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From: Karen H=E9bert
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Choral singing
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

--On 28 January 2000, 11:59 -0800 "Craig Tompkins" t>
wrote:

> I hope that I'm not opening a huge can of worms with this, but I must
agree that too many choral directors are responsible for promoting poor
vocal technique. In the Vancouver Chamber Choir, we do not try to blend
with each other, that is to say we do not try to homogenize the sound so
that for example, all five tenors sound alike. Rather we try to sing the
identical vowel at the same dynamic as the singers around us with clear, n=
on
breathy sound. We call this balancing.
> There, I had to get that off my chest!
I'm glad you did, do you feel better for it!?
But seriously Craig, I've sung with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
for 16years and encountered this "blending" idea. Its Sooo Wrong! as you
said. I'm sure a voice problem I developed was exacerbated by my (misplace=
d)
enthusiasm to become part of the required homogenous sound. However,
recently the chorus master has arranged a seating plan where you never sit
next to a voice that is simular to your own, quite complicated to organise
but possible. It took a bit of getting used to but this acknowledgement of
our individuality has been important in the development of the choir. I li=
ke
your term "balancing" when used in this context.
By the way I think the CBSC is visiting Vancouver in August.
Karen
------------------------------------------
Karen H=E9bert
Senior Research Technician, Media Unit
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Box 139 Addenbrooke's Hospital
Cambs CB2 2XY
E.Mail kah33-at-cam.ac.uk