Help Name a Group II

[Karl Henning]

Per this post and this:

Plan A would appear to be branding ourselves as [the other] Choral Composer-Conductor Collective.  Failing that, what name(s) would the collective wisdom suggest?

The only guidelines I took away from last night's meeting are:

Avoid the word Collective.  I know this seems counter-intuitive in light of Plan A, but the strong consensus was, if Plan B, then lose the clunky noun Collective.

Ah, yes, the mission of the group.  The core participants are conductor-singers, conductor-composers, sing-composers, or composer-conductor-singers;  but the plan is a group of 24, so half or more of the performing ensemble will be singers with a passion for new music.  The group will be dedicated to work by living composers, will in fact sing nothing older than written 25 years ago (as of the moving present) . . . not that there is anything wrong with the old music, there are just hundreds of groups to serve the already-established lit.

The next meeting is in January, so please, post inspired thoughts whenever they occur to you over the next few weeks.

TIA.

[North Star]

Contemporary Choral Society?

[Karl Henning]

Good!  And thanks.

[Que]

I would put either the name Boston in (cool, elegant name), or the name of an important composer or performer of contemporary music - possibly with a Boston connection.

Q

[Karl Henning]

While I still welcome more (and many) suggestions, personally I like Boston Contemporary Choral Society.  The decision will be collective, though, so the more suggestions the merrier.

[jochanaan]

While I still welcome more (and many) suggestions, personally I like Boston Contemporary Choral Society.  The decision will be collective, though, so the more suggestions the merrier.

I thought you wanted to avoid the word "collective." Anyway, my thought is: Composers' Choir.  Perhaps Composers' Choir of Boston.  That has the advantage of a delightful ambiguity that can allow the interpretation" choir OF composers" or "choir FOR composers."

[Karl Henning]

Thank you!

[DaveF]

I would put either the name Boston in (cool, elegant name), or the name of an important composer or performer of contemporary music - possibly with a Boston connection.

Q

Sounds like "The Karl Henning Singers of Boston" ticks both those boxes.   (Someone to blame, too, if they turn in a terrible performance.)

I always think it's a bit sad that classical ensembles have to have names like "The [place] [type of ensemble]" whereas rock bands can be called Mott the Hoople, Henry Cow or King Crimson.  Would any of the members favour a more daring name?

[Karl Henning]

I'm a newcomer, so seeking to attach my name to the enterprise would seem . . . uppish 

There was a new choral music ensemble (not quite the same mission) founded in 2009, name of Roomful of Teeth.  I have not formed an opinion, but the consensus around me was that it is about the worst name for a singing ensemble imaginable.

It set me up for a joke, though.  When later in the meeting David (indicating a willingness to serve, but also to step down if anyone else wanted to assume the duties) jested, "I will be your Washington," I added the cryptic footnote, "Roomful of Wooden Teeth."

[Cato]

Okay, here we go!   

And we are avoiding the word "collective" !   "Collective" smacks of...well, you know!    #6 would be against such a name!

So...

The Boston New Century Chorus  (New Century Chorus of Boston)

The Charles Ives Choral Society  ( Ives being the patron saint of contemporary New England musicians and their music)

New Music Society of New England or ("Choral Society")

The Ever New Chorus (of Boston)

The Boston Composers' Chorus

For slightly less traditional options:

Your New Choral Music Society of Boston

The New Choir of New England  Or: The New Music Choir of New England

The Boston Never Baroque, Only New Music Choir   

The Neo-Contemporary Choir of Boston  Or: ...of Neo-England

And a dark horse candidate:

Boston's New Music and Dirty Water Choir   

[Cosi bel do]

I'd try something more "dynamic"and less formal than the Chorale, Chorus, Society, etc., etc.

For instance I'd prefer the word "Voices" or a variation on it (for instance "Boston Contemporary Voices")

If you want the "Contemporary" somewhere, try some synonym...
"Voices of New Music"
"New Music Vocalists"
"21st Century Voices"

That actually leads me thinking that it would be a nice idea to set a group of 21 persons for music of the 21st century (4x5 + 1 conductor, not always the same if I understood your presentation well).

Then I'd go with the short, efficient (and possibly visually intesting) : "21 VOICES" (you could add a small "Boston" after that, if needed).

[Karl Henning]

Many thanks for the further ideas! And well motivated.  Good ideas!

[kishnevi]

 the Newbury Street New Music Chorus
Or, if performances are more likely to be suburban, Newton New Music Chorus

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

As Boston is the "cradle of liberty" and the group is liberating the repertoire from the binds of the past, consider? :

The Liberty Chorale (of Boston)
or
Liberty Contemporary Chorale

or more straightforwardly :  the Boston Contemporary Chorale.

[Ken B]

Concord&Discord, A New Music Choir

[amw]

Batman vs. Dracula II: Revenge of the Space Lesbians.

I have no idea why there isn't an ensemble with this name already, but snag it while you can.


(If you're looking for something more contemporary, consider Epic Selfie Bromance)

[Karl Henning]

Many thanks!  And any who may wish, keep 'em coming.

[springrite]

Pathological Vocalisers Anonymous

[Ken B]

Batman vs. Dracula II: Revenge of the Space Lesbians.

I have no idea why there isn't an ensemble with this name already, but snag it while you can.

That's the name of my Parchesi club.

[Cato]

Concord&Discord, A New Music Choir

That's a good one!  With the reference to Concord, as in Lexington and Concord.  Of course, "Boston" then seems to be slighted.

Another "edgier" idea:

Soon-to-be-Famous Composers' Choir