Spells
Produktdetaljer
Om bidragsyterne
Bob Chilcott has become one of the world's most widely performed composers and arrangers of choral music. His compositional output reflects his wide taste in music styles and his commitment to writing music that is both singable and communicative. He has been involved in choral music most of his life he was a chorister and then a choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, and was a member of the British vocal group The King's Singers for whom he made a number of popular arrangements of well-known songs from all genres. As well as being a full-time composer he is also a highly acclaimed choral conductor. He has been privileged to conduct many choirs all over the world. He is Principal Guest Conductor of The BBC Singers and in 2019 he was appointed Principal Conductor of Birmingham University Singers. His music has been widely recorded by many choirs and groups including The King's Singers, Tenebrae, and The BBC Singers.As a whole collection, these pieces provide a wonderful contrast, capture exquisitely the mood of Raine's words and display a superb command of vocal writing. I have no doubt that, for a choir which sets itself high standards and wants something to mould and craft into performance, there is a very worthwhile cycle of pieces here.
Music Teacher, March 2003
Chilcott has astutely chosen some fine texts here . . . Chilcott's vocal parts serve the texts well within the restricted range of upper voices. Here is no straining after exotic textures for their own sakes. But there isn't a dull moment either. The generic title Spells leads into charms and incantations, lullabies and hypnotic lilting. There is a beautfully understated runic feel to some of the melodic ideas and something occasionally Celtic too . . .
Given really expressive singing (and good conducting, and a good pianist) these songs would spell-bind an audience in the way that only children's voices, singing good music, can.
Peter Dale, Choir & Organ Sept 02