In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
Home | Doo Wop | Barbershop | World | Contemporary | Christian | Vocal Jazz | Choral | Christmas | Instructional | Arrangements
Classical | Opera | Musicals | Personality | Young Singers | Disney | Videos | Songs | The Artists
Early Choral Music
The very definition of music, and particularly, a cappella, has changed throughout the centuries. Here, with these groups, you can hear what a cappella sounded like in the days when it really was written to be performed in the chapel. |
Madrigals Arrangements
If you're a fan or performer of choral music, you know that many of the amateur ensembles tend to lean towards the same repertoire. We all know that it's not their fault - it's just hard to find a broad range of pieces of sheet music to perform, right? - well, actually, no. Look no further! Whether four-century-old folk music, liturgical pieces, or even a choral take on 1980's pop, we've got everything a choral fan and performer needs to expand their repertoire and make their singing the freshest experience it's ever been, including songbooks and sheet music from some of the top choral arrangers and ensembles of the last half-century.
Motet Arrangements
A polyphonic vocal style of composition. The motet was popular in the middle ages, when it consisted of a tenor foundation upon which other tunes were added. The texts of these voices could be sacred or secular, Latin or French, and usually had little to do with each other, with the result that the composition lacked unity and direction. During the 14th century, isorhythm came into use and other rhythmic refinements, somewhat unifying the sound and texture of the motet.
Early Music Arrangements
Humans love of singing has been demonstrated from the very beginning of our history and was one of the first musical styles to be formalized with songs and written music. From Gregorian chant and mediaeval music thru the Renaissance there was great emphasis on the human voice and the songs were often sung a cappella. Although challenging this style of singing can be a lot of fun and every choir and ensemble should have some of these time-tested songs in their repertoire.
Early Music CDs
Much of the earliest music was composed for the unaccompanied voice reaching a peak during the Renaissance when there was flowering of talented European composers. Many of these composers were true musical geniuses and whose work is still vibrant and relevant today. We offer here a far ranging collection of these works performed by the top vocal ensembles from both Europe and the US.
Composers Early Music
Choral music is one of the earlist forms of music and the composers of this music were real pioneers in the concept of notated and arranged voices.
Early Music Ensembles
The very definition of music, and particularly, a cappella, has changed throughout the centuries. Here, with these groups, you can hear what a cappella sounded like in the days when it really was written to be performed in the chapel. Whether women’s groups from the U.S. or Norway, men’s ensembles from the UK or mixed-voice ones from Belgium or America, there are talented groups around the planet who are bringing new life to centuries-old music, exploring history and making it come alive to fans everywhere. If you like a cappella, you should know where it comes from – and with these groups, you’ll learn exactly that.
Madrigals
Madrigal, in music, secular composition for two or more voices, introduced in Italy in the 14th century and revived in a different form during the 16th century, at which time it also became popular with English, French, German, and Spanish composers. The word madrigal is thought to have been derived from mandriali (a short pastoral poem) or from matricale (a rustic song or poem in the mother tongue), or perhaps madriale (a hymn to the Virgin Mary).
Early Music Christmas
Christmas, as a holiday, goes back nearly two millennium. Music has changed over the time, but the idea of celebrating with music hasn’t. Much of our favorite Christmas music date back to the Middle Ages or even earlier, and the best way to experience them is in the work of those groups dedicated to preserving centuries-old music – Tudor polyphony, medieval chant, medieval carols, renaissance motets, plainchant or more.