Backhouse, Jeremy: Calmo

  
The Boosey & Hawkes Concerts for Choirs series is an innovative approach to concert planning. Each themed volume contains a wealth of material to help the choral director assemble a concert programme from a single source. So instead of coming on stage with a folder bulging with sheet music and albums, you can now lighten your load. No more worries in concerts about what to do with those heavy books once they have been used: one volume is all you will need. The series covers a vast range of moods and subject matter and each themed anthology contains some of the finest, most accessible choral music written. Each convenient volume contains the best of the Boosey & Hawkes choral catalogue, many specially-composed or newly-arranged pieces and other favourites.



The information included at the end of each book will give the choral director everything needed for brief concert announcements or programmes. More detailed information can be obtained from the Boosey & Hawkes website.

Calmo

The pieces drawn together for the ‘Calmo’ volume all have something of the spiritual or mystical about them. Here is music with atmosphere, music that will calm. It is music that caters for all tastes and abilities, offering plenty of balance and variety. Pieces range from very short and simple to more substantial and challenging. Some texts are overtly religious, other more generally spiritual in tone. Composers represented come from many differing backgrounds and countries including France, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Latvia and USA as well as the UK. There is equal representation for accompanied pieces – using piano, organ or even handbells – and a cappella items.

The programme notes at the end of the book provide background information on the pieces, brief biographical details on composers, texts with translation where appropriate, dates and venues of first performances. Also included are approximate timings and a suggested position in the concert (opener, central work, closing item, encore), all so important to the choral director when planning repertoire. There are useful hints on to help achieve the best performance from your singers. Whatever the circumstances and size of your choir, there will be a programme within this volume that will suit you. But more than that, the versatility of the Concert for Choirs series is such that it can be used as an invaluable resource for choral material whatever your requirements.