Book Description
"An absorbing, beautifully written tale."-
The Times (London)
A sophisticated crime story of contemporary Ireland,
The Midnight Choir teems with moral dilemmas as Dublin emerges as a city of ambiguity: a newly scrubbed face hiding a criminal culture of terrible variety. Small-time criminals have become millionaire businessmen, the poor are still struggling to survive, and the police face a world where the old rules no longer apply. "Believe me, you want
The Midnight Choir with you on holiday," says
The Sunday Business Post. "This is the kind of book you pass on to someone you like, and say â€~read this.'"
Customer Reviews:
Celtic Tiger Ireland.......2007-10-05
This is a terrific crime story written by a veteran newman who knows his newly rich country all too well...Those seeking quaint stories about lads and lassies dancing at the crossroads will be disappointed, but those who like their characters flawed and very human will find it hard to put this book down. Ireland in this century is no different from any place else.... suffering the same malaises that globalisation, and lots of money, bring. I discovered Kerrigan's fiction via The New York Times review of Irish crime writers...also worth seeking out is Ken Bruen, from Galway. He has a great way with words too.
LIke most drunks, in choir or not..........2007-09-24
In the end, it doen't deliver. I was disappointed enough to take the time to do my first review. Authenticity galore, and well-plotted. I read it all, and I don't do that with trash. But it did not produce the ending I felt the reader deserved, or expected. The garda/world may work like that, but I don't read police procedurals to learn what I already know or suspect.
I love police procedurals............2007-07-24
and this one is splendid. Gritty. Realistic. What twists and turns, yet Kerrigan keeps it all on the rail for a rattling good ending. Highly recommended.
Law as the Means to an End.......2007-07-22
Take Joseph Wambaugh's keen insight to life within the precinct house, combine it with Ken Bruen's lean, raw prose and that shade of noir uniquely Irish, and you'll have an idea of what to expect from Gene Kerrigan and his blockbuster second novel, "The Midnight Choir". By telling a "Hill Street Blues-like" series of seemingly unconnected events unfolding over a week in Galway and Dublin, Kerrigan weaves the threads together in a mystery uncommon in its depth - a cleverly drawn tale that relies on moral dilemma and irony as much as the action and thrills more common in a novel of this genre.
"Midnight Choir" is the story of Detective Inspector Harry Synott, a veteran Irish cop whose sense of the law and justice is somewhat ambiguous, making him an enigma on the force, hated by most, revered by others, but never completely trusted by any. Author Kerrigan eases the reader easily into a comfortable rhythm, introducing the reader to a number of the relatively petty crimes one would expect in the day of the life of any big city cop: a jumper on a Galway pub roof, a mugging with a syringe of tainted blood as the weapon, date rape, a jewelry store robbery. But the stakes are raised when of one these transgressions leads to a Dublin home containing a couple of freshly-slashed corpses, and before you can order up your second Guinness, the reader's beginning to realize that this is not your typical police thriller, and that the crafty Kerrigan is operating on a level few popular authors ever reach. Complementing the slick plotting is a set of richly drawn and believable characters - characters with flaws and vulnerabilities that bend and twist together and keep the lines blurred between the guys wearing white or black hats. This is gritty and realistic, and while not as violent as Bruen, Charlie Stella, or Duane Swierczynski, it is just as dark and ultimately more subconsciously impactful.
In short, "The Midnight Choir" is one of the most thoughtful and intelligent crime novels of the past several years. One can only hope that Kerrigan keeps writing, and that this talented new author finds an increasing audience for his fiction on this side of the Atlantic. A novel you'll not easily forget - don't miss it.
Finest.......2007-06-24
These days, practioners of 'Noir' procedurals seem to be going through the motions, whether it's Connelly or Lehane. Kerrigan is simply a more intelligent writer. This isn't a showy work, but the more you read on, the better you realize it is. It's not just the plot, that moves together and apart in ways that always surprise you and never seem forced. It's also the language, simple and direct and the city of Dublin, which seems like it's getting its first gritty close-up after decades of fondness. An absolute pleasure to stumble across, you can only hope that Kerrigan continues to produce novels of this quality.
