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Spring Hours for June / Newsletter Vacation
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 Spring is sprung, the grass is up ... well, okay at the moment, the grass is mostly drowned from four days of thunderstorms, but you get the general idea...
For the month of June, we'll be closing a little early and we'll be closed Fridays. Here are our modified hours (changes are indicated in bold):
- Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 4:30 p.m. Central Time
- Closed Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
We'll also be closed July 2nd to celebrate Canada Day.
Normal hours resume on July 3rd (10-5 Central, M-F)
The Choir Room will also be taking a bit of a vacation. There won't be a newsletter for July or August, so we can focus on getting ready for the Christmas season and getting the website updated.
(We'll post the July and August Facebook winners in September. Remember, August is your last chance to win a $100 gift certificate, so remember to Like us on Facebook!)
Breaking News:
Judy will be at the Hymn Society national conference in July here in Winnipeg! We'll have a dealer's table there, featuring the latest organ music from a wide range of publishers, including Augsburg Fortress, Oxford University Press, Concordia, Morningstar Music, and many others. Canadian Choral will also be hosting a choral reading session at the conference. You can register for the conference, which takes place from July 15-19, 2012 at the University of Manitoba, here.
 One of the featured titles at our table will be the One Minute Devotions for the Church Musician books by Nancy Raabe. This series of devotional books is tied to the three year cycle of weekly lessons assigned by the Revised Common Lectionary. The Gospel reading for each week serves as the theme for that devotion and is suitable for rehearsals or personal use. Cycle A and Cycle B are available at the conference (or by special order), Cycle C, which is just coming out in June, should be available at the conference and online shortly after that.
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Planning Ahead: Lorenz 2012 Christmas Cantatas Online for Review
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 It's hard to think in terms of planning for Christmas when you're firing up the barbeque, but we've got information for the four new Lorenz cantatas up on our site.
Stock will be available for purchase in July.
 Behold the Star (Lloyd Larson)
The story of faith is often reflected as a journey from darkness to light. The Old Testament speaks of Israel living in bondage and darkness, awaiting the light of the promised Messiah, and His coming is punctuated by light every step of the way: a bright angelic host proclaiming the news to Judean shepherds keeping watch over their flocks; a shining star inviting Magi from afar to the young Christ-child in an act of worship and praise. This extended work for choir, narrators, and congregation is a blend of original and familiar carols.
 A Blest Messiah Born (Larry Shackley)
In "A Blest Messiah Born," Larry Shackley skillfully blends some of the most beloved ancient carols into a fresh, captivating retelling of the story of Jesus' birth. It begins with God's eternal plan of redemption, then starts the Christmas story with the Annunciation. The entire work lends itself to simple staging, adding characters in each number to build a living manger scene.
 A Garland of Carols (Anna Laura Page / Jean Anne Shafferman)
The journey from Advent to Christmas is filled with vivid images of beloved traditions: the lighting of candles and Christmas trees as the light of Christ glows with increasing intensity; decorations of evergreens, symbols of the promise of rebirth; the emergence of stars atop the trees to guide the pilgrim journey; the presentation of gifts in celebration of God's great gift to us all. It includes five suites, one for each Sunday in Advent and a fifth for Christmas Eve. Each includes an opening carol for choir and a closing medley for choir and optional congregation, as well as narratives for candle-lighting and inspired stories and scriptures for that suite's theme. Available in 2-Part (optional SATB cued notes)
 Heaven's Child (Pepper Choplin)
Through imaginative poetic metaphors in the narrative and engaging yet wonderfully accessible music, Choplin leads us on a unique journey to reveal the Christmas story. The familiar components are all there--the visitations of the angels, the startled excitement of the shepherds, the shimmering guiding star, the worshipful reverence of the three kings. Pepper was also inspired to include the poignant chronicle of Simeon, whose greatest desire was to live long enough to personally witness the coming of the promised One, thus fulfilling the prophecy of long ago.
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Celebrating the ABCs of choral music:
The Artistry of Boosey and Hawkes’ Canadian composers
June featured composer: Imant Raminsh
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We've chosen some Canadian composers and arrangers who have material in the excellent Boosey and Hawkes series "Choral Music Experience" (edited by Doreen Rao).
