Not afraid to be simple

One of my favorite composers, Eric Whitacre has transcribed one of his newer choral pieces "The Seal Lullaby" for Youth Wind Ensemble (Grade 2-3)  The grade level for band music goes up to level 6 as the highest difficulty to play. In an era when many composers of modern music write complex music for complexity's sake, it's nice to know that some composers understand that music at its core is an emotional enterprise, and not an intellectual one.

Enjoy!

Seal Lullaby (Wind Symphony Transcription) by ericwhitacre

Cool multi-track recording - New Whitacre

Check out this track of "Close Your Eyes" from Eric Whitacre's musical Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings. It features a chorus member who recorded himself 4 times on each part on SSAATTBB, that's 32 tracks! A mix of 80's techno, japanese animation or anime, and modern choral work equals pretty awesome. Take a listen.

Catholics get their music selection right

Here's a performance by the Westminster Cathedral Choir doing Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque for midnight mass, probably the primary (and only major) Catholic Church in downtown London and in my humble opinion, the best all-male choir in the world, period.  If you want to hear them at their best check out their recording of Ildebrando Pizzetti's Messa di Requiem.

Here's the amazing choir singing during Communion. I'm almost tempted to go back to the Church. But the guy who wrote that beautiful music is a non-believer. Either way...enjoy.



Oh wow. They also programmed Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium. I'm almost converted!