"Where choral writing is going."

I disagree so strongly with the assessment that Whitacre is "where choral writing is going."

I think he's really just attaching new harmonic and rhythmic tropes onto the same sorts of text-painting that have been going on since before the 1500s.

So - where IS choral writing going?

Hell. or the opera.

I'm actually inclined to agree with "the opera." I think most innovations in choral music are happening in contemporary opera.

I was told by a very smart person lately, that Whitacre is the band kid's god, unfortunately, and that has perpetuated his sap.

Hmmmmm....

Whitacre's band music is really cool. It's very unusual repertoire - lots of extended techniques and stuff, which one doesn't usually see for that particular ensemble.

Hmmm... True.

I love cloudburst and october.

I personally think things are heading to the opera.

Look at Adam's operas!

Wait...so you say he's implementing new ideas on old ideas...but say that he's nothing new...

I don't get that.

I'm saying he's implementing harmonic ideas from the 1920s and 1930s (from folk like Copland and Stravinsky) on top of ideas of choral text-setting implemented as far back as the mid 1500s.

Yeah - old ideas mixed in new ways. In any case, are you arguing he's not innovative, or that he's just...not the overall trend in choral writing?

I haven't noticed a particular trend in new choral writing, unless perhaps it's a tendency toward thicker textures and rich, complex, satisfying harmonies. Choral music is more luxuriant and symphonic now than it has probably ever been, though even that is a trend that began nearly a century ago with such works as Arnold Bax's Mater ora Filium and Randall Thompson's luscious (if not particularly adventurous) Alleluia. Eric Whitacre is certainly a contributor to this tradition, given that in large part his genius is exploring the potential of his forces and using his harmonic language to wonderful effect.

Otherwise, I don't really see how much further innovation can be made in choral music. It seemed to reach a pinnacle of nearly unperformable avant garde opaqueness about 40 years ago (Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel comes to mind) and has been turning in other more sane/reasonable directions since. I don't see a lot of really wacky new stuff being done - just greater exploration of how delicious choral sound can get.

The most exciting and/or satisfying contemporary choral works I've heard/performed include it is at moments after i have dreamed by Ian Krouse, Sleep by Eric Whitacre, Napili Bay, 2 PM by JAC Redford, and Madrigali by Morten Lauridsen.

Interesting...they're all Los Angeles composers.

I have to admit, probably the most intriguing new major choral work I've heard recently was The Passion of Ramakrishna by Philip Glass, given its premiere by the Pacific Chorale and Symphony; not really my cup of tea, but it was a pretty effective piece. I don't think Glass' brand of minimalism is at all representative of where choral music might be going, though.

Question: does opera really count as choral music? I don't think so, but I'd like to hear other ideas.

Is there a particular direction any of you would like to see choral music go?