• Home
  • About
    • Location and Hours
      • Location
        • Facilities Map
      • Parish Office Hours
      • Mass Schedule
      • Confession Schedule
      • Adoration Schedule
    • Our Parish Story
      • History of SVdP
      • Our Patron Saint
    • Our Clergy
      • Our Priests and Deacons
        • Homilies
          • Msgr. Bill
          • Fr. David
      • Msgr. Bill Updates
      • Msgr. Bill's Weekly Letter
      • Msgr. Bill Video Playlist
    • Parish Administration
      • Parish Staff
      • Scheduling Request Form
      • Buildings & Grounds
        • Members
      • Parish Finance Council
        • Members
        • Annual Report
      • Parish Pastoral Council
        • Members
    • Join our Parish
      • New Parishioner Registration Form
      • Current Parishioner Update
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Communications
      • Communication Opportunities
      • Bulletin
        • Advertising
      • Parish App
      • Social Media
        • YouTube
        • Facebook
        • SvdP Youth Instagram
    • Tour of the Parish
      • The Church
        • Our Church Tells a Story
        • Facilities Map
      • Msgr. Jamail Center
        • Facilities Map
      • Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
        • Facilities Map
      • SVdP Parish School
        • School Website
    • Archdiocesan-Victim's Assistance
      • Victim's Assistance
      • Clergy Disclosure List
  • Education
    • Faith Formation
      • Faith Formation Staff
      • COVID-19 Protocols
      • Want to Volunteer?
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • Youth Ministry
      • Young Adult Ministry
      • Quick Links
        • Archdiocese Online Masses
        • Catholic Answers
        • Catholic Exchange
        • Catholic Icing
        • Dynamic Catholic
        • EWTN
        • FORMED
        • Liturgy of the Hours
        • Movie Reviews
        • Saint of the Day
        • The Catholic Encyclopedia
        • U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
        • Vatican
        • Zenit
    • PK3-5th grade
      • PK3-5th Under Thy Roof
      • Lecture Series
      • Registered Participants
    • Junior & Senior High
      • Middle School (EDGE)
        • What is EDGE?
        • Core Team
        • EDGE Events
      • High School (Life Teen)
        • What is Life Teen
        • Core Team
        • F.A.Q. & Registration
        • Peer Teen Leaders
        • Life Teen Events
    • SVdP Parish School
      • About
      • School Website
    • Young Adults
      • Young Adults
    • Adults
      • Adult Formation
        • Confirmation
      • ACTS Retreat
        • History of ACTS
        • ACTS Q&A
      • Bible Studies
      • That Man Is You
    • Enhanced Learning
      • Supplemental Information
        • Baptism
        • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
        • Valuable Materials & Documents
  • Sacraments & Worship
    • Sacraments
      • Information regarding Sacramental Preparation
      • Baptism
        • Information-7 & Under
        • Information-Adults
        • Baptism Schedule (English)
        • Baptism Certificate
      • Reconciliation
      • Holy Communion
        • First Holy Communion FAQs
      • Confirmation
        • Adult Confirmation
        • Teen Confirmation
          • Year 1 Genesis
          • Year 2 Revelation
      • Matrimony
        • Marriage Preparation
        • Convalidation
        • Marriage Encounter
        • Annulment
      • Ordination/Consecrated Life
        • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
    • Worship
      • Adoration
        • How to register
      • Confession
        • A Guide to Confession
      • Mass Schedule
        • Holy Days
      • Devotions & Novenas
        • Consecration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
        • Divine Mercy
          • How To Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
        • The Rosary
          • How To Pray The Rosary
          • Prayers of The Rosary
        • Novenas
          • St. Vincent de Paul Novena
          • St. Jude Novena
          • St. Jude League Membership
        • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer
      • Prayer Requests
    • Liturgical Ministries
      • Altar Linen Ministry
      • Altar Servers
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Sacristans & Acolytes
      • Music Ministry
        • The Studio Page - What is Choral sound?
        • Taizé in France - the history and the music
        • Wedding Music
        • Choir Members (Music Link)
      • Proclaimers of the Word
      • Ushers
  • Parish Life
    • Parish Life Staff
      • Parish Life Staff
    • Ministries
      • Divine Will Prayer Cenacle
      • Funeral Ministry
        • Funeral Planning
        • Compassion Ministry
        • Opening Doors
      • Ministry of Care (Homebound)
      • Men's Ministry
        • That Man Is You
      • Pro-Life
        • Sanctity of Human Life Group
        • Gabriel Project
      • Spiritual Direction
      • Vocations Ministry
        • Vocations Successes
        • For Parents
          • Six Myths
          • Videos - Parents
        • Is God Calling?
          • Videos - Priesthood
          • Videos - Brotherhood
          • Videos - Sisterhood
          • Resources
        • Resources
        • Vocations Terms