Book Description
When Constable Evan Evans is persuaded to join the local male choir for the upcoming eisteddfod (cultural festival), he doesn't think the addition of his mediocre voice will do them much good. In spite of all the effort that choirmaster Mostyn Phillips puts in to the choir, it is not exactly first class. Hope arrives in the form of world renowned tenor Ifor Llewelyn, come home to Llanfair to rest, on doctor's orders. Llewelyn immediately sets about renewing old friendships, and Mostyn even persuades him to sing with the choir. But Ifor isn't in Llanfair long before the residents decide that his presence is a mixed blessing. Noisy fights between Ifor and his wife, a threatening stranger, and Ifor's own warped sense of humor make life in Llanfair increasingly tense. When he announces that he is planning to write his memoirs, telling all about his numerous relationships with famous and infamous women, he jokes that some people won't be happy. But is someone unhappy enough to commit murder to stop him? While tracking down a dangerous killer, Constable Evans also manages to navigate the treacherous waters of neighborhood rivalries, lusty barmaids, and local gossip. With her third book in this acclaimed series, Rhys Bowen offers another page-turning tale of small-town mayhem and murder.
Customer Reviews:
EVANLY CHOIRS - iachyd da!.......2007-02-11
Last week, I discovered the Constable Evans mysteries and am now going thru 'em like they're gas cards. EVANLY CHOIRS (1999) is the third book in the series and it's another good 'un. Author Rhys Bowen excels in bringing to life the day-to-day, as well as the occasionally shady, goings-on in the sleepy, mountainous village of Llanfair, North Wales. What also adds to the homey, small town feel of the book is the cast of endearingly quirky characters imbued with colorful names such as Evans-the-Meat, Evans-the-Post, Roberts-the-Pump, Harry-the-Pub, etc. The antics of Llanfair's two dueling reverends - whose respective chapels stubbornly face off across the street from each other - are also an ongoing treat. Evan Evans, known as Evans-the-Law, continues to be ingratiating as the pleasant and unassuming village bobby who inevitably becomes mired in corpses but who usually ends up solving the murder cases, much to the chagrin of his snobbish ranking superior D.I. Hughes, who toils in the next town over and who looks down on our protagonist.
This time out, things are hopping in the usually serene Llanfair. It's time for the eisteddfod, the annually held Welsh cultural gathering, and Constable Evans has been tapped to lend his amateurish voice to the competing local choir. The odds of winning are very slim until world renowned but volatile tenor Ifor Llewellyn, a local boy made very good, comes home on a medical sabbatical and is talked into joining the Llanfair choir. However, Ifor proves to be a difficult customer to deal with, as he callously engages in loud, late night arguments and exhibits a cruel side in his dealings with choir director Austin Mostyn. Soon, the excesses of the famous opera singer come to haunt him and embroils Evan Evans and his friend Sgt. Watkins in a hunt for a killer as Llanfair is rocked with yet another puzzling murder.
The murder mystery holds enough fascination (not that it's the conundrum of the century or anything, mind you) that dedicated clue chasers will come out of this feeling contented. EVANLY CHOIRS goes down easy, like a mug of hot cocoa, and will leave the reader with a warm, toasty feeling. The Constable Evans series is a comfortable throwback to the books I grew up reading from authors like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. The leisurely pace, the bucolic settings, and the memorable characters definitely are a callback to a different era. Several notches below the energy and high tension level of a James Patterson or a Jeffrey Deaver book, Rhys Bowen instead invites her reader to take a deep breath, take in the mountain scenery, listen to the flavors and rhythms of the Welsh language (she does throw in a smattering of Welsh in her characters' conversations), and while away some moments in the diverting company of Evan Evans and his opinionated and sometimes very insular village flock. Bowen's recipe to success includes equal portions of crime drama and pastoral vignette. She also mixes in a dash of quiet humor, a blossoming romance, and an unobstrusive insight into small town lifestyles and sensibilities. And, hey, if nothing else, EVANLY CHOIRS will have you hankering for your first pint of Brains beer.
About what you'd expect, I think.......2003-05-28
I'm giving this book a generous four stars because it delivers what it's audience expects, almost to a tee (or is that tea?) As one does not expect Hemingway (or even Christie) in today's light mystery, one can be satisfied with a light, weekend read. Ms. Bowen is even capable of a couple of nice twists in each of the first three Evans mysteries. (I've read the first three primarily on the strength of having lived in Wales a few years ago and feeling a bit nostalgiac!) I do like the characters, as well, though the supporting cast is pretty flat.
