Position and Balance of Parts

How may I overcome slight disadvantages of certain weak parts?

By H. A. MILLER, Music Instructor, Southern Junior College

Question is likely to be in the minds of many choir directors regarding the positions the different parts may take, and the number of voices necessary for each. Also, someone may ask, How may I overcome slight disadvantages of certain weak parts?

it is not essential that the singers squarely Face the congregation, but it is essential that the music in their hands be in direct line be­tween their eyes and those of the conductor. It will be found helpful to have the choir seated in slightly curved rows, each individ­ual facing the director's stand. This has a double benefit: It makes it possible for the director to hear the tone more as a unit; and it gives the singers the opportunity of hearing each section as it blends with the others. This arrangement is of great assistance in securing better group singing. Teach the choir mem­bers to listen to all four parts ; it will help them to submerge their individuality in the unified body of choir tone.

The high voices are usually found at the conductor's left, with the low voices at his right. There is good reason for this arrange­ment, if a piano is used for the accompani­ment—which is the case in many places. The top of a grand piano opens from the right side; therefore the instrument should be on the left of the rostrum. This permits its mouth to open toward both, the choir and the congrega­tion. Have it turned slightly so that the ac­companist can easily see both the director and the music without turning his head. The piano should be as close to the singers as pos­sible. Every additional inch away from the choir increases the hazards of "off key" sing­ing—unless you have an unusual group. The sopranos, especially, need the instrumental sup­port, because there is more part movement and a greater display of intervals in that voice, which is the key voice to the pitch problem. In the kind of music sung by most of our choirs, there is less motion in the "inner" voice parts than the "outer" ones.

Each voice section should have some front­age—one or two singers on the front row. It makes the group more compact, and each row thus becomes a small choir in itself. Some­times the sopranos take the front left position, the altos the front right, and the tenors and basses the left and right back, This "bottles" up the male voices, and does not produce the best results. There should be at least one male voice on each end of the, front row. If the male voices seem strong, they may be spread wider toward the back row. Tenor and bass should have an equal representation in row one; soprano should take the preference, with alto next. The whole arrangement, of course, is primarily to produce balanced tone power. There are four wheels to the harmonic vehicle, which should not sag through overloading at any corner.

Consideration should be given to appearance as well as to tone. Careful placement of the individuals in each section according to height will do much to present a pleasing appearance. There should be no conflict between visual and aural impressions, for when these two agree there is a more definite message con­veyed to the auditors.

Taking thirty as a suggestive number of choir members, have two tenors at the extreme left on row one, four sopranos at their side, three altos next, with two basses at the ex­treme right. Row two would be lined with two tenors, three sopranos, two altos, three basses. This plan calls for nine chairs in a short third row at the back, ten in row two, and eleven in row one. The order may be reversed if desired, with other adjustments, of course, to keep the parts well placed. Have those in the back rows looking between the heads of those directly in front of them.

Center Around the Simple Plan

Here is a plan which will greatly assist in deciding the approximate number of voices for each part. The first letter of each voice makes the word TABS. Place the figures 4567 or 5678, or 6789 (according to the num­ber in the choir) beneath the letters of the above word, and you have a working basis for the numerical balance of the voices.

There are no rules that will fit every case. One must know what he wishes to secure, then work toward that end. His endeavors, however, will be found to center around some simple plan. If, for example, there are only three tenors, when you should have six, place two on the first row with the stronger third voice behind them. Let the sopranos fill their allotted space in front, supplying additional ones to fill up the unoccupied space of the tenors. This arrangement will give the tenor part the advantage it needs, and will do much to overcome the weakness of tenor shortage. It assists weaker voices—weak from timidity or from lack of vocal powerto place a lead­ing voice behind them. The stronger voice will reach the ears of those in front, and inspire them to greater endeavor. In spite of the general preference for no leading voice in each part, the fact remains that choirs with unsea­soned material do better work with such as­sistance. A leading voice does not necessarily mean one which stands out and above the others. It means one that is true to pitch, firm in tone, accurate in reading, and sensitive to the director's suggestions.

If a conductor studies the placement of parts, and experiments a little, he will soon detect the importance of part position, and be able to make some decisions of his own that will greatly aid him in reaching greater heights in church-music standards. There are many ef­fective ways of placing the parts. Those sug­gested here are but a few of the possibilities.

By H. A. MILLER, Music Instructor, Southern Junior College

January 1938

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

God's Call to His Church

Autumn Council Highlights

Undue Losses in Church Membership—No. I*

Any study of the trends which cause loss of church membership in North America must be approached in a spirit of hum­ble consecration to the task of holding our be­lievers in a fellowship with the Saviour, and with an earnest prayer that they may be sancti­fied.

Imparting A World VisionImparting A World Vision—No. 1

Address at Blue Ridge Educational Convention, August, 1937.

Successful Short Efforts

Efficient Evangelistic Methods and Pastoral Technique

Poster Advertising Profitable

Correct methods of advertising do much to make evangelistic meetings successful.

Reaching Youth Not of Our Faith

Young People's Night for Evangelism.

Build For Lasting Membership

In recent months we have heard much con­cerning the need for conserving our con­verts. Our leaders have urgently appealed by voice and pen for us to put forth every pos­sible effort to stem our losses through apostasy.

Filing Sermon Materials

Please suggest a method of keeping notes, clippings, ideas for sermons, etc., in orderly arrangement so that they are available at a moment's notice.

Momentous Implications At Oxford—No. 1

Religious liberalism has undermined the meaning of the nature and citizen­ship of the kingdom of God, together with the time and manner of its establishment,—turns vainly to the creations of its own reasonings and fancy in unwitting harmony with the impending events so clearly revealed.

Transfer of White Estate Materials—No. 1

It is fitting at this time that we should re­view with our workers throughout the world field certain facts regarding the activities of the White Estate during the past twenty-two years, and that we should make a statement regarding the provisions made for the future conduct of its work.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - RevivalandReformation 300x250

Recent issues

See All