ConductorsNancy Singlarepertoire, upcoming fall season, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, william mathias, salvator mundi, hildegard von bingen, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, a boy is bornComment

Inspiring Ideas: Fall 2016 Repertoire

ConductorsNancy Singlarepertoire, upcoming fall season, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, william mathias, salvator mundi, hildegard von bingen, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, a boy is bornComment

As I sit in the hot summer heat I find myself, again, whistling jingle bells to myself. This is the time of year when I get inspiring repertoire ideas for my upcoming Fall choral seasons with my women’s choir, Cantala. 

Cantala-womens-choir-inspiring-ideas-fall-2016-repertoire

Year after year I remark that July and Christmas have to stop meeting like this. Why does this always reoccur? Because planning for a choral year always starts months and months in advance. Actually, I have already planned the entire back a year ago but it is now time to start putting it all into action.

This coming Fall Cantala is going to be performing a seasonal work by William Mathias called Salvator Mundi. The choir has done this many, many years ago but I feel it is time to perform it again. It is an exciting work with many gorgeous melodies and musical moments. One highlight of the work is the accompanying instruments; lots of percussion instruments (include a big bass drum) and piano duet.

Last season saw Cantala put together its first choreographed piece, “Snowforms”. This fall our fabulous and multi talented dancer and singer Hedy Minten has agreed to choreograph again but this time a piece we learned this past spring by Hildegard Von Bingen, O Vivens Fons. I wonder how Hedy will bring this piece to life through movement….

Next on this blockbuster of a Fall is Britten’s In the Bleak Midwinter from his larger work “A Boy is Born”. This is an amazingly difficult and serene piece that I hope will be performed with a small boys chorus from the Toronto Children’s Choir. Fingers crossed that works out! Either way this piece will challenge us to bring out our best concentration and singing skills.

More inspiring picks to round out this Fall season include Jesous Ahatonia (Trad., Annon), Noel Des Enfants (Debussy), an assortment of fun Christmas carols, Barber’s To be Sung on the Water, and Kocsar’s Salve Regina. All this repertoire is so gorgeous! I am really looking forward to the Fall….But now back to that hot Toronto heat wave…..

 

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala women's choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto womens choir, a ceremony of carols, benjamin britten, journey, empowering womenComment

Cantala: The History

Naming Cantala happened rather spontaneously. My husband googled "choral singing names" and came back to me shortly with “Cantala” meaning “on wings of song”. No more than a moments thought later I made it official. "Cantala" it was.

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala women's choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto womens choir, a ceremony of carols, benjamin britten, journey, empowering womenComment
concerts, Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala women's choir, cantala repertoire, cantala choir, christmas choral concert, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, st.martin in the fields, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, toronto womens choir, toronto choirs, nancy singlaComment

Cantala Concert 2017: In the Bleak Midwinter

I've recently discovered a lesser-known work by Britten, A Boy is Born; a very demanding unaccompanied choral work for mixed choir. But lucky for us, the 5th movement In The Bleak Midwinter, is only for treble voices and Cantala is set to perform it in concert on December 9th, 2017, Toronto.

 

concerts, Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala women's choir, cantala repertoire, cantala choir, christmas choral concert, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, st.martin in the fields, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, toronto womens choir, toronto choirs, nancy singlaComment
choristers, Conductors, concertsNancy Singlaa ceremony of carols, benjamin britten, stephen smith, cantala women's choir, choral singing, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, audition, fall 2018, repertoire, cantala repertoire, nancy singlaComment

Upcoming 2018 Fall/winter repertoire

We made it. 10 years have passed and Cantala is brimming with passionate choral singers, long lasting friendships and excitement for the year ahead. Here is the upcoming 2018 Fall/Winter repertoire. 

choristers, Conductors, concertsNancy Singlaa ceremony of carols, benjamin britten, stephen smith, cantala women's choir, choral singing, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, audition, fall 2018, repertoire, cantala repertoire, nancy singlaComment
concerts, Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala women's choir, cantala repertoire, cantala choir, christmas choral concert, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, st.martin in the fields, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, toronto womens choir, toronto choirs, nancy singlaComment

In the Bleak Midwinter

I've recently discovered a lesser-known work by Britten, A Boy is Born; a very demanding unaccompanied choral work for mixed choir. But lucky for us, the 5th movement In The Bleak Midwinter, is only for treble voices and Cantala is set to perform it in concert on December 8, 2018.

 

concerts, Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala women's choir, cantala repertoire, cantala choir, christmas choral concert, benjamin britten, in the bleak midwinter, st.martin in the fields, toronto choral scene, toronto choir, toronto womens choir, toronto choirs, nancy singlaComment
Conductors, choristersNancy Singlanancy singla, benjamin britten, seasonal concert, christmas choral concert, cantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, toronto women's choir, choral singing, Choral music, choral bloggingComment

A Ceremony of Carols

The Cantala Women’s Choir is excited to perform next month their favourite seasonal work, the gorgeous, masterful choral piece, A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten.

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlanancy singla, benjamin britten, seasonal concert, christmas choral concert, cantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, toronto women's choir, choral singing, Choral music, choral bloggingComment