My handout information is as follows (cross-posted to D2L):
Tony
Taylor's Choir Review of...
Choir
Background:
Amabile
Choirs is actually 8 auditioned choirs based in London, Ontario. 4
female and 4 male choirs are lead by 7 conductors, a number of
accompanists, and a handful of administrators. The Amabile program is
world renowned, and boasts a membership of over 300 choristers. As a
non-profit organization, an average of $50 is the monthly payment.
With more than 12 visited countries under their belt from
international tours, competitions and festivals, and 23 CDs recorded,
it is no wonder that they are ranked among some of the best
children's choir programs in the world.
By
no means did Amabile start with 8 choirs. They have been added over
the years for different purposes, but each gender has four
performance-difficulty levels ranging from absolute beginner to
professional-grade performances. The program has built in voice
lessons, theory lessons in addition to the ensembles.
Female
Choirs:
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“Amabile
is an Italian word that simply means “friendly”… and it’s
really how Amabile began. At the end of the 1985 London Kiwanis
Music Festival, local music teachers Brenda Zadorsky and John
Barron took their respective choral groups – who had competed
against each other – for ice cream at what is now known as
Cherryhill Village Mall, to celebrate. The 27 girls with cones in
hand, wandered onto a set of risers and just for fun, this
impromptu group sang. The voices blended beautifully, and that
fall, Amabile Youth Singers were born.”
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Male
Choirs:
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John
Barron:
Co-founder
of the Amabile Choirs. John Barron was a legendary member of the
Canadian choral community, known not only for his founding of the
Amabile choirs, but for his work with the Ontario Youth Choir and
bringing the Kodaly method to Canadian schools, among much more. He
was awarded the Order of Canada. Barron recently passed away, but
worked with Amabile until his death.
Brenda
Zadorsky:
Co-Founder
of the Amabile Choirs. She has won numerous awards for her artistic
leadership through the organization. Zadorsky travels extensively to
participate in clinics, festivals and guest performances. She is
recognized as a highly respected teacher and music education
consultant. Her personal studio has produced many students who have
gone on to pursue performing careers. Zadorsky continues to work with
the Amabile organization, especially with the Amabile Youth Singers.
Repertoire
Recommendations:
- Amabile Chamber Choir's “Wrapped in Song”, Track 3: Morten Lauridson's “O Magnum Mysterium.”
This piece has always been an absolute favourite of mine, and features the combined advanced Amabile Children's Choirs. I think it stretches the musicality of the choir as a whole, and the Amabile Chamber Choir's rendition is warm and colourful.
- Primus: Amabile Men's Choir's “Inner Fie”, Track 10: Stephen Hatfield's “Nukapianguaq.”
Amabile Choirs have a strong affiliation with Hatfield, having recorded two CDs of exclusively his works. This piece features Inuit song and related sounds- a uniquely Canadian composition, most certainly, which is but a sample of what Amabile Choirs do for Canadian music.
- Amabile Choirs of London, Canada's “All Good People”, Track 14: Stephen Hatfield's “All Too Soon.”
This track features combined Amabile Choirs, and is accompanied by a group of instrumentalists. The piece demonstrates the diversity of styles the choir can portray in just one track.
- Primus: Amabile Men's Choir's “Inner Fie”, Track 16: Zoltan Kodály's “Esti Dal.”
Originally a folk song, Kodály's “Evening Song” is in Hungarian, and is one of his most famous pieces. It is bare, quiet and requires a certain musicality to get the meaning across. Primus' performance draws you in with its subtle colour changes and calm, clear diction.
- Amabile Chamber Choir's “Wrapped in Song”, Track 23: Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott, “And So It Goes.”
Versatility goes a long way. Chilcott's arrangement of this Billy Joel tune is stunning. It is a satisfyingly strong chorale arrangement of a pop song, and remains identifiable as such. The performance is the selling point though; the Chamber Choir sounds intimate and deep here.
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