The Swingle Singers
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The Swingle Singers is a vocal group formed in 1962 Paris, France with Ward Swingle, Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, and Jean Cussac. Christiane Legrand, the sister of composer Michel Legrand, was the lead soprano in the group. There were a total of 8 members in the group: two sopranos, two altos, two tenors, and two basses.
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[edit] History
The group, directed primarily by Ward Swingle (who once belonged to the famed French vocal group Les Double Six) began as session singers mainly doing background vocals for singers like Charles Aznavour and Edith Piaf. They did some jazz vocals for Michel Legrand, but when he left for Hollywood to do film scores, they were left with boring parts. Swingle cast about for something interesting to do and fell on Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier, which led to their hit album, Bach's Greatest Hits.
They sang with French pop star Etienne Daho on his songs "Timide intimité" and "Soudain" from his 1996 album Eden, and with the Style Council on their song "The Story of Someone's Shoe" from the 1988 album Confessions of a Pop Group. (Style Council leader Paul Weller claims the song was inspired by the Swingle Singers' 1967 album with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Place Vendome.)[citation needed]
- First incarnation: French, 1962-1973
- Second incarnation: English, 1973-Present (also under the names "Swingle II", "The Swingles", then "The New Swingle Singers")
Each of the above incarnations included different singers at different times.
[edit] Today
The group is now based in London, England. The Swingle Singers are an a cappella group that sometimes uses accompaniment by bass and drums. They produce complicated, technically impressive covers ranging from modern classics (The Beatles) to classical music (Tchaikovsky, Beethoven) to opera (Rossini). Their arrangements are often informed by jazz harmonies and stylings. Other influences included Nat King Cole, various smooth singers and pianists.
The Swingle Singers are also active in classical music. A hit for them was Bach's "Air on the G String", recorded with the Modern Jazz Quartet. Luciano Berio wrote his postmodern symphony Sinfonia for eight voices and orchestra in 1968 with them in mind (appearing on the original recording which is now out of print). They also recorded Ben Johnston's "Ci-Git Satie" and "Visions and Spels". In 2005, their recording of Bach's Prelude in F Minor was incorporated into the hit single "They", by Jem Griffiths; the same piece was also used in the 2006 film The Gigolos. In the same year, their recording of Bach's Fugue in G Minor (BWV 578) featured in the film Thank You for Smoking.
The group currently comprises the following singers:
- Joanna Goldsmith (Soprano)
- Julie Kench (Soprano)
- Clare Wheeler (Alto)
- Johanna Marshall (Alto)
- Richard Eteson (Tenor)
- Tom Bullard (Tenor)
- Kevin Fox (Bass)
- Tobias Hug (Bass)
[edit] Discography
Going Baroque (2007)
- Badinerie
- Aria And Variations: The Harmonious Blacksmith
- Giga
- Largo
- Prelude No. 19 In A Major
- Preambulum
- Fugue
- Allegro
- Prelude No. 7 In E Flat Major
- Solfegietto In C Minor
- Der Fruehling (Spring)
- Prelude No. 24 In B Minor
Unwrapped (2006)
- Concerto Grosso
- In The Bleak Midwinter
- Christmas Song
- River
- Walking In The Air
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
- O Tannenbaum
- Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
- Santa Baby
- Away In A Manger
- Carol Of The Drum
- Amazing Grace
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Last Christmas
- Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
- Hotaru No Hikari
Dabadaba Swing (2006)
- So What
- Surfboard
- Insensatez
- Girl From Ipanema
- Milonga Del Angel
- Time For Love, A
- Timeless Place, A
- What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
- Have You Met Miss Jones?
- My Funny Valentine
- Lady Is A Tramp
- Just One Of Those Things
- My Foolish Heart
- All The Things You Are
- It Don't Mean A Thing
- Soul Bossa Nova
American Look (2005)
- Country Dances
- When Jesus Wept
- Negro Spirituals
- Patriotic Songs
- He's Gone Away
- Saints Fugue
- Stephen Foster Medley
- Porgy And Bess Suite
Concerto d'Aranjuez (2004)
- Romanza Andaluza
- Adagio
- Rondalla Aragonesa
- Tango In D Major
- Granada
- Sevilla
- Romance Espagnole
- Spanish Tango In A Minor
- Sonata In D Major
- Andaluza
Compilation Album (1989)
- "Twofer" compact disc containing the albums Reflections (1985) and Live at Ronnie Scott's (1987).
Live at Ronnie Scott's (1987)
- Route 66
- Children of the Ghetto
- L'il Darlin'
- Dry Cleaner from Des Moines
- Mean to Me
- It's Alright with Me
- Moon Over Bourbon Street
- Boplicity
- Round Midnight
- Sweet Nothing
- Tuxedo Junction
Reflections (as The Swingles) (1985)
- Overture to the Marriage of Figaro
- Organ Fugue BWV 578
- Bist Du Bei Mir
- Come Live with Me
- All the Things You Are
- Oh Johnny!
- Fascinatin' Rhythm
- Just One of Those Things
- London by Night
- Country Dances
- Flight of the Bumble Bee
Back To Bach (196?)
Side 1:
- Vivace
- Prelude And Fugue In E Minor
- Choral
- Gavotte
- Prelude And Fugue In C Major
Side 2:
- Adagio
- Prelude And Fugue In C Major
- Prelude For Organ Choral
- Fugue In E Flat Major
[edit] Trivia
- Contrary to popular belief, the Burt Bacharach-penned song "South American Getaway" from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was not performed by the Swingle Singers, although it was supposed to be.
- They appeared on The Two Ronnies singing The Windmills of Your Mind (which was written by Michel Legrand). They were also the featured performers in the musical section of the 1975 series of The Two Ronnies.
- They were part of the UK's first human beatbox choir, 'Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra' alongside some of the UK's premier beatbox artists.