One of the great untold truths about singing in an amateur choir is that one often has to concentrate so hard on one's own line that it becomes imposible to enjoy the sound that the whole choir is making. This is not only a shame for the individual but also means that the choir does not sing as a united body.
We are singing the glorious I Was Glad by Parry and if ever there was a piece where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts this is it. The tenor feels way too high and not really part of anything. It is only when it joins with the other parts that the whole comes together into something quite stunning.
We always break our rehersals with a cup of tea and a raffle and I had volunteered to make tea this week. This meant that I headed of to the kitchen a couple of minutes before the break. From the kitchen I was able to hear the whole chior and what a great sound they made. Now, it would be tempting to suggest that the apparent improvement was caused by my leaving to make beverages but the truth is that listening to the whole chior always sounds better than your own little part.
I enjoy the few minutes I have in the kitchen once in a while it is the choral equilient of smelling the roses!
