Chris H #ChoirsForClimateThanks to Making Music for asking me to write a blog for them about repertoire and the environment! If you're interested in programming music about the climate but you're not sure where to start, there are some useful resources here. I'm also happy to be consulted about possible concert programmes, and can connect you with members of the Classical Declares team if you have more specialised requests. https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/music-repertoire-environment #ChoirsForClimate #MusicDeclaresEmergency #ClassicalDeclaresEmergency
My latest #ChoirsForClimate piece: this is Riversong, words by Rob MacFarlane. It's suitable for any largish choir (I think it needs at least 20 singers) and uses lots of short phrases and canons, flowing together to form a musical river. It's very easy to sing - if your choir can manage a simple round you'll be able to pick this up. And it's free under #CreativeCommons! https://choirsforclimate.com/2024/10/28/riversong/
New #ChoirsForClimate song!
Riversong – with words (below) by Rob MacFarlane, suitable for any level of choir. Best with lots of performers but will also work for a small group. It works Rob’s amazing text into easy rounds of five, ten and fifteen parts, and some very simple backing parts, which can all be performed together or separately. Designed for community choirs with a wide variety of abilities. Download (#CreativeCommons license) at https://choirsforclimate.com/riversong
Are you:
in or near Edinburgh?
passionate about the climate?
willing to sing about it?
Then come and sing with Choirs for Climate at the #Edinburgh #Climate Festival 2024!
Rehearsals Saturday 22nd June 10am-1pm (may finish earlier) and Saturday 29th June 10am-noon. After finishing rehearsing on the 29th, we'll head over to the Meadows for the gig, which is on 29th June, singing from 12.15-1 in the marquee.
Signup form: https://forms.gle/5qZTCwpTa27VUUBn7
#choir #scotland #ChoirsForClimate
Choirs for Climate - Edinburgh Climate Festival 29th June
Sign up here to sing with Choirs for Climate at the Edinburgh Climate Festival 2024! Rehearsals at Augustine United Reformed Church (41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL): Saturday 22nd June 10am-1pm (may finish earlier) and Saturday 29th June 10am-noon. We have access from 9.30am on both days so hopefully we'll actually start singing at 10am, please arrive early (tea and coffee available!). We'll be using the Studio space downstairs. There is a lift and a wheelchair accessible entrance. After finishing rehearsing on the 29th, we'll head over to the Meadows for the gig, which is on 29th June, singing from 12.15-1 in the marquee. Under-18s are welcome to join if accompanied by an adult. All the music for this gig will be easy enough to learn by ear, as the organisers have requested a set with plenty of audience participation. If you're able to make a contribution towards venue hire and printing/tea&coffee costs, that would be very welcome (maybe £5 or £10, but only if you can afford it easily). Email Chris on [email protected] if you have any queries not covered by this form.
Anyone in Edinburgh (or nearby) interested in helping to write a new climate change musical? DM me for details - hoping to do a workshop day or something like that in May/June. #NewMusic #Musical #Musicals #Climate #ClimateChange #ChoirsForClimate
Back on the promotion wagon! Today's piece is "Why We Sing", which is another #CreativeCommons licensed #ChoirsForClimate piece. You can hear recordings, see the full lyrics, and download a score for your #choir at https://choirsforclimate.com/2022/04/14/why-we-sing/ - it's for 2-part flexible choir and piano, with optional divisi to 4 parts. It explains why we think that singing can change the world. Originally written for the Ecocide Law project, the third verse can be changed to suit whatever cause you're singing about.
Ideally it should be performed as part of an entire programme for Choirs for Ecocide Law, which is available here: https://www.stopecocide.earth/choirs All the songs there are available for unison voices (or solo singer), flexible 2-part choir, or SATB, and accompaniment can be piano alone or an entire band (chord symbols included). It's licensed under #CreativeCommons, contributions to climate causes appreciated. #ChoirsForEcocideLaw #ChoirsForClimate #Ecocide
Today's bit of self-promotion: "The Rules" for flexible 2-part choir and piano! This is part of #ChoirsForEcocideLaw (the concert I'm going to see in a few weeks in Finland with 1000 people singing it, yikes) and was premiered at our Creative Scotland funded #ChoirsForClimate concert in March 2023. Just found a performance of the Choirs For Ecocide Law full programme on YouTube which I didn't know about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTrkvTwu0Ps&t=605s - a big thank you to the Koblenz University Choir in Germany!
Choirs for Ecocide Laws, Universitätschor Koblenz, Christian Jeub
And for people who follow me for choir purposes - guess what, there's a Choirs For Ecocide Law project! (I wrote one of the pieces and we performed several of them in March with #ChoirsForClimate - see my pinned post for details.) It's an entire programme of music that you can download, perform and use to campaign for ecocide law. https://www.stopecocide.earth/choirs
First performance of WARNING might be happening in Sweden soon apparently! https://choirsforclimate.com/2023/09/17/warning-canon/ Watch this space for details... #ChoirsForClimate