JC SYF (Live Thoughts) Part 2/4

Catholic JC

Jauchzet Dem Herm, Alle Welt (Psalm 100) - Felix Mendelssohn
Pokpok Alimpako - Francisco Feliciano

Prediction: G
Actual: GwH

Set piece started off well, but they had a messy middle section. They had good phrasing and dynamics, and a nice build to the end. However, they were slightly pitchy at parts. First piece (Mendelssohn) was alright, and felt they did bring out most of the nuances. There were some voices sticking out though, particularly in T. Final piece was their saving grace. It had generally good pitching but there was one part where the men were flat (just after the first section, dunno how to describe where it is). This was a better performance than their first piece, and should earn them at least a G.

Dunman High (JC)

Trois Chansons de Charles d'Orleans - Claude Debussy edited by John Rutter
Pater Noster - Alberto Grau

Prediction: HB/ LS
Actual: S

The IP schools generally have a smaller choir due to the size of the cohort they get. As such, mistakes were very much more evident. My general issue was that the sops were slightly airy and the men (mostly Bs) could be deeper in their tone. The set piece had many pitch problems, esp within the girls. It wasn't really a good start. First piece was a great improvement from the set piece, however, they could used more phrasing and a wider dynamic range for the piece. Pitching was much more accurate but could still be better. The last piece ended flat, and it was this piece where I esp felt the basses could be deeper in their sound. Generally alright, and the final two pieces were much better than their set piece. Could be LS but may drop to HB if the judges deem the mistakes in the set piece to be too severe.

National JC

Denn er hat Seinen Engeln befohlen - Felix Mendelssohn
Prelude to Kalinda Koute-Tande & Kalinda - Sydney Guillaume

Prediction: HG
Actual: GwH

The set piece started sharp, and had a bunch of pitch problems through out which were rather evident. The B's tone were shallow imo, but thought it may have been only to accentuate the 'Chinese' feel of the music. The Ss were a little screechy for me, but then again not everyone would agree with me on that one. Thought the set piece wasn't executed well (mainly because of pitching). Their first piece was much better than their set piece. Generally good pitching throughout. Nice phrasing and dynamics, and musically sound. However, I personally felt it lacked an emotional depth to the music. Similar to VJ's, I thought it could have tugged at one's heartstrings more. The final piece had a stable sound. Good overall and it was an interesting piece, however, imo, it also lacked a depth to the music. Should be HG due to the mistakes in the set piece.

Tampines JC

Nachtwache I - Johannes Brahms
Alleluia - Marek Jasinski

Prediction: LG
Actual: S

Generally I felt the tone was airy and it lacked depth. The set piece started off alright, but the tenors rushed a phrase and then things started going a little rocky. Some pitch errors (flat) esp at the end of phrases, and they could have done more phrasing to better bring out the inflections Chinese instruments have. The first piece was better in tune, but lacked subtlety to it. The final piece had a stable start, but there were pitch errors and the middle section become flat. But overall, a decent performance.

Meridian JC

Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain - Claude Debussy
Mate Saule - Peteris Vasks

Prediction: GwH
Actual: GwH

Some of my friends didn't really agree with me on this one, but I stick to my predictions and critique (and evidently I was right lol). First thing I noticed was that gold thing on the collar of the girls clothing. Looked funny from a far, like a gold necklace or something. Anw, generally I didn't like the guy's tone. It was a little too constricted and not free. The set piece was flat at the front, and had some effy pitching during the interplay bits, but overall an alright performance. The first piece was, ok. That's all I have to say, but it lacked an emotional depth to it. The next piece i've heard so many choirs do so I'm pretty familiar with it. It was this piece which I esp felt the T's tone was a bit weird, and the music lacked a little subtlety to the phrasing. There was one voice sticking out, and the chord after the loud section was out of tune, but it was a pretty alright performance of the piece. Yeah they went sharp but it was pretty solid. Based on the general level of performance, it should get GwH.