Arts
Beautiful singing
BY BENITA HART
Fall 2011 |
Inside, doffing coats and hats, the members of the Bel Canto Chorus greet each other warmly. “This is the happiest time of my week,” says one. Those around her smile. “Yes,” a man agrees, “we have a good time.” There are about 40 people here, men and women of all ages, young adults and white-haired seniors. They work at many occupations and live in different communities. What they have in common is a love of song. From September to May, they come to downtown Sudbury on Tuesday nights to sing and they're looking forward to getting started. There is a buzz of anticipation. Then a young woman with dark hair strides into the sanctuary and all eyes turn in her direction. Pamela Teed seems to move along on a personal wave of good-humoured high energy as, smiling and nodding, she makes her way to the front. The singers quickly move to their places, tenors and basses seated on the left, altos and sopranos on the right. Accompanist Suzanne Roy-Wilson takes her seat at the piano. Teed, 28, gets them started right away, limbering up with stretching and breathing exercises, warming their voices by humming and singing scales. They'll be working hard tonight, preparing for upcoming concerts. But then, they always work hard at rehearsals. Teed is a professional director and this is a serious group of singers. Tonight, they start in German with The Bridal Chorus from the opera Lohengrin by Wagner. Teed interrupts from time to time, correcting pronunciations, giving directions and comments, both critical and encouraging. Sometimes she sings a line or two to show how she wants it done. She's funny, yet always serious, and the singers laugh and then listen seriously. As the practice goes on, the voices sound warmer, richer, more assured. They sound good, and they know it, and the director knows it, too. They finish with Amazing Grace and Teed thanks them for a good practice. After the rehearsal one of the older men says, “She's a lot of fun, very lively and exciting.” For Teed that's what music is all about. “If it's not fun,” she says, “there isn't much point in doing it, is there?” People love to sing and find joy in it, says Teed. “It's our most natural way of making music. It's a real release to use your own breath and your strength to make this wonderful sound. There is a process we go through when we sing and, as we gradually gain control over the music, there is satisfaction in that process.” In the case of choral singing, the deepest satisfaction may come when the group together becomes greater than its individual singers. “Sometimes they sing so beautifully,” their director says, “I have trouble not choking up.” In 1974, the Sudbury Philharmonic Society (choir and orchestra) split into two groups, one primarily interested in playing instrumental music and the other in singing. The result was the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and the Bel Canto Chorus. The Bel Cantos sing in a wide variety of styles. Sacred, classical, modern, folk, and Broadway music in their repertoire. They are always looking for new singers. The Bel Canto Chorus is non-profit. Proceeds from concerts go to music scholarships. The Bel Canto Chorus gives four performances a year, two in December and two in May. The dates for the Christmas concert are Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2 at St. Andrew's United Church (7.30 pm). ).
