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Comment by nikodotio | Hacker News Reader

On the drums: Not entirely, I find folk tradition choral music (without drums) wonderful, but also struggle with classical and church choral.

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I would be interested to hear some examples to see if that would change my understanding. I am expecting to hear things that are very upbeat and rhythmic though.

It doesn't have drums or their approximation, but Saunder Choi's "The New Colossus" is a very rhythmic and emotional work. The words are from Emma Lazarus' poem engraved on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RUtWfSNRRY

Another rhythmic piece that comes to mind is Wild Embers by Melissa Dunphy, setting the words of Nikita Gill, who started off as an Instagram poet. Lots of videos of this one, I'm picking one at random: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCSjvGPERKQ

Another piece by Melissa Dunphy, "Dancing in Buses" is from American DREAMers. It begins with a nod to reggaeton, and tells the story of a kid crossing the border, with the bus coming under gunfire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcfNiHDefBw

It's part of a 25 minute series of works, here's the premiere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m3RoCHebIQ&t=193s

And more info here: https://www.melissadunphy.com/composition/72/american-dreame...

what styles are contained in folk tradition choral music? I know of sacred harp singing which can be really spectacular.

In our Alpine region there is a long tradition of male choruses singing folk songs about mountain life and tales through rich harmonizations of pieces. An example from coro SAT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZyZggh3SQ

This is sacred male choral music from my region:

https://youtu.be/RpDQduUh9ao?si=JgZUaOmU9Cpbt7kI

This is pretty much a living folk choral tradition. Maybe a bit influenced by classical church choral singing, but definitively its own thing in both vocal style and arrangement style.

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