Choral music anytime soon? I don’t think so.
I saw a post recently that covered a talk presented to choral conductors in Maine, I think it was. It said that because of the pandemic, rehearsals and concerts would not be safe for choral singers, and I guess, by extension, for audiences, for at least two years.
Most of my friends know, I think, that my thing is high-end choral music. Along with folk/bluegrass, I’ve participated for decades. Now, without it, I am bereft.
But I’ll have to cope because these days, working in choral groups is dangerous. Here’s why: When we sing, we breathe deeply, often sing at fortissimo, exhaling great lungfuls of air over long periods of time. It is very physical.
We sometimes/often produce an aerosol of saliva as we sing. Sometimes more than just an aerosol. We’re in very close quarters, usually standing shoulder-to-shoulder, so in today’s reality, this is dangerous.
Back in olden times, if one us as much as had a cold, we would sit off on the side during rehearsal, as far from the other choralists as we could get. These days, that’s not far enough.
There is nothing - nothing at all - like being up there on stage where the music is being made. Being in the audience at a live performance is wonderful. But being on-stage, where one is surrounded and immersed in sound, is much better. Even in the worst of times, it fills one’s heart.
I sometimes become frustrated with the choral experience. Choral ensembles can be political and conductors can be huge pains in the ass. Never mind. I still miss it desperately. I’m really going to have to find something with which to occupy myself until this passes.
Maybe GarageBand? Hm. You know GarageBand, right? The recording app on iPhones and iPads? I understand that is quite popular and easy enough to use that maybe, perhaps, even I can use it.
Oh, look! There’s my iPad! Oh, look! A banjo sitting right over there in the corner of our den!
See? This pandemic may force me to new, undiscovered, levels of antisocial activity.
“Duelin’ Banjos,” anyone?
-JFT