Lift Up Your Voice
The choral society's continuing popularity
Charlotte Smith 10:22am GMT 8th April 2010
My Easter break this year was spent not only taking windswept walks along the Cornish coast – in coat, gloves and boots in true British tradition – but also marking in bowings for multiple violin and viola parts of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Rossini’s Stabat mater. The parts were for a Rochester Cathedral choral concert in which I am due to perform as concertmaster in a couple of weeks. While bowing is not exactly a stimulating pastime, the task did get me thinking about another British institution – the humble choral society.
As a freelance violinist, much of my concert playing is spent accompanying various Masses and Requiems – not to mention multiple Messiahs – for one choral union or another. In prosperity and recession these societies perform three or four times a year, very often generating enviable audience numbers in cathedrals, churches and halls. Open to all with a musical ear they provide an inclusive and enjoyable approach to music making, tackling staples of the choral repertoire in a non-patronising way.
Many have been established for numerous decades so they now form a reputable part of the social fabric, and a way to keep musical interest alive outside the professional hubs and city centres.
Still, looking at the ranks of today’s society members, there seem to be very few singers under the age of 50 or 60. Has, then, the appeal of collaborative amateur singing passed its peak? Perhaps British choral societies are the province of previous generations and in a few years will no longer be able to muster the requisite membership numbers to continue.
Or perhaps the future isn’t so bleak after all and choral unions, like classical repertoire itself, simply attract those of a more mature sensibility. There’s evidence with programmes like Gareth Malone’s The Choir, that the thirst for community singing is alive and well. And certainly in the 15 years or so that I have been associated with choral societies, membership has remained high and audiences, too, continue to flock to the latest Carmina Burana or Verdi Requiem.
And here’s where the real value of such amateur music making is felt, for while membership seems restricted more to the older generation, audiences are composed of all ages, from young families to their grandparents. This is also why society concerts produce such consistently strong ticket sales. The concert experience becomes a family affair, as proud union members invite their relatives to watch them perform. It’s a warm and welcoming introduction to the repertoire and with any luck helps to convince those new to classical music of its very great worth.
So long live the choral society I say – may it continue to draw people from all walks of life to a love of fantastic music.
Comments
My thanks to Charlotte for this intersting blog on a subject dear to the heart of the dwindling number of singers involved in relatively small amateur choirs. As the treasurer of one such in the North West, I am very conscious of the steady decline of members, with movements elsewhere, baby sitting duties by grandparents, sheer age and the dread reaper taking their toll. With an average age of about 60 in our choir, and at best one or two new members a year, we will be lucky to see out the decade.
Perhaps the future lies in one-off musical events and workshops. The Gerontius website, which posts details of these, as well as other matters relating to amateur choral singing, is to be recommended to anyone lacking opportunities for singing.
Until the school system revives the hallowed tradition of choir singing, it is difccult to see how any long-term improvement will occur. Yes, there are some initiatives, as Charlotte points out, but much more needs to be done, and it needs to be done now.
About three weeks ago, Chanticleer hosted a National Youth Choral Festival with over 400 participating students who were all passionate about making music and excited to be involved in choirs. (You should check out the pics on the ensemble's blog starting about...oh, right here and move forward; there's plenty.) I am happy to report that Choral Singing is alive and well in the United States and that the next generation of musicians is equipped and eager to continue a great tradition.
Many years ago a music teacher told me that the voice was the most beautiful insturment of all and that all other insturments were designed to try to play like the voice sings. I love choral music and it is wondefull on its own.
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The concert experience becomes a family affair, as proud union members
invite their relatives to watch them perform. It’s a warm and welcoming
introduction to the repertoire and with any luck helps to convince those
new to classical music of its very great worth.
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My nieces (all under 30) have been singing in choirs all their adult
life and the "sing-along-StMatthew-Passions" were all sold out this
year. Interest in classical music may have declined over the years.
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