Robert Shaw Chorale
| Company type | Professional choir |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Performing arts |
| Founded | 1948 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Robert Shaw |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Choral performances, recordings |
The Robert Shaw Chorale was a prominent professional choir established in New York City in 1948 by Robert Shaw, a conductor from California who had previously been engaged by Fred Waring for radio performances.
History
The Chorale functioned on an occasional basis, assembled for both national and international tours as well as multiple RCA Victor recording projects. Its membership fluctuated between approximately thirty to sixty singers depending on the musical selections. The group disbanded in 1965,[1] shortly before Shaw assumed the role of Music Director with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. During its existence, it earned a reputation as one of America’s most esteemed professional choral ensembles,[2] performing a broad range of works from J.S. Bach to folk tunes and selections from Broadway theatre. Their 1957 album "Christmas Hymns And Carols" achieved gold certification by the RIAA in 1964 and reached number five on Billboard’s Top Pop Album Chart. The ensemble toured widely as cultural envoys under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, visiting twenty-one countries across Europe and the Middle East in 1956, South America, and completing a seven-week tour of Russia in 1962.
In its inaugural year, 1948, the Chorale appeared on NBC radio serving as the summer substitute for the Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy program, with sponsorship from Standard Brands.[3]
Celebrated for its consistent tonal quality, exact vocal blending, refined phrasing, and dynamic rhythmic execution,[2] many choir members were drawn from prestigious institutions such as Juilliard and other New York City conservatories.[4] Shaw often shared anecdotes about how voice instructors initially worried that his strenuous touring schedule would harm their students’ vocal health; however, after an intense U.S. tour featuring Bach’s Mass in B Minor, those same teachers were astonished to find the singers’ voices had actually strengthened. Distinguished former members include sopranos Yvonne Ciannella and Shirlee Emmons, alto Florence Kopleff, tenors Seth McCoy and Jon Humphrey, baritone Thomas Pyle, along with chorus leaders Clayton Krehbiel, Donald Craig, and Maurice Casey.
After Shaw relocated to Atlanta, the Chorale was dissolved. Subsequent groups linked to Shaw included the Robert Shaw Festival Singers—active near his summer residence in France—and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers based in Atlanta, primarily composed of members from the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus.[5]
Sources
This entry is informed by conversations with Florence Kopleff, who served as Robert Shaw's administrative assistant and was a dedicated member of the Robert Shaw Chorale, along with memories shared by John W. Cooledge, affiliated with both the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers.
The Billboard Book of Gold & Platinum Records, originally released in 1990.
Selected recordings
- Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana, RCA Victor, 1953
- Leoncavallo: Pagliacci, RCA Victor, 1953
- My True Love Sings, RCA Victor, 1956
- Sea Shanties, RCA Victor, 1961
- Bach: Mass in B minor, RCA Victor, Grammy Award recipient, 1962
- This Is My Country, RCA Victor, 1963
- The Many Moods of Christmas, RCA Victor, 1963
- Handel: Messiah, RCA Victor, Grammy Award recipient, recorded in 1966
External links
- ↑ Oron, Aryeh. (June 2003). [* 'Robert Shaw Chorale article'. Robert Shaw Chorale (Choir). Bach Cantatas Website.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Oestreich, James R. (26 January 1999). 'Robert Shaw, Choral and Orchestral Leader, Is Dead at 82'. New York Times.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Burnaford, Gail. (2012). 'The Legacy of Choral Director Robert Shaw: Beyond techniques to music in communities'. International Journal of Community Music, Vol. 5 No 2.
- ↑ 'The Robert Shaw Chorale'. Discogs.