My only complaint of any merit, and this is for the first two books, as well, is that the editing is extraordinarily lax. In one book Evan will have travelled from one town to another at the end of a chapter, only to be packing his bags to make that same trip at the beginning of the next. In this book, misspellings here and there, a character's first name changing from Robert to John. They're not glaring errors, but enough to take me out of the story. It costs the books a star in each case. I know, it's nitpicking. Perhaps you wouldn't even notice it if I didn't bring it to your attention. Sorry for having done so.
Iachyd da and happy reading!
Murder Hits a Sour Note.......2002-11-21
Constable Evan Evans has been convinced to add his voice to the town men's chorus for the upcoming cultural festival. Llanfair has struggled for years to win, but this year, they have a secret weapon. World famous tenor Ifor Llewelyn is back in his boyhood home to rest and agrees to add his talents. But when he is found murdered the night before the competition, things start to get out of control. Evan must sort through all the conflicting stories to find the real killer. Meanwhile, his relationship with Bronwen hits a snag in the form of Betsy, the barmaid. And the Davises and Powell-Joneses are competing against each other in the festival. Can Evan keep peace in this town and find the killer?
Fans of this series will love the third volume. The author has not strayed at all from the format of the previous two books, which is good because it works so well. The plotting, while a bit slow at first, is top notch. I was caught off guard by the ending. The sub-plots add just the right amount of charm and humor, while the characters continue to entertain. I'm really growing to care for this village.
Cozy fans need look no further for a great series that combines likable main characters with great plotting. If you haven't tried this series yet, pick up the first, Evans Above. You'll be glad you did.
Another Great Welsh Mystery.......2002-01-30
For a long-needed rest, famous opera start Ifor Llewellyn has taken up temporary residence in Llanfair, Wales. He is staying the house of the Rev. Edward Powell Jones and wife who find temporary elsewhere. While at the house, he is introduced to the annual eisteddfod music festival through Mostyn Philips, head of the local choir.
But Mr. Llewellyn also makes his residence quite known throughout the village with his frequent and very vocal arguments with his wife plus his carousing and flirting at the local pub, the Red Dragon.
Then: he is found dead lying on the living room floor in the rented house next to a broken liquor bottle. It looks like an accident, but Constable Evans thinks otherwise. There are numerous suspects including Llewellyn's wife Margaret who has a boyfriend and was thinking of divorce; Ifor's displaced children and even the maid Gladys. So was it an accident, and did someone do him in?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as my taste for cozy mysteries has waned in the last few years, this one kept my attention to the end. Though I do think the ending was rather hastily contrived, I recommend it highly in the Evan Evans series.
I thought I had this all figured out... Great ending!.......2001-03-14
Constable Evans finds himself embroiled in another murder mystery in his comfy town of Llanfair in North Wales. He's kicked out of his lovely room; beset upon by the town hoochy; approached to sing in an important competition, feeling woefully out-of-place and has to deal with a hard-drinking ladies'man, world-renowned tenor Ifor Llewelyn. He's up to his eyeballs with a murder and several confessions. Fans will enjoy his latest adventure!
Book Description
This book provides a concise and practical introduction to choral techniques and conducting for potential choral conductors. The author-America's premier choral conductor, mentored by Robert Shaw-brings 43 years of teaching and workshop experience to this book.
Customer Reviews:
Choral Concepts: A "perfect" guide.......2005-10-18
Some of the tips, or advice given in this book is impractical. This is how to teach chorus in a PERFECT setting, not necessarily in the real world. Although, some of the concepts and advice are easy to adapt for a typical public school choir.
Easily the best choral techniques text to date........2003-06-10
Don Neuen details almost everything any conductor needs to know about dealing with singers. From latin pronunciation to rehearsal planning to tone production to ensemble seating arrangements, this text absolutely has it all, including the most to-the-point discussion of physical conducting technique I've ever heard or read.
Neuen presents not only techniques and concepts, but a philosophy of conducting that he's refined over his long and illustrious career. After taking three conducting classes with him and recently playing Benjamin Britten's War Requiem (Bass and Eb clarinets) under him, I can honestly say that his conducting technique is crystal clear, yet extraordinarily emotive, his rehearsal style is fast and efficient, and his knowledge of the score is profound.
The book is logically ordered, clearly illustrated, and passionate about its subject - a refreshing break from texts more concerned with being steeped in academea than with helping students quickly grasp difficult concepts.
