I have one final resource to mention in regard to repertoire, one that is readily available, free to use, but, I imagine is seldom accessed in the ways I will mention: your mind. Yes, I promise I did have my three cups of coffee this morning. Your mind holds several keys to opening additional repertoire to you, if you will but allow these keys to be used. We will find these by taking a quick walk through the music history floating around in your mind. First, channel the spirit of the Renaissance. Your situation may very well be in need of a re-birth anyway! We know that often one or more “voice” parts in Renaissance music may have been doubled by an instrument or even played by an instrument without having a singer sing it. Why should such a practical and wonderful performance practice be limited to the Renaissance? Take a look at Renaissance repertoire, as well as repertoire from other historical periods, which you would like to teach your choir if you had sufficient singers. Then see if there is a way you can reduce the piece by one or more voice parts and still preserve the textual integrity, and have those remaining voice parts played by instrumentalists. This is a wonderful opportunity to involve instrumentalists from your congregation who may otherwise never use their talents in worship.
Second, channel the spirits of Bach and Handel. Not necessarily in regard to specific repertoire, so much as their spirits of practicality. If Handel did not have a great contralto at his disposal, he would have a bass sing the alto solo (think of the various Messiah performances he conducted and how he would change soloists). Almost all of Bach’s sacred music was meant to be functional church music. If his resources on a particular Sunday or Holy Day did not quite match what he needed, I am certain he would have made an adjustment. You should, too. We have become such servants to the score and to the composer’s wishes that we often leave pieces unperformed, doing the composer, our singers, and our congregations a great disservice. Consider reassigning sections to different voice parts.
(The ACDA National Conference is just one of the many benefits of membership in the American Choral Directors Association. Join ACDA today.)
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