SERIOUS MUSIC AND ALL THAT JAZZ: MUSIC-MAKING IN TWO SINGING COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Everyone indulges in a leisure activity. Indeed, the very term 'leisure' often connotes images of relaxation and frivolity: very few individuals actually take their avocations seriously. This thesis however, is primarily concerned with the minority who does. The two singing communities studied here comprise of members who feel very passionately about their avocations. Why do they persist in a 'serious leisure"? What motivates them to carry on? Part of the thesis will deal with these questions. The other section of the study concentrates on the music-making process. These communities typically perform in concerts and gigs. However, such performance is but the product of a long series of accumulated activities. One therefore cannot presume to understand fully the product without first attempting to figure out the process that created that result. This thesis will focus on four specific areas of this music-making process: practices, repertoire, costume and performance conventions. Chapter One indicates the objectives of the study and also delineates certain conceptual issues that are pertinent to the study. Chapter Two focuses on the methodology and introduces the six case studies that were used in this research. Chapters Three and Four are detailed descriptions of the choir and a cappella groups, respectively. Finally, Chapter Five will conclude with a summary of the whole thesis.