Choir and Orchestra
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 411
    Hello, here's a plea for help.
    A local amateur symphony orchestra (quite good) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a concert in our church in the autumn. The conductor has suggested that our choir join them for a couple of items. Said choir numbers around 20 on a good day, but few men (3 or 4). I could probably rope in some students.
    We'd welcome thoughts on repertoire, please. My suggestion of part of Messiah (they know 'And the Glory') or Vivaldi Gloria didn't go down too well, I think the orchestra would prefer something meaty and Romantic. But it would need to be pretty straightforward and in not more than 4 parts.

    Thank you in anticipation!

  • CGM
    Posts: 699
    "How lovely is Thy dwelling place" / "Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen"
    from the Brahms Requiem
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  • Casavant Organist
    Posts: 805
    @CGM I would suggest that you do that a bit faster, as it is hard to do so slowly with only 20 singers.
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    Bass and tenor parts both need to give confident support over the full range. 3 or 4 men won't be enough for this piece. But it is meaty and romantic, and has appropriate words.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Faure Requiem with the expanded orchestration.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    No Handel choral music with such numbers of men, unless you have a surfeit of deep altos to cover the tenor lines. Handel's choral tenor lines typically require *real* Tenor 1s (no baritones pinch-hitting as tenors), and more than 2 of them for blend. The failure to observe the reality is the reason for so much painful amateur Handel out there.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Will this be in the church or the parish hall?
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 411
    In the church, which is large and 19th century Gothic, with a good acoustic. The choir usually sing from a loft at the back, with amplification, but I think it will be wise on this occasion to be at the front with the orchestra. And preferably without amplification.

    Someone from the orchestra has just suggested 'O for the wings of a dove' but that doesn't appeal to me; I don't think I could keep a straight face when hearing that from some of our, ahem, rather more substantial singers.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    A Brahms motet or two might be nice. I'm thinking of 'Let nothing ever grieve thee' (I can't remember the German right now). I think that I have heard this done with orchestra. If you could get some additional men, one of the Chandos anthems would be a seldom heard treat. Or maybe something on the level of Charpentier's Christmas mass (which I don't really like). An easier Bach cantata might be nice, Es ist ein Kind geboren or some such from that genre. Some of Willcocks' hymn or carol arrangements with orchestra would be within your ability.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6lAefCCjI

    You need a solid bass section and tenor section to pull off the supernal Amen soundly (and yes, you want a that final low F from the basses).

    (PS: The choral parts make a double fugue at the 9th.)



    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Steve CollinsSteve Collins
    Posts: 1,022
    My son, Andrew, plays with a local community orchestra. They recently performed some movements of the Rutter "Requiem" quite nicely.

    I also have a Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria" for Sop Solo, SATB, Piano/Harp, Organ, that I can easily arrange to include stings and winds, but probably not the brass and percussion.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    I've done the Rutter twice, it's actually beyond some early critical reproach. Orchestration is less than Faure, though, unless it's been expanded and I didn't notice.
    What about some Monteverdi?
    Ala Steve, I arranged the Schubert for SATB, Strings, harpsichord and oboe obligato if that's of interest.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Did someone say 'Monteverdi'?
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    Serving Green Mountain coffee.....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7ozXY-7Jw
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 269
    If you are looking for a longer piece, the Cherubini Requiem or one of his coronation masses may work.
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 411
    Thanks for all the suggestions, plenty to discuss with the conductor.
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,483
    The Monteverdi is impossible with amateur singers, and actually very difficult with professional singers. I'm only talking about the choral parts!
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,483
    There are quite a few Rutter anthems which have orchestral parts if you want to go in that direction.
    Thanked by 1Viola
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    Very sad to see carpet in S. Jean Baptiste - it was a great old church. Sad to see casual attire of performers as well. And people wonder why musicians don't get respect.
    Thanked by 1eft94530
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