The Choir Invisible by David Childs

2009 ACDA High School Honors Choir 1. Conducted by Christine Bass


The piece itself is very gorgeous, filled with soaring melodies, colorful harmonies, canon like passages from the choir that sparkle with clean texture and a beautiful piano accompaniment. There are many expressively aching suspensions, piercing cluster chords and lyrical passages that make this piece spectacular in its musical composition. I love the piano intro and outro; it sets the mood for the mysterious, unknown, ethereal soundscape that this piece communicates. The text is apparently from George Eliot's poem of the same name.

Overall, its a great performance from this honors choir. They do a great job in bringing out passages that demand for specific nuances of expression. I really like the ending, canon-like section that starts around 5:14. The choir members do a good job in bringing out each phrase, one after another, with each part complementing the other. One thing I would bring to attention are the notes that tenor's seem to struggle reaching for, particularly 4:30. They are not blending well with the basses. Contrary, the altos and sopranos do a fine job in the first phrase of the piece, with a nice pedal tone from the altos.
I'm sure that the sound of the choir would have been more clearer if one were attending a live performance of this piece.