So many topics about choirs at the moment.
Can a professional singer, opera or classical sing as part of a choir and make their voices blend enough so that they are not heard as an individual? Or are they likely to be incapable of doing that.
Full Version: Choirs
Yes, they can, but it should be a choir of trained voices.
The case is different if you try to put a trained voice in an amateur choir - usually not a good idea. The trained voice might be able to blend in, but it will literally strangle itself because of holding back too much.
The case is different if you try to put a trained voice in an amateur choir - usually not a good idea. The trained voice might be able to blend in, but it will literally strangle itself because of holding back too much.
A well trained singer ought to be able to alter their voice quite a lot to make it blend (for example, I would expect any of my classical singers to be able to turn their formant on or off depending on the context).
I agree with Mezzo that this would be much easier in a context of trained voices only, though.
I agree with Mezzo that this would be much easier in a context of trained voices only, though.
It's all about balance. Our church choir has 7 sopranos (plus 10 juniors = 17 on top line), 4 altos, 4 basses and me! Though I say it myself, we sound pretty good, and have stood in at various cathedrals when resident choirs were absent.
QUOTE(stetenorve @ Sep 21 2009, 04:57 PM) 
It's all about balance. Our church choir has 7 sopranos (plus 10 juniors = 17 on top line), 4 altos, 4 basses and me! Though I say it myself, we sound pretty good, and have stood in at various cathedrals when resident choirs were absent.
One tenor! Sounds like our church choir... but you have a few more people. I think at best we've had 5 sopranos, 2 altos, a tenor and 2 basses - and the tenor was attempting to sing, conduct and accompany at the same time...
Now, the basses are off to university so we have even fewer singers! 
My dad's last church choir -he's a vicar- was so awful as it had several wobbly voices which wouldnt blend at all.. 
QUOTE(Mezzo1974 @ Sep 18 2009, 06:09 PM)
Yes, they can, but it should be a choir of trained voices.
The case is different if you try to put a trained voice in an amateur choir - usually not a good idea. The trained voice might be able to blend in, but it will literally strangle itself because of holding back too much.
I agree with you Mezzo...it is very hard for a well-trained voice to come *right* back to nothing when singing with people with, say, no support. I have found in the past that it is almost impossible to blend with people because they are so unbelievably quiet (to the point of not being well heard over other parts.) You also feel you are marking all the time, which is quite weird when singing Bruckner or something! In that situation, however, any conductor worth their salt should be able to help less experienced singers use their voices better so everyone can meet in the middle.
As for church choirs, my choir is very elderly, so a young trained voice would stick out like a sore thumb by simply singing one steady note!!!! (But they are lovely and enthusiastic
)QUOTE(pianodub @ Sep 21 2009, 06:53 PM)
QUOTE(Mezzo1974 @ Sep 18 2009, 06:09 PM)
Yes, they can, but it should be a choir of trained voices.
The case is different if you try to put a trained voice in an amateur choir - usually not a good idea. The trained voice might be able to blend in, but it will literally strangle itself because of holding back too much.
I agree with you Mezzo...it is very hard for a well-trained voice to come *right* back to nothing when singing with people with, say, no support. I have found in the past that it is almost impossible to blend with people because they are so unbelievably quiet (to the point of not being well heard over other parts.) You also feel you are marking all the time, which is quite weird when singing Bruckner or something! In that situation, however, any conductor worth their salt should be able to help less experienced singers use their voices better so everyone can meet in the middle.
Yes, I agree with that too.
It's amazing singing in the midst of amateur choirs and hearing all the strange things which go on when people are singing!
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