Hands up who knows what a motet is? No, me neither, despite having read about it on Wikipedia.
It seems to be a piece for multiple voices in harmony where the voices don't all sing the same words at the same time, probably shortish, possibly but not necessarily in Latin, possibly but not necessarily unaccompanied. A serious choral thing.
Anyway, I went to a workshop with the Southampton Philharmonic Choir on motets. This is a slightly larger and more serious choir than the Winchester Community one. The first thing that happened when I arrived, was they asked me what I "am" -- tenor or bass. Now I think I'm a baritone, but that doesn't count for this kind of singing, so I hopefully said tenor. Next week I may try being a bass.....
At WCC, the choir leader teaches us songs by ear. We might spend between 5 minutes and several weeks learning a song, depending on how long and complex it is. We learn it line by line: she sings it, then we sing it back.
At the SPC, by contrast, sheet music was issued, for a piece many people had not sung before, and quite a few had not even heard before, and then the leader, at the start of the session, just said "Let's do the Bruckner", waved his arms, and everyone started. And sang it very well! I was gobsmacked. These people are serious!
If I know how a song goes, I can then use sheet music as a reminder of the exact notes and rhythm, but I can't "sight read" something that I have no previous idea what it sounds like.
And these motets are complicated! There isn't a one single tune that everyone sings. So even after once through, I don't immediately "get how it goes" as you would for a pop song.
So anyway, it was very challenging, very rewarding, a good choir, a big "growth experience". I did like the singing "serious" choral pieces rather than the folk songs and African songs we mainly do at WCC. I like the WCC style and the people, but am getting a bit tired of the repertoire. I can see I'd learn a lot if I joined SPC. Unlike WCC, they have a "voice test" before you can join, but I think I could pass that. Hmmmmm.
Next week, a "gospel" workshop!!
