The timeless power of contemporary choral music
Tom Service immerses himself in the resonant sound world of 21st-century choral music and discovers how this music evokes both immediacy and transcendence.
The vocal music of contemporary composers like Morton Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo and Caroline Shaw, is hugely popular with choirs, congregations and audiences. How do they achieve their brand of mystery and magic? Tom Service immerses himself in the resonant sound world of 21st-century choral music and discovers how it works. With guest, Kerry Andrew, who makes music for communities as well as choirs.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Ola Gjeilo
Northern lights (Pulchra es, amica mea) for chorus
Performer: Charles Bruffy. Performer: Phoenix Chorale.- CHANDOS.
- CHAN 5100.
-
![]()
Kerry Andrew
No place like for chorus
Conductor: Rafael Payare. Performer: 大象传媒 Singers. Performer: Ten Pieces Children's Choir. -
![]()
Armonico Consort
O virtus Sapientie - antiphon
- Signum.
- SIGCD-235.
-
![]()
James MacMillan
O Radiant Dawn for chorus [Strathclyde motets]
Performer: Apollo5.- VCM RECORDS.
- VCM123.
-
![]()
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Salve regina for 4,8,12 voices [H.xxvi.211]
Conductor: Harry Christophers. Performer: The Sixteen.- CORO.
- COR-16091.
-
![]()
Morten Lauridsen
Ave Maria for chorus
Conductor: Stephen Layton. Performer: Polyphony.- HYPERION.
- CDA 67449.
-
![]()
Anton Bruckner
Virga Jesse floruit - gradual for chorus
Conductor: Nigel Short. Performer: Tenebrae.- SIGNUM.
- SIGCD 430.
-
![]()
Eric Whitacre
Lux aurumque for chorus
Conductor: Stephen Layton. Performer: Polyphony.- Hyperion.
- CDA 67543.
-
![]()
Anton Bruckner
Locus iste - gradual for chorus
Conductor: Harry Christophers. Performer: The Sixteen.- DECCA.
- 476 4592.
-
![]()
Michael Harrison
Michael Harrison: Just Constellations II. The Romantic Constellation: Autumn
Performer: Roomful of Teeth.- NEW AMSTERDAM.
- NWAM134.
-
![]()
Morten Lauridsen
O Magnum Mysterium for chorus
Performer: Suzi Digby. Performer: ORA Singers.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 905305DI.
-
![]()
Arnold Schoenberg
Trio Op.45 for strings
Performer: Clemens Hagen. Performer: Gidon Kremer. Performer: Veronika Hagen.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 447 112-2.
-
![]()
Meredith Monk
The Games - a science-fiction opera for voices and ensemble
Performer: Andrea Goodman. Performer: Ching Gonzalez. Performer: Meredith Monk. Performer: Naaz Hosseini. Performer: Nurit Tilles. Performer: Robert Een. Performer: Wayne Hankin.- ECM NEW SERIES.
- 8317822.
-
![]()
Caroline Shaw
Partita for 8 voices
Performer: Roomful of Teeth.- New Amsterdam.
- NWAM050.
-
![]()
Cecilia McDowall
I know that my redeemer liveth - anthem for chorus
Performer: Owen Rees. Performer: Queen's College Oxford Choir.- SIGNUM.
- SIGCD 475.
-
![]()
Eric Whitacre
Sing Gently
Performer: Virtual Choir 6. Performer: Sam Glicklich. Performer: Eric Whitacre.- UNQUIET.
- SINGASONE.
Broadcasts
- Sun 17 Oct 2021 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 22 Oct 2021 16:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate 鈥渘oise鈥� from 鈥渕usic鈥�, but is it that simple?
Podcast
-
![]()
The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
