Conference Themes
IFCM's “Voices” Conferences provide the opportunity for choral conductors, composers, singers, and educators from around the world to gather together to study the effect of a region’s traditional music on the composition of choral music. “Voices” Conferences use the following tri-theme framework of tradition, communication, and conservation.
Theme
1: Old Traditions – New Concepts
The term “tradition” evokes images of preservation as well as innovation.
• How are the musical traditions of a given region or ethnicity established?
• How does a cultural tradition influence choral composition?
• What broader cultural influences are a part of the music’s composition
and performance?
Theme 2: Choral Traditions of South Africa
• What are the unique vocal traditions of South Africa?
• How have these traditions affected choral composition within or outside
of this region? What choral music or practice embodies the preservation
of this tradition? What choral music or practice breaks with an established
tradition?
• What choral composers / compositions reflect this?
Theme 3: Tradition - Conservation and Communication
• How do we continue to keep these traditions alive?
• How best can they be communicated to choirs and musicians in both schools
and the community?
• How can research and performance assist in this process?
• How does preservation and communication of these traditions affect the
training of choral conductors?
• How is the ‘tradition-influenced’ choral music of one region communicated
to singers and conductors outside that region?
• What are the pedagogical and methodological challenges for these conductors
in teaching and interpreting this music with their singers and
audiences?