[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
I often get asked this at workshops after people have struggled to get their tongues around a few foreign songs.
I point out that my speciality is “traditional songs from around the world in the original languages”, then I tell them that foreign songs are easier to learn. Really?
At a recent workshop I offered, as usual, a mix of songs from all over the world, including a song in English. At the end of the weekend, it was the English language song that proved to be the most difficult!
It had lots of verses (many songs from England are long ballads which tell a story); people remembered the vague meaning, but not the precise words; struggling for the right words got in the way of the harmonies.
Most people are scared of foreign lyrics, especially something as unfamiliar as Serbo-Croat or Georgian (or, much harder, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic!). See also How to sing a song in a foreign language.
They also believe that if a song is in English it will be easier to learn and they might know it any way which will make learning much easier (but see It’s hard to teach songs that people already know).
However, in many cases foreign songs are much easier to learn. Here’s why:
In a one-day workshop I can get through six or more short songs in foreign languages. People learn the songs fast and can then enjoy more singing and less learning. But if I do songs in English, we may only get through two or three.
So next time you have the chance to learn some foreign songs, embrace it! You’ll discover something new, spend more time singing than learning, and get to focus on some beautiful harmonies.
Of course, there are long, complex songs in foreign languages, and some short, simple songs in English, but I think you get my point. What do you think? Do you agree? I’d love to hear your opinion.
Chris Rowbury
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