Concert: Choir Program (Featuring YOUR Choir)

Have Áine and Tom (Hill, renowned clarinetist for the Boston Chamber Music Society) come and work with your choir! 

This is an opportunity to put the timeless and touching mystery of Celtic music into your choral repertoire.

Here's how it works: 

Áine will supply sheet music and a recording of the songs (SATB) in advance to the choral director.  There are several choices.  You can hear the tracks on the 'audio' section of this page.

Once the parts have been learned, Áine will work (via phone) on the phonics with any soloists who want the full-immersion experience of singing solo parts in the original Gaelic or Welsh!

Tom and Áine join the choir for a couple of rehearsals the day before the performance (as well as the day of the performance), depending on what your rehearsal needs are. 

Let us know if you would like Áine and Tom to accompany you on any pieces that you wish to include in your Celtic program.  

See 'background' section for detailed description of songs.  

Debra Bennet has written up the SATB parts and has been kind enough to allow us to use them with other choirs.
(see sample in downloads section of this page).

SAMPLE PROGRAM:

NOTE: You can download this program in .doc or .pdf format by clicking on 'Choir Program' in the right margin.

Deus Meus

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Celtic Lamentations"
(Traditional Irish/ Words in Gaelic and Latin)

The Latin is repetitive, so the choir choruses on the Latin lines.
A few adventuresome members who wish to be featured may learn a few lines of Gaelic from Áine by phone (using phonics).

Caoineadh na dTri Mhuire

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Celtic Lamentations"
(Traditional Irish/words in Gaelic)

The 2nd and fourth lines are repetitive.
The words are simple
(Phonics: "o-kone is oh-kone oh")
Since it is a song for women, only ladies sing (nice contrast).

Suo Gan

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
This track has not yet been released
(Traditional Welsh/ words in Welsh and/or English)

Several options:
a) It can be sung in English.
b) Soloist can sing in Welsh. Áine has phonics written out and can run through them with you in advance by phone.
c) 3 parts can sing 'ahs' or 'ohs' if Welsh is being sung by a soloist.
d) Áine can solo some or all of the song in Welsh.
e) combo of the above suggestions can be used. (recommended)

My Gentle Harp

(to the air of Danny Boy/words in English)

Robert Shaw's arrangement (WB Publications) works well
Áine has optional words "O Land of Love," if preferred.

PRELUDE & SOLOS:

Tom and Áine are happy to include solos and a prelude if desired.
Tom appears on two of Áine's albums "The Twilight Realm" and "Celtic Meditation Music."
Audio samples of 'The Mermaid' and Spirits of the World' from these albums can be listed to (see right margin).

OTHER POSSIBLE CHORAL PIECES:

I nGaol De

(by Tómas O'Canainn/ Gaelic words) sheet music available directly from Tómas.
Recorded on the album "The Mysts of Time"

Repetitive and easy to learn for English speakers.
Straightforward SATB, as arranged by Tómas
Choir can learn the simple phonics or 3 lower parts can be harmonized using 'ahs'

Ave Virgo Virginium ('Mathair)

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Celtic Pilgrimage"
(Sarum Plainchant, Latin Words)

3 part harmony.
Scott Petito, my co-produced, slightly adjusted the medieval style 3 part harmonies to make them a little more modern
Harmonies are tricky enough. Check it out before you take it on.
Lovely piece for women in the Marian tradition.

Christe Redemptor

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Mysts of Time"
(Sarum Plainchant, Latin words)

4 part harmony, quite conventional.

Calon Lan

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Spirit of ..."
(Traditional Welsh, Welsh words, English version available)

Suggest a soloist with choir accompanying with 'ahs' or share the soprano parts among 2 or 3 singers.
Very conventional harmonically.
Very popular with audiences. Can be sung in English or alternate between Welsh and English. Lots of options.

Song of the Banshee

You can hear this track in 'audio' on this page.
Recorded on the album "Celtic Lamentations")
(improvised - vocables in Gaelic)
If you're looking for more adventure, and not afraid of a little improvisation, there are choral harmony options for this piece.

Tom and I have done this program only once and it was at the request of a choir.

It worked out beautifully and we really enjoyed the collaboration. While attending boarding school in County Galway, I had the good fortune to be in many 4-part choirs over the years and loved it!

Since we enjoyed it so much - and the music has been arranged for SATB, we thought it might be fun to see if we could do it with other choirs.

bennettx4@verizon.net

617 484 4420