Choral seating arrangements and their effects on musical and social elements.

摘要

Choral experts have promoted either sectional block or mixed seating formations in choirs for various reasons. Previous research by Lambson indicates that there is no clear advantage to choral sound in either mixed or sectional formations, and, according to Tocheff, mixed formation has no advantage over sectional block formation. This research attempted to relate choral seating arrangements to individual musical growth and sociological dynamics. One hypothesis suggested that a mixed formation promotes individual musical growth in ear-training/sight-singing, vocal freedom, perceived scope of a choral work and also promotes group cohesion. The second and third hypotheses considered the correlation between the percentage of time spent in mixed formation and individual and group trust. Only two relationships were statistically significant: between mixed formation and perceived scope of a choral work, and between the percentage of time spent in mixed formation and group trust. An ancillary finding suggests that individuals who sing in mixed formation, prefer to sing with individuals from different voice parts. These findings suggest that individual musical growth and individual responsibility are enhanced in mixed formation.