BBC4 Sunday, 4th Sept

[DracoM]

How a choir works.

8.40 p.m.

How 'traditional' choirs achieve their distinctive sound.

Following recent discussions on The Choir, this might be 'interesting'?

[Keraulophone]

Looking forward to this programme, during which the London Symphony Chorus will presumably be demonstrating 'How a Choir Drinks' at hostelries not far from the RAH.
It is remarkable how thirsty people seem to get after singing - especially in Cathedrals!

(Revised avatar photographed last week on tour at Beziers Cathedral.)

[Keraulophone]

A shame it turned out to be a repeat. The BBC Singers looked exceedingly underwhelmed by what Gareth Malone was trying to do. It was ok for those with no experience of choirs, though it didn't attempt to address the sort of issues referred to above.

[decantor]

At whom was this programme targeted anyway? It considered the most basic principles of choral singing, as if aimed at those who had never before given thought to the concept of 'choir'. But would such choir-blind viewers tune in? It seems unlikely. And it was surely no wonder that the BBC Singers could not conceal their cynicism when a virtual schoolboy appears to direct them - a schoolboy wowed by their every sound. I do not blame Malone, but I do think that those who design the educational content of the BBC's musical output must dig around to find rather more sophistication than this. Even when important issues were considered - eg polyphony and text - the points were not especially well made. I thought this was an opportunity wasted, but maybe I expect too much.

[Nick Armstrong]

Dipped into the programme for a while - I thought it was a waste of time, an idiot's guide for idiots who wouldn't be watching, as decantor said.

[DracoM]

Ahem. Yes, I feel rather guilty for having promoted it.

[Nick Armstrong]

Ahem. Yes, I feel rather guilty for having promoted it.

You weren't to know, Dracs

That abbreviation reminds me of the final envoi to the villain in Moonraker - the vile Drax (played by deadpan Michel Lonsdale) thinks he's won, then gets shot in the heart by Bond, with this memorable exchange:

Drax: Desolated, Mr Bond

*bang*

Bond: Heartbroken, Mr Drax

[Stunsworth]

And it was surely no wonder that the BBC Singers could not conceal their cynicism when a virtual schoolboy appears to direct them

He was born in 1975 for heaven's sake.

If you have seen his programs about school choirs you'll know what a motivational person he is. It was clearly a program aimed at introducing viewers to some of the concepts behind choral singing, and on that level I think it was a success.