The Choristers
Encyclopedia
The Choristers was a Canadian chamber choir
based in Winnipeg
that gave weekly nationally broadcast programs on CBC Radio
from 1942 through 1969. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia
, the choir achieved "a national reputation for their fine choral blend and sense of style". The group was sometimes referred to as the "Sunday Chorale", after the name of the weekly CBC Radio program on which the choir was featured from 1952-1969. Notable members of the chorus included Evelyne Anderson, Devina Bailey, Lorne Betts
, Kathleen Morrison Brown, Reginald Hugo, May Lawson, Joan Maxwell, Phyllis Cooke Thomson, and Gladys Whitehead.
, The Choristers initially consisted of 14 singers and specialized in performing madrigals
, motet
s, folksong arrangements, and sacred and secular partsongs. Pianist Gordon Kushner notably served as the group's first accompanist.
In 1942 the choir changed its name to The Choristers and expanded to 20 singers. This expansion was done in order to meet the new recording needs of the group as they began giving weekly national broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
on 2 June 1942. The group occasionally performed with orchestras for their CBC broadcasts, often working with conductors Geoffrey Waddington and Eric Wild
for these performances. In 1952 the group's weekly broadcast was retitled Sunday Chorale at which time the repertoire of the program changed to one consisting entirely of sacred choral music. Many of the works were accompanied, first by organist
Hugh Bancroft, and later by organists Herbert Sadler and Filmer Hubble
.
In 1955 Anderson stepped down as The Choristers director just a few months prior to his death. Hubble, who had been his pupil as well as serving as the choir's organist, took over as the choir's director. He led the group until his death in 1969 when Herbert Belyea
, another Anderson pupil and a tenor in the choir, assumed the role of director. Belyea conducted the choir until it was disestablished in 1974. After Anderson's death the group ceased to perform weekly broadcasts but did appear intermittently on CBC Radio during the 1970s.
Chamber choir
A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...
based in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
that gave weekly nationally broadcast programs on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
from 1942 through 1969. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
, the choir achieved "a national reputation for their fine choral blend and sense of style". The group was sometimes referred to as the "Sunday Chorale", after the name of the weekly CBC Radio program on which the choir was featured from 1952-1969. Notable members of the chorus included Evelyne Anderson, Devina Bailey, Lorne Betts
Lorne Betts
Lorne Matheson Betts was a Canadian composer, conductor, organist, and music critic. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, many of his original scores and writings are part of the collection at the National Library of Canada...
, Kathleen Morrison Brown, Reginald Hugo, May Lawson, Joan Maxwell, Phyllis Cooke Thomson, and Gladys Whitehead.
History
Founded under the name the Oriana Singers in 1936 by composer and conductor W.H. AndersonW.H. Anderson
William Henry Anderson was a Canadian composer, choir director, tenor, and voice teacher of English birth. He produced a large amount of vocal music, including more than 150 songs and 40 anthems as well as a significant amount of carols and other choral works...
, The Choristers initially consisted of 14 singers and specialized in performing madrigals
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
, motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s, folksong arrangements, and sacred and secular partsongs. Pianist Gordon Kushner notably served as the group's first accompanist.
In 1942 the choir changed its name to The Choristers and expanded to 20 singers. This expansion was done in order to meet the new recording needs of the group as they began giving weekly national broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
on 2 June 1942. The group occasionally performed with orchestras for their CBC broadcasts, often working with conductors Geoffrey Waddington and Eric Wild
Eric Wild (conductor)
Eric Lees Wild was a Canadian conductor, trumpeter, arranger, and composer.-Life and career:Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Wild studied conducting and arranging at the University of Michigan where he earned a Bachelor of Music in 1932...
for these performances. In 1952 the group's weekly broadcast was retitled Sunday Chorale at which time the repertoire of the program changed to one consisting entirely of sacred choral music. Many of the works were accompanied, first by organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
Hugh Bancroft, and later by organists Herbert Sadler and Filmer Hubble
Filmer Hubble
Filmer Edwin Hubble was an Canadian organist, choir conductor, adjudicator, and music educator of English birth.-Life and career:...
.
In 1955 Anderson stepped down as The Choristers director just a few months prior to his death. Hubble, who had been his pupil as well as serving as the choir's organist, took over as the choir's director. He led the group until his death in 1969 when Herbert Belyea
Herbert Belyea
Warren Herbert "Herb" Belyea was a Canadian composer, choir conductor, poet, and music educator. As a composer he was commissioned to write works by the Manitoba Arts Council, the city of Winnipeg, and several choirs. Several of his compositions have been published by Frederick Harris Music. As a...
, another Anderson pupil and a tenor in the choir, assumed the role of director. Belyea conducted the choir until it was disestablished in 1974. After Anderson's death the group ceased to perform weekly broadcasts but did appear intermittently on CBC Radio during the 1970s.