Choir Jokes

Choir Jokes


Ok, which ones should be scrapped? Let us know! Caution, some of these are prickly.

 

Q: How do you tell when your lead singer is at the door?
A: He can’t find the key and doesn’t know when to come in.

Q: How many lead singers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One. He holds the bulb while the world revolves around him.

Q: Did you hear about the female opera singer who had quite a range at the lower end of the scale.
A: She was known as the deep C diva.

Q: How many tenors does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Six. One to do it, and five to say, “It’s too high for him.”

Q: What’s the inscription on dead blues-singers tombstones?
A: “I didn’t wake up this morning…”

Person 1: It must be terrible for an opera singer to realize that he can never sing again.
Person 2: Yes, but it’s much more terrible if he doesn’t realize it.

Q: Why was the soprano arrested?
A: Because she was in treble.

Q: Why were the singers locked out of their rehearsal room?
A: They missed the key change.

Q: Dad, why do the singers rock left and right while performing on stage?
A: Because, son, it is more difficult to hit a moving target.

Q: Mom, why do you always stand by the window when I practice for my singing lessons?
A: I don’t want the neighbors to think I’m employing corporal punishment, dear.

Q: How many altos does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. They can’t get up that high.

What is the definition of a mezzo soprano?
Just an alto with a soprano’s attitude.

What’s the definition of a male quartet?
Three men and a tenor.

What’s the definition of an alto?
A soprano who can sight read.

What’s the difference between an alto and a tenor?
Tenors don’t have hair on their backs.

How do you tell if a bass is actually dead?
Hold out a check

How many basses does it take to change a lightbulb?
None. They’re so macho they prefer to walk in the dark and bang their shins.

What is the difference between a high school choral director and a chimpanzee?
It’s scientifically proven that chimpanzees are able to communicate with humans.

Why can’t you hear a soprano on a digital recording?
Recording technology has reached such an advanced level of development that all extraneous noise is eliminated.

Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.

Her final note has now been sent,
Her final chord’s undone.
After life’s gloom, death should present
Her moment in the sun.
Alas, she has the worst of fates –
She must in Limbo stay
And wait outside the Pearly Gates
Forever and a day.
She’s not shut out because of sin
Her virtue’s plain to see.
It’s just… she never knew when to come in,
And could never find the key.
[found on the page before the mystery “The Killer in the Choir” by Simon Brett]

Music Jokes

Definition of Perfect Pitch: Throwing a banjo into the trash landing perfectly onto a bagpipe.

After the rehearsal, a viola player went to the nearby restaurant. Leaving her viola in the car, she went in. She was aghast later when she remembered the car was unlocked. She raced to the car. But, by now there were FOUR violas in the car.

Another case of domestic violins.
Domestic violins.
Stop! You’re under a rest!
This place is nothing but treble!

Choral Arts Notes 1

“By the River” by Scott Gendel

“By the River” (music: Scott Gendel, text: Helen Hoyt) for SATB choir and piano. Commissioned by the Choral Arts Society Chorale, and premiered on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Madison, WI. Music Director: Mikko Rankin Utevsky – Accompanist: Yana Avedyan.

The best way to describe this exciting work is to read Scott’s words…


“When the Choral Arts Society Chorale asked for a piece relating to water for their innovative concert about water and conservation in our region, I was quickly overwhelmed by the huge amount of material available to me. There’s just so much poetry and music about water, it’s hard to know which angle to take. But when I ran across Helen Hoyt’s little-known poem, I fell in love. Hoyt’s words manage to capture the danger and overwhelming power of rivers while also beautifully capturing how being immersed in water can feel transformative on a deep personal level. I wanted to capture that contrast in my music, and so this piece roars along dramatically like a rushing river, but also explores the sense of emptiness & calm left behind after the river rushes by.” – Scott Gendel

We were thrilled to sing it at our Spring 2019 concert. Each voice had a strong part to play in interpreting Scott’s piece. A recording of this composition is not yet available. Deep thanks of appreciation are extended to the generous contributions in support of the commission of this work: Ruth Brill, Danny Proud, Dean Schroeder and John W. Webber.


Helen Hoyt, poet
Helen Hoyt
Helen Hoyt (Helen Hoyt Lyman) was born January 22, 1887, in Norwalk CT. Among her endeavors after graduating from Barnard College, was as an associate editor for “Poetry” magazine. She died on August 2, 1972.

She was a guest editor for the September 1916 issue of “Others: A Magazine of the New Verse” (New York City). In the introductory “Retort,” she wrote, “At present most of what we know, or think we know, of women has been found out by men, we have yet to hear what woman will tell of herself, and where can she tell more intimately than in poetry?”[1] [2] Helen Hoyt interests included nature, love, mystery, beauty, the body and gender in her poetry, typically lyric.[3]

By the River
Wash from me all my weariness, waters;
Wash from me all my thoughts and purposes;
Wash from me all my desires and dreams and hopes,
And drown them in your torrents!

Oh, take me from myself and let me lose myself!
Let this incessant churning against the rocks,
This clumping, clumping, clumping of the water
Wash over my brain and wash my brain away!

Wash from me all my weariness, waters…
‘Til I am left at last empty of all that I was
All that I knew or was or wished to be;
Left empty and content and uncontending;
Languorous and numbed and lulled asleep.


More information about Scott’s other compositions and activities is available on Scott’s web site. It’s a treasure of accomplishment. Scott is indeed a Madison musical resource!


Choral Arts Notes is sent periodically to our subscribers. All are encouraged to visit the “Subscribe” page to subscribe. Choral Arts Society Chorale (CASC) musical activities are highlighted in these issues. Subscribers, especially CASC members, are invited to submit articles for future issues.

Resilience

This concert was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Rev 2 Resilience Poster

Resilience poster

• The Choral Arts Society Chorale announces their spring concert, titled Resilience: Meditations on a Changing Climate
• Concert is held on April 26 at Trinity Lutheran Church at 3pm
• Tickets are available at the door or via Eventbrite

Madison, Wisconsin-The Choral Arts Society Chorale presents Resilience: Meditations on a Changing Climate. The concert will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2020 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1904 Winnebago St. Doors open at 2:30pm and music starts at 3:00pm.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online via Eventbrite. A surcharge of $2 will be incurred when purchasing online.

Under the direction of Mikko Rankin Utevsky, the choir presents a program of works about nature and environment from different epochs. We celebrate our environment in song, and we sing of the work still to be done. The concert will also include some sing-alongs with the audience and will be followed by a social with snacks for audience and choir.

Composers featured in the program are Felix Mendelssohn, Thomas LaVoy, Chen Yi, Benjamin Britten, Jason Fox, Frank Ticheli, Scott Gendel, Alberto Grau and Vaughan Williams.

Performance Venues

Choral Arts Society Chorale has performed in sites including these.

St Raphael’s Cathedral, 222 W. Main St. The choir rehearsed weekly in the choir loft of the church and performed there (both in the loft and on the sanctuary floor) from 1999 until 2005.

 

 

Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1021 Spaight St. The choir rehearsed in the choir room in the basement and performed from Spring 2005 through Fall 2011. The choir resumed rehearsals (in the sanctuary) in Fall 2017. Performances were held there from Spring 2015 through Spring 2017.

 

Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave. The choir rehearsed and performed here from Spring 2012 through Fall 2013.

 

 

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1904 Winnebago St. The choir performed here Spring and Fall 2014, Fall 2017 to Spring 2018, and Spring 2019 to Fall 2019.