Hey all, today's the first day of SYF, we'll try our best to update u guys as everyone sings (depending on how well my battery holds up), the action begins at 245 Singapore time, so stay tuned for updates!
P.S. All the best to everyone competing! :)
The first school (Juying Sec) just reported, and are, interestingly in pink one piece dresses with a navy blazer top, for the girls, and a navy 3 piece suit for the guys topped off with a pink tie! Quite trendy I might say. Why am i talking about their dress code? 'cause i'm bored from coming early. They look pretty nervous, hopefully they'll calm down before singing. Heck i'm feeling nervous for them. Anyhow all schools will report and warm up at Victoria Theatre before proceeding to VCH for adjudication. Tickets will be distributed at the door (or so I'm told that is). Oh look the next group's here too. Dressed in deep crimson, and the guys in an all black mandarin-collared suit. Ok enough fashion :p
Astonishingly, this year they've posted the songs the schs are signing on a board outside! I've conveniently typed it out for ur viewing pleasure ;) Oh and there a number of pp here supporting or simply enjoying I guess. The ushers are quite nice too, and I got a good seat!
They're starting!! And the judges are talking pretty loudly haha!! There's a Slovenian, Taiwanese, Hungarian, American, British, Singaporean and Zechariah Goh (set piece composer for jcs) Oo it's my trendy choir haha
Juying Sec Sch
Hamabe no Uta (Song of the Beach)
Flying Free
Prediction: B
Actual: B
It's never easy being the first up. You're at the mercy of the judges. The choir is very small (abt 30) and thus less likely to have a wide dynamic range. The sound is in general airy and very soft. Balance is alright though, can hear all parts. As for the set piece, the a cappella dissonant section is off, and the choreography's weird, but generally in tune 'cause of the piano. The first choice piece's fully accompanied by piano. A bit boring. The last bit was off with the chords suddenly increasing in volume, subtlety is lacking. The next piece is also accompanied by piano. I think their lack of volume is helping cover up some pitch problems, but it's really boring. They've got some phrasing, but despite their valiant attempt their pitch problems in the set piece and lack of technical difficulty will be their problem with the judges
North Vista Sec Sch
Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite
Nao Hua Deng
Prediction: S
Actual: S
Oh it's the cheena choir haha. They're huge in number. They're also airy but the tone and volume is comparatively better. The set piece is quite well done and largely in tune. First piece's accompanied by piano, and is baroque-ish, the pitching is a bit off (no set direction they went out of tune in) but they've captured the mood of the piece. Next piece's.... Chinese! I like the piano accompaniment, anw they're largely in tune. Another happy piece which they do well in. Smart song choices. I believe it'll be silver. They did well in what they chose but the tone's still too airy and the out of tune voices in the choir is a problem. Also piano accompaniment isn't exactly prime material for gold choirs.
Deyi Sec Sch
拜访春天
Salmo 150
Prediction: L S / H B
Actual: S
Ooo... Salmo... This will be interesting. They look like parish singers. Anw they are airy, notably for the male voices. They don't quite gel, which may be a problem. The set piece sounded a bit tentative and hesitant, dissonant section was weird. First choice piece - A CAPPELLA! Anw I think they're a SAB choir. It's pitchy, the guys are the most obvious in doing so. Frequently sharp when ascending and flat when descending. Next, Salmo! The altos are doing the tenor part, the basses are flat and very soft. They're rushing(!!) and they gradually got sharper. Yikes. I think it'll be a low silver, considering they sang a cappella and weren't THAT out of tune. Still, they may get a high bronze if the judges deem pitching to be a crucial criteria for getting silver.
Woodgrove Sec Sch
Ti Or Or
Ubi Caritas
Prediction: B
Actual: B
Gold Chun-Lis! Must have worn that to attract 'Gold' Haha anw their male voices are numbered at 10. They've got a number of serious pitch problems within their own sections. Tone's less airy than the one before but nowhere near what we want to hear. Ti Or Or - I don't know what to make of it. It's a cappella but they've frequently out of tune. The guys are WAY too soft in terms of balance that is, and a loud gong at the end. Reminds me of pok pok. Ubi caritas is a beautiful piece accompanied by piano, they try to phrase, but the pronounciation's inaccurate and very distracting. Clash chords = Probably bronze.
Xinmin Sec Sch
Patoeknal
Itsuki no komori-uta
Prediction: H S / L G
Actual: G (band up)
Omg their choir's huge, and the set piece is fast, but it's probably the actual intended speed. The tone's good and they're argely in tune. The first piece's a cappella, and they're rushing a little. The phrasing's there but perhaps not sufficient for the slow section. I have a feeling I'll like the second piece, it's a very lovely piece, slightly dissonant (intended of course), but the balance and pitching of the arppegiatic bits are off. As I said, I like the piece. It's very delicate but too dominated by S and A, and required more male voices. It should be a high silver. The pitching's not gonna nail them a gold though. I expected more sound from the male voices considering they constituted abt half the choir, but then again, the judges may push it to a low gold.
