CHORAL CHIHUAHUA

Revd Canon Dr Victoria Johnson - outgoing precentor at York Minster and incoming to St John's College Cambridge - gives Sammy and Robert some context on Lent while they listen to plangent and powerful tracks by Dobrinka Tabakova, Buxtehude, Tallis (natch) and Bairstow. (THIS EPISODE DOES NOT CONTAIN JAMES MACMILLAN'S MISERERE. BUT IT SHOULD.) Follow Victoria Johnson on X Follow Dobrinka...

Robert tries to understand where singing and music are in schools in 2024 and gets a summary from Tim Burnage on how things have changed. He talks to Thomas Leech, director of the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme and we also hear from Eamonn in Dublin on a new initiative run by Chamber Choir Ireland. Follow Thomas Leech on X Find out more about the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Progra...

Clare Wilkinson, Sammy and Robert chat about what matters when singing or listening to polyphony - mostly in Renaissance music but relevant more widely. Some good tips in this one for singers - and even conductors! Follow Clare Wilkinson on X Find out more about Cambridge Early Music Summer Schools TRACKS : (1) William Byrd - Mass for Three Voices: V. Agnus Dei ; The Tallis Scholars / Peter P...

...or IMPENDING DOOM. Nicholas has an actually very light-hearted chat with Ellie Slorach of Kantos Chamber Choir and Harry Bradford of Recordare about the journey with their young choirs so far, while Robert tries to remember what it felt like back in 1986 with I Fagiolini... www.kantoschamberchoir.com www.recordarechamberchoir.co.uk TRACKS : (1) Gustav Holst - I Love My Love ; Recordare / Harry...

We're back! Our spring season ('spring' is a bit 'hopeful' at the moment and also autumn for southern hemisphere listeners) opens with a look at vocal jazz in the cool company of the sextet, STANDARD DEVIATION. Ever tried it yourself and wondered just how it works? Now you can. Robert is joined by Tegan Eldridge, Olivia Hugh-Jones, Nell Norman, Hugh Beckwith, Harry Baker and Tom Lowen. www.standar...

Eamonn, Robert and Sammy finally make it to the same room for mulled wine, mince pies and some intriguing Christmas tracks. Virtual champagne is opened to celebrate 50 episodes of the podcast. TRACK LISTING : Trad. Arr. Stephen Sametz - Gaudete Chanticleer Peter Warlock - The Rich Cavalcade Allegri Singers / Louis Halsey John Rutter - What Sweeter Music Tenebrae / Nigel Short Juan Frances de...

Charlotte Mobbs and Dr. Jenevora Williams are back to talk to Eamonn about how the menopause affects singing. A REALLY USEFUL episode. [See also 3 eps back: ''Everything you wish you’d known about hormones and the voice"] TRACK LISTING: Vivaldi - Gloria: Gloria in excelsis Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi / Richard Vendome Trio Bulgarka - Nauchil Sai Dobri Tim Lea Young - Three Wings Voice Trio Jon...

Are we all a teeny weeny bit obsessed with slow-moving choral music? Isn't it fun to sing something fast? Robert and Sammy go for a short ride in a fast choral machine, with the help of Stef Conner, Joanna Marsh, Roderick Williams, Cheryl Frances-Hoade and Bernard Hughes. TRACK LISTING : (mostly 'sections from') Monteverdi - Io mi son giovinetta Consort of Musicke / Anthony Rooley Flints...

Robert and Eamonn finally meet and talk: commissioning, a South African project 25 years on and at the National Youth Girls Choir course introduce Carris Jones (the first female back row singer at St Paul's Cathedral) and Joanna Tomlinson. Also why you should blow bubbles into your drinks after all. TRACK LISTING : Monkitsi Seoketsa - uJehova I Fagiolini / SDASA Chorale Mendelssohn - Hear my...

Robert talks to vocal coach / young voice specialists Charlotte Mobbs and Dr Jenevora Williams about physical and mental issues facing young females as they go through puberty and voice development. TRACK LISTING : Carole King - (You make me feel like) A Natural Woman Aretha Franklin Gustav Holst - Ave Maria National Youth Training Choir / Greg Beardsall Vivaldi - Salve Regina Mhairi Lawson - sopr...

Nicholas goes to St Paul's Cathedral to talk to master of the choristers Andrew Carwood and Byrd scholar Dr Katie Bank (of Byrd Central) about their passion for William Byrd's music. Is Peter Phillips right? Do audiences like Tallis while singers prefer Byrd? TRACK LISTING : Byrd - Fantasia BK62 (excerpt) Christian Wilson, organ Byrd - Lord, in they wrath, correct me not Alamire / David Skinner By...

A rather tired Robert and Nicholas chat with Julia Doyle immediately after sessions for a premiere recording of a fabulous four-choir mass from 17th century Rome. [Recorded July 1st]   TRACK LISTING: Orazio Benevoli – Missa Tu es Petrus (Various sections) - I Fagiolini / Hollingworth Orazio Benevoli – Missa Si Deus pro nobis (two excerpts) - Le concert spirituel / Hervé Niquet Bonifazio...