It doesn't matter if you're working with a band, orchestra, chamber ensemble, or choir - if you're going to conduct, do yourself (and your ensemble) a favor - read this book.
Book Description
Practical reference manual and accompanying audiotape deal with the vocal problems encountered daily in the teaching studio and choral rehearsal Accompanying audiotape contains 14 voice samples cross-referenced to text Male and female voice samples help to identify basic characteristic sounds associated with each fault
Customer Reviews:
Great gift!.......2007-08-24
I actually bought this book as a gift for my best friend. She was going to start conducting a choir this semester, and she's planning on doing her masters on vocal pedagogi. She had this book in her wish list, and she had been always talking 'bout how much she wanted that book ASAP. So, I got it for her as a gift. Ever since it arrived, and I gave it to her, she has it with her ALL THE TIME!! Every little chance she gets to read, she picks up that book! And now she's always talking about how great the book is, and it's perfect, and has so many great things that she's learning. I would say she's extremely satisfied! So, I guess it's a great book and I can say I recomend it to all of those who want to learn about vocal faults, great to have in your personal libraries. Enjoy!
Symptoms, Causes, Cures.......2007-07-26
This book is a reference manual on the diagnosis and correction of vocal faults. I have already underlined many pertinent statements in the book, and I have added a few notes on the side. This book examines vocal problems that are encountered in the teaching studio, and it teaches one
to diagnose and correct vocal faults: Posture, Breath and support, Phonation, Registration, voice Classification, Resonation, Articulation, Speech,etc.
A CD is included.
Excellent for Choir Directors!.......2007-03-27
I loved this book. I own 6 other books on the training of singers but this new acquisition is the BEST. It is short and to the point which tells me the author knows what he is talking about and gets down to business. It is filled with practical ideas for choir directors in working with members individually on their voices. He follows the same teaching sequence I was taught years ago - breathing, phonation etc.; and I have used it successfuly to help my singing and other singers for years. Each vocal fault is clearly identified and many suggested exercises are provided to help the singer overcome their vocal faults to produce the best sound possible. I have been singing in church choirs since childhood. I am also a choir director at my church. I learned several things that were helpful to me personally. I was able to put the teaching immediately into practice; and it improved my tone immediately (thought I was above average in ability to begin with). I was able to take each topic and boil the main teaching down to a sentence or two to help identify vocal faults; and then I wrote a sentence or two on the fixes! This make a good cheat sheet or quick reference to use during choir practice. Wonderful book!! Would highly recommend it to church choir directors or vocal trainers!
Good book/cd.......2006-02-22
This book is very helpful and has good information. I am glad I purchased it and was pleased with the dealer's service.
A Good Reference for the Vocal Studio Bookcase.......2005-11-02
While I presume that most voice teachers will not find a great deal of new material here, this book is an excellent resource for quick reference. The information is factual and clear, without a great deal of opinion. The book divides vocal faults into various categories, faults related to: Posture; Breathing and Support; Phonation; Registration; Classification; Resonation; Articulation; Speaking Voice; Coordination. Although the focus on faults may appear to be a negative approach, the book is intended for teachers, not students. Highly recommended (for teachers) - this is a book my bookcase wouldn't be without.
Book Description
Hayden Konig is the police chief in the small Appalachian town of St. Germaine, North Carolina. His part-time job, however, is serving as the choir director and organist at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, but he's also determined to write the next great hard-boiled mystery novel a la Raymond Chandler — a liturgical mystery novel with no real plot, but enough bad prose to make the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest look like the Oxford University Press spring catalog.
Chief Konig is also lucky enough to be independently wealthy, which is why he decides that his lack of talent in the writing department can easily be remedied, or at least greatly enhanced, by the purchase of Raymond Chandler's 1939 Underwood typewriter. He is sadly mistaken, but the results are uproarious! Even as Hayden works on his opus, he must deal with other, more pressing, problems — a new priest at St. Barnabas, a Christmas feud between the Rotarians and the Kiwanians and, more importantly, a dead body in the choir loft. It's a good thing that Hayden keeps a loaded Glock under the organ bench!
As Christmas approaches, the tension (and hilarity) rises to a fever pitch. St. Barnabas is introduced to "The Penguin of Bethlehem" and the town's Nativity feud turns ugly when the Kiwanian's bagpiper spooks the Rotarian's camel. A 12 year old wine snob, hedgehogs, Benny (the world-champion thurifer), church antics, and an episode that is just too good to give away, fill out this mystery that will leave you laughing with every page turn.
