The Eternal Choir (Harmonics- Throat-singing- Overtones)(MP3 VBR)

The Eternal Choir is based in Melbourne Australia.

Harmonic singing - Overtones - Throat-singing



From Peaces Album (1993) notes:



This is an album of music for unaccompanied voices, however it is not traditional choir music. It is music that creates an intensely beautiful and contemplative ambience, reflecting the living patterns of nature.



When we sing, we use no words, and no written score. Patterns of notes are blended together, sometimes quite freely, and at other times shaped by a simple musical idea. Singers develop an intuitive awareness of where the music is heading, and what their contribution is to the whole.



Whilst our music has a feeling of pulse, it is not so much a measured rhythm as a sense of the music breathing. . .



The Eternal Choir was founded by Andrew Skeoch, who began researching the vocal techniques of harmonic singing in 1988. The choir was formed in 1989 under the name 'Harmonic Voices'. We led an intermittent existence until a solstice concert held in Dec. 1991, at which the enjoyment of both audience and performers alike inpired us to an ongoing commitment.



Throughout 1992, we continued to give performances, including one in support of the Dalai Lama's visit to Australia. Late in 1992, we participated in the inaugural Melbourne International Festival of Choirs, and were awarded an Honorary Mention for our "sustained and intensely beautiful music".



From Bliss album (1997) notes:



The 'Eternal Choir' was the name given to a group of druidic monks who chanted continuously for the express purpose of 'tuning up' the energies of the earth. It is said that the three sites for this activity formed an equilateral triangle geographically and each was centred on the intersection of ley-lines (possibly Salisbury, Tetbury and Glastonbury). At each site, three groups of 144 monks each chanted in eight hour rotations as an ultimate expression of service to the Earth Mother.



Today, once again, there is a movement toward experiencing subtle energies and honouring them in our daily lives. Inspired by the efforts of arguably, one of the oldest choirs in the world, we trust that this ancient choir would bless the approach of our contemporary ensemble. By focussing on elements of music that normally remain hidden or masked, we seek to highlight the inherent natural beauty and tangible power of pure sounds.



In singing with harmonics, each person can produce two or three notes simultaneously. Different version of harmonic singing have been used for centuries by many cultures and are still sung today in places like Mongolia, Tuva and Tibet. The Eternal Choir's music uses a variety of these vocal techniques, from the Tibetan 'subharmonic growl' to the Mongolian 'high flute'. However, the predominant style is the bell-like 'open-vowel' harmonic that, although far more subtle than other styles, creates a richness in choral depth and texture that is unparallelled.