Thursday 9 October 2014

Carmina Slovenica Handout




Founded in 1964 on the initiative of Janja Korosec Zizek and Dinko Fio. One choir in Maribor. Current Director, Karmina Silec, has been with the choir since 1989.

The “choir” is better know as a vocal theatre company and consists of Carmina Slovenica, ¡Kebataola! Ensemble, and the CS Children's Choir.

This company is all about pushing boundaries. They perform music that is rarely heard, whether that be medieval chant, or new compositions. Their performances involve costumes, set design, light, electronics, dance, narration, and unique vocal techniques, to name a few features.

Repertoire Recommendations (from the highlights listed on the website)

Placebo- is there one who would not weep?”
  • a production including repertoire by Pergolesi, Bach, J. Cooper, Vivaldi, P. Vasks, G.Bryars, and Karmina Silec
  • a production of this magnitude requires a lot of various singing styles and techniques
  • in the opening of the trailer, we hear a combination of beautiful blend and intonation as well as extended vocal techniques
When the Mountain Changed its Clothing”
  • by H. Goebbels with music by Silec, Brahms, Schonberg
  • a statement on the changing face of politics, society and culture within the region of Kanin, Slovenia
  • extraordinary use of intense expression through the changing “seasons” of the production
  • the choir exerts power over the audience
  • involves the children's choir
Rusalki”
  • exploration of the low register of the woman's voice
  • difficult unison singing of chants requires excellent ensemble, balance, blend, and intonation
  • a story about the restless spirits of women who have died accidentally or who have taken their own lives
Toxic Psalms”
  • a collection of open-ended scenes by various contemporary composers
  • a great example of extended techniques
  • brilliant use of facial expression and gesture
  • the chorus “manifests a collective body and as an organism in reflects a human desire to merge”
CS Light”
  • involves the smaller ¡Kebataola! Ensemble
  • an exploration of minimalist music from the USA, the Baltics, and Scandinavia
  • requires a great deal of vocal independence

Other Recommendations

http://www.carmina-slovenica.si/en/choregie_eng/ - to learn more about the Choregie Idea of performing and teaching

http://www.carmina-slovenica.si/en/introduction/ - for an entire timeline of events (concerts, initiatives, competitions, awards) from 1964 to today. 

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