Hayden Konig's first mystery — The Alto Wore Tweed. It's not what you expect...it's even funnier.
Customer Reviews:
Church Choir From Underneath.......2007-09-22
If you've ever done time in a high Anglican church choir, you will recognize everything in this book. Read this book only if you want to whoop and shriek and roll on the floor. If your choir sings in the rear gallery and is invisible to the congregation, though, do yourself a favor and DON'T bring this book upstairs to read during the sermon. Bring a crossword puzzle instead. I'd hate to see you get fired for uncontrollable giggling and cover-up coughing fits!
Funny Funny Funny.......2007-03-21
This is an enjoyable read, a little silly at times, but still a good book especially for Episcopalians or anyone who sings in a choir
ENJOY A REAL LAUGH OUT LOUD BOOK.......2007-02-23
I happen to be a professional church musician. I can totally emphasize with this hilarious comedy. The author takes on all the insanities affecting the church in this day and age; especially SOPHIA et al. Don't miss the false RAPTURE, the FUNERAL TO END ALL FUNERALS, and especially the women's Sophia mini-convention. Mark knows how to skewer all that is insane in the goings on of the church of Jesus Christ in this day and age and get away with it while making us roll on the floor laughing. A true master COMEDIAN! DO NOT MISS ONE INSTALLMENT IN THIS GREAT OH DO WE TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUS COMEDY SERIES!
laughing in church.......2006-09-03
I haven't laughed this hard since required chapel at prep school 50 years ago. I'd forgotten how painful church laughter is. I wept. Highly recommended, especially to Episcopalians and choir members. The sequels are not quite as funny, but definitely worth the read. If you enjoyed these books and haven't read "Augustus Carp," do.
Hilarity ensues in Watauga County!.......2006-04-22
I just finished reading this book and I loved it. I attended Appalachian State University and I know Watauga County well. I find his depictions of that wonderful part of the country much more realistic than the Mitford series. I also work in a large Methodist church and am a seminary student and I found his depictions of church life right on the money. I haven't laughed this much at a book in years!!! I have recommended it to all my co-workers and fellow students. A truly wonderful read!
Book Description
50 Christmas carols Orchestrations for several of the carols from this collection are available on sale or hire under the titles Three Carol Orchestrations and Five Christmas Carols. Eight Carol Accompaniments for 5 and 8 part brass (from CfC1 and CfC2) are on sale.
Book Description
A unique collection of 20 familiar refrains, hymns, and songs, plus sign language illustrations and instructions for the chorus, song refrain, or in a few cases for the entire song. Each song features suggestions of ways to teach the song and incorporate the songs in worship, rehearsal, or the classroom. Designed so the leader can look at the music and corresponding sign language at the same time. This collection features a compilation of twenty familiar refrains and songs as well as several new songs used in Sunday school. Unique to this collection is the provision of sign language illustrations and instructions for the chorus, song refrain, or, in a few cases, for the entire song. Additionally, each song has a leader "how to" section with suggested ways to teach the song as well as a list of ways to use the song in worship, rehearsal, or classroom. The layout is designed so that leaders can look at the music and the corresponding sign language illustrations at the same time. This resource will enable participation through the use of music and sign together by choirs, congregations, and classroom students. List of Songs: Away in a Manger Blessed Assurance (refrain only) Blessed Be the Name Come! Come! Everybody Worship! For the Beauty of the Earth Glorify Thy Name God Is So Good He Rose (refrain only) He's Got the Whole World in His Hands I Have Seen I Love You, Lord I Stand Amazed in the Presence Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves the Little Children Lord, I Lift Your Name on High Response: Rejoice, God's People Response: Words of Peace Saints Today, Saints of Old (refrain only) Shalom to You Songs of Victory (refrain only) Spreading Your Love This Little Light of Mine Key Features: • Encourages faith development through the use of bodies and minds by using signing and music together • Provides easy-to-follow sign language illustrations and directions • Provides leaders with a way to incorporate movement into worship, choir, and Sunday school • Provides a variety of musical styles and a mixture of twenty familiar and new songs within one collection Key Benefits: • Melody and accompaniment printed on facing page in a spiral format to provide for ease in teaching music and sign together • Provides suggestions for use within worship and educational settings • Includes selections appropriate for use throughout the seasons of the church year, for use as service music (Call to Worship, Benedictions, and so forth), as well as for general use in worship and educational settings.
