Last Choir Standing
The series is now over
The Great Choir Debate
Question 4 - Is there anything a choir shouldn't sing?
Dominic Tighe: "No, not really... perhaps something by the Prodigy isn't really appropriate for a choir?! We'd do a great cover of a Prodigy song though!"
Stephen Bowman: "As long as it works for the choir. The simple fact is that some of the songs chosen by the choirs work brilliantly in the ensemble environment where you mix those sounds together and mix the harmonies together. Anything can work – so it's worth having a go!"
Mike Brewer: "Only music which is inappropriate to the circumstance, whatever it may be - otherwise it's fair game! In other words; you don't sing obscene drinking songs in church or something!"
Jonathan Ansell: "Not at all – I think you should experiment as much as you like! In this show, choirs have taken contemporary songs and given them a classical twist or put them into a gospel swing - and that is what keeping this style of music exciting and alive is all about."
Zoe Salmon: "No, I think it's each to their own - I say go for it! I was really surprised at some of the choices made by the choirs, and I just think it's up to you, whatever you want to do. The more fun the better really!"
John Partridge: "I think everything is up for grabs. At the auditions we saw a huge array of songs from contemporary to traditional, from musicals to pop. I think everything is fair game."
Your Comments
Of course there are some fantastic Gospel songs out though. Lets throw Kirk Franklin's name in there to start with, but unfortunately the great british public aren't so familiar so just won't vote for the choirs that sing those songs. Wish I could hear some of it though! I reckon if you check out Revelation and ACM when they arent on the show you'd hear some fantastic gospel
I think the standard has been very good so far. However, although it's great to see people having fun and enjoying popular music, the real test of a choir is how versatile they can be. As a choir director myself, I think it's good to have a balance: do some popular songs, yes, but try out some classical ones too. That's certainly a good way of stretching the singers and broadening their musical tastes!
My favourite choirs are those that can sing anything - gospel, pop, classical, world music, renaissance polyphony, you name it! However, when you choose repertoire for a choir competition you've got to know what your audience (the judges and viewers) want to hear.
Is it just me, or has the music the choirs are singing got less interesting as the show goes on? It seems that everyone is trying so hard to be 'popular' that they are missing out on singing some really great stuff! I'm happy to hear (and sing) anything, but there is great stuff out there that is not well known, but has 'wow' factor, regardless of whether it is pop or classical.
I have been desperately disappointed with the standard of repertoire chosen by the so called gospel choirs on these shows. The choir bits to most of the pieces could have been learned in 10 minutes by any reasonable junior school choir. There are mind blowingly stunning gospel/spiritual arrangements out there (Moses Hogan to name but one arranger). For a competition I would have expected a higher standard of arrangement - especially for prime time telly.
I would like to say that I agree with B Hound in relation to the point about 'proper' choirs. The comment suggests that unless somebody is singing a particular style of music , they are not there seriously, but just for fun. I'm sorry, but this sort of mentality died out years ago. This is 2008!
Of course it would be asking too much for a choir like Hereford Police to do a Timberlake number in pop arrangement. It just does not fit. This happened to Amabile girls who "just did not fit" because they tried to look older and of course came across as insincere. Song is not the issue. It is the arrangement and how they send it off to the listeners.
In response to Carol (Ex Cantamus Choir Mum) - I belong to what I would imagine you call a "fun choir" and I'm really quite offended that you imply that it is not a "proper" choir. In addition, the definition of "good choral music" is completely subjective and down to individual taste. I must admit I'm getting a little tired of all the "choral snobbery" on many of the comments on this site. If we love choirs, then we love choirs! Why can't everyone appreciate that choirs come in all shapes, sizes and styles - but they can have equal merit, regardless of whether or not they sing traditional music or modern music. Last Choir Standing is about finding the "Nation's Favourite Choir" - I wonder how many of the more traditional choirs would have fared in the fickle opinions of the British public?
Matthew (who posted something earlier) made the comment 'gospel style', in contrast to renaissance. Clarification: there are only a few gospel . There are lots of others posing as... but gospel is more than just singing, swaying and clapping hands
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I agree with Anonymous (23/07/2008) that we can go beyond the traditional repertoire. But the calendar ("This is 2008") proves nothing. To say "Songs from 1808 are the best because they're old" is silly. But to suggest "Ideas from 2008 are the best because they're new" is equally silly. You might as well say a song must be great because it was written on a Tuesday.
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