Thursday, November 30, 2006

Year-end Comments

Alrighty! It's been one heck of a year for the entire choir, and you guys finally have a chance to take a well-deserved(I hope!) long break from studies and singing.

You guys should have read Ms Ng's posts on Moodle, and if you haven't, mosey over there ASAP just to see what she thinks.

Anyway, here's my own series of comments, half-remembered anecdotes, and general fei-hua.

This is really the fourth choir I've been involved with, since I started out as a conscripted Sec 1 boy in the newly established Catholic High choir, named the Edward Becheras Choir, after the founder of the school. We sucked badly then, completely different from the polished voices of the current CH choir(Gold with Honours. Gads. Who would've thunk it?) . No professional conductors, no vocal training, half-baked teachers trying to teach us to sing in tune with barely acceptable chords, and me desperately figuring out ways to sustain my soprano voice long enough while it was sloooooowly cracking to sing "Scarborough Fair" for our very first performance. But hey, it was fun when I was there before I left after 1 plus year with the choir. Too busy with other stuff, but the seed had been planted.

I admit it, I didn't select the choir to be my preferred CCA in charge as a teacher. When it came that I was assigned to the choir at the beginning of this year, I wasn't shocked either, because Ms Ng had been pushing for it since she found out about my background. The very first practice I attended was also, coincidentally, the very first practice the seniors had with Mr Tay. Hearing them sing, and as a badly under-strength choir really reminded me of my own beginning(even if the CH choir started out with 60 plus members because of enforced conscription...). But the lack of focus was similar.

Mr Tay was the big difference. I could hear a clear change in the choir's singing from before he came in, and after he left. Two hours only, and already an improvement! It was heartening, but also a reminder of the long, long road ahead.

The months came and went, and we got through the 1st intake, then the 2nd. Not much we could do with the 1st, and unfortunately many of them did not stay on. It was only from the 2nd intake onwards that we could really get down to business, so to speak. The choir improved, sometimes by leap and bounds, sometimes with tiny steps forwards, but even if you, the choristers, could not hear yourselves, we could. Not only did all of you improve musically, you also learnt to organise and manage your own events/affairs more efficiently. Granted, there are still many areas for improvement(when hasn't there been AFI?), but that was really all I wanted to see. People learning, getting better, improving constantly. And having fun in the process. That was the sum of my time in the NJC and the NUS choirs, and I hope you have experienced the same thing in the past year.

During your very last performance in the CC, there were times when I had goosebumps from your singing, especially Adventi Enek. Not only had you mastered the music, you were able to convey the emotional meaning of the song. For quite a few moments, you've reached the epitome of music-making. And isn't that what it's all about, touching the hearts of the audience through music?

Singing in a choir takes effort, passion, and an ability to work well with others. There's very little that can match the satisfaction you feel after a particularly demanding piece that requires you to sing in harmony and rhythm with many other people. Knowing that all the hard work had paid off, the pleased look on your conductor's face(okay, Nelson Kwei wasn't always pleased with the NUS choir basses, especially when we mess up the rhythm of a song or go off-pitch...), and the applause of the audience.

I'm really envious of you all. Hearing all of you sing, often made me wish I was a JC student again, having fun in a choir. It's tough going at times, but nothing worth having ever comes without a price.

Treasure the next few months. I'll be bringing my camera for all practices. Trust me, it'll be hell while you're slogging through practice after demanding practice, but when it's all over, you'll never forget the experience and the memories(and laughing at the photos). How much you'll get from the choir will depend on how much effort and love you'd have put into it. I'd put in plenty, and I got plenty more out of it. Without the choirs I have been in, I would not be where I am today(amazingly for a guy without a background in music).

In ending, I quote,
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit
Perhaps there shall come a day when it will be sweet to remember even these things
- Virgil

The Wobbly Guy




the music played{11:56 PM}