Interested in selections for cello and choir - college choir - to use
on tour next calendar year - for Nordic Choir - Luther College

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 19 May 2004 12:19 PDT

butch7 --

Are you looking for a list of such compositions (with links to more
identifying information) or are you looking for something more?  If
you are looking for a list, how extensive must such a list be to suit
your needs?

So far, I have found five such works, by 19th and 20th century
composers of substantial reputations, which are very likely to be
accessible in style -- i.e., not avant garde -- plus a few others
whose work is unfamiliar to me.  I'm sure I can locate other
selections, but possibly not many more from familiar composers.

Any further insight into your needs would be useful.

markj-ga

---

Clarification of Question by butch7-ga on 19 May 2004 15:03 PDT

Thank you for your efforts.  The five you have found by reputable
composers and not avant-garde sound just fine to me.  I look forward
to these five.  Best, Weston Noble

butch7 --

Thanks again for your clarification.  

Unfortunately, when I returned to the online database I had used to
make my claim that I had found several pieces for cello and chorus by
major composers, I ran into some frustrating difficulties.  I have not
been able verify that two of the most promising works that were listed
at that site as having cello parts were in fact created for, or have
been arranged for, cello.  All of my online searches for references to
those works and searches through the listed publishers' catalogues
indicate that the works are to be performed a cappella.

I remain hopeful that I do have enough information for an answer that
suits your purposes, and I want to emphasize that if any of this
information needs clarification or amplification, I would be happy to
try to assist you further.  It seems, perhaps unsurprisingly, that
works scored for cello and chorus are quite rare.

First, I want to highlight what I think is one extraordinary work that
appears as if it might be suitable for your group.  It is by John
Tavener and is entitled "Svyati" (sometimes spelled "Svyatuiee").

Here is how the Naxos label describes Tavener and "Svyati:"
"John Tavener is one of contemporary music's most distinctive and
recognisable voices, writing deeply-felt compositions of instant
magnetism and lyrical intensity inspired by a string Greek Orthodox
faith. At the very heart of his work is sacred choral music, a genre
in which Tavener has established considerable fame with contemporary
classics works such as The Lamb and Hymns to the Mother of God as well
as the elegiac Song for Athene. Svyati, for cello and chorus, takes
the form of a musical incantation against the hushed voices of the
choir. This rareley-heard masterpiece sees Tavener deploy an unusual
combination of musical forces to a powerful and moving effect. "
Naxos: New Releases: February 2001: John Tavener: Song for Athene;
Svyati and other choral works (about 1/5 down the page)
http://www.naxos.com/naxos/usa/new_releases_February2001.asp

According to this site listing of the Naxos recording, Syvati is about
13 minutes in length:
Archiv Music
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown;jsessionid=BFC8F82E130C9D23B8072D915A48861B?name_id1=11939&name_role1=1&bcorder=1&comp_id=94213

Here is a link to an online source for a CD of the work, as well as a
brief audio clip of a portion of the haunting cello introduction to
the piece:
Amazon.com: Tavener: Hidden Treasure: Syvati
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003G8P/qid=1085017254/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-9446005-3308902?v=glance&s=classical

The work is voiced as SATB, and scores for the piece are available
from Sheet Music Plus at this link:
Sheet Music Plus: Svyati
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_fastresults.html?cart=32940308825994142

Finally, here is a link to a brief biography of Mr. Tavener:
Schirmer: Composers: Tavener
http://www.schirmer.com/composers/tavener/bio.html

I found this work because of my familiarity with Tavener, guessing
correctly that he might have composed a piece for cello and choir.

