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The Swingle Singers

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The Swingle Singers (1962-present) was a vocal group formed in Paris, France with Ward Swingle, Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, and Jean Cussac.

The group, directed primarily by the eponymous Ward Swingle and accompanied by bass and drums, produced complicated, technically impressive covers of anything 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 were 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 with them in mind.

The original group disbanded in 1973 but has reformed several times since, using different names but continuing Ward Swingle’s tradition of jazz-infused arrangements and extreme technical proficiency. The most current incantation of the group is once again called “The Swingle Singers.”

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a cappella, jazz, classical, vocal, choir
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Top Tracks

1	The Twelve Days of Christmas	70
2	Soul Bossa Nova full track	60
3	Christmas Medley full track	45
4	Day Tripper full track	44
5	Lady Madonna full track	34
6	Prelude & Fugue in C Minor	31
7	William Tell Overture full track	29
8	Canon	20
9	All the Things You Are full track	19
10	Rondo alla turca from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A K331 full track	18
11	Penny Lane full track	15
12	The Fool on the Hill full track	14
12	Symphony No. 40 in G minor K550: I. Molto allegro full track	14
14	Flight of the Bumble Bee	13
14	Yesterday full track	13

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oomkah wrote:
10 days ago

my secret love

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mrsardin wrote:
July 2009

Just discovered you...! Awsome!

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Phonophobe wrote:
January 2009

It's tragic that their "madrigals" album has been so neglected. I think it is the cheesy 70s instrumental accompaniment that killed it, but it is well worth overlooking this fault

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BurningMandala wrote:
December 2008

First time I ever heard them was, heaven help me, on a Procol Harum record. Been hooked ever since.

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Deadly_crab wrote:
July 2008

I love Pastime with good company. It's very close to the version we are doing in our choir ^_^

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blanko_franko wrote:
November 2007

jazz sebastian bach it's something like a guilty pleasure i relinquish in.

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brendtrioux wrote:
August 2007

I feel like I'm absolutely wrong to like Jazz Sebastian Bach, but god help me, I love it.

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isidora wrote:
August 2007

yeah man, they deserve more attention than this it seems...

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miguel188 wrote:
July 2007

great stuff!!

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