
Building Community Choirs in the Twenty-First Century
Re-imagining Identity through Singing in Northern Ireland
Sarah-Jane Gibson(Author)
Intellect Books (Publisher)
Published on 10. July 2023
Book
Hardback
175 pages
978-1-78938-796-4 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Intellect
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
2 Tables, black and white; 3 Maps; 11 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
524 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78938-796-4 (9781789387964)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Sarah-Jane Gibson
Building Community Choirs in the Twenty-First Century
Re-imagining Identity through Singing in Northern Ireland
E-Book
04/2023
Intellect Books
€61.99
Available for download
Person
Sarah-Jane Gibson is a music lecturer at York St John University in York, England where she also works as a research associate within the International Centre for Community Music (ICCM). Her research interest is in intercultural understanding through music-making.
Content
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: Feile 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
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: Feile 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