In a message dated 9/7/2002 6:32:14 AM Central Daylight Time, bandb@n... writes:
> The need to rapidly transit the consonant to the tonal vowel, overrides the > need to prolong the consonant to achieve clarity and I think that in choirs > > it is the main flaw, in that amateur singers seem to drag behind the > conductor > as they mistakenly, but automatically, seek to get the consonants clear. > It is also my impression that many conductors exacerbate this problem by > calling for clarity of consonants, over rhythmic necessity. > Even some of the very best choirs do this. >
Having sung in the chicago symphony chorus as a professional member for over 10 years with the renown Margaret Hillis I can tell you this is true to an extent. She believed the clear articulation of consonants (overkilling them most of the time) is what made the choir cut through the orchestra and gave it rhythmic energy. I never bought into this and instead found it made it difficult to get the words out on many occasions.
Randy Buescher
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