Chamber Choir – Songs of Night and Light

Directed by Gavin Roberts

About the course

Explore the expressive beauty and rich sound worlds of contemporary choral music in this Chamber Choir course directed by Gavin Roberts. Bringing together five distinctive works, the course offers experienced singers an opportunity to discover music of extraordinary atmosphere, intimacy and emotional depth. From the luminous harmonies of Ola Gjeilo to the delicate textures of Caroline Shaw, the evocative writing of Ēriks Ešenvalds and the contemplative simplicity of John Tavener, participants will explore how composers use harmony, text and vocal colour to create powerful musical experiences.

Who is it for?

This course is designed for experienced amateur singers who enjoy the challenge and rewards of singing in a smaller choral ensemble. Participants should be confident reading music, holding an independent vocal line and listening closely to the voices around them. Perfect sight-reading is not essential, but singers should be willing to familiarise themselves with the repertoire in advance so that rehearsals can concentrate on musical interpretation and ensemble development.

What to expect

Under Gavin Roberts’ direction, rehearsals will explore vocal blend, intonation, balance, phrasing and expressive communication, with particular attention to the subtle harmonic colours and contrasting musical languages of the selected works. The repertoire will include Ola Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul and Luminous Night of the Soul, Caroline Shaw’s And the Swallow, Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Only in Sleep and John Tavener’s The Lamb. Through focused rehearsal and collaborative music-making, singers will develop greater confidence in responding to one another and communicating the character of the music.

Practical information