Informella stämledare. Körledares erfarenheter av samarbete mellan sångarna i körstämman

Abstract

ABSTRACT Informal leaders in the choral voice Choir leaders’ experience of collaboration between the choristers. Most choirs and choir leaders have the aim to make the individual voices sound as unison as possible in the different choral voices, according to both timing, synchronisation and vocal blend. The aim of the present study was to investigate experienced choir leaders’ experience and understanding of potential collaboration between the choristers in the choir, and what consequences that might result in. The study is qualitative in character: semi-structured interviews were carried out with experienced Swedish choral conductors representing a broad spectrum of the praxis field, regions, ages and different gender. The interviews were transcribed in verbatim and were analysed. The result shows that all the interviewee experienced informal leaders in their choirs and two main categories were identified: (i) with a focus on leaders of the musical line, musicianship/music-maker, and (ii) with a focus on the choral blend, the blenders. As a conclusion, in order to develop choirs to sound more even, synchronised and in blend, it might be of value to consider where to place a musical leader in the choral voice, and also to what degree this phenomena should be made explicit and discussed with the members of the choir. Keywords: choral singing, choral singers, formal leader, informal leader, choral blend.