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Tim
Takach has been in Cantus since 1996, and helped bring Cantus
from a student ensemble to a full-time professional non-profit
company. Tim brings a variety of talents and knowledge to Cantus.
As a singer he brings an intuitive musical ear as well as attention
to some of the smaller details in chamber music making. He is
also ready and willing to add more pop-culture to Cantus’ musical
palette. He functions in an administrative position as the graphic
designer for Cantus and does all the design work including the
website, corporate identity, CD packaging, season brochures, merchandise,
as well as the concert programs and advertisements. Tim is also
an active composer, and is often blessed with the opportunity
to write for a group whose voices he knows so well.
Tim started singing and taking piano lessons when he was 4 years old.
These two main forms of music making continued through his high school
years, including a brief three-year stint playing the French horn.
He discovered his passion for composing in high school, as he began
to arrange music for his high school a cappella quartet.
“Having years of piano lessons developed my ear to a point where
I could transcribe songs from the radio, and I had enough theory knowledge
to reduce them into the correct voicings I needed for different arrangements.”
Since graduating from college Tim has supported his passion for writing
by composing as much as he has can. He has received a number of commissions
from various choral organizations including the St. Olaf Choir, Cantus,
The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists, the Bowling Green State University
Men's Chorus, the Appleton North High School Varsity Men's Chorus,
and the Western Michigan University Chorale. His compositions have
been heard on NPR and have been recorded by various groups in North
America. In 2005, with composer Jocelyn
Hagen, he cofounded Graphite
Publishing, a new music publishing company that focuses on excellent,
accessible music.
For Tim, “a good song needs to be both well written and then
performed with conviction. The lyrics and style must combine to create
an ultimately engaging, enriching or moving experience. A song that
does any of these things inspires me.”
When Tim is not singing, designing or composing, he enjoys reading,
working-out, biking, playing tennis, finding new bands/artists,
and trying desperately to complete do-it-yourself home improvements.
Tim and his “constantly improving” house reside in Minneapolis,
MN.
More information
about Tim as a composer can be found on his website at www.timothyctakach.com.
Meet
the Singer - Tim Takach
Click to download the podcast
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Tim's
recommendations: music and books
Music
Disclaimer: Each of these albums is
excellent, and most of them fall into the old cliché that "you
can put it on and just listen to it all the way through without skipping
any tracks." However, I'm not going to type, "I love this
album, it is one of my favorites" in each blurb, so feel free
to read that sentence to yourself after you read the blurb.
KT Tunstall: Eye to the Telescope
A great, fairly new British sing/songwriter. Kind of like an edgy Sheryl
Crow - great melodies, catchy hooks, and good lyrics.
Jose Gonzalez: Veneer
A quiet, minimalist guitar player/singer/songwriter.
Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself
I'm so pleased with this album, it's beyond words. Imogen Heap is
the vocal half of the electronica duo, Frou Frou, who gained a lot
of recognition from the Garden State soundtrack. Her first solo release
is really well written, well produced, and full of great songs.
Guster: Keep
it Together
Liked the first single I heard on the radio "Amsterdam"
and thought I should find out more. Most of the tracks on the CD have
a more folk like feel due to the use of more natural percussion rather
than a typical set. I was told that this instrumentation is more like
their earlier music, before they started to get radio play. Their
songwriting relies on great melodies and vocal harmonies, which I
dig.
Maroon 5: Songs About Jane
I bought this album on blind faith, having heard the single "Harder
to Breathe" once on the radio. The lead singer sounds like Stevie
Wonder at his funkiest, and the band is comprised of great musicians.
Their style changes from track to track, but never beyond their capabilities.
A fantastic album.
Sting: Brand New Day
His songwriting is at its best on this studio album. He explores so
many emotions and characters. One of the few artists who can successfully
put himself in another character and write from that point of view.
And it includes one of my favorite songs, “Ghost Story.”
Llama: Close to the Silence
A great young rock-group. They’re sort of Dave Matthews Band with
more standard instrumentation crossed with Counting Crows with a better
lead singer all rolled into one band.
Joni Mitchell: Both Sides Now
This woman’s voice has gotten so leathery over the years but she can
still put so much honesty into her music. This album is mainly cover-songs
(plus a few of her own) on the changing moods of love, and she’s with
a full orchestra. The orchestral arrangements are amazingly well written.
