The Psychological and Biological Impact of “In-Person” vs. “Virtual” Choir Singing in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study Before and After the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Austria

Psychobiological responses to music have been examined previously in various naturalistic settings in adults. Choir singing seems to be associated with positive psychobiological outcomes in adults. However, evidence on the effectiveness of singing in children and adolescents is sparse. The COVID-19 outbreak is significantly affecting society now and in the future, including how individuals engage with music. The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring at a time when virtual participation in musical experiences such as singing in a virtual choir has become more prevalent. However, it remains unclear whether virtual singing leads to different responses in comparison with in-person singing. We evaluated the psychobiological effects of in-person choral singing (7 weeks, from January to March 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak) in comparison with the effects of virtual choral singing (7 weeks, from May to July 2020, after schools partly re-opened in Austria) in a naturalistic pilot within-subject study. A group of children and young adolescents (N = 5, age range 10–13, female = 2) from a school in Salzburg, Austria were recruited to take part in the study. Subjective measures (momentary mood, stress) were taken pre- and post-singing sessions once a week. Additionally, salivary biomarkers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and quantity of social contacts were assessed pre- and post-singing sessions every second week. Psychological stability, self-esteem, emotional competences, and chronic stress levels were measured at the beginning of in-person singing as well as at the beginning and the end of the virtual singing. We observed a positive impact on mood after both in-person and virtual singing. Over time, in-person singing showed a pre-post decrease in salivary cortisol, while virtual singing showed a moderate increase. Moreover, a greater reduction in stress, positive change in calmness, and higher values of social contacts could be observed for the in-person setting compared to the virtual one. In addition, we observed positive changes in psychological stability, maladaptive emotional competences, chronic stress levels, hair cortisol, self-contingency and quality of life. Our preliminary findings suggest that group singing may provide benefits for children and adolescents. In-person singing in particular seems to have a stronger psychobiological effect.

The Instrumental Component of the Epic Genres of the Carpathian Tradition

If the context of the performance of ritual and dance music is described in detail in a number of monographs at the beginning and middle of the last century, then with descriptions of the existence of epic genres the situation is somewhat different. Most collections of epic songs contain verbal and musical texts, however, the context of the performance, the number of performers, and the instrumental component are not always described. The article is devoted to the epic genres of folklore of the Ukrainians of the Carpathians. The article examines the modern existence of such epic genres of Ukrainian Carpathian folklore as psalm, song-chronicle, ballad. The aim of the study is to show the epic genres of folklore of the Ukrainian Carpathians in the context of its modern existence in the Carpathian village and in connection with the instrumental tradition of the region. The study covers Eastern Galicia (Halychyna), in particular Galician Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia (Pokucie), where the author's fieldwork took place. Modern field recordings of psalms, which were previously carried by itinerant lyre players, indicate that the works of this genre in some places have survived to this day due to their inclusion in the calendar tradition. Some of them are preserved as Christmas and Lenten songs. So, in the village Stary Lisets of the Tysmenytsa district of IvanoFrankivsk region, the psalm «About Stratenska Virgin Mary» about the siege of the monastery by the Tatars became a carol. In the Kosiv and Verkhovyna districts of Ivano-Frankivsk region (Galician Hutsulshchyna), songs-chronicles («novyny») continue to exist. This genre of Ukrainian folklore appeared in the 17th century. Songs-chronicles reflect historical events from the time of the opryshky movement to the present day and family and household dramas. In the village Khymchyn of the Kosiv region, the author of these lines was lucky to record two songs-chronicles – about Dovbush and about the First World War. The performer alternated singing with playing on a sopilka-dencivka. The author finds out ideas of the bearers of the tradition about the correct performance of songs-chronicles. The classical performance of chronicle songs is predominantly solo (one singer and one accompanist-instrumentalist). Folk ballads that exist in the modern Carpathian region can be divided into local and late ones, a significant part of which came from the Central regions of Ukraine in the 20th century. At the same time, part of the late ballads comes from the ancient ones that arose on the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians in the 17th–18th centuries. Evidence of the 20th century and the records of modern collectors of Carpathian folklore show that the performance of ancient Carpathian ballads is close to the performance of songs-chronicles. Old Carpathian ballads are characterized by a declamatory manner of singing accompanied by a violin, hurdy-gurdy or sopilka-flute and a narrow ambitus. Old ballads are associated with individual performance and folk-professional instrumentalism. Nowadays they can be heard less often than late ballads associated with collective choral singing. To get a complete picture of the context of the existence of the ancient Carpathian ballads, it is necessary to interview the inhabitants of the villages where they were recorded in the XX – at the beginning of the XXI century – Kornych, Myshyn, Cherni Oslavy, Velykyi Klyuchiv and Kosmach.

