Sound—that wondrous wave of frequencies in motion which, when assembled in mathematical ratios and created with vision and love, produces the marvel of music.
Whether you love Henry Purcell’s early opera, “Dido and Aeneas,” The Manhattan Transfer’s jazzy rhythms, or Take 6’s grooves, you’re a fan of a capella. The term a capella is Italian for “in the style of the chapel,” referring to the way church music was performed. We know it as polyphonic (multiple voices) vocal music.
Here are two groups we’ve enjoyed this year who exemplify the art of the vocal ensemble and create beautiful, inventive, heart-felt, inspiring music. Listen to a video or two of each group and you’ll marvel at their spirit and musical precision. Enjoy!
The Performance
Some years ago, the St. Olaf Choir, from the college by that name in Northfield, MN, paid a visit to Norway. There they teamed up with the Nidaros Girl’s Choir (Nidaros Jentekor) and recorded a Christmas concert in Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral.
The concert covers varied styles, from classic Christmas songs to modern compositions that sound Medieval, choral concerto grosso, to spirituals.
The choir sounds more professional than those of most colleges, largely due to the strength of the excellent music program at St. Olaf College. The Gothic cathedral serves as an outstanding recording studio, its acoustics perfect for vocal performances.
This year, the one-hour concert is shown on PBS on Friday, 19 December, 8:00 PM CT—that’s this weekend, so don’t miss it!
http://www.pbs.org/program/christmas-norway-st-olaf-choir/#
The Cathedral
Founded in 1070 and designated the cathedral for Nidaros in 1152, it’s one of the oldest cathedrals in the world, and the northernmost in Europe. It was built over the burial site of Saint Olaf (995-1030), famed Viking king and patron saint of Norway. The Archbishop’s Palace Museum associated with the cathedral houses Norway’s crown regalia.
English: http://www.nidarosdomen.no/en-GB/
Norwegian: http://www.nidarosdomen.no/nb-NO/
Attributions:
“Sound” photo/design © 2014 Ilona Goin. The remaining photos on this page are from the websites of the artists, PBS, and Nidaros Cathedral.
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