Last choir standing

**red micra** · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 07:45 PM

Will anybody be watching this? normally I don't like this format of programme but I watched last weeks programme about the selection process so I'll probably have a peek and see how the choirs are progressing.
Especially the one without a musical director.

**Jezer** · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 12:56 AM

Sorry Red- I've never seen it.

Escafeldia · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 08:21 AM

We watched this weeks programme, which seemed to me to be just an extension of that shown last week. I realise the selection process for the 15 choirs which are to take part for the finals has to be done but I do wonder whether watching this process is good entertainment. I noticed that the term "choral music" seems to mean different things to different people but I found some of the choirs seemed to perform their pieces with little actual "part harmony". Everyone singing the same tune isn't what I would call good choral music. The Welsh Male Voice Choir which got a bad review from the judges because the piece they had selected wasn't the same type of piece tio the previous weeks "What shell we do with the Drunken Sailor" didn't deserve the crtisism which it got. To me Choral Music is about making a great musical sound, not singing happy clappy music of questionable quality. Do I need to go further than Handel, and his choral music, for example?

**red micra** · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 04:05 PM

I totally agree with you Escafeldia to critisise a choir for lack of choreography
is unbelievable and the choir from south Wales clearly did not deserve the criticism they got when, on the performances we have seen, they are clearly strong contenders.
On the other hand the choir with the pink things round their necks are not in the same league but I must admit to hoping Dreamz (the choir who only got a musical director 7 days before the second round ) do well because I think they have potential and given encouragement and good musical direction they have the potential to make a good choir.
Time will tell.

Escafeldia · #5 (**permalink**) 20-07-2008, 03:36 PM

Yesterday evening, Saturday 19th July, wasa bit of a fiasco in my book. The Gay Choir got the push early on and compared to the coloured girls in white dresses they were superb. One "soloist" in the girls "choir" had a voice like a corncrake on the high notes. All shout and no tune. However, when they eventually went it was a blessing. The two choirs which got through sounded fine and I loved their presentaion and choice of pieces. Next week looks like being a cracker - the Welsh Male Voice Choir is in the frame so we'll have to see what the judges make of that.

**red micra** · #6 (**permalink**) 20-07-2008, 05:56 PM

IMHO the gay choir were clearly superior to the choir that got the first automatic entry into the final, having been given a second chance last week because of their inexperience and lack of musical direction it was time for the choir from Birmingham to go.
I liked the choir from N Wales and didn't accept the harsh criticism they received.
Again the judges were criticising choirs for choreography WHAT!!!!!!!!
And was it my imagination or was the guy who sang Nessun Dorma miming?
no proper opera singer (and I don't include Watson in that category) would have the gaul to do that.

Escafeldia · #7 (**permalink**) 21-07-2008, 05:59 PM

I have just gone through the programme again with BBCi Player. The choir which got thrown out was Dreamz and a good job too. The choir which was the Welsh one with the unpronouncable name was good but I still got the feeling that they had a soloist and a backing group presentation. The "Alley Cats" seemed fine to me with good choral parts nicely sung and with a lively presentation. Not that I am a big fan of the Happy-Clappy type of song.

I had a good look at the "Nessun Dorma" soloist. You could be right Red, he could have been miming. I was watching his neck muscles during the higher notes and they didn't seem to me to be responding as if he was putting any energy into his presentation. I also wonder if he could have delivered a demanding solo like Nessun Dorma without relaxing his chest a bit more that he did. Most of the time he looked pigeon chested.

I am looking forward to next week as I said in my earlier post. The Welsh Male Voice Choir should give a superb performance.

**red micra** · #8 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 07:50 PM

so the final was between two Welsh choirs

Ysgol Glanaethwy from the North and Only Men Aloud from the South.
I was really torn between the two.
Ysgol Glanaethwy's performance of O Fortuna was superb
but if I'm honest then on the overall performance throughout the series
Only Men Aloud deserved to win. Although I didn't always like their choice of
music to sing, they always sang with better harmony than any other choir.
Congratulations to Only Men Aloud