Festivals of spiritual songs in socio-cultural space of Ukraine of the end of the XX - the beginning of the XXI centuries

The purpose of the article is to study the activities of festivals of spiritual songs in the context of the development of the musical culture of Ukraine in the late twentieth – early twentieth century. The methodology is based on historical and culturological approaches. A systematic method is also used to characterize festivals of the Orthodox music tradition in their connection with other components of culture; socio-cultural method – in the study of socio-cultural components of the artistic phenomenon of the festival. The scientific novelty of the work is that for the first time the activity of festivals of Orthodox sacred music as a new phenomenon in the musical culture of Ukraine is comprehensively analyzed. Conclusions. The emergence and active functioning of festivals of spiritual songs is one of the leading trends in the development of Orthodox musical culture in Ukraine. The ideological direction of the festivals is primarily of religious content, and, in addition to overcoming the negative trends in the field of culture, their leading function is the revival of orthodox traditions. Festivals of sacred music in Ukraine currently perform two main functions: educational and cultural. They contribute to the revival of the traditions of orthodox musical culture; demonstrate the traditions of orthodoxy in modern socio-cultural conditions; revive centuries-old traditions of spiritual choral singing of Ukraine; revive centuries-old traditions of spiritual choral singing of Ukraine.

Ensembles for wellbeing

The value of ensemble music-making for wellbeing is addressed in this chapter, with an emphasis on amateur musicians. Previous research on musical development over the lifespan suggests that long-term engagement might be motivated by individual wellbeing benefits. Although negative health implications are also noted, amateur musicians report fewer adverse health effects associated with musical participation compared with their professional counterparts. However, the research literature on amateur musicians has tended to focus on choir members, raising questions as to whether the predominantly positive implications of choral singing also apply to instrumental ensemble performance. Recent studies have begun to fill this research gap, but there is still uncertainty with respect to the specific factors contributing to wellbeing and health in amateur ensembles. In conclusion, tentative models to foster hypothesis-driven research are needed as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that connect long-term musical engagement and wellbeing.

Effects of choral singing on salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress in university students

Although mental disorders are common among university students, the majority of students with mental health issues do not seek out treatment during their academic life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group approach- choir singing, and its potential impact on stress, via salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress levels in university students during 4 sessions of choir singing. It was based on a quasi-experimental research conducted with 25 Brazilian university students. Each choir singing session lasted 60 minutes. A question was asked before and after the intervention: what is the level of your stress? Salivary cortisol was collected before and after the intervention. After the choir singing intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in self-reported stress (p<0.0001) and salivary cortisol levels (p<0.0001). This research suggests that choir singing can reduce the self-reported stress of university students after 4 weeks of follow-up with ∆= 45.83% and salivary cortisol levels in the first week with ∆= 3.57%.

A Combination of Professional and Personal Qualities in the Choir Conductor

The article outlines the problem of combining professional and personal qualities in the choir conductor. Research gaps in the profession of choir conductor are outlined. We established that the art of conducting, and choral performance as its component, currently requires professionally trained personnel, who have an active life position and are able to provide a creative approach to choral singing. It was found that conducting should be interpreted as a creative process characterized by a step-by-step structure and a combination of analysis and comprehension of the choral score, its artistic interpretation, which allows embodying the formed musical image in the real choral sound. It was found that the conductor’s professional qualities are based on the conductor’s individual style or his “creative method”. It is established that the emotional sphere of the conductor is the result of a combination of qualities that will allow the conductor and the choir to demonstrate a bright and convincing revelation of the originality of texture, expressive timbre colors of numerous choral scores, and a rich palette of nuances.