        • National Vocations Awareness
      • Women's Ministry
        • Walking With Purpose
        • St. Anne's Society
    • Adult Enrichment
      • Parish Library
    • Upcoming Events
      • Upcoming Events
        • Ordination of Burt Martin
        • The Sacraments
        • Psalms
        • Walking With Purpose
        • Links to Faith Formation Fall Programs
        • Adult Events
        • Youth Events
    • Outreach
      • Prayer Requests
      • Blood Drive
    • En Español
      • Jóvenes de la Luz
      • Bautismo
      • Misa de Sanación
    • Community Groups
      • Christian Community Service Center
        • Emergency Services
        • Employment
          • Employment Services
          • JobNet
          • Martha's Way
      • Guayaquil Mission
        • Donations
        • Volunteer
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Scouts
        • Join Cub Scouts Pack 505
        • Cub Scout Pack 505
        • SVdP Troop 505
        • Girl Scouts
      • Legion of Mary
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
        • Announcements
        • Financial Planning & Coaching
        • Food Banks
          • Fresh Food Locations
        • Housing (Rooms to Rent)
        • Immigration Resource
        • Job Resources
        • Legal Aid Resources
        • Medical & Dental Clinics
          • Medical Housing for Blood Center Patients
        • Rent & Utility Assistance
        • Shelter for the Homeless
        • TANF; SNAP; TX Healthcare
        • Prayers for the Poor
        • Videos
        • Vincentian Stories
        • Volunteer/Contact Us
  • Giving
    • Ways to Give
      • Give Now
      • Giving Descriptions
    • Additional Ways to Give
      • Planned Giving
      • Gifts of Stock
      • Light a Candle
    • Campaigns
      • Building Bright Futures
        • BBF Video
      • Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
|||
St. Vincent de Paul
Phone Email Facebook YouTube
Search
  • Home
  • About
    • Location and Hours
      • Location
      • Parish Office Hours
      • Mass Schedule
      • Confession Schedule
      • Adoration Schedule
    • Our Parish Story
      • History of SVdP
      • Our Patron Saint
    • Our Clergy
      • Our Priests and Deacons
      • Msgr. Bill Updates
      • Msgr. Bill's Weekly Letter
      • Msgr. Bill Video Playlist
    • Parish Administration
      • Parish Staff
      • Scheduling Request Form
      • Buildings & Grounds
      • Parish Finance Council
      • Parish Pastoral Council
    • Join our Parish
      • New Parishioner Registration Form
      • Current Parishioner Update
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Communications
      • Communication Opportunities
      • Bulletin
      • Parish App
      • Social Media
    • Tour of the Parish
      • The Church
      • Msgr. Jamail Center
      • Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
      • SVdP Parish School
    • Archdiocesan-Victim's Assistance
      • Victim's Assistance
      • Clergy Disclosure List
  • Education
    • Faith Formation
      • Faith Formation Staff
      • COVID-19 Protocols
      • Want to Volunteer?
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • Youth Ministry
      • Young Adult Ministry
      • Quick Links
    • PK3-5th grade
      • PK3-5th Under Thy Roof
      • Lecture Series
      • Registered Participants
    • Junior & Senior High
      • Middle School (EDGE)
      • High School (Life Teen)
    • SVdP Parish School
      • About
      • School Website
    • Young Adults
      • Young Adults
    • Adults
      • Adult Formation
      • ACTS Retreat
      • Bible Studies
      • That Man Is You
    • Enhanced Learning
      • Supplemental Information
  • Sacraments & Worship
    • Sacraments
      • Information regarding Sacramental Preparation
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
      • Matrimony
      • Ordination/Consecrated Life
      • Anointing of the Sick
    • Worship
      • Adoration
      • Confession
      • Mass Schedule
      • Devotions & Novenas
    • Prayer
      • Prayer Requests
    • Liturgical Ministries
      • Altar Linen Ministry
      • Altar Servers
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Sacristans & Acolytes
      • Music Ministry
      • Proclaimers of the Word
      • Ushers
  • Parish Life
    • Parish Life Staff
      • Parish Life Staff
    • Ministries
      • Divine Will Prayer Cenacle
      • Funeral Ministry
      • Ministry of Care (Homebound)
      • Men's Ministry
      • Pro-Life
      • Spiritual Direction
      • Vocations Ministry
      • Women's Ministry
    • Adult Enrichment
      • Parish Library
    • Upcoming Events
      • Upcoming Events
    • Outreach
      • Prayer Requests
      • Blood Drive
    • En Español
      • Jóvenes de la Luz
      • Bautismo
      • Misa de Sanación
    • Community Groups
      • Christian Community Service Center
      • Guayaquil Mission
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Scouts
      • Legion of Mary
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • Giving
    • Ways to Give
      • Give Now
      • Giving Descriptions
    • Additional Ways to Give
      • Planned Giving
      • Gifts of Stock
      • Light a Candle
    • Campaigns
      • Building Bright Futures
      • Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel

