Why we do what we do... |
Our Repertoire—from our first concert to our current season |
The Bloomington Chamber Singers performs a wide variety of choral music ranging from the major choral-orchestral masterworks to more intimate lieder, chansons, madrigals, and part-songs. Repertoire is chosen by the Music Director, who is responsible for all programming. Repertoire is projected for three or more seasons in advance to provide a long-range balance of music periods and genre. The Board of Directors and the Music Director work in partnership to make sure the annual budgets are aligned with the musical activities of the group.
A number of years ago BCS analyzed and articulated its core values. After much discussion, the group reached consensus about the factors that motivated the members to devote the significant amount of time and energy they do in maintaining and nurturing the group. These beliefs have become a credo of sorts for the group, and one that is referred to often. Not surprisingly for a college town like Bloomington, the group is passionate about learning. For us, the performance itself is the culmination of the overall process of discovery, but it is not the only goal. This awareness of the relationship between process and product has also influenced the group's decision to pursue depth rather than breadth, and to take time to become acquainted with the multi-disciplinary aspects of the works we perform. So we come together each week to delve into the music we prepare with a combination of serious study and enthusiastic fun, and most importantly, a commitment to excellence. Whether we're working on the B Minor Mass or a Hindemith chanson, we share the same passion and high performance standards that allow us to create significant musical experiences for ourselves and, we hope, for our audiences as well.
In addition to our annual concert series, BCS regularly produces projects and events that enrich the community in which we live. For seventeen consecutive years, BCS has invited the public to join us for a reading of the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah. An average of 300 singers and listeners attend each year to enjoy this annual tradition.
Each winter, BCSers become roaming carolers during the annual Canopy of Lights ceremony that welcomes Santa to downtown Bloomington.
BCS is well-known for its creative programming and the inclusive collaborations it forges with other artists in the community. In 2002, we initiated a four-year cycle of reflections on change. WinterSong was the first offering, an evening of music and poetry. Indiana University Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis generously helped craft the evening, selecting the thematic directions and readings that were coordinated with music by other area musicians who joined the Chamber Singers. The event played to a packed and appreciative house. We followed with SpringSong in 2004 and plan to present SummerSong in June of 2006.
These and the many other events that have been produced throughout the years owe their existence to the deep commitment and conviction of the members of the group, particularly those who have taken their turn to serve on the guiding Board of Directors and the many committees that are needed each season to organize and present events with the professionalism that is a hallmark of the Bloomington arts community. We are proud to be able to share our love of singing with residents of the area, and look forward to the music and projects ahead of us.
For questions and comments, please email us at comments@chambersingers.info.
2006-2007 (Our Current Season)Mendelssohn: Elijah Tim Noble as Elijah March 3rd, 2007 Evangelical Community Church
Messiah Sing Faith Lutheran ChurchNashville United Methodist Church
SummerSong TBA
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2005-2006Music of the English Church Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah Tavener: Hymns to the Mother of God and anthems and motets by Byrd, Parsons, Parry, Harris First Methodist Church
Pure Genius Bach: Ein feste Burg, S. 80 Mozart: Vesperae de dominica, K. 321 Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Evangelical Community Church
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2004-2005Britten: Saint Nicolas Indiana University Children's Choir First Christian Church
Lux Aeterna Brahms: Nanie Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna Faure: Requiem, op. 86 Evangelical Community Church
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2003-2004A song by any other name... Britten: The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard Barber: Sure on this Shining Night Jannequin: Les Chant des Oiseaux Monteverdi: Ecco mormorar l'onde and other works... First Baptist Church
SpringSong: The Legend of Taleisin New music of Don Freund, David Baker, Cary Boyce, and Malcolm Dalglish A collaboration with Indiana University Arts Week Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Handel: Messiah (with period instruments) A collaboration with the Bloomington Early Music Festival
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2002-2003Of Saints and Monarchs
WinterSong
Boyce: Dreams Within A Dream (world premiere) Buskirk-Chumley Theater
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2001-2002Joyeux Noël!
Bach: Johannes-Passion, BWV 245
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2000-2001A Bach Evening Liebster Gott, BWV 8
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1999-2000 (30th Anniversary Season)Brahms: Liebeslieder, Op. 52
Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten
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1998-1999Byrd: Mass for Four Voices
Mozart Requiem in D Minor, K. 626
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1997-1998An Evening at the Art Museum Schütz Psalms
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1996-1997James Underwood: Mass for the Children (premiere)
Bernstein Chichester Psalms
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1995-1996Music of the Americas Billings: I am the Rose of Sharon
Brahms: Shicksalslied
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1994-1995Rachmaninov: Vespers
A Romantic Liederabend
Bach: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music
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1993-1994Vivaldi: Gloria
Mozart Mass in C minor, K. 427
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1992-3Songs of Love and Nature: The French and Italian Renaissance
Duruflé Requiem
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1991-2A Little Winter Music
Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
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1990-1Music of Respighi, Poulenc, Rorem, Handel
An Evening of Brahms Choral Music
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1989-90Bach Magnificat in D, BWV 243
Haydn The Creation St. Mark's United Methodist Church
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1988-9Early French Christmas Music
Psalm Settings by English and American Composers
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1987-8Bach Johannes-Passion, BWV 245
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1986-7Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs St. Mark's United Methodist Church
Music of Schütz, Monteverdi, Bach First Baptist Church/United Church of Christ
Liszt Ave verum corpus Liszt Via crucis First Baptist Church/United Church of Christ
Spring Concert
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1985-6Haydn Mass in D Minor (Lord Nelson)
Music of Purcell, di Lasso, Brahms
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1984-5Music of Buxtehude, Distler, Howells, Haydn
Purcell Dido and Aeneas
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1983-4A Concert of Early Music
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1982-3Musicke for the Merrie Season
Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music (with Bloomington Symphony)
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1981-2Bach Cantatas
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1980-1Music by American Composers
Bach Cantatas
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1979-80Music of di Lasso, Vivaldi
Various Madrigals of Morley, Tomkins, Dowland, Farmer
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1978-9Mozart Ave verum corpus, K. 618
Various Lieder of Wolf, Schumann, Brahms
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1977-8Excerpts from Handel Messiah
Bach Cantata and Motet
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1976-7A Program of Sacred Motets Music of di Lasso, Couperin, Bernier, Bourgeois, Campra, Schütz, Spear, Praetorius Center for University Ministry
Performance with Bloomington Symphony Music of Fauré, Debussy St. Mark's United Methodist Church
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1975-6Music for Queens Elizabeth and Mary Binford Junior High School
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1974-5Music of Weelkes, Narenzio, Monteverdi, Dowland, Berger, Beeson, Trubitt Monroe County Library Auditorium
Music of Brahms, Schubert, Barber, Bowles, Vaughan Williams
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1973-4Pinkham Christmas Cantata Bach Magnificat in D, BWV 243
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1972-3Music of Mozart, Purcell, Blow, Desprez, Schein, Scarlatti Monroe County Library Auditorium
19th and 20th Century French and English Composers Music of Poulenc, Stevens, Hindemith, Berger Monroe County Library Auditorium
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1971-2Music of Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, Arbeau, Beethoven, Haydn
Music of Bach, Brahms, Arcadelt, Certon, Sermisy Monroe County Library Auditorium
Music of Purcell, Morley, Regnart, di Lasso, P.D.Q. Bach
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1970-1Chansons and Lieder of Janequin, Brahms, Hindemith, Berger
Music of Morley, Farmer, Cornysh, Byrd, Vaughan Williams, Britten Monroe County Library Auditorium
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