Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin Masters Applied Arts 2008-01-01 Etha Barror: Profile of a Successful Choral Conductor Niamh McDonagh Technological University Dublin Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/appamas Part of the Music Practice Commons Recommended Citation McDonagh, N. (2008). Etha Barror: Profile of a Successful Choral Conductor. Masters dissertation. Technological University Dublin. doi:10.21427/D7Z61B This Theses, Masters is brought to you for free and open access by the Applied Arts at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA ETHNA BARROR: PROFILE OF A SUCCESSFUL CHORAL CONDUCTOR Niamh McDonough MPhil December 2008 I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of Master’s Degree (M Phil in Music) is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. This thesis was prepared according to the regulations for postgraduate study by research of the Dublin Institute of Technology and has not been submitted in whole or in part for an award in any other Institute or University. The work reported on in this thesis conforms to the principles and requirements of the Institute's guidelines for ethics in research. The Institute has permission to keep, to lend or to copy this thesis in whole or in part, on condition that any such use of the material of the thesis be duly acknowledged. Signature: Niamh Mc Donough Date: December 4th 2008 Contents Page Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………….... ii Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Introduction ......................................................................................................................... v Chapter 1 Genesis of a Choral Conductor …………………………………………….1 1.1 Family Background 1.2 Music Education 1.3 Choral Training 1.4 Teaching Career 1.5 The Lindsay Singers 1.6 Awards 1.7 Performances: Concerts/Broadcasts/Recordings 1.8 Repertoire and Reviews Chapter 2 Literature Review…………………………………………………………10 2.1 Rhythm 2.2 Diction 2.3 Blend 2.4 Interpretation 2.5 Intonation 2.6 Rehearsal Management 2.7 Communication 2.8 Schools of Conducting 2.9 The Kodály Method 2.10 Overview Chapter 3 Research Methodology …………………………………………………. 43 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Interview Process: Ethna Barror 3.3 Supporting Research 3.4 The Interview Process: Peers and Choir Members Chapter 4 The Conductor’s Voice.............................................................................. 50 4.1 Philosophy 4.2 Choir Management 4.3 Rehearsal Management 4.4 Repertoire 4.5 Rhythm 4.6 Diction 4.7 Tone/Blend 4.8 Breath Control 4.9 Intonation 4.10 Interpretation i Chapter 5 Ethna Barror: A Choral Conductor in Perspective................................ 63 5.1 Rehearsal Management 5.2 Quality of Sound 5.3 Standard 5.4 Personal Qualities Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 77 Bibliography...................................................................................................................... 83 Appendix A: Repertoire.................................................................................................... 86 Appendix B: Awards ......................................................................................................... 91 Appendix C: Concerts....................................................................................................... 96 Appendix D: Recordings................................................................................................... 98 Appendix E: Interview Questions ................................................................................... 99 Appendix F: Opening Address by Ethna Barror Cork International Choral Festival 28 April 1994 ................................ 102 Appendix G: Correspondence and Reviews.................................................................. 104 Appendix H: Transcripts of Interviews ........................................................................ 108 Dr. Albert Bradshaw Dr. Seán Creamer Briain Ó Dubhghaill Gillian Butler Gemma Cadwell Dr. Rhona Clarke Abbreviations ACDA American Choral Directors Association NCH National Concert Hall RDS Royal Dublin Society RTÉSO Radio Telefís Éireann Symphony Orchestra RTÉCO Radio Telefís Éireann Concert Orchestra ii Acknowledgements I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the following: Ethna Barror, for her generosity in sharing her knowledge, ‘wisdom of practice’, and her personal documents. The interviewees, for their insights. Administrators Feis Ceoil, Cumann Náisiúnta na gCór Christine Pruscha, American Choral Directors’ Association, and Dr. John Feeley for sourcing choral data. Library Staff: Dublin Institute of Technology, ILAC Centre, Pearse St. Library, National Library of Ireland Eithne Reynolds, for her valued assistance throughout this project. Noel, Ciarán and Feargal for their constant support. Finally, Dr. Ita Beausang and Dr. Mary Lennon for their expertise, guidance and encouragement throughout the writing of this thesis. iii Abstract This study documents the musical career and teaching methodology of one of Ireland’s leading choral conductors, Ethna Barror (1915 - ) and explores the factors contributing to her success as a conductor, with particular reference to her choir, The Lindsay Singers. The study is informed by life history methodology, focusing on interviews with Barror which were conducted over an extended period of time. The research also includes interviews with some of Barror’s peers and choir members. This data is supported by documentary material relating to the Lindsay Singers performances, achievements and awards, and the repertoire they performed. The research is also informed by personal documents and correspondence provided by Barror. The study identifies Barror’s success in the field of choral conducting as a product of her musical abilities and her unique personality. It reveals how Barror’s methods and techniques evolved through her experience of conducting choirs, and as a result of her ongoing evaluation of her own performance and rehearsal activity. Barror herself points to factors which she considers have contributed to her success and these include: enthusiasm for her work, discipline, imagination, technique, musicality and flexibility in performance. She refers to rhythm, diction, blend, intonation and interpretation as some of the key elements contributing to the quality of her renowned choral sound. The comments of Barror’s peers and choir members highlight, not only her musical expertise and achievement, but also the personal and leadership qualities she brings to her work. The implications of the research outcomes for choral conductors and choral conductor education are explored, and suggestions made for further research. iv Introduction This research focuses on an examination of the musical career and teaching philosophy of Ethna Barror (1915 - ). Barror is regarded as one of the most successful choral conductors in the country. Throughout her career, Barror has conducted choirs, ranging from a dozen singers to groups of two thousand children singing at the Carols for Fun concerts, both in the RDS Concert Hall and the National Concert Hall. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, she has been an inspiration to many teachers and singers in Ireland and many of her past students have forged careers in singing and choral conducting. Barror’s success as a teacher and choral conductor is celebrated both in Ireland and internationally, in particular through her choir, The Lindsay Singers, which will soon celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. Very little research has been conducted into choral conducting in Ireland, and, when the research opportunity arose, I decided to study the factors which contributed to Barror’s success as a choral conductor. The rationale for this research was based on the desire to explore and examine the many aspects of Barror’s choral training, and to document this knowledge, which is of historical and pedagogical value. In my early twenties, I first encountered Ethna Barror when she asked me to accompany her choirs in Holy Faith Convent, Clontarf. Throughout the years, I accompanied the Lindsay Singers on various occasions, and I was impressed by her unique qualities as a choral trainer and conductor. I also worked with other conductors in my role as an accompanist and chorus master for other musical and choral societies, and as a result I was keenly aware of the issues involved in producing a quality choral sound and in achieving a high standard of performance. This research focuses on three main objectives: 1 To document Barror’s musical career, with particular reference to the Lindsay Singers 2 To examine her methodological approach to choral training and the philosophy underpinning her