Choir furniture: Tall Music Stand?
  • I direct a men's schola of six. None of the men have ever sung before, but they're learning quickly. A major hurdle is the concept of singing lightly. This is a challenge as most of them sing deep, like the Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash recordings holding pride of place in the choir members' pickup trucks. On Tuesday night, I held the chant music at about 6.5' high, to raise their chins and open their airways. Then lightning struck my brain.

    I once saw a YouTube video of a men's schola (I can't remember, nor find the video) with a large wooden music stand that held the music about 6'-7' in the air. It appeared that the sheet music clipped, and hung, from the top of the page rather than resting like a traditional music stand.

    A couple of the choir members make a hobby of woodwork and are quite skilled. They're interested in building one of these large wooden music stands, but we've been unable to find even a picture of one. Is there a technical or historical term for such an item? Does anyone have an image of one of these tall music stands?

    Thanks in advance.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,092
    Well, there are regular music stands where the shelf-lip of the stand can be as high as 5':

    http://www.amazon.com/Manhasset-48TA-Symphony-Music-Stand/dp/B000B5K9PU

    For ones with ample space - folded out, triptych-style (just be careful not to step on the feet, as that will crack their bracing ring):

    http://www.amazon.com/Peak-Music-Stands-SMS-30-Collapsible/dp/B009NWH2E8

    Not clear to me how much higher one could go without creating a visual obstacle to seeing the conductor, unless there is no conductor to watch....


  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Are you looking for something like this?

    image
    Thanked by 1CCooze
  • I direct the men's schola, and we stand in semicircle around the music, so we're better able to hear each other. I stand on one end and execute chironomy as one would wave a feather duster. We're all looking at the very same page of music on the same music stand.

    I'm looking for something (to build) as high as 7' tall so the bottom margin of the paper is at 6' or so.
  • Raising chins above level is not a pedagogically sound technique in singing.
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 268
    Is 5:22 of the following what you are looking for?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xw2_eqjC5c#t=404
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    That's an incredibly beautiful concert presentation of Josquin's Missa Ave Maris Stella, complete with Gregorian propers and Josquin motet settings.
    Thanked by 1canadash
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    I want one of whatever 3ISJSTBGNNG is getting.
    Thanked by 1Ben
  • I want to know what 3 is just beginning before I want what he is getting.
    Thanked by 1Casavant Organist
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    execute chironomy as one would wave a feather duster


    I see you only have five posts so far, but I want to assure you that you will fit in here.
    Thanked by 2Ben janetgorbitz
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    If you're lucky enough, Adam might write a poem for/about you!
  • @Chaswjd Yes! That is exactly what I was looking for. Do you know what such a thing is called?
  • 3 kids is just the beginning.
    Thanked by 1janetgorbitz
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    It's a cantor stand, though that term encompasses various things.

    E.g.: http://www.misterstandman.com/inlaycrs.htm
    http://orthodoxchristiansupply.com/p/furniture-portfolio
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 268
    @3isjstbgnnng. I don't know what it is called. I saw your post and remembered a DVD I have of the group's performance.