#77659 - purpose of a chorister

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/77659/

I was recently called as the RS chorister. I'm usually in music callings as a pianist or organist, but I haven't been a chorister in about 15 years. (I'm not counting Primary chorister, since that's a very different calling from RS or Sacrament Meeting chorister.) Anyway, it's pretty frustrating how little attention the pianist pays to me. Last week we were singing a song way too fast—it might have been within the tempo suggestions given at the top of the hymn, but the sisters didn't know it well, so they were struggling to keep up—but I couldn't slow it down at all because the pianist wasn't watching me at all. And then last week I subbed for the pianist, who was out of town, and the chorister (who was subbing for me) wouldn't start without me.

Bottom line: Choristers do serve a purpose, but only if the pianist/organist is good enough to follow the chorister and if the chorister is willing to take the lead.

[Indefinite Integral]

Bottom line: Choristers do serve a purpose, but only if the pianist/organist is good enough to follow the chorister and if the chorister is willing to take the lead.

Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. Oh Katya, it would be so nice to work with someone like you who actually leads/follows. I had a chorister who actually led once for a couple weeks, then he moved out of the ward. I was very sad. I took a conducting class while at BYU and now it drives me crazy when

1: the pianist doesn't pay attention at all
or more annoying
2: the pianist might want to pay attention, but some idiot decided it would be a good idea to have the piano face the wall so they can't even see me. Those people should never be in charge of room layouts. Ever.

[SmurfBlueSnuggie]

I can't conduct music, but I would happily learn if I knew our organist would follow. She plays 90% of the hymns at the same tempo every freaking week. Occasionally we'll get a song that sounds right at that speed, and my friend and I will get so excited. Usually it reminds me of Fred and George singing the Hogwarts song to a funeral dirge, she goes so slowly.

One week she was sick, and we had a different organist, and it was the best thing ever.

[vorpal blade]

I remember an article where Orson Scott Card said the purpose of a chorister was to sing loud enough that others are encouraged to sing.

I've been in choirs where the pianist didn't know whether she should follow the chorister or the choir.

I've also been in choirs where the chorister insisted that all eyes be on the chorister. You were suppose to read the music out of the corner of your eye. That seems backward to me, as I cannot read the print unless I focus my eyes on it, but I can see the broad motions of the chorister out of the corner of my eye.

But in congregational singing while I should follow the chorister I really cannot see her, so I just follow the organist. Looking from the stand I see very few eyes on the chorister.

[bobtheenchantedone]

Also, fun fact, did you know that most Mormons (and many Americans) use the word "chorister" incorrectly?

YES. It's a conductor, guys; a chorister is a member of a choir. I really wish the calling was not mis-named, thus spreading this incorrect usage! /end long-time choir member rant

Whenever I've been the sacrament meeting conductor, I have chatted with the organist to make sure he/she knows that I will actually be setting the tempo/speeding up dragging verses/etc. We had good organists in my home ward, and it also helps that I can sing pretty loudly, so even if the organist forgets to look at me he/she can hear me and act accordingly. It really, really frustrates me when a hymn is sung too slowly - I've actually had to leave the room at times (but then again, I'm somewhat OCD, and singing is one of the things I am the most particular about).

I've also been in choirs where the chorister insisted that all eyes be on the chorister. You were suppose to read the music out of the corner of your eye. That seems backward to me, as I cannot read the print unless I focus my eyes on it, but I can see the broad motions of the chorister out of the corner of my eye.

The thing is that almost any choir, even when using music in a performance, should have the music known to the point of being able to frequently look up. In my UVU choir, in fact, we're expected to be able to frequently look up by the time we're singing the piece for the second or third time, and most of us usually have it partially memorized by the fourth or fifth pass. A conductor shouldn't be making very broad motions anyway - my high school conductor had to do some physical therapy and re-learn how to conduct because he was causing damage to his shoulders.

[Whistler]

some of those hymns are kinda hard to play at tempo, but I feel ya and that is what practice is for

[bobtheenchantedone]

Well, and that's another reason for communication between the conductor and the organist. I wouldn't want to try to conduct a speed they couldn't play any more than I'd like them to set a tempo I don't like.

[vorpal blade]

Also, fun fact, did you know that most Mormons (and many Americans) use the word "chorister" incorrectly?

YES. It's a conductor, guys; a chorister is a member of a choir. I really wish the calling was not mis-named, thus spreading this incorrect usage! /end long-time choir member rant.

1. Literally, a singer; one of a choir; a singer in a concert.
2. One who leads a choir in church music. This is the sense in the United States.

http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/chorister

Since the dictionary as far back as 1828, and perhaps earlier, says that the sense of the word "chorister" in the United States is one who leads a choir in church music, I don't see how you can say this is an "incorrect usage" in the United States!