Rev. Lyn Catron

The Church Choir

What is a choir? Why do we have choirs? Do we need choirs? Would there be any great loss if we didn’t have choirs?

To answer the first question–  What is a Choir? A choir is a group of voices (8 to 12) playing or singing together in a harmonious manner.

Why do we have choirs? We have choirs to enhance the beauty of playing or singing together. We need choirs because certain aspects of a program would be missing without them. Yes! There would be a great loss without choirs. The great benefits if hearing multiple voices, with contrary rhythms of a certain intensity and voice part harmonies contrasting both loud and soft treble and bass sounds coming from different instruments or female and male., high or low at both at the same time. Then if it is vocal throwing in words to create thought as well as musical expressions. Have you ever thought about all this before? The more instruments or voices involved the more interesting the sound coming from the group.

From a minimum of 6 to 8 to a maximum of hundreds maybe 1000, playing or singing or both. I have been a part of several hundred playing together and thousands singing together. To me this is absolutely thrilling. I have been with a thousand teenagers singing together. I have also been with a thousand middle schoolers singing together. You  can’t describe the sound, it is so fascinating beautiful. More about choirs in the next issue.

Lyn