The Canadian Experimental Choir
What is the Canadian Experimental Choir?
Based in Montreal, the Canadian Experimental Choir is collective of experienced singers, composers and directors who are passionate about promoting new Canadian choral music.
Inspired by the C4 choir from New York, the CEC represents a new way of functioning as a choir, with a focus on collaboration and the utilization of every member’s expertise.
Instead of a single artistic director, the CEC is led by several committees, with music directed by several experienced conductors, all in the pursuit of excellence in the development of new Canadian choral music.
What is the mission?
To support emerging and established Canadian composers by organizing readings, workshops, recording and performing new works.
To make choral music in a new, more democratic way, where decisions are shared by those with expertise in specific areas (composers, conductors or singers).
To foster the development of new choral music, and to support the growth of our choral musicians in an environment where feedback, suggestions and creative thinking are encouraged.
Why?
Emerging composers rarely have the opportunity to hear their works performed. To improve, the composer must hear his piece sung by real voices.
The only way to do this is through actual singing of their works. Current software is still incapable of accurately imitating choral singing of specific words.
This is not a problem for orchestral composers, who can reliably hear and adjust in real time what their musical ideas sound like.
Additionally, publishing houses do not accept submissions unless they are accompanied by an excellent live recording.
The CEC therefore proposes to respond to these difficulties by offering recorded reading sessions, workshops and concerts, organized by a group of musicians passionate about new music.