The men of the Schola Cantorum (left rear, in plumed hats) watched carefully for their cue. They had practiced long and hard for this coronation service and were feeling well prepared. Things first went awry when the archbishop began the intonation on the wrong pitch and a couple of the […] Read more »

Choir members were all eager to see the new soprano soloist as the rumors had been most intriguing. When she finally arrived for the rehearsal, twenty minutes late, she was strikingly dressed in garb which seemed to be trying to tell us something. A few people were offended and proceeded […] Read more »

As he listened to the choir, the cardinal struggled to maintain a neutral expression. His patience with so-called “praise motets” was badly strained. Even in Latin, there’s a limit to how many times the same phrase can be repeated before it loses all meaning. Trying to force a change, however, […] Read more »

At St. Watnot’s Episbyterian Church in Filligree, NH the new choir director quickly established that he would tolerate no nonsense from imperious sopranos or testy tenors. He expected singers to be in their seats with choir folders open and pencils in hand when he entered the room. Absolutely no talking […] Read more »

The breach between choir and congregation was mostly over repertoire which the singers loved but the congregation found dull and uninspiring. Tensions peaked when the people in the pews began hissing at yet another Renaissance motet and the choir started chucking old hymnals down upon them from the organ loft. […] Read more »

After watching for a time, the girls realized that the halo above the organist’s head would come and go according to the music being played. Most Bach would cause it to appear quite clearly, whereas when Stainer and Sullivan pieces were played it would fade almost completely. This led to […] Read more »

Organist/Choirmaster Francis Weeble had truly mastered the complex skill of conducting with his right hand while accompanying with his left. He even learned how to turn pages with his little finger. This led to considerable success in the world of church music, allowing him to leave his part-time gig at […] Read more »

The music department’s new student teacher, Mr. Coldbrook, had the most intricate set of body armor that anyone at Collier Middle School had ever seen. He offered no explanation for his unusual manner of dress, but the rest of the faculty believed it was the reputation of the fourth period […] Read more »

  The Women’s Choral Marching Society was the big hit of all the parades in Weehampton, drawing crowds from near and far with their enthusiastic singing and stylish uniforms. They had been invited to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade this year and the entire community was over the top […] Read more »