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Views from the Choir Loft

How to be a Good Choir Member?

Andrew Leung · June 28, 2018

CTL How to be a good choir member BOUT A MONTH AGO, I led my choir in our very first concert. As the director of the choir, it was a pretty intense experience. There are always a lot to think about during the process of organizing a concert, not only in musical aspect, but also logistically. And there were lots of uncertainty as the choir was preparing the repertoire for the concert. There were times when I worried about whether we would be able to learn all the pieces in time and sing them well.

I must admit that i freaked out a few times when rehearsals didn’t go well. Here are some tips that I sent to my choir members as I was stressing out:

1. Practice may not always makes perfect, but it definitely make things better! As a member of the team, we are all responsible to learn and review what we have rehearsed. Every team member must do their homework in order to not waste time and make rehearsals efficient.

2. Be prepared mentally. Being ready to sing will help the choir rehearsal to run smoothly. It is a good idea to prepare our minds to sing before rehearsal. It is a good idea to start running through the music in your mind an hour before rehearsals, even during travelling, to get into a musical mode psychologically. In an actual performance, we do not have a second chance to start a piece over. Our mind need to be able to concentrate and be engaged with our music right away.

3. Watch the conductor! Do not bury your heads in the music. Look up! Pay attention to the conductor’s directions!

4. Mark your music! And sing it according to your markings! Making the same mistakes over and over again is definitely not helpful.

5. Be good musicians. E.g. keep your music tidy and in order, don’t chat with others when the conductor is giving instructions, don’t use cell phones during rehearsals, etc.

Our performance ended up really well. The choir was ready to perform. Many people came to our concert and filled up the whole church. Our audience enjoyed the program of sacred music very much. It was a very prayerful night and we successfully introduced the traditional liturgical music to many.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

If the homily goes on too long, it will affect two characteristic elements of the liturgical celebration: its balance and its rhythm. The words of the preacher must be measured, so that the Lord, more than his minister, will be the center of attention.

— Pope Francis (11/24/2013)

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