In order to look for some others, I went to the site of an
organization called Musicanet and conducted many searches of the
database it calls the Musica Virtual Choral Library.  Here is a link
to its home page:
Musicanet: Virtual Choral Library
http://www.musicanet.org/en/index.php

The search engine at the site is powerful, but somewhat difficult to
use, but I eventually came up with search terms that purported to
return choral compositions that included a cello, and only a cello, as
instrumentation.  Here is a link to the results of that search:
Musicanet: Search Results
http://www.musicanet.org/en/form2en.htm

When I represented to you that I had found some other promising
compositions for you, I was including two of the results from this
search, which were a Brahms motet and a Max Reger motet that are
listed as having cello parts.  Here are links to the individual pages
for these results:
Musicanet: Brahms; Wenne ein starker Gewappneter
http://www.musicanet.org/en/form1en.htm

Musicanet: Reger; Dein Wort, o Herr, ist die Kraft
http://www.musicanet.org/en/form1en.htm

As I said above, after searching the Web and various publishers'
websites, I unfortunately have found no confirming evidence that a
version of either with a cello part has been published or recorded,
and I have serious doubts as to whether such a version exists.

However, two other works on the Musicanet search results list appear
to be possibilities for you:  "Moon Canticle," by Leslie Bassett, and
"Stabat Mater,Op. 111" by Knut Nystedt.

Here is a link to some information about the Nystedt work:
Nystedt: Stabat Mater
http://www.stabatmater.dds.nl/nystedt.htm

Here is a link to an online source for a CD of the work along with an audio sample:
Amazon.com: Nystedt: Stabat Mater
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JCFK/qid=1085083131/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-9446005-3308902

I have not been able to find a source for the score as yet, but I
could continue the search if this work interests you, and if you do
not have a source of your own.


As for the other somewhat promising work from the Musicanet database,
here is a brief description of Leslie Bassett's "Moon Canticle;"

"Moon Canticle
5 movements, (SATB, cello, amplified speaker, soprano), texts from
numerous sources concerning the moon, 17', 1969 (c.1971), Peters
#66270, New York All-State Choir, Thomas Hilbish, cond., Concord
Hotel, NY, Dec. 10, comm. by the NY State Music Assn."

American Music Forum: Leslie Bassett: Works
http://www.amc.net/member/Leslie_Bassett/works.html

Here is a link to the ordering page of Edition-Peters, where you could
order a copy of the score:
Edition-Peters: Moon Canticle
http://www.edition-peters.com/search.html

There does not appear to be a commercial recording of the work, but
here is a link to Br. Bassett's website, which includes contact
information and much else:
Leslie Bassett
http://www.lesliebassett.com/


If you scan the results of the Musicanet search results linked above,
you will find that there are other compositions listed as having been
composed for chorus and cello.  Some are for specialized vocal group
(children's choir, e.g.).  Several other are very short liturgical
pieces by J.S. Bach, but I doubt that these would be suitable for your
group and, most important, I suspect that they likely include a
continuo part as well.  If you want me to try to find more information
on these or any of the others on that search results list, I would be
happy to try.


Finally, I have now found a few other compositions for cello and
chorus that did not turn up on the Musicanet database, and you find
them to be promising candidates for your tour.  Scores are available
at the associated links, but I have not found recordings of any of
them.  These include:

"Concerto for Cello and Choir," by Olaf Lindgren 
Blas-Basen: Concerto for Cello and Choir
http://www.blas-basen.se/bb.strings.html

"The Silent Land," by Giles Swayne 
Chester Novello: "The Silent Land," by Giles Swayne
http://www.chesternovello.com/work/8663/main.html

"A Farewell to Arms," by Richard Rodney Bennett
Chester Novello: A Farewell to Arms (score available)
http://www.chesternovello.com/work/31924/main.html



Search Strategy:

This has been an especially challenging project because of the
frustratingly unconfirmable and doubtful search results from the
predominant online database of choral works.  So, I followed up this
initial search with Web searches using Google that were designed to
produce an accurate, if not necessarily entirely comprehensive, list
of other works for cello and choir, along with additional relevant
information about the works.

These searches included the following basic search, among others:

"cello and choir OR chorus"
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22cello+and+choir+OR+chorus%22

I also searched the websites of various sheet music sellers and music
publishers and conducted individual Google searches on the names of
each composer and work as I discovered them.


