As I mentioned last time, a few of us sang at a friend’s wedding the other week. It was in a beautiful old village church with a wonderful acoustic. We managed to just about squeeze 18 people in front of fixed pews, next to a stone pulpit and between two tall pillars. (I chose not to sing from the choir stalls. Why on earth do they have these things? Don’t the two halves of the choir just end up singing to each other? I really can’t see the reasoning behind the design!). The organist reminded me that the main Woven Chords choir had sung there one Christmas and been very well received. Of course, those were the days when we had less than 40 members (and it was a tight squeeze even then!). He wondered why we hadn’t come back and I had to explain that it would be impossible to fit 80 singers into such a small church. In the early days we used to frequent such small village churches and hence manage six or so concerts each year. Those were the days!
It has always been difficult to find suitable venues for choirs. Churches are usually very welcoming (and often free!), but with their fixed architecture they can normally only accommodate small singing groups or choirs. Some of the more modern Methodist and Baptist churches have a more flexible layout and some even have stages, but not every town has one of these. Apart from large regional theatres (which tend not to take local community groups, or whose auditorium is just too large to fill), there are really not many venues available to us. Hence churches, which I now see more and more as a valuable community resource independent of any religious affiliation.
There are, however, certain small-minded individuals who think that, just because we perform in a church, that we must be a ‘church choir’, and since they’re not religious they wouldn’t want to come and see us would they? This is despite the many laudable local and rural music touring schemes (e.g. Music in Quiet Places) which see small instrumental and vocal ensembles regularly performing in churches. It’s a shame that these ‘certain people’ are so small minded, as they just don’t know what they’re missing!
The fact that we’re often performing in churches adds yet another stereotype image to what we do in addition to the word ‘choir’ which itself puts lots of people off. Which is why I’m more and more tempted to try and find theatrical rather than musical venues. I have a current bee in my bonnet about making singing performances more varied and interesting as I don’t think it’s enough these days for an audience to just see a static semi-circle of identically dressed singers standing on stage. More on this later!
Are there any other large choirs out there who have found a solution to finding suitable venues?
Stumble It!
5 comments:
interesting that you say "static semi-circle of identically dressed singers standing on stage", of the very few negative comments I've had from members of the audience is that there is too much moving about. mind you I suspect that there impression of a 'choir' is that it should be "static semi-circle of identically dressed singers standing on stage". My own thoughts on movement on stage is that it should always be tidy and co-ordinated such that it looks like a smooth operation giving the audience a sense of seamless entertainment. Too much moving about between songs can disturb the audiences feeling of well-being that gas been generated during the songs.
Alanjm
Orchestras and bands are 'static semi-circles of identically dressed performers'. Why should it be any different for choirs? Also, what would be the response if each member of a sports team or a symphony orchestra decided to wear their own uniforms. By having everyone in a choir dress the same way, the audience can focus on the music, not the performers. In a choir, it is not about the individual, but about the ensemble as a whole.
I sing with a choral group called Eclipse (www.eclipsechorus.com). While there is a very loyal audience for traditional choral music, there are many who think that choral music is boring. We work very hard at boosting the "entertainment" factor to draw a larger audience into the beauty of non-traditional choral music. Our venue at Christmas time is always a church -- the largest, most traditional church we can find. Our experience is that audiences want a certain amount of tradition for Christmas. We then blow their socks off with non-traditional versions of Christmas music. For our other performances, we choose non-church settings, to avoid being labeled as a "church choir". Outdoor stages, small theatres, convention centers, etc. have all been home to us. Cost is always the biggest issue with non-church settings, unfortunately. Finding the right group to co-sponsor a concert can be helpful in overcoming the cost issue and accessing other space in the community.
Alan, I understand people's comments about "too much moving about". They have probably come to see the traditional "static semi-circle" so feel that the fact that people change parts is a bit messy. However, if we don't even set out to create this "static semi circle" impression in the first place, then I think the audience will be fine! That's what I'm aiming for, but there's often simply not enough space on the stage.
It does show our humanity though, rather than being a bunch of perfect clones all in step with each other and perfect.
Austen, you're absolutely right about bands and orchestras -- and I don't like watching them either!!! If I go to a live event and am asked to use my eyes as well as my ears, then I want to see something interesting, not a static grouping for two hours. Otherwise, I may as well stay at home and listen on the radio!
As regards "uniforms", see my October 7 post: Dress to impress?
I agree it's more about the whole than the individual, but the danger is that by wiping out all individuality, you end up with a bland group of clones with no identity or humanity.
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