Customer Reviews:
With Heart and Hands and Voices.......2007-06-18
Excellent! Thank you so much for your quick turn around on this order.
Dissapointed.......2007-01-10
I could not tell from the description of this book and two others which one was for adults. Thus I ended up purchasing a very elementary sunday school book. The description also failed to include the number of pages,
Not a lot of sign language.......2002-06-26
I was under the mistaken impression that this book would contain sign language interpretation of songs for church. It contains mostly refrains and while that's okay, I really would have preferred being able to choose what I might want to sign out of the whole song rather than being given a small part of the song to sign.
Good, but left me wanting more........2001-03-22
As a Sunday School Superintendent, I'm always looking for something new and different for my kids to sing. The songbook, "With Heart and Hands and Voices" does offer 22 bible songs suitable for children, but the majority are already familiar standards. Also, a lot of the songs offer the refrain only and you are left wanting more. The great thing about this book is the sign language. Kids LOVE to learn sign language. I think they get a kick out of doing something mom and dad may not know how to do. The illustrations are done very well and are easy to follow and teach. The book includes very helpful tips on how to enhance the performances of each song, and information about the songs author. I am pleased with the book if only to teach my kids the sign language that goes along with songs they already know. Overall, a good investment for any Sunday School.
Amazon.com
The public performance of poetry, writes Wendell Berry in the preface to A Timbered Choir, has become vogue in the English-speaking world. Yet, he counters, his poems are created in silence and solitude, which may be the best way to read these thoughtful lyrics about country life, verses populated by trees, horses, rivers, and stars. This volume gathers nearly 20 years' worth of Berry's Sabbath poems, written after Sunday morning walks across the fields and bottomlands of northern Kentucky.
Book Description
Berry's Sabbath poems embrace much that is elemental to human life-beauty, death, peace, and hope.
For more than two decades, Wendell Berry has spent his Sunday mornings in a kind of walking meditation, observing the world and writing poems. A small collection of Berry's Sabbath poems was published in 1987, but A Timbered Choir gathers all of these singular poems written to date.
Many years of writing have won Wendell Berry the affection of a broad public. He is beloved for his quiet, steady explorations of nature, his emphasis on finding good work to do in the world, and his faith in the solace of family, memory, and community. His poetry is always assured and unceasingly spiritual; its power lies in the strength of truths revealed.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite book of poetry.......2007-01-28
I can't recall the number of copies of this book that I have purchased. My own autographed copy remains a constant on my bedside table, doggeared, starred, and underlined. It is filled with the lovely, quiet poems of Wendell Berry, a true genius in the crafting of words. These poems, compiled over many years of Sunday walks (thus the Sabbath Poems), harken to the quieter side of life. The inevitable changing of seasons, places, and people. We all need a little space for thinking. Berry reminds us of who we are and why we're here. In a quiet way. Buy this book for yourself. Then order more copies for your friends.
"... the Sabbath comes. The valley glows.".......2004-03-02
Of himself, Wendell Berry says, "I am an amateur poet, working for the love of the work." My own reading tends not to poetry but to philosophy, physics, exegesis, and related works in which language serves quite differently. And yet, whether reading Aristotle or Wendell Berry, it is inescapable that words are ultimately only allegories for much larger ideas. Perhaps in poetry this fact is embraced and romanced while in philosophic and scientific work it is ever a 'problem' to be rather embroiled in. Well, I am an amateur critic, but if the poetry in this volume is the work of an "amateur poet" I say why bother with "professional" poetry? If in fact there is such a thing, what more could it offer?
Berry is a farmer, a tender of fields and flocks and fences. Of course he is also a highly regarded poet; a man of soil and art and meditation. In this collection his recurring themes include: The importance of honest labor and the importance of rest and contemplation, "the standing Sabbath of the woods" as he calls it; the nature and passing of time, the connectedness of ourselves to our histories and of matter to spirit. Recurring metaphors of light falling into darkness and light arising from darkness, of life fading into death and of life arising from death, have both material and spiritual meanings. . .
"His passing now has brought him up
Into a place not reached by road,
Beyond all history that he knows,
Where trees like great saints stand in time,
Eternal in their patience. Loss
Has rectified the songs that come
Into this columned room, and he
Only in silence, nothing in hand,
Comes here. A generosity
Is here by which the fallen stand." (1984, p65)
The author invites the reader to consider the verses here a few at a time, in moments of quiet and solitude, of "Sabbath rest," in the same manner in which the verses were created.
