Singing in a choir?This is the ideal opportunity to learn all about it!

Daniele Venturi presents:New practical method of functional exercises for choir

Isuku Verlag

The masterclass is open to students and teachers, no matters if they are: singers, instrumentalists, composers, orchestra players, pianists,

choir and orchestra conductors, etc..

First step

The author illustrates his new method. (Duration: 20 minutes)

(Time for questions: duration 10 minutes)

Second step

Daniele Venturi is going to make a workshop with all participants.(Duration: one hour and twenty minutes)

(Time for questions: duration 10 minutes)

Total duration of the masterclasses two hours without break

General structure of the method:

208 excercises for choir divided in three volumes

First level

a) Vocal and preparatory exercises;

Second level

b) Sung reading exercises at different tempos;

Third level

c) Polyphonic sight reading exercises;

Fourth level

d) Functional exercises for choir.

Year of publication 2015

Abstract presentationI began compiling this Practical Method in 1987 which involved work done with several vocal ensembles. Above all, I would like to mention the “Gaudium choir” to which most of these exercises are dedicated.This method was created as a sort of “ideal journey” that a choir or vocal ensemble can accomplish over a period of at least one decade.The exercises in these volumes have been written with the aim to fill a void as best as possible in technical and musical deficiencies of choir-singers, through the experience of my own choir.I have decided to entitle this book: “New practical method: functional exercises for choirs” because each exercise has been designed to improve a specific musical need such as vocal training, musical phrasing and intonation. Exercises are not introduced in a standard progressive order, but alternately according to their musical and didactic function.The method illustrates a sort of “general plan” which can be followed by a choirmaster; however, it can also be used as a kind of “Reference book”, that I hope can be useful to improve musical choir skills. Eachexercise has been designed to solve one of the many problems or imperfections of a choir or of a single voice.This manual is divided into four sections: the first section contains vocalization and preparatory exercisesand a series of exercises that can be learned by a group in a very short time if they are practiced with patience, constant effort and methodology.In the second section “Exercises for sight reading at different tempos” are found.These pieces are written following the main harmonic-scheme: I-IV-I (2r) V-I of the major scale and can be performed also in minor keys as all the other exercises of this method.Voice parts are freely interchangeable to obtain different choral sounds and to find many other keys to solve a choir’s vocal intonation problems. Once the choir singer will have learned the basic harmonic scheme he/she can concentrate on the rhythm and different tempos that change with each exercise. In this way, the choir singer will improve his/her reading skills in a natural way.The third section is on reading to improve “Polyphonic singing”. Based on the same harmonic-scheme, these exercises are at a higher level with an emphasis on counterpoint.And finally, we get to the “heart” of this method: “Practical exercises for choir”.It consists in different exercises for choral singing, using specific techniques to improve the level of the choir from both a technical and musical point of view. These techniques combine the intonation aspect with psychological-acoustic features, without neglecting improved ear- training and effective memorization skills of each choir member. Each exercise should be practiced using all possible phonemes. For this reason the choirmaster will change consonants and vowel articulations to solve specific problems of the choir. Obviously, the use of consonants and vowels in the exercises, as well as dynamics, are merely intended assuggestions and can be modified as desired.It is my hope that this method can help any choir that wishes to improve and refine its technique.A choir is both a wonderful, but at the same time, mysterious instrument. With it the deepest feelings of the human soul can be expressed, friends can be made and one’s own character can be improved, plus much more.At last, I must say, that the choir is first of all a “school of life” besides being one of the best ways to practice “great music”, and at the least economic expense!Daniele Venturi

Short BiographyDaniele Venturi was born in Porretta Terme (Bologna - Italy) in 1971.

As a composer and choir director he is among the most established of his generation.He studied composition with Gérard Grisey, Giacomo Manzoni, Fabio Vacchi, Ivan Fedele and Luis de Pablo, and orchestral conducting with Piero Bellugi. He is the founder and director of “Coro Gaudium” (1992) (Italian folk songs) and “Arsarmonica Ensemble” (2006).Since 1987 he has done ethnomusicological research in the Bologna and Modena areas, finding interesting ideas