 

    • Sacraments & Worship
      • Sacraments
        • Information regarding Sacramental Preparation
        • Baptism
        • Reconciliation
        • Holy Communion
        • Confirmation
        • Matrimony
        • Ordination/Consecrated Life
        • Anointing of the Sick
      • Worship
        • Adoration
        • Confession
        • Mass Schedule
        • Devotions & Novenas
      • Prayer
        • Prayer Requests
      • Liturgical Ministries
        • Altar Linen Ministry
        • Altar Servers
        • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
        • Sacristans & Acolytes
        • Music Ministry
          • The Studio Page - What is Choral sound?
          • Taizé in France - the history and the music
          • Wedding Music
          • Choir Members (Music Link)
        • Proclaimers of the Word
        • Ushers
  • What is choral sound?
    Welcome!! We're going to explore a working definition of, what is choral sound?

    This page is FOR YOU to have some fun exploring on your own. You will note both our Documents and Links navigation bars below. To do the things listed below, you will CLICK on the items listed under either Links or Documents. Under LINKS, you will find links to amazing examples of choral sound on YouTube videos; under DOCUMENTS you will find some of the corresponding music scores of the music the choirs are singing.

    Remember, if you'll just simply PLAY around with experiencing the ideas below, on your own, you might DISCOVER some amazing new things, and soon afterward your improved skills just might SURPRISE you!!

  • The purpose of this activity is to listen to and observe the singers in order to experience how a vocal ensemble produces clean accurate harmonies, (well tuned chords), with understandable words. Did you ever stop to think if the words can't be understood, why do we even sing for others to listen? Further, if there are singers on-board who have never experienced the "sound" we are collectively working toward, there is no way for us as a group to ever understand the goal for which we are aiming, and thus, we are doomed from the start.

    For the video Examples 1, 2, and 3, (under Links), there are public domain scores 1, 2, and 3, (under Documents), which you can click on and print out if you want to sing along with the choirs on the videos, but no one is expecting you to actually learn to sing all the parts of these scores. More important, just refer to the score's text as you visually watch how the singers precisely form their syllables with such open relaxed embochures. You might even try some of their technique as you watch them sing, the concept is to keep the neck and jaw "soft" (relaxed) with an amazingly relaxed wide-open embochure. Also, catch the intentional interaction of tongues and teeth, nothing is accidental.

    Examples 4A and 4B are videos for comparison, the scores to these videos are copyrighted; hence, we don't have them online here; but 4C was added as the video displays the score so you can follow that if you wish, you will not be able to print out the score.

