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Repertoire & Resources

Unison Singing: choirs can personally attest to the positive effects of this
A Choral Experience for All Ages type of literature on the vocal development of young
singers. In fact, many would agree that beginning with
by Lynne Gackle unison song is really the only way to develop young
voices. Marie Stultz states that she uses Gabriel Fauré’s
Editor’s Note: This article was originally printed in Choral beautiful aria, Pie Jesu, as a lovely unison anthem with
Journal, May 2006. The author has slightly revised the article children’s voices because of its “ideal range, large me-
for 2024. Lynne Gackle was a previous National R&R Chair lodic leaps, and extended phrase shapes… The piece is
for Children’s Choirs and past ACDA National President. ideal for developing tone accuracy and head tone sing-
ing.” 3
“Unison singing—easy, quick—accessible for all!” There is no doubt that these experiences are very
This statement often expresses the view that many important for the young choir. Through the use of
choral directors have when approaching unison music unison singing, such concepts as intonation, vowel
with their singers. The fact that unison singing is seen unification, consistent vocal line, breath management,
as easy, harmonically speaking, can deceptively lead and resonance can be made paramount for the young
choral educators away from the inherent value found in singer. It is, however, important to remember that the
this musical experience. In fact, unison singing is not so concepts inherent in unison singing can also benefit the
“easy” and can provide wonderful learning challenges intermediate and advanced singer as well.
to all singers. Often, we hear choirs singing SA, SSA, SSAA, or
Choral educators such as Jean Ashworth Bartle have even SATB literature and we think, “That’s a nice
advocated the use of unison singing with developing/ sound: the words are understandable, there is a sense of
young singers as a precursor to singing in harmony. line, there is some evidence of dynamic contrast within
1
In fact, if students have difficulty singing in unison, phrases, but it seems a bit out of tune at times, individ-
it stands to reason that singing harmony will be even ual voices are audible, and the vertical harmonies are
more unsuccessful. In the We Will Sing! Series, Doreen often sluggish. The singers seem to be singing ‘at’ the
2
Rao utilizes beautiful unison songs such as Sally Gardens notes rather than singing each actual note! Something
and Oliver Cromwell, arranged by Benjamin Britten; Ju- is wrong!” In fact, if we asked each section to sing their
bilate Deo, by Praetorius; and Eric Thiman’s The Path to respective part (yes, in unison), we would find that they
the Moon as basic literature for children’s choirs. Those are singing anything but unison! There are discrepan-
who have conducted children’s choirs and treble youth cies in pitches, in intervals, in vowel shapes, in place-

CHORAL JOURNAL September 2024 Volume 65 Number 2 53