It's break-time! (till 430) and I'm almost out of batt! I heard one of the judges say smoking break.. LOL..
Temasek Sec Sch
Koko kara haji maru
Tres cantos nativos
Prediction; L G / H S
Actual: G
First thing I see's a bongo... WTH? Anw they're in purple which isn't very flattering. Anw moving on, I could use more tenors and the tone is slightly airy, which is further accentuated in the set piece. But it's in tune and the dynamics and phrasing is good. The next piece's a cappella and I like it! The phrasing and dynamics could be more delicate, but they captured the essence of the piece, there were some good moments. The next piece is African, and pretty simple, but the lady's tone is not sufficient to carry forth the raw essence of the piece. They managed to get it in the middle of the piece, though the actions were a little comical. I believe it'll be a low gold or high silver if the judges decide to penalize the tone and difficulty for the last piece.
Peirce Sec Sch
Ah! Si Mon moine voulait danser
In this ancient house (momoshiki ya)
Prediction: B
Actual: S (higher than predicted)
The tone's airy and a whole bunch of pitch problems in the set piece, mostly within the voices themselves, and the dissonant section's awkward. 1st piece's accompanied by piano and triangle, and the size of the male section (or lack thereof) really affects the sound. It's sorely in need of tenors and a bass is stickin out. It's a broody piece but just a tad boring. The last piece's accompanied by piano as well. Anw may I say that French is NOT easy to sing. They've got to work on vocal technique though, the end of their phrases is always flat. It feels heavy although it's supposed to be a lively jovial danse. In light of this, I think it's a bronze.
Queenstown Sec Sch
Burung kakak tua
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
Prediction: L B / CoP
Actual: B
Whoa first thing that strikes me is that they're a colour uncoordinated bunch (think teal and pink :S), and the set piece's ridiculously fast. Anw the girls are airy, as usual, but a little shrill overall, it's also missing balance from the guys. They were frequently out of tune but speeding through it kinda diminished its intensity. 1st piece is a cappella, but there's a whole lot of pitch problems mostly in the guys who are flat. It's supposed to be folksy and happy but I can't wait for it to end. They're rushing a little and out of tune. First disaster of the competition, and they were doing ok for the set piece. 2nd piece is better with the accompaniment of the piano but instead of being accompanied by the drum, they sound like the accompaniment to the latter! Not good, but they should get a low bronze on the back of the set piece. Might be CoP if the judges decide the 1st piece was bad enough to relegate them to that position.
River Valley High Sch
Salve Regina
Zhu Li Guan
Prediction: H G
Actual: G
Ooo! Their conductor's Ms Jennifer Tham, the sound's clean, the phrasing's adequate but not spectacular, somehow the guys don't quite blend with the ladies. Pitching's good and it's a good start. Next piece is a cappella, I love the start by the S and As, but the entry by the tenors ruined the mood (way too strained). This piece could be magical, but the execution wasn't delicate enough. They certainly are the best this far, but imo not gold with honours. A blemish at the end by tenors but otherwise a solid performance. The last piece is decent, everything's mostly ok except the tenors being rather weak and airy. It was ok but I didn't really care for it. Should be a high gold but I wouldn't give it gold with honours.
Commonwealth Sec Sch
Jaakobin isot pojat (the sons of Jacob)
Ashita wa Hare Kana Kumori Kana
Prediction: GwH / H G
Actual: GwH
I always liked gold ties, which the guys are wearing. Anw the choir's huge, and thus able to carry a wide range of dynamics, it's a surprisingly good performance of the set piece with very well controlled phrasing. I was worried when I saw 'Jaakobin' as one of the choice pieces, but they do it well! Pitch was accurate at most parts, and is pretty impressive. Ladies and gentlemen, I would say a potential contender for gold with honours. The chords are good, but they went sharp, still a darn good job! Last piece is delicate, very mature sound for a choir so young, the phrasing and dynamics are well-controlled. The sound forces u to breathe in sync with them, it was magic! I'd say, "Gold with honours"!!!! Nevertheless, the judges may still decide to deflate the grade tomorrow after listening to the other choirs, and/or do so 'cause of the slight pitch problems in Jaakobin and the Set-piece.
Dana-Dana
Arirang
Prediction: L B / CoP
Actual: B
Omg their outfits are GAUDY, anw it's tough to be last and sing after such a good choir. Set piece - they have the same problem as most choirs, airy tone, they are so nervous u can hear it, they are clashing within their parts. Not a good start. Next piece is accompanied by piano, and they sing 'Arirang' first. They lack depth to their voices and phrasing, the grandeur at the loud sections is lacking, but it's relatively in tune. Ok last piece for today, it's a cappella, and it's relatively in tune though the sequences between voices really bring to focus the lack of vocal training. Their tones are raw but it's a good effort and I think it should be low bronze. However, it'll boil down to the judges to decide 'cause the pitching problems were rather severe. Hope they'll be nice and not give out any CoPs.
Btw, results for day 1 will only be announced at the end of tomorrow! Oh, I might say that the choral standard is improving man! Some performances were definitely worth listening to!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment