The reason I chose this recording is because it is fairly decent recording for a high school group. The recording relates to many of our class discussions regarding high school choir. I additionally chose this recording because the piece is a very specific style of music and we have had many discussions revolving around appropriate ways of singing specific styles and genres of music in class as well.
I don't have a lot complaints about this recording. A couple things I don't like is the posture of some of the students While they are standing with appropriate body alignment with their arms at their sides, a lot of them their necks tilted very far forward. This closes their space where their air and breath is supposed to travel, and by having their chin down and the tone sometimes for it. Additionally sometimes the vowels are a little bit too bright. Sometimes they generate the nice "smokey" and darker vowels that are used frequently in spirituals, but at times the vowels are too spread and not as focused. Particularly in the words "My feet." The "eeee" is very nasal and the word "My" is sung right on the diphthong where the should just go to an "Ah" vowel and sing "Ma Feet."
What I do like about this recording is the choirs' engagement and love for the piece. They are very clearly inspired by the style of the music and are really putting on a performance. The blend for the most part is very good, especially for such a small group. I also think the choir has very nice dynamic contrast throughout the piece that makes the extreme fortes in this spiritual more exciting. They also do a nice job of pulling back when the descant singer comes in. Also the singers maintain tonality throughout and have a nice modulation in the middle of the piece. Overall this a very nice performance in my opinion and the students seem to really be enjoying themselves in their music making process which is a vital aspect to successful choral music.
I hear what you're saying about them sing on the diphthong. I think that might have to do with the style they are singing in. They do seem like their necks are a little forward, but I also think that has to do with them being engaged in the piece. They are SO engaged which is great. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that they changed their positions for this song. I think it was probably a good idea. I would imagine tt makes the body of the sound a little more full.
I pretty much agree with everything you said.
You can tell they had fun singing this song! It's a great change from singing traditional choral repertoire. I would love to hear this with a choir twice the size. It has the potential to be extremely powerful and I believe more people would do just that.
ReplyDeleteIn listening to this work, I think your thoughts on it being an auditioned group are true, as they all have similar discipline and stage presence. I enjoyed the spiritual aspect, as it is what I'm observing for my Fieldwork project, and the similarities in one of the choirs I'm working with is interesting, in terms of similar vowel shape and interpretation of dialect
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