“A good rule to follow is this: ‘Talk little at the rehearsal, but when you do talk, be sure that every one listens.’”
(From “Essentials in Conducting” by Gehrkens.)
Oliver Ditson Company.
Remarks by Dr. H. Kretzschmar
“Everything depends upon the question as to who stands at the head and how the rehearsals are conducted. Wherever one piece after the other is disposed of with the aid of piano thumping, singing must soon come to an end. The training, or at least the supervision of the individual member must form the foundation of choral activity, and the performance and study of accompanied compositions must constitute only half of the work. Constant practice in a capella singing is indispensable. It is this that trains the ear and teaches vocalisation just as well as, if not better than the study of solos in which half the faults are hidden and half the trouble saved for the less gifted by the piano.
“A choral society which now and then sings a few movements by Palestrina or a fine madrigal will give a more beautiful performance of a Handel oratorio than one whose sense for tone has not been independently awakened.”
(As quoted in “Choirs and Choral Music” by Arthur Mees)
“A Conductor who desires to organize a choral society must bear in mind: First—that he needs to make many friends; then to do all in his power to keep them; Second—that he must expect active opposition from other professionals, passive resistance from lazy singers, and discouragement from a considerable class of people who never can see how anything worth while in choral music can be done in their community. They are sometimes ‘dog-in-the-manger’ people; usually pessimists. This last mentioned class (the pessimists) are perhaps the most dangerous of all. They should be carefully kept out of the ranks of the society, for their conversation and manner are most demoralizing. One such member can do more to kill a society than half a dozen enthusiasts can do to keep it alive. The Conductor, as organizer, should bear in mind that the indolent may be stirred upon and possibly converted into willing and effective workers. If the Conductor is made of the right sort of material the pessimists will not discourage him, while the jealous opposition of other professionals will but stir him to greater efforts.”
(From “Choir and Chorus Conducting” by F. W. Wodell)