Songs from Shakespeare

It's really unbelievable. Really.

Here is the unabridged entry of my previous post on reasons not to take MUA3211 - Chamber Singers II:

1) It was worth two modular credits (normally four) and there were two 1.5hrs lessons a week. Considering that there are no breaks in between and it ending late at times, the workload is substantially heavier than other “normal” modules. Oh, and did I mention there were extra rehearsals?

2) MUA3211 is almost impossible to ace. A third of the class are currently singing in NUS choir, a third is studying (for real) in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, the rest are from some alumni chorale or a capella groups or other choirs. After eliminating almost everyone, that probably leaves me at the bottom of the hierarchy, a former choir member.

3) I cannot sight sing, other than maybe pitching basic solfège or major thirds, perfect fifths and octaves. And of course, because there are no hardly any sectionals teaching, you're expected to figure out how it sounds like just from the score (minus an external instrument).

4) My voice has bloody chui-ed. Hitting an E can potentially kill my vocals (and the surrounding people...)

5) The module is held on Tuesday and Thursday, effectively transforming my 3 day week to a full 5IVE day week!

6) This module is absolutely extraneous since I've already overshot my quota of academic credits.


Unfortunately, there was only one reason why I still took this:

1) I enjoy singing in a choir.

Yes, your eyes ain’t playing tricks on you. That’s me being brutally honest.

Singing in a choir doesn't sound remotely as cool as singing in an a capella small group or jamming in a band. In fact, it sounds sissy, soft, limp and lame. The only thing that probably ranks lower (at least to me) are male ballet dancers.

No offense. Heh.

Of course, other than immersing myself in the lush layers of vocals, it was rather refreshing to view NUS in a such different light (or tone). At every turn and corner of the building, you hear music played instead of muggers blasting mainstream music through their iPods.

And just like how lifeless final year bioengineering students present their "findings" in a pathetic poster presentation, these Yong Siew Toh students see their various works culminate in an evening concert, performed to hundreds!

Damn it. I know it's not exactly analogous but I digress.

So anyway, in YST Conservatory style, MUA3211: Chamber Singers II ends with a bang this Monday (6th April 2009) with...
Featuring Canadian Katherine Wallace as choral director; premiering new works "If Music and Sweet Poetry Agree" by Chen Zhangyi and "Folly Folio" by Emily Koh; the prodigious Austrian pianist Andreas Eggerstberger; and last but not least, the comeback performance of the millennium, Kelvin Lim.

For full programme outline: http://scmapp.nus.edu.sg/events/details.asp?e_id=903