Jörgen Jersild and Svend S. Schultz Photo credit www.komponistforeningen.dk

100th Anniversary of Jörgen Jersild and Svend S. Schultz

2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the births of Danish choral masters Jörgen Jersild and Svend S. Schultz.  Jersild was a respected music educator and authority on ear training and harmony known for his effective choral writing, particularly for unaccompanied choir.  Pieces such as 3 Madrigali (1958) and 3 Romantic Chorus Songs (1971) are challenging yet sublime, and are considered masterpieces.

Schultz, one of the most beloved choral composers in Denmark, is remembered for his nearly forty year run as the choral conductor/director of the Danish Radio Choir.  His tonal, lyrical style was influenced by neoclassicism and his choral works such as Svinedrengen and Pan Laughed are powerful and compelling while maintaining the simplicity and accessibility that defines much of his work.

The referenced works above and many others by Jörgen Jersild and Svend S. Schultz are published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen.

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Noël! 3 Release

A recording of twenty selections from Noël! 3: Carols and Anthems for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, the latest title in the best-selling Noël series; will be digitally released in December and available on iTunes. Published by Novello, this collection for mixed voice choirs contains a variety of works hand-picked by acclaimed musical director and choral conductor David Hill. Ranging from elegantly simple pieces to those that are challenging and unconventional, the collection spans periods from the Baroque through to the present and features music for both sacred and secular programmes. Featured choral composers include Herbert Howells, Lennox Berkeley, Peter Warlock, Richard Rodney Bennett, Paul Mealor, John Tavener, Francis Pott, Nico Muhly, James Whitbourn, and Richard Allain.

For more information, please visit musicroom.com.

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US Premiere of Paul Mealor’s Wherever You Are

Based on letters written between the wives and partners of British military personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Paul Mealor’s critically-acclaimed work Wherever You Are will receive its US premiere by the women of the Torrance Civic Chorale on December 14 and 15 at James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance, CA. Commissioned by Gareth Malone for Series Four of BBC TV’s “The Choir” and first performed by Malone and the Military Wives Choir at The Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance, the work continues its wave of success in the UK charting at number 5 in the 2012 Classic FM Hall of Fame and claiming the Classic BRIT award for best single.

Click here for information about this exciting event. Click here to learn more about the piece and its variety of instrumentation options.

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New York Virtuoso Singers Commission Ten Music Sales Composers

In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the New York Virtuoso Singers are in the process of presenting twenty-five newly commissioned choral works spanning two concerts; ten of these twenty-five are written by composers from the Music Sales Group. Led by conductor Harold Rosenbaum on October 21 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, the ensemble premiered half of these works, including The Pool by John Harbison, Upon Julia’s Clothes by John Corigliano, and Save Me, O God by Yehudi Wyner.  On March 3, the remaining works will be performed and include world premieres by Mark Adamo, Richard Danielpour, Aaron Jay Kernis, David Lang, Thea Musgrave, Augusta Read Thomas, and Joan Tower.  All of the works will be recorded and released on an album for Soundbrush Records.

For more information about the New York Virtuoso Singers and these events, please click here.

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Judith Clurman’s “Sing Out, Mr. President” – New Choral Collection and CD Available

The octavo and CD recording of renowned choral conductor Judith Clurman’s newest project, “Sing Out, Mr. President,” (published by G. Schirmer and distributed by Hal Leonard) is now available for purchase.  Sixteen contemporary composers were commissioned to write short choral works set to quotations of American presidents in this remarkable collection which combines American history, culture and music. The set includes pieces by John Adams, Milton Babbitt, Nico Muhly, and Samuel Adler, as well as others who have infused musical life into the words of American leaders ranging from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

For more information on this publication, visit Hal Leonard’s website.
To purchase the CD recorded by Essential Voices USA on Sono Luminus, please click here.