    Discussion: Serious vocal ensembles are usually 24 singers, (6 singers x 4 harmony parts or 3 singers x 8 harmony parts), or 32 singers, (8 singers x 4 harmony parts or 4 singers x 8 harmony parts or 2 singers x 16 harmony parts, there is music for such - "Grin"). But, you will typically see clarity begins to go out the window when you get much beyond 40 singers, (10 singers x 4 harmony parts, etc.), even when they all have professional skills. Conclusion, everyone present makes an indelible imprint upon the composite sound of the whole ensemble, throughout each moment, thus realize how important each of you are - and everyone else around you. Singing in a choir is one of the few places this side of heaven, where we can see the immediate result of our direct connection to each other, and thus our connection to the musical outcome; "... for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all." (Good Corn).

    Pitch and tuning: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as wonderful and famous as they are, become accoustically more akin to a massed band on a football field at half-time, because it is physically impossible for 200 singers to execute cleanly; even when they are good, they become just "big" and are musically less accurate than the other 24-40 voice ensembles you've listened to here; but much more important, note the absence of clean specific pitch on high notes due to the effect of varing tremulants, especially in the womens' voices; again, the physics of producing a specific note from multiple undulating sound sources is an accoustical impossibility. No matter how beautiful your voice sounds to you with vibrato by yourself, "yourself" has to take a back seat for choral singing to work,
    (a corallary from Good Corn).

    Notice that the Taizé ensembles also Linked here are most often using the same basic style of vocal production, (excepting the solos), as is demonstrated in these choral videos, and the Taizé voices are both genders, across a wide range of ages, and from cultures from all over the world. Instinctively "musical beauty" within an ensemble is acheived with the same technique, pretty much irrespective of musical style, isn't that interesting?

    So, if you haven't already, CLICK on a video, (under LINKS), and then click on the corresponding score, (under DOCUMENTS), and ENJOY!!

    BUT WAIT, there are Examples 5 and 6,  yes!! You ask, "What about vocal tremulant in ensemble singing is it ever proper??" Yes - but, the trick is that Tremulant, (or Vibrato), is not "a place to constantly live" rather it's a "seasoning" to be expertly used sparingly to create a sumptious feast. Go ahead if you must, (big "GRIN"), and check out Manhattan Transfer, (example 5), and Rockapella, (example 6), they are masters of their craft, absolutely enjoy!! Remember, what you're hearing is almost all acappella, even the musical instrument sounds, (the drum and bass guitar effects are all vocals!!). Identify some of the simliarities of vocal production in Examples 5 and 6 with the choral examples earlier; amazing isn't it?

    Our next project will be to create online audio files for you to individually rehearse your voice parts with, for our Core Repertoire Library of PDF scores; then, we'll all become simply AMAZING!! Embrace the technology!! ("Grin")

    copyright © 2012 Daryel Nance

  • Documents

    • Example 1: Music score (public domain) - Miserere mei Deus (Allegri - 5 + 4 part harmony - acappella
    • Example 2: Music score (public domain) - Hear My Prayer (Purcell - 8 part harmony w/organ)
    • Example 3: Music score (public domain) - Personet Hodie 1360 (unison w/organ arr. Gustav Holst)
  • Links

    • Example 1: Miserere Mei Deus (Allegri) an exqusite example of a communion of perfectly balanced voic
    • Example 2: Hear My Prayer (Purcell), the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; study the relaxed open e
    • Example 3: Personet Hodie (14th century), the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; relaxed open embouc
    • Example 4A (comparison): Agnus Dei (Samuel Barber) the Better 'ensemble' - Why? The Choir of New Col
    • Example 4B (comparison): Agnus Dei (Samuel Barber) the Lesser 'ensemble' - Why? The Mormon Tabernacl
    • Example 4C (score): Agnus Dei (Samuel Barber); the Choir of Trinity College, Cambrige (YouTube video
    • Example 5: A Nightengale Sang in Berkely Square, Manhattan Transfer; listen to where they go while r
    • Example 6: Rockapella - a promotional demo video of Rockappella - posted by Rockappella. Absolutely
    • Taizé - LISTEN to the peaceful chants and video from Taizé for your meditation or singing pleasure (
    • Click here if you WANT TO SEE THE WORDS and music while you listen to the Taize chants
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025 - Phone (713) 667-9111 - Fax (713) 667-3453 
Get Directions
Login
powered by eCatholic®