Singing should seem simple

I don't believe a word of what I just wrote as a Title for this blog. Singing, if done correctly, should never be simple or easy. It should always be a meeting of the mind of the composer, the conductor, the orchestra, and the singer. That sort of synergy is amazing when it is executed in as perfect a fashion as possible. However, if you look at what is involved - the fact that it ever happens at all is slightly close to a miracle.

Take the composer for instance. Having read up on Ralph VW prior to singing his Dona Nobis Pacem I have become fascinated with his dedication to English music. He took tons of time to collect and compile English folk songs to save the art form as he knew it. He had issues with his wife. He performed the Bach Passions every year (alternating the St. Matt with the St. John). Altogether, he was fascinating. Quirky? Yeah, quirky.

Then there is the conductor. Talk about Quirky (that capital "Q" was intentional). Talented - no doubt. Able to convey nuances easily - yep. Hard to please - at times. Does he know what he's doing - no one in the immediate area does it better. He is worthy of great respect, regardless of the feelings you may have for him at any given time. Sometimes, there is miscommunication - you want what cut off where?? Usually as you did something he said previously as he yells that you need to change that cut-off NOW! Conductors don't have to be your best friend - heck, they don't even need to particularly like you. The question is - do they like the music and are they dedicated to it.

The orchestra. I wish, oh how I wish, a chorus was a facile and as quick a study as an orchestra. One of my personal soapboxes is that the chorus complains that "they haven't been to music school. .e tc" to learn music. I don't buy it. Especially for people who have been involved in music for much of their adult life. Too easy. Orchestras pay attention. It is as simple as that. Not only that, they apply knowledge in one section so that when they hear the same musical patterns repeated later in the piece - guess what Smiley? - they actually do the same thing there! They also are fully present (concerts are different - there are many issues of Car and Driver in the trombone section) But hey, if you can make that kind of music and read Car and Driver - awesome, have at it. Until you can - leave your reading matter at home. Oh, they also write stuff down - amazing. . .

Singers. We're QUIRKY - we get all caps. First, we all think we can hear the mistakes of others, correct them, and tell them how they could be better singers if only. . . fill in your personal word bank of correction words. One thing I wish singers would do is stop worrying about the person next to them and play their own game. Do the best you can do and for pete's sake, let Joe Blow next to you go about their business. You know, if you can sing against someone who isn't so good it just might show that you can hold your part against all adversity and just maybe you took your music out of the back seat of your car sometime during the week. I hold choristers to high standards. Yep, we all have full time jobs. Yep, we aren't all well-heeled musicians. But you know what - we can all be better than we are. And we can all play collegially together with our fellow choristers and our conductor. It makes for a much more pleasant atmosphere. I'll talk more about choristers actually "talking" during rehearsal in another blog - it really makes me wiggy.

So, miraculous event the concert of singers and orchestra and conductor. . miraculous. Synergy - very important. Is it automatic - no. Does it come from one source - no. It takes all of the component parts working together - always. There is no laying back, marking, not sticking your neck out. Creating beauty is all about sticking your neck out regardless of adversity, affinity for the piece, or general attitude of the moment. The music which has endured longer than you have been alive deserves that!