sure the music opportunities are on that card.

3. Promotion from the pulpit

Someone such as the pastor, minister of music or both should be promoting the need for choir members from the pulpit. As in any ministry, the need for laborers is great and getting people to commit is a challenge. A good way to ease them into the music ministry is by encouraging them to be a part for a special occasion such as a cantata or special service.

4. Education about the role of music

Last but not least, use every opportunity you have to teach and train your people of the important role music plays in your services. Think of many ways to involve your people so they will already feel a part when they are ready to make a commitment to join choir.

Incorporating some of these ideas will get you off to a strong start to building an effective choir ministry.

ChorSymphonica inspires, educates, enlightens, and enriches Montgomery County and the ​Greater Washington, DC area with unique choral concerts, performed at the professional artistic standard.

We are professional, project-based ensemble of musicians drawn from across the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Nearly all of our musicians have earned graduate degrees in vocal performance. Every one of our members are dedicated to using their artistic life to improve the lives of others.

To know more visit: https://chorsymphonica.org/

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Fast-forward to today and choral music is thriving. Communal singing is more alive than ever in local choirs, choral societies and churches, and new works are being churned out year on year. So to help freshen up your listening sessions and unearth some more hidden gems from the present day. To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/what-are-some-good-examples-of-contemporary-choral-music

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What are some good examples of contemporary choral music?

Fast-forward to today and choral music is thriving. Communal singing is more alive than ever in local choirs, choral societies and churches, and new works are being churned out year on year. So to help freshen up your listening sessions and unearth some more hidden gems from the present day. To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/what-are-some-good-examples-of-contemporary-choral-music

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Fast-forward to today and choral music is thriving. Communal singing is more alive than ever in local choirs, choral societies and churches, and new works are being churned out year on year. To know more visit: https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/what-are-some-ethereal-choral-music-961c2d670f54

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What are some ethereal choral music?

Fast-forward to today and choral music is thriving. Communal singing is more alive than ever in local choirs, choral societies and churches, and new works are being churned out year on year. To know more visit: https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/what-are-some-ethereal-choral-music-961c2d670f54

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What are some ethereal choral music?

The historical journey of choral music is a fascinating one. It’s journeyed from plainchant, sung in a strict liturgical settings by monks underneath the spires of great churches and cathedrals across Europe; meandered through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries with newfound polyphonic and harmonic purpose thanks to the pioneering compositions of Byrd, Bach and Beethoven; and evolved further and dissected by early 20th century composers such as Mahler, Schoenberg and Britten.

Fast-forward to today and choral music is thriving. Communal singing is more alive than ever in local choirs, choral societies and churches, and new works are being churned out year on year. So to help freshen up your listening sessions and unearth some more hidden gems from the present day, we’ve decided to share five contemporary choral works that deserve your attention.

1 . Judith Bingham – First Light

Written in 2001 by British composer Judith Bingham for the Winchester-based Waynflete singers, First Light is set to a poem by Mark Shaw about the Incarnation - the religious belief that God became man through Jesus Christ. Bingham plunges listeners into atmospheric uncertainty from the offset of this piece, thanks to her macabre harmonic language and dynamic writing for brass ensemble and choir. The singing itself is epic, fluctuating between delicately sung passages and moments of thunder.

2. John Adams – Harmonium

John Adam’s Harmonium is a wondrous, sonic treat for the ears. Composed between 1980 and 1981, the piece pulses with layers of minimalist textures similar to those heard in the works of other composers of this era including Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Adams uses these layers of sound to drive the music forward in its most epic moments, and provide an ethereal backdrop in others.

3. Magnus Lindberg – Graffiti

The clash of old and new comes to a head in this 2009 work by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg. The piece's sung text directly derives from vandalism found in Ancient Roman cities, using the Latin language to bring to life the scribbles in and around Pompeii and Herculaneum. The choral writing itself ventures through dramatic, eerie and chaotic soundworlds, reaching an exhilarating climax when the choir’s complex polyrhythmic patterns unite in force. It’s a distorted ode to a world once dominated by the Roman Empire that feels further away than ever.

4. Meredith Monk – Panda Chant II

Now for something a little different - a work written by avant-garde composer and vocal improviser Meredith Monk. 'Panda Chant II' is taken from Monk's 1983 science-fiction opera The Games, written for 16 voices, synthesizer, keyboards, Flemish bagpipes, Chinese horn and rauschpfeife. The Games is set in a post-nuclear future, where citizens take part in ritualistic games in order to save themselves and the remainder of civilisation. 'Panda Chant II' highlights the flexibility of the human voice as it morphs into the sound of our furry friends.There’s no denying the barminess on show in this minute-and-a-half musical thrill ride of overlapping rhythms, but it’s an incredibly fun piece of music – especially when you add in body percussion of rhythmic stamps and claps.

5. Eric Whitacre - Lux Aurumque

A translation of the poem Light and Gold by Edward Esch, Lux Aurumque was originally a piece for wind ensemble before being fully introduced to the world as a choral work by composer Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir in 2009. It’s a stunning piece of contemporary choral music, in which Whitacre keeps listeners guessing with every chord, while, at the same time, dazzling with transcendent textures. The final chord is one of pure bliss, and is the cherry on top of an arguably perfect piece of choral music.

ChorSymphonica is a professional, project-based ensemble of musicians drawn from across the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Nearly all of our musicians have earned graduate degrees in vocal performance. Every one of our members are dedicated to using their artistic life to improve the lives of others, to inspire others to a more complete point of view, reaching out to audiences with our music making through our concerts. This purpose guides and directs every rehearsal and every concert.

Auditions are held periodically for membership in our database of singers, and for solo opportunities. Soloists are drawn from the ranks of the chorus.

Our music reaches people on a personal level, brings them to contemplation.

​ChorSymphonica makes music ​that touches and moves people. ​

We are the House Ensemble of The Rockville Bach Academy, Inc, a non-profit organization chartered in Maryland.

To know more visit: https://chorsymphonica.org/about/

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Can you learn how to sing by joining the high school choir?

In a choir the choral conductor runs the show. In life, in order for people to work together especially in large groups, it’s often most effective to have a single point person lead the group. To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/can-you-learn-how-to-sing-by-joining-the-high-school-choir

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In a choir the choral conductor runs the show. In life, in order for people to work together especially in large groups, it’s often most effective to have a single point person lead the group. To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/can-you-learn-how-to-sing-by-joining-the-high-school-choir

[emilymaddison1112]

Can you learn how to sing by joining the high school choir?

In a choir the choral conductor runs the show. In life, in order for people to work together especially in large groups, it’s often most effective to have a single point person lead the group. To know more visit: https://emilymaddison1112.wixsite.com/classicalmusic/post/can-you-learn-how-to-sing-by-joining-the-high-school-choir

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Determine your vocal range, follow the director’s instructions, listen to the singers around you, and use proper breathing and posture techniques to get the most out of your choir experience. To know more visit: https://medium.com/@emilymaddison1112/do-you-learn-how-to-sing-in-a-choir-5cf2a2ba65d3