The double soul of the choir director

Vi è mai capitato di vedere il direttore del vostro coro, un minuto prima mite e tranquillo nel suo angoletto in sala prove, trasformarsi completamente nel momento dell’esecuzione musicale? Dite la verità, succede quasi sempre. Doppia personalità? No; semplicemente, un’alternanza delle sue due “anime” artistiche, preziose alleate che, apparentemente contrapposte, lo affiancano in ogni momento della sua attività creativa.
Is there a new piece to study? Concentration, a pencil and the score: here is the kingdom of the Contemplative Soul!
Con calma, nel silenzio del suo studio, il direttore analizza meticolosamente il pezzo. Quale tempo staccare? E dove sono le linee melodiche principali? E poi il timbro, i piani di sonorità, le voci secondarie; quell’entrata in “pianissimo” dei contralti, la ripresa del tema dei soprani, la gradualità nel “rallentando” dei bassi… È un continuo leggere e rileggere alla scoperta dei più piccoli dettagli, battuta dopo battuta, fino al colore e alla durata precisa dell’accordo finale.
At this point, the Contemplative Soul has completed its task: the piece, in the head of the director, is ready.
Now we need the choir.
And here we are at rehearsal day.
On the one hand, the conductor who, excited, can’t wait to "assemble" the piece of music that for days he has meticulously built in his head.
On the other hand, the chorus; and we all know that there is no group of people in the world more heterogeneous than those who are part of an amateur choral group! There is the university student who the next day has the exam; the mother who after the tests runs home to prepare dinner; the teacher who has just finished a tiring class advice... Many people, each with his own world; and before them, alone, the director.
A game lost at the start if, at the precise moment when he gets on the platform, the unfailing ally of all times did not intervene in his aid: the Histrionic Soul!
It comes like a flash: a moment before the attack a discharge of energy takes possession of the body of the director, which we see suddenly transform, in the look, in the breath, in the posture. Every expressive nuance of the piece is transmitted with a very clear gesture, timely and unique.
She smiles, finally satisfied, and looks at her choristers, also smiling.
Together, after all, they are creating music.!
Stefano Gentili