Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness Singing with Others
Horn is not a great singer. But the 30 years she has spent with the Choral Society of Grace Church in New York have been about greatness beyond self, the importance of community, and the joy of creating. Part memoir, part history, part case study, Imperfect Harmony is accessible and infectious. With the enthusiasm of a hobbyist and the discipline of a professional, Horn unfolds the history of choral music, the neurological science underpinning what happens in listeners’ and performers’ brains, and the effort it takes to put on a performance. The choir community in this book is made up of both those at rehearsal and the composers and the singers of the past. This is for not only readers with an interest in choral singing but also anyone who has enjoyed creative endeavors, either as artists or consumers. Horn beautifully captures the magnificent feeling of joining oneself to something larger, becoming something greater in harmony with others rather than solo. Like her beloved soprano notes, Horn’s love of making music soars through her book. --Bridget Thoreson