By Richard Clark In their simplest form, choir robes and choral garments have been in existence since antiquity. The notion of a uniformed collective of singers extends almost as far back as civilization itself to the Ancient Greeks, as portrayed on classic ceramics and earthenware. The format of figures wearing similar, loosely fitting tunics, intermingled […]
Church Choir
Music Within Reach: Beginning Pieces for Men’s and Women’s Choirs
Like most high school choir teachers, only a couple of the ensembles I teach are auditioned. While I love it this way, as it allows me to keep recruiting and bringing in students to sing who may not be interested in a heavier commitment, it can make planning literature a nightmare. How many students will […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Much Ado About Nothing
“No man thinks there is much ado about nothing when the ado is about himself.” Anthony Trollope I have a soft spot in my heart for choir ringers. You know, those paid singers who help out, fill out and sing out for typical church or community choirs who need a little extra help. My own […]
Music Within Reach: Great Pieces for Your Smaller Men’s Choir
Many of us with smaller or limited men’s choruses are often searching for music in no more than two or three parts. The challenge here is that sometimes such music sounds too simple or is not “meaty” enough for our singers. This week’s post will glance at three pieces for men’s chorus that are musically […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Oh Say, Do You Sing?
“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. “Mahatma Gandhi Today we have two more stories from the Choral Ethics mailbag. Both seem pretty topical. One is from a male singer. The other is about three different church musicians who experienced the same thing, on the same day. The […]
The Four Functions of a Church Choir
Since starting at my current church, the choir has rallied behind four “functions” of a church choir and has been central in helping the church become what song-enliveners affectionately call a “singing congregation.” As the director of a church choir I use four functions to explain why the church choir exists. Those priorities help determine […]