Redwolf wrote:
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 5:26 pm Post subject:
cj wrote:
That’s ridiculous that that won’t let you sing tenor, I’ve known several women who did. What does he care anyway if you can sing the part? Heck, y’all probably wear choir robes anyhow. . . .
Maybe I should try more choral singing, but I’d need to make it to church more often! I’ll bet the Anglican choral is beautiful.
Too bad we can’t switch voices!
Well, there is definitely a difference in timbre between men’s and women’s voices, regardless of range. The thing that irritates me is that men who can sing in the women’s ranges are actually considered an asset…their timbre is considered “superior” to the natural timbre of a female soprano or contralto. On the other hand, the timbre of a woman’s voice is considered “inferior,” particularly if she’s singing a “male” part.
It’s a prejudice that comes from the hundreds of years when women weren’t allowed to sing in public in Europe and England…people got used to the sound of men and boy choirs and decided that was the “gold standard.” Even today, you’ll find people who much prefer all-male choirs to mixed choirs because that’s what they’ve been trained to think of as perfection. Choirmasters get very excited if they discover a “counter-tenor,” which is basically a man who can sing first alto. As I see it, however, it’s all just snobbery…and I MUCH prefer mixed choirs!
Sounds like, if your choirmaster had his way, all the male singers would be castrati!! (Ouch) Seriously, though, the thing I enjoyed most when singing in choirs was the different textures and flavors of all kinds of voices. Church choir is one place where anyone should be able to sing, regardless of ability, and sing any part that fits their voice. It’s worship, not a place for snobbery. And the male superiority thing is so tired. :roll:
It’s always been funny to me that musical genres get an fixated on an ideal, such as women in rock/blues/jazz CAN’T sing high, even though lyric soprano is the most common type of female voice. Or that the male voice is superior in choral singing, esp. when they are counter-tenor (as few are, your average, basic, non-castrati guy is a baritone). Music is creative and dynamic. Fortunately creativity usually wins out, and some people redefine a genre to match them rather than conform to it, such as Heart (sopranos that rock) did for up-to-then male-dominated rock back in the 70s. Anglican choral singing, however, would be a tough nut to crack since many in that genre, from what you say, seem to be stodgy purists.
And ldulcimer is right, more music all around is what we need!
Her low notes make my hair stand on end!
I believe she had trouble getting a gig in her school choir. No problem. Just become the best singer of traditional English song of your generation. Now that’s what I call a good career move.