European GP for choral Singing 2012

Harmonia Ensemble, Japan

(winner of Florilège Vocal de Tours – Tours 2011, France)

Harmonia Ensemble, founded in April 2009, is a chamber choir from Tokyo, composed of the members who have participated in the World Youth Choir, and the young and professionally trained singers belonging to music colleges. Without appointing a conductor, individual members create music voluntarily and produce music while exchanging opinions, which presents a rather unique form of activity. The repertoire includes not only the works from the Renaissance to the 21st Century, but also those of pop, jazz, and folklore. Its sound is well appraised, a renowned music critic describing one of their concerts as “a highly artistic performance in which songs, words, and prayers are integrated.”
The choir held its first regular concert in June 2010 and has won several prizes, among which are the Golden Award at the 65th Tokyo Choral Competition in 2010, two consecutive Golden Awards at the national 63rd and 64th  Japan Choral Competitions (2010, 2011), and in May 2011, the Grand Prix in the 40th Florilege Vocal de Tours. In September 2011, Harmonia Ensemble released their first album, titled »Bridge over troubled water«.

Programme:
Jacobus Vaet (1529–1567): O QUAM GLORIOSUM (All Souls' Day antiphon)
Japan Choral Association

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548–1611): REGINA CÆLI  (Easter antiphon)
Editado con Lilypond

Damijan Močnik (1967): CHRISTUS NATUS EST (Christmas antiphon)
Carus Verlag

Françis Poulenc (1899–1963): TRISTIS EST ANIMA MEA (Holy Thursday responsory)
Ed. Salabert

Robert Lucas de Pearsall (1795–1856): LAY A GARLAND (Beaumont and Fletcher)
Oxford University Press

Akira Miyoshi (1933): SORAN-BUSHI (Zen-on)　　
Music Company

Minao Shibata (1916): OIWAKE-BUSHI-KO (Zen-on)
Music Company