S Secondary | Performance Guide
Harvard Glee Club America’s oldest college chorus, the Harvard Glee Club, sings sacred music from the Renaissance, music from the Baroque and Romantic periods, as well as contemporary art songs and folk music. The chorus sings regularly for special occasions at Harvard University and tours throughout the United States, and around the world.
Learning Standards: Oral and Visual Communications; Social Studies – Geography – Culture and Diversity; Theater and Music.
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Photo credit Harvard Glee Club
About the artists The Harvard Glee Club, among the premier collegiate men’s choruses in the
Modern choral music retains many traditions from that period.
country, was founded in March 1858. Then the club numbered about a dozen
Choral music exists in most countries. Today amateur choral singing in the
or two men, and sang a repertoire ranging from old European and American
U.S. includes choruses in most secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
college and folk songs to contemporary art songs to popular operetta. Today’s
Contemporary composers of choral music make innovations through the use
Harvard Glee Club consists of about 65 men, mostly undergraduates at
of folk music, popular music and the use of avant-garde choral techniques.
Harvard College, very few of whom major in music or are destined for a musical career. The Club flourishes, singing good music well, while
Glee music and glee clubs
demonstrating the persisting vitality of men’s choral music.
The word glee has an ancient history. Used in the sense of melody, glee is
About choral music
found in the Old-English verse Beowulf (8th century.) The earliest known use of a musical work as a glee was in John Playford’s Select Musicall Ayres and
Choral music is music sung by a chorus or choir, with more than one singer
Dialogues (1652). Glee music compositions were popular during the second
for each voice part. The singing can be with or without accompaniment
half of the 18th century. Clubs devoted to singing glees were formed in
(acappella.) Important since ancient times, choral singing has played different
London at that time. By the late 18th century, glees were compositions for
roles throughout history. During the middle ages, choral music in Europe was
male voices chanting to mixed voices. The Harvard Dictionary of Music notes that
liturgical chant in free rhythm. During the Renaissance, the choral music
the use of glee club as a name for American school choruses derives from their
form expanded and choirs of many sizes sang sacred music composed for
origin in such groups during 19th century. By the end of the 19th century,
many voices. At that time composers perfected the form by balancing the
glee clubs were usually collegiate ensembles that performed popular and
distribution of voice parts over the full vocal range. They explored many
college songs in public concerts.
possibilities of texture and interrelationship of singing parts. Harvard Glee Club / Performance Guide
Volume 8 Number 10 Colgate Classroom Series performances help students meet Arkansas Learning Standards.
Learn more at: www.waltonartscenter.org
The Harvard Glee Club, 1921 The famous 1921 tour of Europe (pictured above) prompted composers Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc to write for the Glee Club.
Learn More About Harvard Glee Club Online
Learning at Walton Arts Center
> To learn more about the famous American Glee Club
Laura Goodwin, VP Learning & Engagement
www.iharvardgleeclub.org
Dr. Patricia Relph, Arts Learning Specialist
> To hear some of Harvard Glee Club Recordings
Katie Lamar, Schools Concierge
www.harvardgleeclub.org/sales
Dianna Blaylock, Learning Coordinator Carley Tisdale, L & E Intern
Learn About the Benefits of Music Study NAMM Foundation The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. Visit http://www.nammfoundation.org
Walton Arts Center 2010-2011 Learning programming is generously supported by these funders, sponsors and benefactors:
Education Benefactors: Coleman & Shirley Peterson
Colgate-Palmolive
Education Grantors:
Crayola®
Ted & Leslie Belden
Mark & Lynn Richards
Dr. J.B. & Rachel Blankenship
Mary Lynn Reese
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream
Arkansas Arts Council
David & Tina Bogle
The Rose Family
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Donald W. Reynolds
Joel & Lynn Carver
Jeff & Eileen Schomburger
Carolyn & Nick Cole
Jack & Mechelle Sinclair
Lori Cunningham
David & Candace Starling
Michael & Susan Duke
Jerry & Brenda Walton
Joanie & Jon Dyer
Jim & Lynne Walton John & Kitten Weiss
Kimberly-Clark Bio-Tech Pharmacal, Inc. Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Procter & Gamble
Foundation The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Mid America Arts Alliance/
Pruitt Tool Company
National Endowment
Malcolm & Ellen Hayward
Shipley Motor Co.
for the Arts
Johnelle Hunt
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Walmart Foundation
Fred & Yvonne Ley
Season support provided by
Andy & Mary Murray
Walmart / SAM’S CLUB
Pat Parsons
Harvard Glee Club / Performance Guide