2009 Texas All-State Mixed Choir - Hard Times

The 224 members of the 2008-2009 Texas All-State Mixed Choir performed in San Antonio at the TMEA Convention, February 14, 2009

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Adrian J. Gonzalez
• Spring High School Choir
• 2009
• Texas
• All-State
• Mixed
• Choir

[musicstars2005]

Superior! One of the best All State Choirs I've ever listened to.

[ariesadonis0711]

@SBskater2012 You need to hear Conspirare's version...absolutely flawless.

[js59695]

haha...its is very very good though

[BstGuy18]

There IS actually a lift where u want one to be, you just don't get that lift with this many singers

[KeithB08]

that's a great idea. I listened to it over and over again and I can understand what you're saying. it's almost like there is an inner-struggle with the narrator of the song. of course, stephen foster was troubled himself, so it could be somewhat autobiographical. i see Hard Times as a song that remains in a "dream-like" area. it starts off very calm and etherial, but towards "there's a song that will linger", it does, in fact, get slightly accentuated. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.

[SBskater2012]

this was the absolute best performace of this you will problably ever hear

[eb12m]

Only thing I would add is the lift/breath written in at the unison climax of the piece (It's the song *lift* the sigh), happens around 4:00 in this recording. I like the rall. that was happening there, I wish I could have seen the conductor at that point.

I actually think that some parts in this song need to be a bit punctuated; not choppy, but let's face it, this piece is orchestrated very thickly, and to get every line, it has to be clear. Overall, superb for a HS honors choir!

[adriang23volta]

musicstars and keith, thankyou for recognizing genuine music. i am the bass on the front row far corner when the camera pans left at 1:06. kieth the legato comment u mentioned is just a minor problem caused by vocal exaustion, we had been drilling our voices everyday for a week in the pursuit to create a beautiful and original sound on complete masterpieces such as this one and "i am in need of music." Despite our vocal endurance being tested to the max we still carried out an awesome concert

[SondheimMan07]

That's your opinion... and the composer has his... there is NEVER a "correct" way to interpret music. Personally, I sang in this choir, and I feel that it would have been better with more of a Jazzy feel to the middle section.

As per your legato comment... I think you have a good idea going.. but wouldn't that go against the text? The text has a character who WANTS to live easy and get rid of his troubles... but they keep coming back. I think the middle section SHOULD have a nagging sensation.