Welcome to our Website! Melodious Accord aims to tell you about ourselves in an open, friendly, readable and response-able format.  We hope to answer your questions here — but if you have more, please let us know. We're looking forward to correspondence with many of you.
 

NEWS & NOTES

         

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Alice Parker's Melodious Accord Hymnal! 

The Alice Parker's Melodious Accord Hymnal contains 150 tunes composed and/or set by Alice Parker, many are her own settings of texts ranging from Biblical texts to contemporary poets.  Intended for 'choirs and adventurous congregations,' the hymns include many titles familiar to those who have sung them in Parker-Shaw arrangements. 

The style of the hymnal is uniquely 'Alice.'  As she says in her preface, "Each page is set up to give the pertinent information needed to perform the music well. . . . The intent is that singing in church should take its proper place in the broad stream of musical culture . . . We can make wonderful music in our sanctuaries." 

Visit our catalog and get your copy today. 

We are planning an expanded January in New York program for 2011 that will focus on the new Melodious Accord Hymnal.  It will include elements of Melody Studies and Song Leading for those who might have considered those programs for the summer.  Details are available on our website at Fellows Programs:  Score Study.  

  

Opera in Charlemont

A rare opportunity---come hear the New England premiere of Alice Parker's comic opera THE PONDER HEART at the Federated Church in Charlemont, Massachusetts on October 8 and 9.  Based on the novella by Eudora Welty, it tells the story of life in a tiny Mississippi town in the early 1930's.  Edna Earle Ponder narrates the adventures of her Uncle Daniel in his first encounters with both love and money--with disastrous and hilarious results.

The abridged, concert performance will be presented by the vocal and instrumental Musicians of Melodious Accord, conducted by the composer.  Presentations will be on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11 a.m.  Tickets $20.  For reservations contact kay@aliceparker.com or 413-536-1753