Descant
A descant is a higher melody that's sung above the main tune in choral music. Think of it as adding a beautiful layer on top of the regular song - like putting icing on a cake. Choir directors and singers use descants to make music more interesting and complex, especially in church music, carols, and classical pieces. When you see this term in a resume, it usually means the person has experience with advanced choral arrangements and can work with singers who have different vocal ranges.
Examples in Resumes
Composed original descant arrangements for Christmas carol performances
Trained soprano section to perform challenging descants in classical repertoire
Arranged and conducted pieces featuring descant parts for youth choir
Typical job title: "Choir Directors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Choir Directors
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach teaching a challenging descant to a choir?
Expected Answer: A senior choir director should discuss their methods for breaking down complex parts, working with different vocal sections, and ensuring the descant enhances rather than overshadows the main melody.
Q: How do you select appropriate descant arrangements for different skill levels?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they assess choir capabilities, consider the overall musical effect, and adapt arrangements to suit both performers and audience.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What considerations do you take when writing a descant for a piece?
Expected Answer: Should discuss vocal range considerations, harmony rules, and how to make the descant complement the main melody while being singable.
Q: How do you balance descant voices with the main melody in performance?
Expected Answer: Should explain techniques for achieving proper volume balance, positioning singers, and ensuring clear sound projection.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a descant and when is it typically used?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that a descant is a higher melody sung above the main tune and commonly used in carols, hymns, and choral pieces.
Q: How do you prepare singers to perform a descant?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic vocal warm-ups, practice techniques, and methods for teaching new melodic lines to singers.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of vocal parts and ranges
- Ability to teach simple descants
- Basic conducting patterns
- Piano accompaniment skills
Mid (2-5 years)
- Writing basic descant arrangements
- Advanced vocal coaching
- Section leadership experience
- Program planning abilities
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex arrangement creation
- Advanced choral conducting
- Festival/competition experience
- Ensemble development expertise
Red Flags to Watch For
- No formal music education or training
- Lack of experience with different vocal ranges
- Unable to read musical notation
- No experience conducting groups
Related Terms
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