Meet Robert Quinney, director of music at New College, Oxford: also young professional singer Ellie Stamp. Thomas Guthrie, Nicholas Mulroy and Robert Hollingworth continue to muse on creativity and STUFF. TRACK LISTING: Howells - Magnificat from New College service  New College Choir, Robert Quinney Deborah Pritchard - Nunc Dimittis from New College Service New College Choir, R...

An improbable sixth season begins with an oblique response to the recent John Eliot Gardiner incident. Singer/opera director Thomas Guthrie joins Nicholas Mulroy and Robert Hollingworth to mull things over. In New York, Nicholas talks to director Aria Umezawa and singer Isaiah T Bell with an alternative view on hierarchy in the rehearsal room. Also featuring a thrilling new mini-series:...

Robert drops in on the Sixteen’s Genesis 16 programme for young choral singers and talks to the singers and grumpy old Eamonn, and the ep ends with an interview with Sarah Latto of Echo Vocal Ensemble, former G16 and now running her own choral groups.  TRACK LISTING : Trad. arr. Gustav Holst - I love my love Genesis 16 / Eamonn Dougan (in rehearsal) William Byrd - Ne irascaris, Domine Th...

Eamonn is running a singing course in Italy with some older singers who have a post-Covid perspective on singing in choirs. Lots of interesting technical tips in this one plus lovely and unfamiliar late 16th century Italian music. TRACK LISTING : Luca Marenzio - Iniquos odio habui The Sixteen / Eamonn Dougan Claudio Monteverdi - T'amo, mia vita’ I Fagiolini / Robert Hollingworth Luca Marenzio...

While we all enjoy the musicianship and the inevitably brief treble career of Malakai Bayoh, Nicholas talks to Scott Price, Director of Music at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial [state] School, London, and Anita Morrison, who has taught boys (brilliantly) at London Oratory School, St John's Cambridge, Westminster Cathedral and St George's Chapel Windsor. Fascinating insights throughout the prog...

Robert and Nicholas meet up after a few weeks off to mispronounce Norwegian (twice), talk Monteverdi (again) and to 'get Marian' with Victoria (natch) Song of Songs and Cecilia McDowall. Te' Jondalen Og Fri Trad.etter Ivar T.Dahl / Agnes Buen Garnds Arr. Henrik Ødegaard / Grete P.Helgerød Oslo Chamber Choir / Grete Pedersen Cecilia McDowall - There is no rose The Oxford Choir / Ben Parry...

Sammy (they've given up calling him Nicholas), Eamonn & Robert blow away the cobwebs to welcome in music for SPRING. Lili Boulanger, Guillaume de Machaut, Caroline Shaw, Peter Warlock and Monteverdi (not Zefiro torna either) - with the Carice Singers, Gabrieli Consort, Gothic Voices, The 24 (Uni of York), Orpheus Vokale Ensemble and Concerto Italiano. Lili Boulanger - Hymne au soleil &nbs...

The second of two programmes in which Eamonn and Nicholas consider J.S.Bach's two Passion settings. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/choral-chihuahua . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emergency ep: Eamonn and Robert dip their toes into the dizzying breadth of repertoire of The BBC Singers. Could be a useful introduction to decision makers that don't know the group that well... Music by Ravel, Boulez, Gabriela Lena Frank, Laura Mvula, Brumel and Bernard Hughes. #WeAreTheBBCSingers TRACK LISTING: Pierre Boulez - Le soleil des eaux (part of No.2 La Sorgue) / Phyllis Bryn...

The first of two programmes in which Eamonn and Nicholas consider J.S.Bach's two Passion settings. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/choral-chihuahua . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eamonn, Nicholas and Robert trawl some mostly unusual repertoire for Lent and Holy Week. Giovanni Croce - Mascarate da Furlani (1590) I Fagiolini / Robert Hollingworth Dawn Walters - Pro dolorosa Eius passione (2021) Swan Consort / Anita Datta Poulenc - Vinea mea electa  (1938) Bavarian Radio Chorus / Peter Dijkstra Rocío Jurado - La Saeta al Cristo de Los Gitanos Ernst Krenek - from Lamentat...

In a Norway as snowy as 'The Cold Scene' from King Arthur, Robert and new regular presenter Nicholas Mulroy work with friend and violinist, Bjarte Eike - the creative playboy behind Barokksolistene and The Alehouse Boys - and find that play has a serious place in music-making. Purcell - Curtain Tune (Timon of Athens) - The Alehouse Sessions / Barokksolistene Purcell - Hole in the wall (Abdelazar)...

In the space of a single morning but several coffees in York, Robert meets Roderick Williams the night after he premieres a new version of Dichterliebe in English, T.J.Callahan to find out what Shape Note singing is, and asks singing teacher Susan Young what three things she thinks choral conductors would benefit from knowing. TRACKLISTING - Schubert - 'A stormy morning' Roderick Williams & Ch...