Building Community Choirs in the Twenty-First Century

Re-imagining Identity through Singing in Northern Ireland

Sarah-Jane Gibson, Sarah Jane Gibson

• Publisher: Intellect Books
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9781789387964
• eBook ISBN:
  9781789387988
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Ethnomusicology

This book explores how five community choirs construct and imagine collective identity formations in Northern Ireland. Original insight is provided through ethnographic research conducted between 2013-2018. Working with five choirs in disparate locations, with different repertoires and demographics resulted in the creation of an integrated comparison that drew out both diversity and commonalities of approach revealing the malleability of choral practice.

The research is framed through communities of practice, a theory of learning through engaging with other people in a common endeavour. Research findings demonstrate how choirs re-imagine identity through the manner in which they organise, rehearse, and perform. Choirs develop a distinct choral identity and ethos highlighting both the musical and social importance of the community of practice. Research suggests that choirs re-imagine multiple conceptions of identities within their groups, including gender, later age, religious faith, inclusivity and ethnic diversity, that can both influence broader structures of community in the region, and be influenced by them.

Community choral practice in Northern Ireland is under-researched. As such this book provides unique insight into how members of community choirs are attempting to transcend sectarian boundaries through their practice, developing academic understandings of identity formation, community music-making and choral practice.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Musical Examples
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Conceptualizing ‘The Choir’
• 3. Organization: The Donaghadee Community Choir
• 4. Rehearsals: The Nada Choir
• 5. Performance: The Open Arts Community Choir
• 6. Sustainability: The Queen’s Island and Victoria Male Choir
• 7. Ethos: Féile Women’s Singing Group
• 8. Re-imagining Identity through Singing
• Appendix 1: Choirs Located in Northern Ireland in 2016
• Appendix 2: Musical Repertoire of the Five Choirs
• Bibliography
• Index
• Back Cover