A message from the director...
Welcome to our website. I hope that you will enjoy perusing the information to be found
here. Also, if you live either in or near the Mobile and Central Gulf Coast area, I encourage
you to make the time, make the drive, and make use of your musical talents by giving this
chorale a try.
Gloria Dei Chorale:
A choral community, dedicated to musical excellence, glorifying God, and
serving others through our collective gifts...
This is our mission statement. However, a mission statement is only as good as its
implementation. The members of Gloria Dei Chorale give of their time and of themselves
and, in doing so, make this mission statement a reality. I appreciate the gifts each member
brings to this wonderful group and the work, time and effort they bring to bear.
You might wonder, before taking the plunge to get involved, what my musical philosophy
is regarding repertoire selection for the chorale, what my expectations are for the group,
and how I run chorale rehearsals. With those thoughts in mind, I will elaborate for a
moment on these three important points, which certainly influence both the tone (musical
and otherwise) and the cohesiveness of the group.
Repertoire: I strive to select music that is beautiful in terms of text and musical context.
Music has power that can and must lift people to realms unreachable through any other
medium. While I work to select music that both singer and listener will enjoy, the music
must also provide a challenge and an opportunity for growth in the development of both
the individual chorister’s musicianship and in the overall excellence I expect from Gloria
Dei Chorale. While I may occasionally repeat repertoire upon request or revisit a work
because of its appropriateness to an occasion, generally I try to come up with new
programs which feature repertoire new to the group. There is so much good music from
which to choose... some of it newly composed, some of it older music which has been
rediscovered and made new again through the gifts of talented arrangers and
musicologists, and, sometimes, some of it is familiar music made fresh again by a
reinterpreting. With such a wealth of choices available to explore together, there are many
opportunities to be had to explore the gifts of our musical heritage.
Rehearsal Philosophy and Expectations: While the most productive use of time
possible should be exercised in rehearsals, the rehearsal time should be a pleasure to the
singer, as well. Our choral singers are all volunteers from the community, many of whom,
like myself, have full-time jobs they have already put in a full day upon. Bearing this in
mind, I believe rehearsals should be something to be enjoyed by all. The rehearsal time
provides the opportunity to set aside the cares of the day in a nurturing environment that
gives one the chance to achieve something beyond the everyday routines. While there are
many directors who believe “No pain, no gain” applies to choral rehearsals, I do not believe
that it is necessary to “abuse” a choir into submission for a good performance. While a
“little fear” may be (and probably is) healthy, too much of a good thing, I believe, creates
the circumstances for a stiff and tentative performance, ultimately destined to be either a
failure, or at the least, something less than it could have been as these negatives are
communicated, albeit subliminally, to the audience.
However, that said, I do not believe in compromising the level of excellence expected in
the performance of the music we attempt. A bad performance is good for no one. High
standards are a necessary good. Were I and the chorale to not work to assure that the
group not only performs to the best of its capabilities, but also expands those capabilities,
nor to approach every rehearsal with these expectations of both myself and the chorale in
place, these would provide disservice to the choir, to the audience we seek to serve, and to
the music itself. When gentle instruction, explanation or modeling is required, I provide
those things. When encouragement and affirmation are required, I provide those things.
When an admonition is required to get things where they need to be, I will not hesitate to
provide that as well. In all, I believe that the key word is balance; balance must be
maintained in these matters for the healthy functioning of the chorale as a unit, for the
good of the individual singers within the chorale, and for the good of the overall
performance of the selected music, which is one of the stated goals of the chorale.
If you feel that you might enjoy the artistic accomplishment, the fun, and the esprit de
corps that this group enjoys, please consider this your invitation to become an integral part
of Gloria Dei Chorale and contact us for further information.
Sincerely,
Louis F. Daniel
Director, Gloria Dei Chorale
Welcome to our website. I hope that you will enjoy perusing the information to be found
here. Also, if you live either in or near the Mobile and Central Gulf Coast area, I encourage
you to make the time, make the drive, and make use of your musical talents by giving this
chorale a try.
Gloria Dei Chorale:
A choral community, dedicated to musical excellence, glorifying God, and
serving others through our collective gifts...
This is our mission statement. However, a mission statement is only as good as its
implementation. The members of Gloria Dei Chorale give of their time and of themselves
and, in doing so, make this mission statement a reality. I appreciate the gifts each member
brings to this wonderful group and the work, time and effort they bring to bear.
You might wonder, before taking the plunge to get involved, what my musical philosophy
is regarding repertoire selection for the chorale, what my expectations are for the group,
and how I run chorale rehearsals. With those thoughts in mind, I will elaborate for a
moment on these three important points, which certainly influence both the tone (musical
and otherwise) and the cohesiveness of the group.
Repertoire: I strive to select music that is beautiful in terms of text and musical context.
Music has power that can and must lift people to realms unreachable through any other
medium. While I work to select music that both singer and listener will enjoy, the music
must also provide a challenge and an opportunity for growth in the development of both
the individual chorister’s musicianship and in the overall excellence I expect from Gloria
Dei Chorale. While I may occasionally repeat repertoire upon request or revisit a work
because of its appropriateness to an occasion, generally I try to come up with new
programs which feature repertoire new to the group. There is so much good music from
which to choose... some of it newly composed, some of it older music which has been
rediscovered and made new again through the gifts of talented arrangers and
musicologists, and, sometimes, some of it is familiar music made fresh again by a
reinterpreting. With such a wealth of choices available to explore together, there are many
opportunities to be had to explore the gifts of our musical heritage.
Rehearsal Philosophy and Expectations: While the most productive use of time
possible should be exercised in rehearsals, the rehearsal time should be a pleasure to the
singer, as well. Our choral singers are all volunteers from the community, many of whom,
like myself, have full-time jobs they have already put in a full day upon. Bearing this in
mind, I believe rehearsals should be something to be enjoyed by all. The rehearsal time
provides the opportunity to set aside the cares of the day in a nurturing environment that
gives one the chance to achieve something beyond the everyday routines. While there are
many directors who believe “No pain, no gain” applies to choral rehearsals, I do not believe
that it is necessary to “abuse” a choir into submission for a good performance. While a
“little fear” may be (and probably is) healthy, too much of a good thing, I believe, creates
the circumstances for a stiff and tentative performance, ultimately destined to be either a
failure, or at the least, something less than it could have been as these negatives are
communicated, albeit subliminally, to the audience.
However, that said, I do not believe in compromising the level of excellence expected in
the performance of the music we attempt. A bad performance is good for no one. High
standards are a necessary good. Were I and the chorale to not work to assure that the
group not only performs to the best of its capabilities, but also expands those capabilities,
nor to approach every rehearsal with these expectations of both myself and the chorale in
place, these would provide disservice to the choir, to the audience we seek to serve, and to
the music itself. When gentle instruction, explanation or modeling is required, I provide
those things. When encouragement and affirmation are required, I provide those things.
When an admonition is required to get things where they need to be, I will not hesitate to
provide that as well. In all, I believe that the key word is balance; balance must be
maintained in these matters for the healthy functioning of the chorale as a unit, for the
good of the individual singers within the chorale, and for the good of the overall
performance of the selected music, which is one of the stated goals of the chorale.
If you feel that you might enjoy the artistic accomplishment, the fun, and the esprit de
corps that this group enjoys, please consider this your invitation to become an integral part
of Gloria Dei Chorale and contact us for further information.
Sincerely,
Louis F. Daniel
Director, Gloria Dei Chorale
| “Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.” Psalm 66:1-2 |
| A Message from the Director... |
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