Angel City Chorale Build a Rainstorm Before Singing Toto’s ‘Africa’

Angel City Chorale opens Toto’s “Africa” with a rain-like texture made by coordinated hand sounds before the familiar song begins.

Sue Fink directs the singers and instrumentalists, while the group’s recording identifies soloists and arrangement. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

Small sounds gather into a larger soundscape as choir members join at different moments. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

The opening creates a transition into the song, connecting the sound effect with melody and harmony. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

Following the full clip reveals the movement from atmospheric introduction into the sung arrangement. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

Watch the performance

The familiar tune gives listeners a clear reference while choral parts broaden the refrain. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

Soloists Rich Kennedy, Tommy Lamb, Tina Mitro and Duff Watrous bring individual vocal lines into the choir’s larger sound. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

Fink’s place before the ensemble makes shared entries and releases visible. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

Instrumental accompaniment supports the vocal phrases and connects the song’s sections. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

Rain effects and choral singing show different ways the ensemble builds sound together. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

A stage photograph shows the group’s scale, while the moving video captures how its separate sounds combine. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

The familiar melody remains recognizable as the choir adds its own colors and vocal parts. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

Perpetuum Jazzile’s “Africa” offers a companion performance by a separate ensemble. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

Eric Whitacre’s “Cloudburst” provides another choral comparison with different musical material. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

The performance links sound effects, accompaniment, soloists and choir in one arrangement. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting.

The complete video follows the transition from rain-like opening into the shared song. The source preserves this musical detail within the identified performance and setting. The clip keeps the arrangement connected to this event and its context. These links remain visible in the source presentation.

More videos to explore

Perpetuum Jazzile’s official “Africa” video presents another ensemble version.

VocalEssence’s Eric Whitacre “Cloudburst” video shows another choir and composition.

Further reading: Performance background and source. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9-poC5HGw