Chris Rowbury's monthly music round-up (September 2024) issue #110
September 2024
Welcome to the September edition of my monthly music round-up.
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The infinite monkey theorem experiment – in music
According to Wikipedia, “the infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type any given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare.”
Here is a a real musical experiment on The Pudding, which has now been running since April 13, 2020.
Read more (and listen to examples) …
Joik – Sami musical expression
Some of you may have come across joiks before. You might even know the — wrongly titled — “reindeer herding song” for example (properly called Nieida). Here is an interesting article to help you learn more about joiks.
Tebe poem – Russian orthodox hymn
Here's a rather fine version of Bortniansky’s Tebe poem – a popular song with many community choirs. Tebe poem is an Orthodox hymn from Russia in Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Russian Orthodox Church. There are many different settings of the words. This version was written by Dimitri Bortniansky (1751 – 1825) for the Imperial chapel choir under the patronage of Catherine the Great. The text comes from the Orthodox Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
Gospel warm up …
… with Maria A Ellis, with modulations ! Great for any choir. I love how they get more and more animated as they really nail the song.
Mad family
This is fun! Mad Family is a nursery rhyme from Iona and Peter Opie. It’s sung here by Fay Hield.
Oh father was mad and mother was mad,
Children were mad besides;
And they all jumped on to a mad, mad horse
And so madly they did ride, brave boys,
So madly they did ride.
How music can literally heal the heart
“Its structural attributes and physiological effects make it an ideal tool for learning cardiology, studying heart-brain interactions and dispensing neuro-cardiac therapy.”
Guide to world music
Over 50 updated and improved blog guides to world music. “Over the years World Music Network has gathered together a wonderful collection of informative and incredibly well-researched articles about different musical cultures and styles from around the world. These have been produced by experts in their field of music who want to share their passion with others.”
Everything you need to know about music licensing but were afraid to ask!
“We have noticed a lot of discussion recently about the complexities and difficulties around music licensing and copyright. Many choir leaders find this a very confusing and frustrating subject area, which is not surprising given the amount of seemingly conflicting information which is out there and how prone that information is to interpretation.” This is from the UK-based organisation Choir Community.
A blog post you might have missed
Is community singing dead?
Many people look back to the good old days when we all used to gather round a piano and sing for hours, or join in a good sing-song down the local pub. But – apart from football matches – where does this kind of thing happen these days?
Most people seem to think there was a golden age where chimney sweeps sang in the streets, the pub would burst out singing at any opportunity and blokes warbled away whilst working with heavy machinery in the factory. I do think this might be a bit of romantic wishful thinking though!
Way back in 1926 there was a national movement to get people singing together again. So it’s not a new problem.
Song of the month
In September, there are three feast days in the Christian church celebrating the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus. There are numerous Marian hymns dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Here are three from three different cultures.
Italy
The Magnificat (also known as the “Song of Mary”) is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and is perhaps the earliest Marian hymn. The text of the canticle is taken from the Gospel of Luke and has been set to music many times. The Magnificat is most often sung or recited during the main evening prayer service.
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour
Here is a setting by Claudio Monteverdi as part of his Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610) (“Vespers for the blessed Virgin”):
Republic of Georgia
Legend has it that, after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Virgin Mary and the disciples drew lots in Jerusalem to pick the lands where they would spread the word of Christ. Mary drew the Republic of Georgia. And although she never visited the country, the connection has become deeply woven into Georgia’s national narrative.
Here is a hymn written by Demetrius I (1125 – 1156) addressed to the Virgin Mary, Shen xar venahi (“You are a vine in blossom”). The composer of the music is unknown. Supposedly Demetrius I wrote it during his confinement as a monk. It is performed in the Georgian church and is an integral part of the marriage ceremony. The words compare the Virgin to the vine, Georgia’s sacred plant.
You are a vine in blossom.
A beautiful plant in Eden.
You are a shining sun.
Here it is sung by the Rustavi Ensemble:
Corsica
The coming of the Franciscans revitalised Corsican Christianity. It was the Franciscans, seeking to mitigate the harshness of island life, who propagated the cult of the Virgin Mary. She is honoured all over Corsica in works of art of different periods that are credited with miraculous powers. Dio vi salvi regina (“God save you, Queen”) is a hymn to the Virgin Mary and is considered the de facto national anthem of Corsica.
It was written as a religious song in Italy by Francis de Geronimo (later canonised) about 1675. It was adopted de facto as the national anthem of Corsica when it proclaimed independence from the Republic of Genoa at Orezza, on 30 January 1735.
God save you, Queen
And universal Mother
By whom we rise to paradise.
Here it is sung by Voce di Corsica:
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