Season of Songs from the Heart / NUSS Choir / Review

SEASON OF SONGS FROM THE HEART
NUSS Choir
University Cultural Centre
Wednesday (17 November 2010)

This review was published in The Straits Times on 19 November 2010.

It is never too old to join a choir and make a joyful noise. That is the message of the 50-strong National University of Singapore Society Choir, comprising singers of the senior citizen retiree category, many of whom prominent members of society.

One is struck by its sprightliness and attentiveness. Singing 18 songs mostly from memory, the singers obliged what choirmasters yearn for but do not often get – they all looked up. It was not too difficult, as its leader Darius Lim is a strapping youth who could have been their grandson. Choirs do not always have to be led by crusty old maids.

Opening with Zulu song Siyahamba, their robust a cappella voices were amplified to advantage. The song arrangements were friendly, opening with unison voices and later branching into simple divisi for harmonic variation. Singing in Latin, the choir sounded comfortable in Laudate Dominum and Gaudete, but Mediaeval Baebes (below) they were not.

There was rawness, as in Ave Verum Corpus / Agnus Dei where the choir struggled with pitch, and there were untrained voices standing out, but there was no doubting its commitment and enthusiasm. The women were a more homogeneous group, and their Japanese song Kimi O No Sete was a delight. The 12-men were weaker in Wherever You Are but held their own. Together they gave conductor Lim’s own Life (below), a new commission, a touch of Broadway glitz.

Christmas songs seemed appropriate, and the choir steered clear from the more commercial kind. Would You Bring A Song and Christmas Isn’t Chritsmas benefited from meaningful lyrics, while Voices of Winter had no words, the sound effects, oohs and aahs told an evocative story. The lighting for One Single Light was flawed on the outset, making this look like some Halloween number.

Songs from the heart featured popular favourites. While Memory (Cats) was tainted with overfamiliarity, Climb Every Mountain (The Sound of Music) was both uplifting and touching. The audience was also given a chance to sing along in You Raise Me Up and Mandarin song Peng You (Friends). Say A Little Prayer and encore Candle On The Water brought out giggles and chuckles with the simple choreography, and seven couples within the choir linking their hands in one united voice. Not highbrow stuff but plainly engaging.

NUSS Choir 12th Anniversary Concert

The 12th anniversary concert of the NUSS Choir, entitled A Season of Songs from the Heart, takes place on Wednesday (17 November 2010) at University Cultural Centre at 7.30 pm. The choir will be conducted by the young choral conductor Darius Lim (left), who is also known to be an accomplished pianist.

Here is an interview article which Dr Maurine Tsakok, the NUSS Choir's Honorary Convenor and eminent obstetrician and gynaecologist, (left, seen on the right of Mrs Goh Chok Tong) wrote for Today.

How does choral singing benefit health?
The use of choral sound to improve health and especially the mind is not a novel idea, since it influences profoundly the behaviour of entire societies. It is a communication that accesses the emotions directly and improves the body's immunity. Choral singing makes one smarter by positively affecting the neural connections in the brain (the hippocampus) and increases the MRNA (Messenger DNA) involved in learning, memory formation and retention, enhances intelligence, and delays dementia (loss of brain functions, memory, thinking and behaviour). It is the choristers' vocal technique of producing the choral tone by sending the breath and sound energy through the hollow sinuses that stimulates the base of the brain to impact the neurons (nerve-cells). By developing the breath through correct posture, deep breathing, chest and diaphragm movements, physical health is improved through enhanced lung, heart, and circulation functions.

What are some of the benefits you have seen impact you have seen impacting yourself?

The discipline of listening to blend with fellow singers, improves my hearing functions . It has not only sharpened my acuity of hearing and appreciation of music but has led also to better sense of balance and coordination. The good vocal technique taught , going beyond the basics ,to include vocal warmups, proper nutrition to feed the voice , adequate rest and emotional commitment have contributed to my increased poise, self esteem and presentation skills. It has strengthened my memory. and concentration. It has improved my stamina, Qi, and breath control and, it has also improved my social interpersonal reaction.

How many people participate in choral singing here?

There are more than 200 school choirs a foresight of I believe the late Dr Goh Keng Swee benefitting from early vocal training . Most universities and tertiary education centres have choirs developed as an expressive art form. Then don't forget all the church choirs who sing with spiritual passion and the professional choruses who are selected to sing and to perform. Choral music is group art to which each chorister contributes his/her intelligence, skill, love, grateful for the contributions of his/her fellow singer.

Can we say how choral singing has benefited them healthwise?
Choral singing teaches choristers that through cooperation with each other, persistent hard work, discipline, harmony and interdependence will result in giving enjoyment, total sense of well-being, enhanced self-esteem for themselves and others. Since choral singing develops the lungs and promotes superior posture as well as boosts resistance there is less absenteeism from infection .Animation of of the body ,mind and spirit from together singing also prevents mood swings and depression and is ageless enjoyment.

How long have you been practicing choral singing?
At the end of 2007, I explored group singing opportunities when I learnt from a Medical Conference on Aging that choral singing was the most economical way to prevent /delay dementia. I sat in and sang along with the NUSS choir when introduced by gynaecological colleagues. Having never sung before ,I was surprised I could follow the song. However, I could never understand the conductor's explanation.of singing with a fish ball in the mouth. I joined NUSS in 2009 expressly to be in the choir. I only commenced to understand in 2010 what was required when instructed by a conductor used to teaching children. And it was really fun to achieve the choral tone, sense of achievement and satisfaction. The NUSS Choir is made up of a group enthusiastic amateurs from all walks of Graduate life led by a Music Director. We usually sing in four part harmony. In our upcoming 12th Anniversary Concert on the 17th Nov 2010 at UCC, our 50-strong, eclectic, graduate singers with their individual expressions would like to transcend age and time, and sing out their hearts and emotions to the audience. so that the magical beneficial effects of choral music on the singer can be transferred to their them especially should their emotions, feelings be on the same wavelength through facial expression and emotional synchrony.

What is your designation ?
I was catapulted into the Convenor's position this year in my absence. I did not know the functions of a Convenor but with the choristers' urging, I took on the challenge to lead and manage the expectations of the choir . I have activated the choir to take on more challenges in choral singing rather than to perform for entertainment's sake. With deeper research into the mechanism of the benefits of choral singing, I'd like for it to be recognized as an activity that can be utilized as an affordable health enhancement programme by prescription for all ages, starting from womb .