The ECS members area gives access to resources relating to ECS events. If you do not yet have a user id for the site, please contact Andrew.
For the programmes for the upcoming visits, please click on Upcoming Events in the members’ menu on the left hand side.
Candidates should sing three verses (melody or their own voice part) from a prepared hymn (of at least four-line verses); the second verse should be sung unaccompanied.
[Note: This may be a hymn in their chosen language if not English]
Candidates should prepare and sing psalmody (melody or their own voice part), to music of their own choice in one of the three principally recitative styles as follows. This may be: eight verses of a Psalm and Gloria to Anglican Chant or Plainsong Tone; or the whole of a responsorial psalm, sung in recitative style (i.e. not a metrical psalm-song nor a hymn setting of a psalm).
[Note: This may be in their chosen language if not English]
Candidates should consult with their choir trainer and select an anthem, a solo or extract from an anthem, which they have already performed (or might potentially perform) in their own choir. The item chosen should be chosen from the repertoire at List-A.
The candidate may perform the melody or their own voice part. If they choose to sing the melody, altos and basses may use a transposed edition to suit their range.
Marks awarded will take account of the level of difficulty of the music, but more weight will be given to interpretation and musicality.
Throughout the above tests, the examiner will be looking for:
Candidates will be asked:
Candidates will be expected to respond to any or all of the following tests:
Using the prepared item from Section-A as a starting point, questions will be asked to ascertain candidate’s knowledge of:
Candidates will be asked questions (appropriate to their age and/or experience) on their prepared pieces.
The topics for discussion should include:
Note: A guide to more detail for Sections B & C, with sample questions may be found in the Voice for Life Choir Trainer’s Book and relevant Voice for Life work books (Light and Dark Blue) leading to the Bronze Award.
There is no formal examination for this section and no marks are allocated. Nevertheless it remains a vital part of the bronze award. On application, candidates must present a written testimonial from their choir trainer, signed by the vicar/minister/head teacher/director of music, confirming their commitment to the choir (see ‘Pre-Requisites’).
Candidates should bring two copies of any music, to which they refer in this Section E.
1. Candidates will be asked about any two [their choice] of the following church festivals and/or seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week & Easter and Pentecost (Whitsuntide) and should be able to:
Note: Choices of music for this section should not be the same as those chosen for Section A.
2. Candidates will be asked to describe the sung parts of the form of Sunday service(s) at their own church, and to show awareness of their own responsibilities as choir members in these and in their choir/church generally.
Note: They may bring with them, and refer to, a service book or card as appropriate.
Note: The candidate’s understanding of the issues raised in this section will vary greatly according to age and experience; an adult beginner might be expected to show a greater understanding than a 10 year old, for example; though their musical and singing abilities might be on a par. Examiners will keep in mind that this is a first award.
Make a choice from the following lists of anthems for the Prepared Item within Section A.
Anthems in the RSCM Bronze Collection approved for use as the Prepared Item for Section-A Bronze Award:
Other anthems in List-A approved as suitable for use as the Prepared Item for Section-A of the Bronze Award for the NW Europe Area:
Awards and Training Section
ECS is a choir comprising choristers from RSCM-affiliated churches [or individuals, who are full RSCM members] mainly from the area of Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands). It currently has approximately 35 members.
The main focus of ECS activity is a week of Cathedral singing in the summer [usually the first week in August], during which all choral services would be sung. This would normally include choral Evensong daily, two or three services on Sunday and any other special services as planned and directed by the cathedral. At these services we all wear our own choir robes, reflecting the mixed composition of the choir. ECS also provides choral support for some special services in the Archdeaconry of NW Europe [eg ordinations], and occasionally gives concerts.
The choir has a core of regular participants, and other members, who join us from time to time, so new singers with the appropriate voices and skills are welcome. In line with other RSCM Cathedral singers groups in the UK, it is expected that our members will have attained [or be at a level of ability, equivalent to] the RSCM Silver Award. Where an applicant does not yet have such a qualification, a voice and music test would normally be required.
We are a varied group in ages and nationalities and the language of the choir is English. If you are interested in joining the ECS, please contact Martin van Bleek.
You must be logged in to post a comment.