Dawn Upshaw: Knoxville:Summer of 1915
This album is worth it for Barber’s title track alone. Beautiful singing,
great pieces. Her performance of “No Word From Tom” from Stravinsky’s
The Rake’s Progress is also stunning.
Ben Folds: Rockin’ the Suburbs
This guy is just brimming with talent. He’s can go from a loud, raucous,
use-my-whole-arm-from-my-fingers-to-my-elbow style of piano playing
to ripping your heart out with the best track on the disc and one
of the greatest love songs in existence, “The Luckiest.” Also note:
he plays just about every instrument you hear on the album.
Beck: Midnite Vultures
When I put this album on in my car, I often find myself driving well
over the speed limit, and also yelling out crazy Beck-ish lyrics.
“I think I’m going crazy/Her left eye is lazy/She looks so Israeli/Nicotine
and gravy.” The first track makes me do a crazy white-man dance.
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals: Burn to Shine
First of all, great name for a band, Ben. These guys have so much
more than the single “Steal My Kisses.” You have to listen to find
out. The guy can play guitar. He goes from electric to acoustic without
missing a step.
Sheryl Crow: The Globe Sessions
Her work keeps getting better and better. “Riverwide” is such a great
song. She underwrites the melody in both the guitar line and then
in her vocal line. By this time she’s really come into her own style,
and you can tell she’s really got a handle on how to make a record.
I’m really starting to like C’mon C’mon, but “Soak Up the Sun”
is such a blemish on that record.
Hem: Rabbit Songs
My favorite purchase of 2003. Hem is a contemporary folk band, singing
new songs written in the style of old folk bands. If you’re looking
for forty minutes of relaxation, this is the album. Violin, piano,
female vocals, steel pedal, mandolin, what more could you want?
Rascal Flatts: Rascal Flatts
So I’m not really that big of a country fan, but these guys made my
list. Their first recording has about 12 tracks written by 15 people,
but their style shows through in every one. Three guys, with a good
country/pop crossover sound. Nothing too twangy, nothing about losing
a girlfriend or a dog, just good songs, and those great country harmonies.
R.E.M.: Life’s Rich Pageant
This is my favorite band of all time, so I had a bit of trouble choosing.
I went with an earlier album, from their days with the I.R.S. label.
This record represents great songs, and Stipe was in his transition
period where his lyrics started to make some sense.
R.E.M.: Automatic for the People
Okay, I cracked and put up another R.E.M. disc. Not the typical rock
band sound on this record, some of the guys are on some tracks, not
on others. Overall a soft album, with a couple great singles mixed
in.
Rufus Wainwright: Poses
I discovered Rufus a couple years ago. His songs make me want to write
lyrics, his lyrics make me want to write great melodies, and his melodies
keep singing in my head long after I’ve gotten out of the Cantus van.
Try to listen to his cover of Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on the Shrek Soundtrack.
Riveting. If anyone wants to know what to get me for my birthday,
get me this, because I lost my copy on tour. I think Al stole it.
Stereophonics: Just Enough Education to Perform
They’re like a lesser-known Radiohead. The singer makes me want to
clear his throat for him, but I still can’t stop listening.
Rockapella: 2
Ever pushing the envelope of contemporary a cappella music, Rockapella
does really well with this great disc. The record just about screams
the name of Scott Leonard, who wrote or arranged just about everything
on this disc. His voice is one of the smoothest out there, and I’m
continually impressed with Rockapella not being afraid to try new
things.
Michael Jackson: Thriller
My sister and I used to ‘dance’ to this record by running around in
circles in the living room. Despite those memories, it’s still one
of my faves. “Human Nature” is a great tune.
David Byrne: Rei Momo
If somebody was crowned the weirdest man in non-radio-played pop music,
it might be this former Talking Heads lead singer. This album is composed
of all original compositions by Byrne, all written in the style of
different Spanish dances.
Books
I'm also including a list of my favorite books.
Robert Pirsig: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Gabriel Garcia Marquez: One Hundred Years of Solitude
George R. R. Martin: A Song of Fire and Ice Series (unfinished)
Ann Patchett: Bel Canto
Dave Eggers: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Robert Russo: Empire Falls
William Shakespeare: Hamlet
Pearl S. Buck: The Good Earth
Edna Ferber: So Big
Toni Morrison: Beloved
Cory Doctorow: Overclocked
Stephen King: It
Thomas A. Day: A Grey Moon Over China
James Tiptree Jr.: Short Stories
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