Music achievements of being an English chorister

This study aims to highlight the uniqueness of the English choristers’ education, what special musical skills it passes on to youngsters and how these may help them in later life. It investigates the perceptions of 30 ex-choristers who attended a broad selection of English choir schools between 1940 and 2010 using semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that music training of choristers forms a solid foundation to enhance the development of an all-round musicianship. In particular, it gives them significant sight-reading skills due to the huge volume of rehearsals and public performances. Although in most cases their instrumental skills are not sufficient for them to become professional soloists in their instrument, many ex-choristers found it relatively easy to achieve a music scholarship or pursue a music career if they wanted. Many of them retained a passion for music which was not necessarily limited to choral singing. The findings are considered in relation to the possible reasons for this, and the implications for education.

ANTONIO SALIERI PEDAGOGICAL SCHOOL

The article deals with the pedagogical school of Antonio Salieri, which was formed in the last quarter of the eighteenth – first quarter of the nineteenth centuries. This school was an artistic phenomenon, given that A. Salieri taught not only one instrument, but a whole set of musical disciplines (composition, counterpoint, conducting, solo and choral singing, harpsichord, stringed instruments, etc.). A. Salieri's School is also unique because of the highest professional level preparation of a whole plaid of talented and even brilliant musicians - Ludwig Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Nepomuk Gummel Franz Xaver Süsmayr, Anselm Hüttenbrüsner, Ignaz Carlethal Moscheles. Cavalieri, Anna Milder-Hauntmann, Anna Kraus-Vranitsky, etc. Based on sources and scientific works, the author of the article argues that the contribution of A. Salieri to the music pedagogy of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is invaluable. Antonio Salieri's pedagogical legacy is a unique phenomenon – he taught composition, instrumentation, instrument, vocals, counterpoint, homophony, polyphony, and most importantly - musical thinking. Many ingenious composers have left a unique legacy, but not many of them can boast of such a large number of students who have shown themselves in all spheres of musical life in the European world. We will not be mistaken when we say that Antonio Salіeri was unique in this. It is unlikely that the pedagogical legacy of another great musician will include pedagogue and methodologist Johann Nepomuk Hummel, the genius composer of all ages L. Beethoven, one of the first romantics – F. Schubert, vocalists - "opera stars'' Catherine Valba-Kanz, Fortunate Franquette, Amalia Josef-Mozatta. And this list can go on and on because the total number is over sixty.

Forms and methods of organizing extracurricular musical and educational work

The article is devoted to the review and analysis of forms and methods of organization of extracurricular music-educational work, which would promote the development of children, the formation of their musical culture, creative attitude to life and art. As well as these forms and methods will contribute to the development of patriotism and students’ aesthetic. Extracurricular music-educational work complements music lessons and aims to expand the musical horizons of children, deepen their knowledge, as well as improve performance skills and abilities. The organization of extracurricular musical activities involves compliance with certain guidelines. The success of a variety of work combined to develop musical skills depends largely on how well students master and feel the need for different musical activities. The obtained musical skills of the participants have a way out: together they prepare themed evenings, concerts, perform at holidays and reviews. This gives them the opportunity to feel the need and importance of the ability to own a musical instrument. In the process of teaching singing, the teacher solves many problems related to the development of students' voices and the acquisition of vocal and choral skills and abilities necessary for artistic expression. With choral singing activists, you can prepare an article for the school wall newspaper, in which to talk about the importance of creating a choir, the prospects for its development and immediate tasks; draw up a colorful poster announcing the organization of the choir, where to indicate the days and hours of listening to all who wish to sing.