Help me name my choir!
August 1, 2011 2:54 AM
NamingFilter: I am forming a new chamber choir and am stumped for a good name. Can you help?
I am planning the formation of a new chamber choir (of about 12-16 voices), and I'm looking for creative naming ideas. The name needs to convey vitality and vigour, and to distinguish the group from the large (generally elderly) community choirs that also exist in my city. The real point of difference will (hopefully) be the sound of the group: challenging and beautiful repertoire performed well by a small group of talented singers.
We will be performing a wide range of repertoire, so we don't want to sound too Olde Worlde; it's not a church choir, so no religious names. Other than that, I'm completely open to ideas.
Shout-outs in the concert programmes guaranteed if we pick your name! And thanks in advance for the brilliantly creative suggestions the hive is sure to produce ...
I am planning the formation of a new chamber choir (of about 12-16 voices), and I'm looking for creative naming ideas. The name needs to convey vitality and vigour, and to distinguish the group from the large (generally elderly) community choirs that also exist in my city. The real point of difference will (hopefully) be the sound of the group: challenging and beautiful repertoire performed well by a small group of talented singers.
We will be performing a wide range of repertoire, so we don't want to sound too Olde Worlde; it's not a church choir, so no religious names. Other than that, I'm completely open to ideas.
Shout-outs in the concert programmes guaranteed if we pick your name! And thanks in advance for the brilliantly creative suggestions the hive is sure to produce ...
The best ones I've seen are tied in with the origin of the group. A capella singers at NC State University? Why, WolfGang, of course. (The university mascot is the Wolfpack.)
Bobby McFerrin used to (still does?) direct the "Voicestra."
What's the going thing in your area? Local landmarks, your typical venue, something your area is known for?
Conversely, you might go long and memorable. See Paperhand Puppet Intervention.
posted by ES Mom at 4:31 AM on August 1, 2011
Bobby McFerrin used to (still does?) direct the "Voicestra."
What's the going thing in your area? Local landmarks, your typical venue, something your area is known for?
Conversely, you might go long and memorable. See Paperhand Puppet Intervention.
posted by ES Mom at 4:31 AM on August 1, 2011
When I thought of choir, I thought of Vox Humana
When I thought of vitality and vigour, I remembered that the name Viagra came from a combination of vigour + Niagara.
So... Voxagra?
posted by copystar at 5:25 AM on August 1, 2011
When I thought of vitality and vigour, I remembered that the name Viagra came from a combination of vigour + Niagara.
So... Voxagra?
posted by copystar at 5:25 AM on August 1, 2011
Circle of Fifths
UnCommon Time
Con Brio
Counterpoint (or Contrapunkt)
Courtesy Signature (the double line notation that alerts musicians of an upcoming key or time change)
Machina a Venti (that's Italian for Wind Machine)
SingSing
The Grace Notes
posted by carmicha at 5:49 AM on August 1, 2011
UnCommon Time
Con Brio
Counterpoint (or Contrapunkt)
Courtesy Signature (the double line notation that alerts musicians of an upcoming key or time change)
Machina a Venti (that's Italian for Wind Machine)
SingSing
The Grace Notes
posted by carmicha at 5:49 AM on August 1, 2011
I always thought Vox Populi would be a good name of a community choir, but it doesn't exactly scream chamber choir.
How about musical puns? (e.g. Cleftomaniacs or Intonations, but these will be mostly already taken by some collegiate a cappella group, as these two examples are.)
If that's no use, wikipedia's got quite a list of musical terms that sound fancy.
posted by cmchap at 5:55 AM on August 1, 2011
How about musical puns? (e.g. Cleftomaniacs or Intonations, but these will be mostly already taken by some collegiate a cappella group, as these two examples are.)
If that's no use, wikipedia's got quite a list of musical terms that sound fancy.
posted by cmchap at 5:55 AM on August 1, 2011
Descant Get Enough.
posted by resurrexit at 6:41 AM on August 1, 2011
posted by resurrexit at 6:41 AM on August 1, 2011
You could play on the "chamber" portion of it: The Anteroom, Behind Closed Doors, In the Loft, etc.
posted by psoas at 6:41 AM on August 1, 2011
posted by psoas at 6:41 AM on August 1, 2011
It may be too obvious, but "New Chamber Choir" totally sounds like the name of a modern non-religious chamber choir to me.
posted by moonmilk at 6:42 AM on August 1, 2011
posted by moonmilk at 6:42 AM on August 1, 2011
"Celestial Voices" or
"The XXX Chamber Choir" where XXX is the name of your base.
posted by TristanPK at 6:57 AM on August 1, 2011
"The XXX Chamber Choir" where XXX is the name of your base.
posted by TristanPK at 6:57 AM on August 1, 2011
Don't be afraid to go a bit far out. An acquaintance of mine is a member of Seraphic Fire, which sings primarily Baroque and Renaissance stuff. I heard that name and thought, "oooOOOooh! I'd go to that!"
So maybe think about a few "signature" pieces that really speak to what your group is and does, and see if the texts contain any words that jump out at you for their meaning or the way they sound.
Something-something "Anima" or "Anima Mea" (my soul -- Magnificat)? I like the "vox" idea. It sounds clean and a little modern. Maybe "Vox Anima" -- is that even correct Latin?
posted by Madamina at 8:14 AM on August 1, 2011
So maybe think about a few "signature" pieces that really speak to what your group is and does, and see if the texts contain any words that jump out at you for their meaning or the way they sound.
Something-something "Anima" or "Anima Mea" (my soul -- Magnificat)? I like the "vox" idea. It sounds clean and a little modern. Maybe "Vox Anima" -- is that even correct Latin?
posted by Madamina at 8:14 AM on August 1, 2011
Here's five to consider...
Every Voice
The Clarion Call
Like A Bell
New Dawn Singers
From Whisper To Shout
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:48 AM on August 8, 2011
Every Voice
The Clarion Call
Like A Bell
New Dawn Singers
From Whisper To Shout
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:48 AM on August 8, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Still, the two most prominent groups appear to be located in Canada and the Netherlands, so...
posted by likeso at 3:23 AM on August 1, 2011