The series has a wide variety of sacred and secular choral music, and its intended audience of middle and high school students mean that the pieces are accessible snd interesting.
Check out our special section to see samples and listen to audio (where available):
These titles are currently available by special order. Please call or e-mail us for details and to place your order.
 June's Featured Composer: Imant Ramnish
Imant Raminsh was born in Ventspils, Latvia; emigrated to Canada at an early age and studied at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, University of Toronto, Akademie Mozarteum, Salzburg, The University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria
His music is tonal and romantic.
"The Choral Music Experience of Imant Raminsh is all at once powerful and gentle, lyrical and poetic … Imant’s choral music celebrates our musical heritage and envisions our musical future." – Doreen Rao
Sacred titles:
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Adonai ro-i lo ehsar [Psalm 23] (from Symphony of Psalms) - SATB
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Earth Is The Lord's (from Symphony of Psalms) - SSAA or SATB
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Laudate Dominum (from Symphony of Psalms) - SSAA or SATB
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Seigneur Tu Sais Tout De Moi (from Symphony of Psalms) - SSAA or SATB
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Secular titles:
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Ej Saulite Driz Pie Dieva (from Under the Baltic Sun) - SATB
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Nootka Paddle Song - SATB
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Pleasant It Looked - SATB
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Song of the Stars - SA or SAB
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Sun Is A Luminous Shield - SSA or SAB
- Vestigia - SSA
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Summertime (Vacation) Blues: The Sequel
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 It's that time of year again. The cabin, the cottage, the beach, the family trips - suddenly your choir is all missing in action and you still have to prepare something for Sunday!
Here are a few suggestions for duets or small groups, for those really lean Sundays when there's no time to practice and only one or two people from each section available:
Small Groups:
Duets or Soloists:
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May 2012 Facebook Winner....
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 Congratulations to Blaine Sack of Stittsville, ON, our May 2012 Facebook draw winner.
Just for Liking our Facebook page, Blaine won a $100 gift certificate for the store. It's really that simple!
Like us today for your opportunity to win... draws will be held monthly until August of 2012 so don't miss out.
(Remember: You can gift your certificate to your choir if you win... directors, encourage your members to Like us!)
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Thanks for reading!
Betty Punkert, Editor, The Choir Room
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Check out these new selections from Judy's desk (available by special order):
 Let Me Know Beauty:
Com-posed in strophic form, this work is a celebration of the many ways through which we experience beauty in our lives.
 Deep River:
Moving in its simplicity and rich with choral color, this stunning a cappella arrangement of the well-known spiritual is breathtaking in every measure.
And for Winter Concert planning, try this best-seller from last year:
A Glee-ful Christmas (Medley):
 Join the cast of Glee as they spread Christmas cheer with dazzling renditions of these holiday classics in a 10-minute medley that will add sparkle to every December concert! Arranged by Mark Brymer for SATB, SAB and SSA Choral
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 Art and Science of Planning a Choral Concert (Barbara Harlow):Planning a choral concert requires consideration of the conductor's vision, the singers' hopes, and the audience's expectations. The underpinnings of a great concert are many and varied, and this book explores the planning process from conception all the way to the after-concert reception.
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July 8-14, North Battleford, SK
August 18-25,
Chatham, ON
Deadlines: June 1, Sept 1, Dec 1, March 1; National
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Vi Hart is at it again with this fun little visual representation of harmonics in music. Using lines and squiggles, she shows how sound can blend and merge, and how offsetting the same sound by a beat or two can create beautiful music.
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Have an idea for a topic or section?
Feel free to drop us a line with your suggestions and feedback. We'd love to hear from you! |
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Side Notes:
Canada Day (July 2 - observed):
Canadian Choral Centre will be closed on Monday July 2nd to celebrate Canada Day. E-mails, online orders, and phone calls will be returned on Tuesday.
Check us out on Facebook! Is your choir or church on Facebook? Let us know and we'll connect with you.
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