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Menno Singers

Reconciling with Brahms

My complex relationship with Johannes Brahms goes all the way back to my childhood, and now, after half a century of memories, we come full circle. ‘Behold, all flesh is as the grass…’ My first serious encounter with Brahms remains a sublime mix of elation and trauma.  In 1976 I was one small chorister in a huge performance of Brahms’ German Requiem organized and conducted by my father. Fortunately, for 14-year-old me, the German Requiem was sung in English translation, so those Biblical passages come back to me, even now. That project took months of rehearsals led by my Dad… Read More »Reconciling with Brahms

Menno mosso: 60 years of singing

This afternoon in the sleepy, golden-leafed village of St. Jacob’s Ontario, Menno Singers presents the first concert in their anniversary season. This particular event will shine a spotlight on Abner Martin (my Dad) who founded this choir 60 years ago. In the early years of the choir’s formation, they sang renaissance polyphony. In those days it was common practice to sing Latin motets in English translation. (Even at St. Mary Magdalene’s the choral library is full of anglicized versions of the renaissance classics.) My Dad says one of the principal inspiration for him was in fact not recordings of choral music, but… Read More »Menno mosso: 60 years of singing

Free Christmas download

Yes, it is a bit absurd that I’m posting a free Christmas piece on August 17, but leaders of choral organizations all over the musical world need to plan their repertoire far ahead of time. They have to choose music far in advance to plan thematic programmes, to provide material for press releases, to order music in time to rehearse and perform concerts and church services. I’m giving you “Portinari Nativity” four months ahead of time since I figure it will not be published, and you can really only sing it once a year, and I want you to have… Read More »Free Christmas download