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Views from the Choir Loft

Introducing polyphony in a round about way

Veronica Brandt · January 18, 2014

Bodfari welsh choir ‘Noson Lawen’ concert at Lleweni Uchaf, Bodfari, Wales, 1953 INGING IN PARTS is a beautiful thing to aspire to. Never take it for granted. A choir singing together in harmony must be close to a miracle, considering all the disparate elements that need to come together. So many things can get in the way – anxiety, apathy and embarrassment to name a few.

One short-cut is to learn rounds or canons. One tune for everyone. That doesn’t guarantee that singing in the round is necessarily simple, but one initial step is easier, getting you one step closer to the fun of singing and listening at the same time.

Last year we tackled Da pacem Domine by Melchior Franck. The year before I had attempted Non nobis, Domine, attributed to William Byrd. It proved a bit too much too soon. Da pacem Domine is just that little bit simpler, and repeating the tune All Year Long proved fruitful. There’s one tricky spot where a phrase starts on the up beat. With younger children we would clap and stomp to try show the rhythm. Anything is possible with patience.

Andre van Ryckeghem has collected 73 canons together into this little booklet. Jubilate Deo and Dona nobis pacem are two that we have had fun with.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sheet Music Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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