for his original compositions. In 2000 he became the assistant director of Pier Paolo Scattolin’s “Choir Voices of Europe”, Bologna (European City of Culture).He has to his credit numerous international composition prizes including: “Gino Contilli”, Messina 2003 (second prize ex-aequo, and honourable mention), “IAMIC”, Toronto 2009, (prize shared between the twoItalian composers who participated), “JSCM”, Tokyo, 2010, (the only European finalist), “ISCM”, Belgium2012, (only Italian composer selected), ISCM-WMD, Slovenia, 2015, (Italian selection SIMC), Soundscape, Maccagno, 2015, (composer in residence), ISCM-WMD, Sud Korea, 2016, (Italian selection SIMC), ecc..Hisworks have been performed in Italy and abroad, and broadcast by several radio and television channels (“Rai Radio Tre”, “Radio Cemat”, “Concertzender Radio”, “Radio Klara”, “Radio France”, “Vatican Radio”, “RAI Italian Television”).He has received commissions from major organizations and concert seasons and his music has been performed in prestigious concert halls such as: Italy: Milan, “Royal Palace”, “Teatro Dal Verme”, “Aula Magna of the Università Bocconi”, Turin, “Gam”, “Lingotto Auditorium”, Genova,"Tursi Palace", Padua, “Auditorium Altinate/San Gaetano”, Pescara, “Pescara MusicAcademy Auditorium”, Messina, “Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art” and abroad, Slovakia: “Church of St. Michael Archangel”, Bratislava-Cunovo. Belgium: “STUK Labozaal”, Leuven. Japan: “Bunka Kaikan Hall”, “Tokyo Opera City”, Tokyo. China: “Nie Er Concert Hall”, Chengdu. Thailand: “Chiang Mai Auditorium”. Canada: “Canadian Music Centre”, “Placebo Space”, Toronto, “McGill University”, “Tana Schulich Hall”, Montreal. USA: “Columbia University”, “Auditorium of the Italian Academy”, New York, “EDT Concert Hall at the Haven”, Charlottesville, Virginia, Concert Hall, “The Arts at UMBC ”, Baltimora, "Athenaeum Music & Arts Library", San Diego. Estonia, “Peetri Kogudus”, Tartu. Argentina: “Sala La Vidriera the Direcion General de Ensenanza Art”, Buenos Aires, “Institute Superior de Musica”, Santa Fe, Argentina “J. Alvarez Library”, Rosario. Uruguay: “Escuela Universitaria Music”, “Universidad de la Republica”, Montevideo. Azerbaijan: “Fund Zibal Az”, Baku, etc.He has collaborated with international artists, performers and ensembles such as: Dacia Maraini, Germano Sartelli, Irvine Arditti, Garth Knox, Lisa Cella, Mark Menzies, Arne Deforce, Paola Perrucci, Pier DamianoPeretti, Luisa Sello, Takashi Aoyama, Tadayuki Kawahara, Solomiya Moroz, Liu Kai, Elizabeth Farnum, Dan Lippel, William Anderson, Jeremy Bass, Pomus Ensemble from I Pomeriggi Musicali - Milan, Eclectica choir - Bologna, Interensemble - Padova, Cygnus Ensemble - New York, Noise Ensemble - San Diego, Le Centre Henri Pousseur - Brussels, Maria Felix Korporal -Amsterdam, Istvan Horkay - Budapest,etc..In September 2009, he issued his first Compact-Disc by Bongiovanni (Bologna) entitled “Quattro lembi di cielo” (Four sky pieces) consisting of 12 chamber works, with a preface by the wellknown Italian composer and teacher Giacomo Manzoni, and programme notes by Sandro Cappelletto.

In 2010 he taught Choral Conducting and Choral Composition at the F.Venezze Conservatoire - Rovigo, Italy. In march of 2013 he has been invited by the Electronic Music department of the SCCM Conservatory(Chengdu, China) to give a series of lectures on his music.In July 2013 he was commissioned by the “Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music” of Washington and the “ISCM Mid-Atlantic” the composition “Alla luna” for soprano, mandolin and guitar on text by Giacomo Leopardi. In the summer of 2013, the Association “Musica/Realtà” - Milan has commissioned the piece “NOGI” for three pianos, a tribute to Luigi Nono.Among his most recent compositions are included “Achernar” (2014) for piano and orchestra, written at the request of the Venezuelan pianist and composer Marianela Arocha, former president of “SVMC” (“Sociedad Venezolana de Música Contemporánea”) This composition was dedicated to the pianist Arocha and the Orquesta Sinfonica “Simon Bolivar”, and will be performed in 2015 in Caracas. Daniele Venturi will also be the guest of the cultural and social project “El Sistema”, conceived by José Antonio Abreu.His composition “Agnus Dei II” for mixed chamber choir was selected by the commission of the Italian ISCM (SIMC) to participate in the final selection of “WMD-ISCM” in Slovenia 2015.He has recently completed the composition “Aden” (2015) for strings chamber orchestra, written for the “Amadeus Chamber Orchestra” of the “Polish-Radio” directed by Agnieszka Duczmal.In the first week of July 2015 Daniele Venturi was invited to be among the composers in residence at the Festival “Soundscape” in Maccagno.Recently his composition “Frayeds strokes” for cello and live electronics was selected by the commission of the Italian ISCM (SIMC) to participate in the final selection of “WMD-ISCM” in South Korea 2016.He is currently working on the composition “Nibiru” for marimba and electronics, piece written at the request of the French percussionist Laurent Mariusse, and will be performed as a world première in spring 2016 in Lyon. Since January 2015 Daniele Venturi is part of the Artistic Committee “AERCO” (“Associazione Emiliano-Romagnola Cori”) which is part of “Feniarco” (“National Federation of Italian Regional Choral Associations”). His compositions have been published by “M.A.P.”, “Rugginenti”, “Sconfinarte”, “Taukay” and "Isuku" Editions.From the 1st of September 2013 his artistic activity is followed by the “Brennecke-Art Management” in Vienna.

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