Day 2 of Sec Sch SYF (Live Thoughts) Part 3/4

They're starting to get quite niao with tickets so do come early to get them!

And we're back with the second half of today's performance, they still haven't put up the song list so.. Sorry to disappoint.. Will get it when I can :)

Anglican High Sch

Prediction: GwH
Actual: GwH

A very full sound from a HUGE choir, I like the tone much better, it's a little light though. Pitching wise quite accurate, but they were not quite together in term of rhythm. The next piece is ave maria, which is beautifully phrased and delicate when needed. It's leaving me enthranced, the balance is good and the range of dynamic extraordinary.. Wonderful! The next piece is Chinese, probably by Chen Yi. They're using chopsticks! The humming section wasn't quite good, but everything else was good! I wouldn't mind paying to watch them! They've got good voices in there and it really helps in the tone. It got a little draggy, but clearly GwH!! What a way to start this session.

First Toa Payoh Sec Sch

Prediction: CoP / L B
Actual: B

The sash is off. That's all I can say. There's a voice sticking out, and they're clashing really badly. The tone is harsh, balance is not quite there, the basses are virtually non-existent. It's tough to critique after Anglican High. The next one is Asian, I think Japanese. They start off with hissing and puffing, it's messy with the piano accompanying half-way. The last piece's that's the story of love, it really shows the technical problems in the choir, and it clashes badly. I think CoP or low bronze.

Oh some conductor behind me said want to lose then lose in style (he's dressed in purple)

Queensway Sec Sch

Prediction: CoP
Actual: CoP

They have a small male section, but it's the tone that's problematic. The girls are screechy, but surprisingly relatively in tune. But it feels like talking rather singing. Ok I spoke too soon, during the a cappella section it fell apart. They're doing an a cappella piece (baroque I think Purcell) ok this is painful. All the chords are clashing. This is bad, not to mention the tone. Argh, but they're really trying hard though if's really falling apart. I'm feeling light-headed. Very clearly CoP. The final piece has piano accompaniment, which will help guide them, it's a jap song again. They rushed at parts and I can't wait for it to end.

Jurong West Sec Sch

Prediction: B
Actual: S (shocked)

Ok I need some choral relief, hopefully they will be able to do so. It's getting pretty crowded now! The guys are in red, black and silver, while the ladies are in red with a silver sash. It's a HUMONGOUS choir of presents haha. The set piece is pretty slow, the tone is slightly airy and are clashing quite a bunch. It's a little messy, the pitching is a major issue . The next piece is piano accomapnied with a pretty cool entry. The tenors and basses are lacking. They're screaming a little, but overall not too bad. Last piece is also piano accomapnied, smart thing to do, they have some pitch problems and aren't exactly doing a really difficult song. It's probably bronze.

Raffles Institution

Prediction: H G / GwH
Actual: G (i felt they were cheated)

Next is RI, hopefully they'll do well. The phrasing is good, but the sops sound like gin nas, it's not deep enough, they went flat once or twice. The set piece wasn't quite fast enough though. The next piece however is very good, the musicality and the sensibility in it is really good. Granted, there were a few pitch problems, but the depth, key changes, chords were brilliant. The last piece is iddem dam, which was good just that the tenors could be more deep in the sound. It was a prob observed throughout. The sop soloist seemed to be struggling. It was good, high gold def, maybe gwh if the European judges appreciate the musicality.

Chung Cheng High Sch (Yishun)

Prediction: CoP / L B
Actual: B

The set piece is slow and is a mess, clashing badly a few times for both guys and girls. The guys are singing gallop like rebbit and they're out of tune. The dissonance and a cappella sections are ridiculously out of tune. There's a guy sticking out big time. The next piece is accomapnied by piano but they're still out of tune at bits. I can' stan that guy sticking out, he sounds like he's being forced to sing. It'll be CoP unless the judges decide to be lenient and forgive the major mistakes in the set piece. Top hats?! Oh no.. I have a bad feeling about this.. Piano accompanied, sounds like it's from high school musical.. Anw it's very amateurish but much more in turn except the one guy.