AGO Choral Conducting & Direction 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'ictus' in conducting refers to:
- The peak amplitude of a crescendo
- The precise moment of the beat impulse where sound is produced (Correct answer)
- A type of choral diction exercise
- The final note of a phrase
Correct answer: The precise moment of the beat impulse where sound is produced
The ictus is the exact point in the conducting gesture where the beat impulse occurs and singers initiate sound.
Question 2: A choir director programming music for Advent should be aware that liturgically, Advent is:
- A season of unrestrained festivity identical to Christmas
- A penitential season of preparation and anticipation (Correct answer)
- Interchangeable with Epiphany
- A post-Easter season focused on resurrection
Correct answer: A penitential season of preparation and anticipation
Advent is a season of penitential preparation and hopeful anticipation of Christmas, distinct in character from the Christmas season itself.
Question 3: When teaching diction for Latin choral texts, the vowel in 'Kyrie' should be pronounced:
- With English long 'i' as in 'kite'
- With pure Italian-style 'ee' vowels: 'KEE-ree-ay' (Correct answer)
- As 'KY-ree' with a diphthong
- Silent with only consonant emphasis
Correct answer: With pure Italian-style 'ee' vowels: 'KEE-ree-ay'
Classical Latin choral diction follows Italian vowel pronunciation, so 'Kyrie' is sung 'KEE-ree-ay' with pure, unmodified vowels.
Question 4: In a 6/8 time signature at a slow tempo, the conductor typically beats:
- Two beats per measure feeling compound duple
- Six individual eighth-note beats per measure (Correct answer)
- Three beats per measure as in 3/4
- One large beat per measure
Correct answer: Six individual eighth-note beats per measure
At a slow tempo, 6/8 is conducted in six to give singers clear subdivision; at a fast tempo it is conducted in two.
Question 5: The choral technique of 'vowel modification' in the upper register of soprano voices is used to:
- Standardize all vowels to 'ah'
- Slightly alter vowel shapes to maintain resonance and pitch accuracy on high notes (Correct answer)
- Eliminate vibrato on sustained pitches
- Increase dynamic range across the section
Correct answer: Slightly alter vowel shapes to maintain resonance and pitch accuracy on high notes
Vowel modification opens or adjusts the vowel shape to allow the vocal tract to resonate properly on high pitches without strain.
Question 6: A conductor wishing to indicate a sudden dynamic contrast (sforzando) uses:
- A gradual widening of both hands
- A sharp, accented impulse in the conducting gesture at the specific beat (Correct answer)
- A slow decrease in baton speed
- The left hand held flat and still
Correct answer: A sharp, accented impulse in the conducting gesture at the specific beat
Sforzando is communicated through a sudden, sharp impulse in the conducting gesture precisely on the accented beat.
Question 7: When a choir must perform a piece a cappella that was originally accompanied, the conductor's primary tuning strategy should include:
- Starting each phrase slightly sharp to compensate for expected flatting
- Pitch-checking with a tuner after each phrase during performance
- Reinforcing harmonic intervals aurally in rehearsal so singers hear vertical tuning (Correct answer)
- Transposing the work to a key with fewer accidentals
Correct answer: Reinforcing harmonic intervals aurally in rehearsal so singers hear vertical tuning
Developing singers' awareness of vertical harmonic intervals in rehearsal is the most sustainable strategy for a cappella intonation.
AGO Choral Conducting & Direction 3
The 'ictus' in conducting refers to: