Amateur/student participation in Fallen

Fallen is designed to be an educational project, allowing the participation of a good amateur or student female choir of up to nine voices (six sopranos, three altos). The choir is present throughout the performance, working in costume and with props alongside the professional group. Singers need to be confident performing a cappella and are sometimes only singing two to a part, so an ability to blend and a keen pitch sense are important. However, experience in singing chant is not necessary.

Groups wishing to participate are given scores in advance, which should be prepared and rehearsed in their own time. The directors spend time with the group in the week prior to the performance - usually two or three sessions - rehearsing the music and movement with the film.

Amateurs and aspiring young singers can expect to learn about performance practices both within and outside the choral tradition that might be more familiar to them. They gain experience in singing chant in procession, of singing an Office, and in the quite unique challenge of singing dense polyphony in equal or near-equal high voices.

What the "sisters" say

For the premiere in Brighton the amateur choir Celestial Sirens took part. Here are some comments from choir members:

"The chants were mesmerising. It was wonderful, as an amateur to get the opportunity to sing alongside professional singers in an innovative performance. It left me feeling I had done something very worthwhile and that we had done it well."

"Everything from the spectacle of the production to its thought- provoking content made this a truly inspirational project."

"As an amateur singer, performing as a Sister in Fallen was a fantastic experience for me. Not only did I get the opportunity to sing some truly exquisite music alongside inspirational professional voices, but I also got the chance to perform it in the context of a multimedia event that told a compelling story."