July 13, 200718 yr I'm going to have a try at setting Pie Jesu for a capella SATB chorus. Firstly, are there any things I will need to know before doing this? I have studied ecclesiastical latin pronunciation, and know which syllables should be accented. I haven't done a great deal of study on choral writin, I know the ranges of the voices, and how long one can sing at the various parts of the range, but apart from that, am I missing any vital bits of information/knowledge? Thanks, Mark :)
July 13, 200718 yr It depends on what you want. In the first place, it has to be singable, of course, and remember that for amateurs, strange leaps are very difficult. Therefore, good voice leading is definitely needed. There are so many examples of good choral writing, with Bruckner, Rachmaninov, Brahms, to name just VERY few (traditionalist) examples. Remember that writing for a choir is different than for an organ, say, because the singers have to hear their notes mentally before they can sing them, and because they need space to breathe. There's a lot to be mindful of, and the best way to find out is by looking at other composers and trying yourself. I'd be happy to review your attempts if you'd care to post them :laugh:.
July 13, 200718 yr Author I shall, and thank you for your advice, it is appreciated. I think I shall seek out some Brahms, as he is one of my favourite orchestral composers, but I have not loked into his choral music. Thank you again, Mark :P
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