concert choirs, anyone?

Category: Jam Session

Post 1 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Monday, 11-Jan-2016 23:28:12

Has anyone ever been part of a high school or college choral group? I absolutely loved my time in concert choir so much this past semester that I'm taking it again in a couple weeks. Here is a small sample of our sound from our winter performance. More will follow. This piece is in Hebrew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_m8UeESoZE

Post 2 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 11-Jan-2016 23:42:41

Yes. Music was my life for a long time.
I was part all the way through college.
Spent time as a director.
Beautiful.

Post 3 by AgateRain (Believe it or not, everything on me and about me is real!) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 0:00:48

Meeeeeee! I loved high school choir. It was my favorite thing about being there. :) I don't know if I will do it in college though. I want to learn new things while I have the time. For example, focus on cultural type things or take a wood shop class.

Post 4 by VioletBlue (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 10:51:31

Oh yeah, middle and high school choir.

I've been thinking I should find a local group to join, just for the fun of it.

Off to check out your link now.

Post 5 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 11:28:35

OMG yes!! My women's choir did this last Christmas too! We also did Ave Maria.

What part do you sing? Do you read Braille music?

Becky

Post 6 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 11:38:50

Also, y'all sound incredible!

Post 7 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 11:48:37

Here's one we did back in fall of 2014. I'm one of the three soloists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH9DkEDYbn0

Post 8 by VioletBlue (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 14:52:02

Reyami, that's so beautiful! Thanks for sharing it. I clicked on to hear more, also.

Really nice work, I can't wait to hear more. I think I could probably spend hours listening to this music on Youtube!

And Becky, I really love the melody of the song you linked to. I only wish the sound was a bit better/closer.

Post 9 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 15:51:28

the ones I really wanted to show off are not listed. I'll have to get them from the professor when we've settled into the routine. The beginning of the semester can be a hectic time for everyone.
To answer the question of whether or not I read Braille music, no, I commit everything to memory and learn from rehearsal and recordings. So glad I don't have to worry about sheet music.

Post 10 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 12-Jan-2016 15:57:35

warning: the end of this piece may sound pretty chaotic and strange, but it will all come together in the end. All of the women did this piece, and the guys had their own piece, which was complete with some rather amusing coreography judging by the laughter when we watched the performances on the last day of class. Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV-W9YLorvM

Post 11 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Wednesday, 13-Jan-2016 14:34:21

Yeah, sorry, you can't really hear the altos... which makes me sad because I'm an alto. lol

I don't read sheet music yet either, but I've decided to learn. I think it will simplify my life in choir, not least because I've had some issues getting alternative accommodations. But I also feel that it's high time I learned how to actually read music, given that I've been in choirs for, like, half my life.

By the way, I adore the Betelehemu piece! African pieces are so much fun! We did two last spring semester.

Becky

Post 12 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Wednesday, 13-Jan-2016 19:47:06

yeah, that piece was fun. It was hard to hear the altos because two of the girls failed to show up for many rehearsals and the concert itself, so a couple of us had to sing our hearts out. any recommendations for microphone placement so altos can more easily be heard? I dont' know how many were up there, but I feel like the sopranos overpowered everyone else at times.

Post 13 by CrystalSapphire (Uzuri uongo ndani) on Wednesday, 13-Jan-2016 19:55:56

I did choir ever since I started school. I am still doing choir in college. Here is the two concerts from my school during christmas. I'm in the second group that performs we start with Carol of the bells. It is hard to here our director speaking
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1689362/concert.mp3

Post 14 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 14-Jan-2016 8:10:14

Microphone placement depends on many factors. Suggest whoever does the sound make sure everyone is in the mix.
This would be a sound techs job.

Post 15 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Thursday, 14-Jan-2016 15:12:34

Oh, I meant our altos. lol

I'm not sure about mic placement, but my choir director has us all sing individually at the beginning of every semester so that she can see where each of us needs to stand to get the best blend. I would imagine that's a pretty standard practice in choirs.

Becky

Post 16 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 16-Jan-2016 2:42:24

yes, my choir director does that, too.