Ah! Family road trips. When it was just the two of us, my husband and I traded turns controlling what we would listen to on the radio. He liked NPR shows like "Car Talk" and "Science Friday." I preferred Classical music. As the children came along, I remember we played a lot of Disney Sing-Along CD's. But as they grew up, and the older ones got their driver's licenses, we had to come up with a new rule. "The Driver gets to decide what we listen to." Sometimes that worked out and we all enjoyed the choices. But other times, only the driver liked what we were listening to. We did have one CD, though, that became the default when there were too many complaints. Thankfully that CD was filled with Movie Themes mostly from the composer John Williams. (Seriously, who can complain while listening to "Star Wars" or "Harry Potter?")
That analogy is similar to how music is chosen for Ward Choirs - the Director calls the shots. Music is chosen based on what the director likes or what he or she thinks the choir would sound best singing. Sometimes the director is just learning and may choose music that is rather simple or maybe is too ambitious for their combined abilities. But, the music is usually what the Director feels comfortable doing according to his or her own tastes.
Not all Ward Choirs happen to be packed with professional singers and other well-trained choral singers who have sung in prestigious collegiate choirs that toured all over the world. But that actually describes the Choir in my Ward right now. In fact, the Choir Director is choosing pieces for us in 6-8 parts with very sophisticated rhythms and harmonies and piano or organ parts that only a really good accompanist can play. This group of singers thrives on being stretched. But that is not a very common situation for Ward Choirs around the world.
Choir Directors mostly have to choose music many months before they go into rehearsals, sometimes even before they get to know the abilities of their choir members. As a Ward Choir singer, you may be one with outstanding talents, but your cohorts may not be so blessed. Anyway, try to be supportive of your Choir Director. Remember that they are likely trying to do their best with what they've got. After all, here we are just a few months back into singing after the Pandemic. Let's just rejoice that we can have choirs now at all!
Here's a fun Hymn Arrangement for the choir who enjoys being stretched. "From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise" SATB
That analogy is similar to how music is chosen for Ward Choirs - the Director calls the shots. Music is chosen based on what the director likes or what he or she thinks the choir would sound best singing. Sometimes the director is just learning and may choose music that is rather simple or maybe is too ambitious for their combined abilities. But, the music is usually what the Director feels comfortable doing according to his or her own tastes.
Not all Ward Choirs happen to be packed with professional singers and other well-trained choral singers who have sung in prestigious collegiate choirs that toured all over the world. But that actually describes the Choir in my Ward right now. In fact, the Choir Director is choosing pieces for us in 6-8 parts with very sophisticated rhythms and harmonies and piano or organ parts that only a really good accompanist can play. This group of singers thrives on being stretched. But that is not a very common situation for Ward Choirs around the world.
Choir Directors mostly have to choose music many months before they go into rehearsals, sometimes even before they get to know the abilities of their choir members. As a Ward Choir singer, you may be one with outstanding talents, but your cohorts may not be so blessed. Anyway, try to be supportive of your Choir Director. Remember that they are likely trying to do their best with what they've got. After all, here we are just a few months back into singing after the Pandemic. Let's just rejoice that we can have choirs now at all!
Here's a fun Hymn Arrangement for the choir who enjoys being stretched. "From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise" SATB
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