You are entitled to what ever way you enjoy and make music, but in placing the notes before or over the lyrics you are forgetting that all composers started with the lyrics, were inspired by them and set their music according to the meaning of the words. You must always try and convey the meaning. Even if the lyrics cannot be understood by an audience, in the way you sing you can convey the meaning with just the sound, be it orchestral or choral.
You mention that you do not know the meaning of the words. Surely you are missing the gist of every piece than. I find myself at a loss not knowing what it's all about. I've heard far too many choral performances where it was quite obvious hardly anyone knew what they were singing about. You may be surprised what you find out when you start to understand the lyrics. Even find out you're interpretation was quite wrong. Most audiences do not mind and feel they had a good time when everyone sang in pitch and the choir sounded fine. But the meaning is the point, not the sound. How ever much I am deeply in love with the sound of a choir, I cannot fall in love with a meaningless sound. I've had far too many instrumental performances too which conveyed very little meaning as well. And all of these were professional performances. All this was not my outset when I started conducting. It is my experience after 15 years of working with choral music. I often find amateur choirs to be more conveying than professionals. The pro choir sound is far too often only aimed at just sounding good. Also pro choirs are too often collections of solo singers. They do not blend, become one. I'm sorry to sound too firm or self minded, but it is because I have been disappointed so often in those 15 years. Imagine being deeply in love with something and not getting the best when you know and feel it could just as easily have been the very best. :-) Paul Delcour _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
