FaceNoise: Singers

A modern rehash of the traditional British choral society, FaceNoise: Singers is an auditioned choir for amateur singers looking for new performance experiences. Members are invited to sign up to any or all of the three major concerts each year. They will also be added to a messaging group for ad hoc concerts. Pricing plans are available, with the full annual commitment being the cheapest option.

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This extract from our Artistic Director's The FaceNoise Journey blog outlines the tripartite model for each season:

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Concept

The concept concert uses a broader, accessible theme to bring classical choral music a newer audience. It also uses this repertoire to bring a traditional audience into a more contemporary and fresh space.

 

One of the concepts was Threshold, a concert exploring somatic music, and the role of spirituality in music. My colleague and I composed brand new electronic dance music to be interspersed throughout Byrd's 'Mass for Four Voices'. Another concept, called Earth Seen From Above, used a set list to tell the story of a rocket launch, featuring the rarely performed eponymous piece by Meredith Monk. This was performed in the Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

 

Other concepts have included using Tarot card reading as a form of spontaneous programme generation. Your local Catholic Church does not want to be your venue for this one though... trust me.

 

 

Collaborate

This part of the season has always been hugely enjoyable for everyone; the choir collaborate with a music artist. In the first half of the concert, the choir receive accompaniment from a music artist. Then in the second half, the choir provide backing vocals for the music artist. These are usually world premiere arrangements of the tracks and lead to further performance opportunities. I hope this will go on to a summer festival slot for the choir, as roadies for the band/singer.

 

Singers used to classic choral society repertoire tend to get a lot from these performances; challenging vocal arrangements with extended techniques, performing to an audience who provide immediate feedback (cheering, whooping, singing along). Evidence from one of the octogenarians:

"What a fantastic evening... it was just amazing to be part of that huge sound - something I would never have believed I could do!"

 

 

Connect

Lasting up to a few years at a time, this section of the season is a patient exploration of something significant in the community. In Sussex, there is a strong history of folk music and folk song collection by classical composers like RVW, John Ireland, C.H.H. Parry and Elgar. I used three years of concerts to unpack the relationship between folk music and the classical world.

 

Some of the ideas explored here were that of vocal timbre, audience and performer layout and aesthetics.

 

Other uses of Connect is to nurture relationships with local schools and arts foundations. This is something FaceNoise hopes to push in the future.