"Where choral writing is going."

OK first off, I didn't mean to say Eric Whitacre is where choral writing is going. I ment to say its interesting...blah blah. I apolagize for the mix up.

SO, we can all have opinions, isnt that what music is anyway. I mean I can like Eric Whitacre and you can't, thats fine.

As for the "future" of choral music......we don't really know obviously. I mean the John Adams operas have some interesting stuff going on, as well as the Christopher Rouse Requiem. All we can do is write how we want and see where it goes. What we cant do is go backward. As composers we need to take risks and move forward.

Where do I want choral music to go? Well first I want it to live. And it might live on through high school chiors which is fine. Also, I wouln't mind not only choral music but all vocal music as well to get some respect. It goes back to that whole thread about opera and someone said well opera isnt music...blah blah.
Vocalists have music to perform just like those violin players!! lol

ok..........I'm done for now.

I would definitely say Opera and Choir are two separate..."genres." Just because they both use voice doesn't make them the same thing - I mean, pop uses voice, and that's not the same thing, right?

Lets not start this argument. OBVIOUSLY opera/vocal/choral music are all different.

I was just saying as a side note that i hope all genres of music requiring singers can get more respect.
geez people.

Originally Posted by tenor10

I was just saying as a side note that i hope all genres of music requiring singers can get more respect.

Not to split hairs, but I treat "singers" and "vocalists" very differently.

Vocalists are musicians whose instrument is voice. Vocalists are trained musicians, read music, and are generally musically knowledgeable. Vocalists are usually prepared, learn their music outside of rehearsal, and act professionally.

Singers are trained dogs. Singers almost can never read music, they learn by rote memorization, and generally take up the bulk of space in most choirs and musical productions. Singers learn nothing outside of rehearsal - they can't read music! Singers are never prepared, and reliance on rote memorization means that they go through little material, as they are continually having to re-hash and re-learn material they've forgotten.

I very rarely work choose to work with Singers.

Arooooo!

I sort of separate the two differently. I call anybody that sings a singer, but people that vocalize in ways other than singing (such as growls, etc.) I call vocalists. All singers are vocalists, while not all vocalists are singers.

But your method is cooler because it makes "singer" pejorative.

We're all free to name things as we perceive them.

WHOA Nelly!!!

This thread is about as non-controversial as it gets, and ALREADY tempers have flared!

So cool it guys.

Opera and choral music.. blah blah blah.

Obviously they're two completely different things, with very strong common elements.

I honestly don't see why you guys are getting worked up over this. Stop. Take a breath. Think about it: does it REALLY matter?

I can assure you that the answer is "no".

Where is choral music going?
From this argument, I'd say "to hell in a hand basket".

But again, does it matter where it's "going"?
Are you all musicologists, more preoccupied with abstract "what ifs" instead of practical application and actually writing music?

Originally Posted by flint-wwrr

Not to split hairs, but I treat "singers" and "vocalists" very differently.

Vocalists are musicians whose instrument is voice. Vocalists are trained musicians, read music, and are generally musically knowledgeable. Vocalists are usually prepared, learn their music outside of rehearsal, and act professionally.

Singers are trained dogs. Singers almost can never read music, they learn by rote memorization, and generally take up the bulk of space in most choirs and musical productions. Singers learn nothing outside of rehearsal - they can't read music! Singers are never prepared, and reliance on rote memorization means that they go through little material, as they are continually having to re-hash and re-learn material they've forgotten.

I very rarely work choose to work with Singers.

Arooooo!

i to am not a singer, im a voicalist.
but i didnt want people to think i was saying vocalist and in people who sing art songs.

i guess i cant say anything right without people getting upset.

Originally Posted by tenor10

i guess i cant say anything right without people getting upset.

I would ask no greater profession of wisdom of you than the statement you just made. Trust me, throughout your life, someone will take offense at something you say, no matter what. The key is how you respond - a wise man accepts that they cannot make everyone happy and instead finds and deals with those whom he can.

thats actually a really good quote.....thanks. its cooled me down! lol