1: (Easy) No divisi in voice parts, accompaniment doubles or supports vocal parts, diatonic, symmetrical phrases, textures mostly homophonic, simple rhythms, stepwise voice leading (conjunct), moderate ranges, no extended techniques, and limited sustained singing.
2: (Medium Easy) Limited divisi, voices somewhat independent from accompaniment, some chromatics, phrases may be longer or more fragmented, mostly homophonic, moderate rhythmic complexity, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderate ranges, extended techniques are simple, limited sustained singing.
3. (Medium) Limited divisi, unaccompanied, or with independent accompaniment (voice parts not doubled), many chromatics, phrases of varying lengths, more contrapuntal textures, moderately complex rhythms, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderately difficult/challenging ranges, extended techniques are potentially challenging, and some sustained singing.
4. (Medium Difficult) Abundant divisi, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, many difficult intervals (disjunct motion), difficult/challenging ranges, potentially difficult extended techniques, and a demand for sustained singing.
5. (Difficult) Adundant divis, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, extreme ranges, use of challenging or unusual extended vocal techniques, abundant sustained singing.
3 reviews for Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers
Dr. William Skoog –
Neither Angels nor Demons by Timothy Takach, quickly rose to the top of my “must-do” choral works. It is harmonically rich, melodically expressive and lyric; the divisi and harmonic richness in the voices offer excellent opportunities for working on counterpoint between sections on the choir; the breadth of phrasing is remarkable, and the emotional depth of the work is in a category all its own. This is a terrific piece for an advanced high school choir, large church choir, and college or university choirs. The text and Tim’s original music offers a marvelous musical gravitas, so much so that our choir now considers this work as a personal anthem- they will not let me offer a concert absent this work. I HIGHLY recommend this piece; it offers all of the technical components one would desire, and an unmatched emotional, spiritual message conveyed through the music. It is a real gem in the choral repertoire.
Dr. Kierstin Bible –
This is a really excellent piece, even for smaller choirs. It is an interesting voicing – SSAATBB, which really works for the choirs that are short on tenors (aren’t we all?). The harmonies are challenging, but not impossible. My little chamber choir loved this piece – it is incredibly musical and very singable.
Colin Stubblefield –
This song is absolutely beautiful! I sang this song in my Junior year at Lipscomb Academy High School. This song it is not my favorite song I sang in choir, but also; one of my all time favorite songs. I was a baritone when I sang this and I always looked forward to singing it in concert. If you are a conductor looking for a piece that you and your singers will love to sing than this is the song you need.