Auditions and the Art of Zen and the Galant

Auditions and the Art of Zen and the Galant

Audition time is upon us in the south suburbs.  Many will audition for the big groups…..but what about trying something different this year?  It’s great to sing choral music, singing as one in any way, shape or form but it’s especially…..well……special to sing in a smaller ensemble.

Chamber choirs breathe together, turn pages together and form their vowels together. They laugh together and, if I remember to remind them, hold their music folders in the same hand when they come out on stage. With one or two or three or four people on a part, voices begin to naturally blend with each other because singers *know* their fellow section members after a while.  The sound from that instinctive blend can’t be forced or faked…..and it’s exquisite.

With only 17 or so people in the MMS, we become each other’s fans and support system. We cry with illness or family difficulties and cheer each other’s victories.  We check our egos at the door and sing or play the part best for the group as a whole.  We all pull together at concert time and are nice to one another. This is a refreshing way to make music and one I’m proud being a part of.  I tell my singers I need to get to my Zen place during the concert cycle but the truth is they help me get there by being some of the best people and musicians I know.  They are so talented and such wonderful people I am awed by them!

The fall concert cycle will be a bit different, with three works by composers most people have never heard of, written during a music history period no one really knows about.  The Galant period was based in Italy, wedged right between the Baroque Era and Classical Era, and lasted about 20 or 25 years.  The works we will be singing have characteristics of both Baroque music and Classical music…think of Mozart without the edge…..and will be very fun to sing. And it’s such happy music!

We’d love to have you sing with us this fall and we encourage every voice type to audition….but we do need tenors and low basses. We are doing a work for four part women’s voices so all you ladies are certainly welcome to audition as well. Hope to see you soon!

Auditions continue through August 27, with our first rehearsal Tuesday, August 27 in Flossmoor. Our Concert is Sunday, November 3 at 4 pm.  More information is on our website.

For an audition appointment, call or email 708) 206-0380
marie@midwestmotet.org
www.midwestmotet.org