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FEATURES
At age 87, the joys and struggles of downtown's all-male chorus
Posted 1/29/2015
An early photo of the Down Town Glee Club, an all-male singing group that began 87 years ago, shows its members onstage at Carnegie Hall. It is Christmas, 1950, and one can only imagine what a formidable sound those hundreds of men produced. Today, the club's members voices can still pack a punch. What strength they have lost is in their numbers. Some 18 to 20 men now belong to the club, which rehearses Tuesday nights at St. Margaret’s House on Fulton Street. They are one of only five men’s choruses left in the city; there were once scores.
“Everyone, it seemed, was in a glee club,” said Jerry Osterberg, who joined the group in 1980. JP Morgan, where Osterberg worked for 37 years, had its own all-men's glee club, and three of the company's executives also sang with the Down Town Glee Club and served as presidents.
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David Hayes on the New York Choral Society's performance of St. Paul
Posted 1/22/2015
On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 3:00 PM at Carnegie Hall, The New York Choral
Society and Orchestra and Music Director David Hayes will present
the rarely heard St. Paul by Felix Mendelssohn. Soloists will include
soprano Sarah Shafer, mezzo-soprano Haejung Shin, tenor Vale Rideout, baritone
Mark Delavan and the Princeton Girlchoir. David Hayes will conduct. This
performance will be sung in the original German with English supertitles. Dan
Dutcher and Nicole Guberman spoke with Mr. Hayes about the performance.
Dan Dutcher and Nicole Guberman: Can you tell us a little bit about what
Mendelssohn's work means to you, and why you chose the piece?
David Hayes: In 1829, Mendelssohn revived Bach’s St. Matthew Passion after
many years of study of Bach and, in particular, the chorale and fugue forms at
which Bach excelled. In the wake of this momentous performance, one which kicked
off the great 19th century Bach revival, Mendelssohn set about creating his
first large-scale work, St. Paul. In this work he synthesized not only
the oratorio and passion traditions of Bach, Handel and Haydn but sought to
create something he thought lacking in contemporary operas and other large
dramatic works: a work that edified and uplifted the listener.
More...
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- Ward Swingle, founder of the Swingle Singers, famed for their scat renditions of Bach, Mozart and other classical composers, has died at age 87. Read his obituary in The New York Times. (2015-1-25)
- Canterbury Choral Society has announced the death of its founder and longtime conductor Charles Dodsley Walker on January 17. Mr. Walker was 94. (2015-1-18)
- On Saturday, January 24, Q2 Music presents the first of its monthly 24-hour marathons of 2015 with "Raised Voices," a tribute to today's wild, ravishingly beautiful music for vocal and choral ensemble. Hosted by Helga Davis, the marathon repeats Friday, January 30. Q2 Music is WQXR's online music station devoted to dynamic contemporary classical music, trailblazing ensembles and vibrant, live performances from New York City's leading new-music venues. Have a favorite contemporary choral work you'd like to hear? Submit your suggestion at www.wqxr.org/#!/story/choral-fixation-24-hours-new-music-voice/. (2015-1-13)
- Read "Is Faith Required to Perform Sacred Classical Music," an article by Brian Wise and Naomi Lewin, at www.wqxr.org/#!/story/faith-required-perform-sacred-classical-music/. (2014-11-30)
- Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Clurman, has released a new CD entitled Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit. The recording, featuring soloists Ron Raines, Bruce Ruben and Michael Slattery, introduces exciting arrangements of traditional songs that represent the Jewish holidays and life-cycle events. For more information, visit www.judithclurman.com. (2014-11-5)
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- January 29, 2015: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for North River Sing, a community chorus in Jersey City dedicated to the Great American Songbook.
- January 26, 2015: New link for The Singing Experience, workshops for aspiring singers conducted by Linda Amiel Burns.
- January 22, 2015: New link for ChoirFestivals.info, an online directory of choir festivals.
- January 13, 2015: New link for Choir-Mart Accessories, offering concert-wear for choirs. New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for the Children's Jazz Choir of NYC.
- December 24, 2014: New Choir Directory listing for New York Chamber Choirs, a new venture directed by Alistair Hamilton.
- December 12, 2014: We've added titles to the ad listings in the Info Exchange to make them easier to scan.
- November 15, 2014: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for Urban Kantorei, a mixed-voice choir based in midtown Manhattan.
- October 21, 2014: New Choir Directory listing for the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir.
- September 8, 2014: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for The Village Chorus for Children and Youth, based in the East Village.
- September 3, 2014: New Choir Directory listing for Hudson Opera Theatre, based in Sugar Loaf, NY.
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