Rhytmic Workshop

The workshop teaches one- and multi-voice songs and rhythmic movements and dances typical of gospel using the Call and response method. Additionally, the workshop applies the non-verbal Vocal Painting method (developed by Danish professor Jim Daus Hjernøe), where a relaxed and fun learning environment is created through movement and song, encouraging improvisation together. The workshop is suitable for both beginners and music professionals.

Leaders:
Nina Pakkanen (FI)
Gospel Helsinki (FI) 
The rhythmic workshop will be guided by the conductor of Gospel Helsinki Nina Pakkanen.
Preparation: Sheet music will be sent to participants in advance

New nordic hymns and Global Songbook

Welcome to this workshop, where we sing from the Global Songbook together with Karin Rünow and Kristján Hrannar Pálsson who participated in the group which chose the Nordic hymns in the book.

Renewal, maturity and growth in faith, can it happen through song and music?

Martin Luther thought so. In 1524, he published a small booklet of eight newly written texts for popular melodies at that time, a way of spreading the ideas of the Reformation. The songs quickly became popular and hymn singing an important part of the Lutheran Church worldwide. This year, the Lutheran World Federation celebrates the renewing power of music by publishing The Global Songbook 2024 hymns and liturgies from all regions of the LWF. By singing the same songs, we hope to inspire dialogue, strengthen the community and clarify what it means to be a Lutheran church.

Leaders:
Karin Runow (SV)
Kristján Hrannar Pálsson (IS) 

Preparation: None
Language: Swedish, English

Choir and organ

The workshop contains music for choir and organ from Missa pacis by Icelandic composer Sigurður Sævarsson as well as an unaccompanied Agnus Dei by Magnús Ragnarsson.

Leader:
Magnús Ragnarsson (IS)
Preparation: Sheet music will be sent to participants in advance
Language: Swedish, English

Choral improvisation

In choral improvisation, we work to grasp the unexpected and lift it up into music, together as a group. With exercises that are based on principles from well-known children’s games, we establish the common direction in a playful and experimental approach to the building blocks of music. The note-free choral work strengthens the musical hearing when the eye does not have to read at the same time, and the musical memory is supported by simple choreography. Experience an ultra textual choral work that shifts interpretation and initiative from the conductor to the individual singer and voice group. Each voice becomes co-creative in new ways and the conductor plays with his leadership role as a form of “playing coach”.

Exercises, methodology and sketches for the various improvisations we will be working with can be found in the publication “Ten glances at the living God – choral improvisation with soundscape” by Lars Nielsen Sardemann (Forlaget MIXTUR) – both the choir leader’s and choral singer’s booklet can be obtained with advantage before participation at noder.dk

Here you can also download the beautiful soundscapes for which we will improvise; the choir’s “safety net” and musical guideline during the improvisation.

Find your inner child!

Leader:
Lars Nielsen Sardemann (DK)
Preparation: None
Languages: Danish, English

Music for worship

For hundreds of years, composers have written motets, masses and cantatas for use in church services. It was often the local church musician who composed, rehearsed and performed the music with his choir, and it was not uncommon for the whole process to take place during the same week. Composers such as Thomas Tallis and Heinrich Schütz have motets in their works, which cover large parts of the church year, Johann Sebastian Bach composed cantatas for every Sunday of the church year, and in recent times there is hardly any composer in Norway who has written as much liturgical music as Egil Hovland. It is still a living tradition in many churches that the church musician composes choral music specially adapted to the texts for the next Sunday, and in this way new, beautiful church music for choirs is created all the time.

In this workshop, we will become familiar with newer choral music, which is good-sounding, relatively easy to practice in a short time, and which can easily be used in the service.

Leader :
Karen Haugom Olsen
Preparation: Sheet music will be sent to participants in advance
Languages: Norwegian, English

Contrast in Musicianship

Contrasts in Musicianship – a workshop where we will explore a selection of choral pieces that stand in stark contrast to each other, each defined by its distinct tonal language, message and musical narrative.

During the course of the workshop we will explore the various musical nuances of three diverse pieces composed for mixed choir with the aim to be able to collaboratively feel the music and vividly bring its great contrasts to life.

The following pieces will be performed at the workshop: “Cantate Domino” by Karl Jenkins, a great, joyous hymn of exultation; “Peace” by Martin Åsander, a heartfelt, peaceful prayer; and “Nordika” by Sunleif Rasmussen, a passionate celebration of Nordic identity.

Leader:
Tóra Vestergaard
Preparation: Sheet music will be sent to particdipants in advance
Language: Danish, English