Myy favorite selection for "The Messiah". It truly captures the essence of joy, and is so "baroque". ...love the stylictic treatment of "Prince of Peace".
I agree...Shakespeare was just a writer, Einstein just thought up stuff, and The Beatles just played, 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah', Buluga cavier is just salty fish eggs, 'Dom Perignon' is just fizzy wine and filet mignon is just a little piece of meat with bacon wrapped around it. I don't see what's so exceptional about any of them...yeah, right, sure.
If they are doing generally the same stuff, thank God for that. I've seen/heard directors get "creative" just for the sake of creativity, and want to freshen things up, and the results have generally been awful, because they overdo it and pick out crap. If a great piece or arrangement comes along, then by all means go for it - but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's nothing wrong with tradition, and I could listen to "Salvation Is Created" at a Fourth of July picnic.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! I know exactly what you are talking about! I had a choral direct in high school who retired after my sophomore year. She had been there for 22 years, and had found some of the best music. When we got the current director, she changed almost everything about the department; it was very hard on those of us who had the first director. Good thing I only had to be there my senior year, cuz it's completely different.
Since my days at St. Olaf, I've faithfully followed OleFest and can testify to its singular music -- selected to embellish each year's theme. I hope the directors always remain true to F. Melius' Beautiful Savior and O Day Full of Grace, God's Son Has Made Me Free by Grieg, and the beautiful, spirit-filled prelude to the 67 Concert -- sung by Ole Choir from behind the audience. This is an enriching inspirational experience, not to be missed if you are ever blessed with an opportunity to attend.
I had the honor of singing in 1967 ChristmasFest under Olaf Christiansen (son of F.Melius - founder of the music department, conductor of the first ever ChristmasFest) during his last two years at St. Olaf. It was one of the most divine experiences of my life. I can still recall the surge of electricity that flowed from one hand to the other through us while we sang -- as a massed choir with locked hands, per Olaf's instruction -- the last song: Beautiful Savior; a feeling unmatched ever since.
Have to agree. If you've gone for the last 15-20 years, pretty much the same music is on a rotation every four years. Nothing inventive or creative - the formula for programming stays the same. Beautifully done though. Great music making either way.
What a wonderful celebration of what is right with today's youth. We were at the Thursday performance as the snow was falling outside and for the two hours that the festival lasted, everything was perfect.
Ummm, we definitely didn't. Trust me. I was in it. Just because you can't differentiate between baroque and classical vocal literature doesn't mean we don't switch music.
Now this is a REAL college choir.
baritonebynight 1 year ago
Myy favorite selection for "The Messiah". It truly captures the essence of joy, and is so "baroque". ...love the stylictic treatment of "Prince of Peace".
EltaLBunner 2 years ago
Comment removed
g4thz 2 years ago
I would sell my soul as a student loan if I could be there for college right now...
choirfreak26 2 years ago
Don't think we all haven't!
g4thz 2 years ago
what is the name of what they are singing ?
gustavo2828 3 years ago
I agree...Shakespeare was just a writer, Einstein just thought up stuff, and The Beatles just played, 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah', Buluga cavier is just salty fish eggs, 'Dom Perignon' is just fizzy wine and filet mignon is just a little piece of meat with bacon wrapped around it. I don't see what's so exceptional about any of them...yeah, right, sure.
oldschoolruler 3 years ago 2
Perfect!
NatashaNabokov 3 years ago 2
Their quality is exceptional. Not only are you ignorant, you have no soul. People like you destroy societies.
hahnbd 4 years ago 3
hahnbd:
your comment made me smile :)
and i totally agree with you!
i reallllllly want to go to St. Olaf!
jumpergirl502 3 years ago 4
If they are doing generally the same stuff, thank God for that. I've seen/heard directors get "creative" just for the sake of creativity, and want to freshen things up, and the results have generally been awful, because they overdo it and pick out crap. If a great piece or arrangement comes along, then by all means go for it - but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's nothing wrong with tradition, and I could listen to "Salvation Is Created" at a Fourth of July picnic.
DrMalPracktiss 4 years ago
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! I know exactly what you are talking about! I had a choral direct in high school who retired after my sophomore year. She had been there for 22 years, and had found some of the best music. When we got the current director, she changed almost everything about the department; it was very hard on those of us who had the first director. Good thing I only had to be there my senior year, cuz it's completely different.
hawkinman18 2 years ago
What a horribly negative comment that could so well have been kept to yourself.
bassethound1 4 years ago 3
Since my days at St. Olaf, I've faithfully followed OleFest and can testify to its singular music -- selected to embellish each year's theme. I hope the directors always remain true to F. Melius' Beautiful Savior and O Day Full of Grace, God's Son Has Made Me Free by Grieg, and the beautiful, spirit-filled prelude to the 67 Concert -- sung by Ole Choir from behind the audience. This is an enriching inspirational experience, not to be missed if you are ever blessed with an opportunity to attend.
batMelek 4 years ago 3
I had the honor of singing in 1967 ChristmasFest under Olaf Christiansen (son of F.Melius - founder of the music department, conductor of the first ever ChristmasFest) during his last two years at St. Olaf. It was one of the most divine experiences of my life. I can still recall the surge of electricity that flowed from one hand to the other through us while we sang -- as a massed choir with locked hands, per Olaf's instruction -- the last song: Beautiful Savior; a feeling unmatched ever since.
batMelek 4 years ago 7
My beautiful girlfriend is in there!
alzb9876 4 years ago 3
Have to agree. If you've gone for the last 15-20 years, pretty much the same music is on a rotation every four years. Nothing inventive or creative - the formula for programming stays the same. Beautifully done though. Great music making either way.
weimar1200 4 years ago
What a wonderful celebration of what is right with today's youth. We were at the Thursday performance as the snow was falling outside and for the two hours that the festival lasted, everything was perfect.
lesebre 4 years ago 3
Why does it seem like they do the same stuff every year?
sarahlarowe 4 years ago
Ummm, we definitely didn't. Trust me. I was in it. Just because you can't differentiate between baroque and classical vocal literature doesn't mean we don't switch music.
taytsay 4 years ago 3
This makes me remember the days as a student. Wow!!!
attnZ 4 years ago 3