Again, I emphasize that if any of this information is unclear or
incomplete, please ask for clarification before rating the answer, and
I would be happy to assist you further.


markj-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by markj-ga on 27 May 2004 09:44 PDT

butch7 --

After some further online exploration, I have found one more
possibility for your consideration (although I agree that the Nystedt
is a good first choise).  The new candidate is "Le Rameau de Soie" by
French-Canadian composer Alain Gagnon.

Below is a link to a Canadian website offering the score for sale.  If
you scroll to the entry (it is the next to last one on the page), you
will find links to an image of the sirst page of the score as well as
an audio clip:
Doberman Editions
http://www.dobermaneditions.com/voice_Fr.htm

Here is some information on Gagnon from another page on that publisher's website:

"A well-known Quebec composer, Alain Gagnon studied composition with
Roger Matton at Laval University in Quebec City where he received a
Masters degree in music composition. In 1965, as recipient of the Prix
d'Europe and a Canada Council Grant, he continued his studies in Paris
under the direction of Henri Dutilleux and Olivier Alain. He then
studied electroacoustics at the University of Utrecht and completed
his musical formation in Geneva under André-François Marescotti.
Generally lyrical and of french character in its sonority, the work of
Gagnon includes choral, vocal, instrumental and symphonic music."

And here is a link to Mr. Gagnon's website, the text of which is in French:
Alain Gagnon
http://www.alaingagnon.net/

And here are some comments on the piece in connection with its May
2001 premiere by Cantori New York:

"Specially commissioned for Cantori New York, Le Rameau de Soieby
Québec composer Alain Gagnon is a work for choir and cello. ?My
musical esthetic and harmonic language follow in the grandtradition of
Western tonal music,? says the composer.  ?I believe in free,
spontaneous improvisation, and in the innumerable richesbestowed on
those who practice it. Lyricism infuses all of myworks, often
fervently.?

Quebec Upate
http://tinyurl.com/25vdw

If you want further information about the composer or the work, you
might start with reviewing the results of the follwing targeted Google
searches (be warned that most of the results are in French):

"alain gagnon" music OR musique
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22alain+gagnon%22+music+OR+musique

"le rameau de soie"
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22le+rameau+de+soie%22


markj-ga

butch7 --

Thanks for your clarification.  I expect to have an answer composed
for you by tomorrow.

markj-ga

Weston:  Considering the background of Luther college, that Nystedt
piece seems like the perfect thing.  Having sung other Nystedt pieces,
I have found them both difficult and easy at the same time--a
marvelous contradiction.

And, having sung under your direction, I know you will do a marvelous
job with anything you choose.

All the best with your retirement next year.

I feel you have done a tremendous job, and I am very grateful for it. 
You have been very exhaustive - very professional.   I am going to
follow through with the Nystedt, yet I feel that is a somewhat major
work.  I will be in touch with Bassett since I know him.  How do I
give you a tip?  When did you perform with me?  I find this very
interesting.  Best, Weston Noble

butch7 --

From your comment, I suspect that you are under the impression that
the commentor (using the screen name "liner-ga") and I are the same
person.  Actually, I (markj-ga) am the researcher who posted the
information for you in the answer box, and liner-ga is your former
chorister (who is not a Google Answers researcher)who agreed with my
choice of the Nystedt work as one that might be appropriate for your
group.

Thanks for your compliments on my answer, and if you are inclined to
offer a tip, you should be able to exercise that option on the Google
Answers site at the same time you rate the question.  Here is what the
Google Answer FAQ page has to say about tipping:

"How do I tip my Researcher?
When you rate your answer, you can also tip the researcher who
provided it. Just enter an amount between $1 - $100 in the tip box
next to the rating. The researcher will receive 100% of the amount you
tip them; Google will not take a percentage of the tip. Tips are not
refundable. Thank you for tipping your researcher! They appreciate
it."


I am pleased that you found my answer to be helpful to you.

markj-ga