Spring is here! As conductors across the country start to wrap up their concert seasons, many are already planning repertoire for next year. We will be rolling out our 2014 catalog next month as well, so keep an eye out for a great collection of outstanding work. In the meantime, take a look at this amazing piece by composer Toby Twining. If you have any questions about this piece or others in our catalog, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, we love hearing from conductors and are happy to help you find new work perfect for your choir.
Composer of the Month – Toby Twining
Toby Twining is a vocal wizard. Not only does he write some of the most interesting music for the voice in the 21st century, but he performs it like few others can. Toby specializes in extended techniques and micro-tonal compositions that are accessible by audiences and performable by choirs; it’s the kind of music that makes the listener lean in and wonder how the ensemble is making those amazing sounds. If you haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know his work, we recommend any of his three CD’s, from Shaman (SONY), a collection of shorter pieces featuring a variety of extended techniques, to Chrysalid Requiem, his micro-tonal masterpiece, and Euridice, a beautifully theatrical album originally written for the stage (both on Cantaloupe Records). Toby currently lives in New York and is regularly writing and performing for ensembles all over the country.
Featured Composition – Hee-oo-hm-ha!
This piece was originally recording by Toby Twining Music on his album Shaman (Sony records) with Toby performing the counter-tenor solo himself. It’s a rhythmic wild romp of punchy metric changes and and cool timbral shifts through the use of vocal frying and harmonic slides. This is a great piece for small to mid-sized choirs that can quickly maneuver through the metric shifts and jazzy harmonies.! In 2013 C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective recorded a revamped version of the piece for their first album Vol. 1 Uncaged. This new version of the piece is featured in our catalog and our selected composition of the month. You will find a Recording on our site and a perusal score included with this newsletter.
Ensemble of the Month – Choral Chameleon & Chameleonic
These two groups in NYC function under one organization and are both conducted by Vince Peterson. As a composer and arranger himself, Vince understands the importance of integrating new music into his programs, and has premiered over 80 works in the last 5 years alone. More than just advocates of new music, Choral Chameleon has helped the development of both composers and conductors through their annual Choral Chameleon Institute, a unique 8-day intensive that offers private lessons, reading sessions, masterclasses, and more. You can learn more about their important work in the choral world at choralchameleon.com.
