CHORAL CHIHUAHUA

Are we all a teeny weeny bit obsessed with slow-moving choral music? Isn't it fun to sing something fast? Robert and Sammy go for a short ride in a fast choral machine, with the help of Stef Conner, Joanna Marsh, Roderick Williams, Cheryl Frances-Hoade and Bernard Hughes.TRACK LISTING : (mostly 'sections from')Monteverdi - Io mi son giovinettaConsort of Musicke / Anthony RooleyFlintstones Theme tuneArr. & performed / Jacob CollierPoulenc - MarieI Fagiolini / Robert HollingworthBritten - Let Nimrod (from 'Rejoice in the Lamb')Tippett - The WindhoverFinzi Singers / Paul SpicerRavel - RondeEnsemble Vocal Philippe CaillardVaughan-Williams - Over hill, over daleSwingle IIDaniel-Lesur - Le SongeI Fagiolini / Robert HollingworthByrd - VigilateVoces8Machaut - Amen from Gloria (Messe de Notre Dame)Hilliard EnsembleRobert Heppener - Del iubilo del coreNetherlands Chamber Choir / Heppener

Robert and Eamonn finally meet and talk: commissioning, a South African project 25 years on and at the National Youth Girls Choir course introduce Carris Jones (the first female back row singer at St Paul's Cathedral) and Joanna Tomlinson. Also why you should blow bubbles into your drinks after all.TRACK LISTING :Monkitsi Seoketsa - uJehovaI Fagiolini / SDASA ChoraleMendelssohn - Hear my prayerSt.Paul's Cathedral Choir and choristers from over the UK / Andrew Carwood (dir) / Nathaniel Morley (treble)Patrick Gowers - Viri Galilaei (final section)Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge / Stephen Layton (dir) / Harrison Cole (organ)Joanna Marsh - A short story of fallingNational Youth Girls Choir of GB / Joanna Tomlinson (dir) / Michael Higgins (piano)David Bednall - Lux orta est iustoEpiphoni Consort / Tim Reader

Robert talks to vocal coach / young voice specialists Charlotte Mobbs and Dr Jenevora Williams about physical and mental issues facing young females as they go through puberty and voice development.TRACK LISTING :Carole King - (You make me feel like) A Natural WomanAretha FranklinGustav Holst - Ave MariaNational Youth Training Choir / Greg BeardsallVivaldi - Salve ReginaMhairi Lawson - soprano, La Serenissima / Adrian ChandlerThe Blooming Heather Arr. Esther Jones / Rachel StauntonNational Youth Girls' Choir of Great BritainLucy Joy Morris (Violin), Dan Moriyama (Piano) Esther Jones (Conductor)

Nicholas goes to St Paul's Cathedral to talk to master of the choristers Andrew Carwood and Byrd scholar Dr Katie Bank (of Byrd Central) about their passion for William Byrd's music. Is Peter Phillips right? Do audiences like Tallis while singers prefer Byrd?TRACK LISTING :Byrd - Fantasia BK62 (excerpt)Christian Wilson, organByrd - Lord, in they wrath, correct me notAlamire / David SkinnerByrd - Magnificat (excerpt) from The Great ServiceOdyssean Ensemble / Colm Carey  Christian Wilson, organByrd - Infelix Ego (last section)The Cardinall's Musick / Andrew CarwoodByrd - Ad Dominum cum tribularer (2nd half)I Fagiolini / Robert HollingworthByrd - O salutaris hostia a6Marian Consort / Rory McCleery

A rather tired Robert and Nicholas chat with Julia Doyle immediately after sessions for a premiere recording of a fabulous four-choir mass from 17th century Rome. [Recorded July 1st] TRACK LISTING:Orazio Benevoli – Missa Tu es Petrus (Various sections) - I Fagiolini / HollingworthOrazio Benevoli – Missa Si Deus pro nobis (two excerpts) - Le concert spirituel / Hervé NiquetBonifazio Graziani – Domine, ne in furore tuo - I Fagiolini: Rebecca Lea, Julia Doyle, Frederick LongBonifazio Graziani – Iustus ut palma (excerpt) - I Fagiolini / Hollingworth

Meet Robert Quinney, director of music at New College, Oxford: also young professional singer Ellie Stamp. Thomas Guthrie, Nicholas Mulroy and Robert Hollingworth continue to muse on creativity and STUFF.TRACK LISTING:Howells - Magnificat from New College service New College Choir, Robert QuinneyDeborah Pritchard - Nunc Dimittis from New College ServiceNew College Choir, Robert QuinneyLeighton - excerpt from God's Grandeur (I Fagiolini)Theme tune to BodDerek GriffithsJohn Blow - Mourn for thy servantChoir of Clare College, Cambridge, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

An improbable sixth season begins with an oblique response to the recent John Eliot Gardiner incident. Singer/opera director Thomas Guthrie joins Nicholas Mulroy and Robert Hollingworth to mull things over. In New York, Nicholas talks to director Aria Umezawa and singer Isaiah T Bell with an alternative view on hierarchy in the rehearsal room. Also featuring a thrilling new mini-series: 'In the car with Martha McLorinan'.TRACK LISTING:Porpora - Come nave in mezzo all'ondeCecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino armonico, Giovanni Antonini 

Robert drops in on the Sixteen’s Genesis 16 programme for young choral singers and talks to the singers and grumpy old Eamonn, and the ep ends with an interview with Sarah Latto of Echo Vocal Ensemble, former G16 and now running her own choral groups. TRACK LISTING :Trad. arr. Gustav Holst - I love my loveGenesis 16 / Eamonn Dougan (in rehearsal)William Byrd - Ne irascaris, DomineThe Sixteen / Harry ChristophersSamuel Barber - The Coolin’  Genesis 16 / Olivia Shotton (in rehearsal)Trad. arr. Undine Smith Moore - Daniel, DanielEcho Vocal Ensemble / Sarah Latto

Eamonn is running a singing course in Italy with some older singers who have a post-Covid perspective on singing in choirs. Lots of interesting technical tips in this one plus lovely and unfamiliar late 16th century Italian music.TRACK LISTING :Luca Marenzio - Iniquos odio habuiThe Sixteen / Eamonn DouganClaudio Monteverdi - T'amo, mia vita’I Fagiolini / Robert HollingworthLuca Marenzio - Magnificat a 8The Choir of King’s College Cambridge / Stephen CleoburyAsprillio Pacelli - Christus resurgensThe Sixteen / Eamonn Dougan