Building Community Choirs in the Twenty-First Century

This book explores how five communitychoirs construct and imagine collectiveidentity formations in Northern Ireland.Original insight is provided throughethnographic research conductedbetween 2013-2018. Working with fivechoirs in disparate locations, with differentrepertoires and demographics resulted inthe creation of an integrated comparisonthat drew out both diversity and commonalities of approach revealing themalleability of choral practice. The research is framed throughcommunities of practice, a theory oflearning through engaging with otherpeople in a common endeavour.Research findings demonstrate howchoirs re-imagine identity through themanner in which they organise, rehearse,and perform. Choirs develop a distinctchoral identity and ethos highlighting boththe musical and social importance of thecommunity of practice. Researchsuggests that choirs re-imagine multipleconceptions of identities within theirgroups, including gender, later age,religious faith, inclusivity and ethnicdiversity, that can both influence broaderstructures of community in the region, andbe influenced by them. Community choral practice in NorthernIreland is under-researched. As such thisbook provides unique insight into howmembers of community choirs areattempting to transcend sectarianboundaries through their practice,developing academic understandings ofidentity formation, community music-making and choral practice.