"To walk on radiance, amazed.".......2001-09-04
"I go among trees and sit still" (p. 5) Wendell Berry writes in the first of his 124 "Sabbath Poems" collected here. Berry is a Kentucky farmer, a poet and novelist. For twenty years, while the church bell "calls in the town" (p. 9), he has instead spent his Sunday mornings walking "into the woods" (p. 9), meditating upon the world through his poetry. In the woods, "the dead leaves rotting on the ground,/ The live leaves in the air/ Are gathered in a single dance/ That turns them round and round" (p. 11). Amidst "a timbered choir" of "Great trees, outspreading and upright,/ Apostles of the living light," Berry walks "on radiance, amazed" (p. 83). "But a man/ is small before those who have stood so long," he writes. "He stands under them, looks up, sees, knows,/ and knows he does not know" (p. 89).
"The best reward in going to the woods," Berry writes in another poem, "Is being lost to other people, and/ Lost sometimes to myself" (p. 188). "These poems were written in silence, in solitude, mainly out of doors," Berry writes in the Preface to this book. "A reader will like them best, I think, who reads them in similar circumstances--at least in a quiet room" (p. xvii). "The poems," he explains, "are about moments when heart and mind are open and aware" (p. xviii). They are connected with themes of earth, family, peace and death.
G. Merritt
HD Thoreau of 1990.......2000-06-05
This book is a rarity of rarities -- quality poetry from a Christian perspective that any and all can enjoy. Though Berry's faith is evident, it is far from oppressive, and simply adds to the peace and quiet of the poems.
Peace and quiet describe them best. Called "Sabbath Poems", they are often the result of a restful walk through the woods, a time of reflection and enjoyment of "the given world". Themes through the book are love of nature (and God through nature), a growing disgust with the modern world, the presence and comfort of death and life, and his love for his wife.
Metrically, Berry's poetry is marked by the strength of his individual lines. Sometimes he rhymes; almost always there is an internal, even organic rhythm.
As this book spans 1979 -- 1997, it is also interesting to trace the progression of his poetry. His lines grow stronger as his poems grow simpler. And he is less afraid to venture out a bit -- while most of his poems are 15-20 lines unrhymed with internal rhythm, he tries on rhyming patterns, writes one or two line works, and even writes a 13 page praise of the pastoral life.
215 pages long is a good deal longer than most books of poetry that aren't "collections". My favorite poems are towards the end, if you're only going to read a few, read the ones from 1992 on.
Poems to quite your soul and spirit. Highly recommended.
A sample poem:
I go among the trees and sit still.
All my stirring becomes quiet
around me like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places where I left them, asleep like cattle.
Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me,
and the fear of me leaves it.
It sings, and I hear its song.
Then what I am afraid of comes.
I live for a while in its sight.
What I fear in it leaves it,
And the fear of it leaves me.
It sings and I hear its song.
After days of labor,
mute in my costernations,
I hear my song at last,
and I sing it. As we sing,
The day turns, the trees move.
(if you'd like to discuss Berry's poetry, to disagree or agree with me, to recommend a poet I might enjoy, my e-mail is krischwe@whitman.edu)
A beautiful and spiritual connection to the Earth.......2000-05-22
This collection of poems connects Christianity to Nature. It is Berry's answer in Western traditions to the more ecocritical values of Eastern religion and philosophy. Berry's weekly journeys mediate on the mystical journey one embarks on in finding his or her community within the larger web of life on Earth as seasons unfold. With clarity and wisom, this work professes the beauty and reverence for Nature essential to ecology and community which is neglected at the brink of the twenty-first century. Berry's words, his imagery and description, come alive and touch the heart... and impart on us through each poem to beginning healing, and then to act...
