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CSS Presents: Choral Composition with Kenneth Tay


Date: Sunday 4 August 2024, 12.00pm - 1.00pm

Venue: Function Room 1, Midwood, 8 - 10 Hillview Rise, S667971


Workshop Synopsis:

This presentation explores the art of choral composition. We journey from the origins of choral music to its contemporary iterations, and demonstrate the stylistic changes to choral composition over time. I outline the notational complexities inherent in contemporary choral composition, and discuss the practical challenges that composers encounter when writing for voices. Examples drawn from the wider collection of choral repertoire, and from some of my recent compositions, will provide insights into the creative process of choral writing.


Key themes include:

• Historical and contemporary choral composition styles

• Techniques for writing for various choral ensembles

• Overcoming common compositional challenges

• Integrating cultural and thematic elements into choral works


Speaker Biography:

Kenneth Tay (b. 1992) is a Singaporean composer, conductor, and choral practitioner currently undertaking a PhD in Music Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His research focuses on the intersection of Western sacred music and Asian spirituality, exploring how these diverse traditions can converge within contemporary compositions to create meaningful and culturally rich musical experiences. He is supervised by Oliver Searle, Stuart MacRae and Zechariah Goh, and supported by the RCS Trust and Tan Kah Kee Foundation.


Kenneth’s music has garnered acclaim from reviewers, described as: “exciting and refreshing” (Alan Cooper), “original and harmonically engaging” (The Flying Inkpot), and “luminous” (The Straits Times). His compositions have received international recognition, and were featured on BBC Radio 3 by the Echo Vocal Ensemble, the Southeast Asian repertoire reading session at the 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music in Istanbul, and on a CD of Scottish Sacred Music recorded by the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir with Convivium Records.


CSS Tea Session will begin at 1pm. This is part of our regular casual meet-up sessions for existing and potential members to get to know each other, catch up, and just spend some time together!


Registration:

Entry is free for all CSS members and $20 for non-members. Please email csspresents@cssingapore.org to RSVP. For non-members, please provide screenshot proof of payment. Payment can be made via QR code below or to our UEN: T07SS0011L



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