Book Description
Sound Advice is a valuable resource for college students, beginning teachers, and experienced conductors of children's choirs. It covers the vast array of skills needed by today's conductor and will benefit all choir directors who want their choirs to reach a higher level of artistry. This book will be useful on many levels: for the college student studying the child voice and elementary teaching methods; for the teacher beginning to direct choirs in schools, synagogues, churches and communities; for experienced children's choir directors who wish to know more about orchestral repertoire for treble voices, conducting an orchestra, and preparing a children's choir to sing a major work with a professional orchestra. The underlying educational philosophy is sound; the author sees development of musicianship through singing as the primary goal of a children's choir program. This philosophy differs dramatically from the traditional concept of the conductor as all-knowing and the singers as receptacles. An outstanding aspect of the book is how the author leads the reader to an understanding of how to teach musicianship. Developing literacy in the choral setting is a mysterious, amorphous process to many conductors, but the author clearly outlines this important process with practical suggestions, well-documented examples, and a clear reading style which will reach readers on many levels. The comprehensive repertoire, skill-building sheets, and programs for all types of children's choirs will provide teachers with immediate and highly valuable resources.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource for Children's Choir Conductors.......2005-12-17
Jean Ashworth Bartle is the director of the Toronto Children's Chorus, an excellent children's choir and one of the best in the world. This book is a wonderful addition to children's choir conductors around the world.
The first few chapters are about teaching children to sing. They cover aspects such as teaching style and delivery, lesson content, and common problems found in children's singing. Following chapters cover a checklist for ideal rehearsals and performance preparation, developing music reading literacy, discipline, organization, auditions, conducting an orchestra, touring and recording, and great appendices.
As one can see, most of the book is dedicated to things which are NOT actually conducting, for very little of conducting is actually conducting. Bartle's writing style is densely packed, and the reader should take care not to gloss over important sections.
One of Bartle's main theses is that children can achieve great artistic performances and don't need to sing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" or Johnny Goodguy's latest arrangement of "Y.M.C.A." They can sing Bach, Leonard Bernstein, and folk songs/demanding music from cultures all over the world.
Often a new choir director finds that their training has left them somewhat unprepared when it comes to the subjects of discipline, rehearsal pedagogy, auditions, conducting an orchestra, and various other administrative aspects of "running a program." This book seems designed to focus on those skills.
Consequently, there is little in the book regarding vocal technique, conducting gesture, score study and analysis, and other related topics--there are other great books out there on those subjects.
For other books on church choir directors, consult books by John Bertalot. Other related books are Directing the Choral Music Program by Kenneth Philips and Chorus Confidential by William Dehning. Great books on vocal technique include those by James McKinney, Oren Brown, and Clifton Ware.
Though church conductors will also find great ideas, I think Bartle's book is an excellent resource to any children's choir or community choir conductor, especially beginners. Enjoy it!
Customer Reviews:
Every church choir leader should have this book!!.......2007-09-20
This book has been really useful to me, although I have quite some choral experience. But I can recognize many of the situations explained in the book (I realize the church choir leader situation is quite similar in Europe and America!!), and get a good laugh! - And there were lots of really useful and practical tips also!
For the utterly inexperienced, and no one else.......2005-08-28
Please be aware that if you have any musical or choral training at all, this book is NOT for you! It's completely aimed to the untrained musician who has been asked to volunteer to direct a church choral group.
If you have choral music training it will be completely UN useful to you.
The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques .......2004-09-03
This book was received in great shape and actually sooner than I expected.
I know it will be really helpful in learning how to become a better choir director. Thank you for writing a down to earth book that is so easy to understand and with so many wonderful helps and hints. It is a great book.
Compact value for newcomer or experienced.......2003-06-11
For the inexperienced church choir director, this book is a godsend. Very little instruction in how to wave your arms, but jam-packed with information on how to do the thousands of other things that choir directors have to do. To quote the book, "It's not enough just to be a good musician.... A church choir director must be a conductor, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, a dictator, a diplomat, a salesperson, a promoter, a cheerleader, a caregiver, a people person, an idea person, an organizer, a singer, and oh yes, a musician."
This little book has dozens of ideas on how to keep the energy and spirit and joy in a church choir. I used a dozen little Post-It tabs to mark places I wanted to re-read. Highly recommended.
For actual conducting technique, I recommend Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication, by Harold A. Decker and Colleen J. Kirk.
Striking the right chord.......2001-03-24
About 3½ years ago, I was suddenly placed in charge of a small choral group of nine people. This saved me a lot of time and energy. Many of my fears, were mentioned in the first chapter. The book is encouraging and insightful because it deals with problems and solutions you will have to deal with as a music minister in your church.
If you're starting and don't have much experience this will be a great book to help you over the learning curve.
If you've been doing choir for a while, this will encourage you with some of the best ideas concerning music ministry. I've re-read the book as a refresher and truly feel like the fire has been restarted.
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