Did you know this?

[ImagineerM]

I knew it was traditional, and I knew why....but that director sounds like a really nice person! lol

I wouldnt worry about it!

 

[disney100666]

Don't you think the teacher could have said before they started "Please rise" like they do for the National Anthem at ballgames. I think it was really inappropriate for her to get into a snit.

 

[KristaTX]

I am aware to stand, but I can see how some people wouldn't be. It's kind of like standing when the bride walks into the wedding. I always forget that until everyone else sees her and starts standing.

But the teacher really embarrassed herself by embarrassing her audience in such a manner at the end. She should have just turned to the audience during the song at an appropriate moment, gently nodded to the crowd, and given a "please rise" signal with her arms .

 

[tinkerbelle22]

Wow. I'm in my high school choir. At this year's concert, we ended the night by singing the Hallelujah chorus too, with the band and orchestra playing behind us. And the some of the school's alumni was onstage singing along with us. It was really beautiful. But the second the first few notes started, half the audience stood, and the other half stayed seated. It actually looked kind of funny. No one could really concentrate! The audience couldn't because obviously the half that was seated didn't know what to do, so they kept looking around, and the chorus was like, "Uh...okay?" I asked my dad about it later and he said that he stood. Interesting. I'm a sophomore, and I was in chorus last year...and I honestly don't remember anyone standing last year. Maybe our town just got the memo or something!

But I agree with the previous poster, that teacher should have definitely done "please rise" with her arms if she was so concerned about the whole thing.

 

[chamonix]

That teacher was rude and inappropriate and should be reprimanded by the administration in her building and district. That kind of rudeness should not be tolerated.

I agree completely! No matter what the reason, her speech was completely out of line and she should be reprimanded for it.

 

[Kath2003]

No, I didn't know that.
We used to stand for EVERYTHING at school. Any time an adult entered the room everyone had to stand. Up and down, all day long!

It was great once we were in sixth form (grades 11 and 12) because we were classed as adults and people had to stand for us. You could just see the eye-rolls

 

[Micca]

Where I come from it's traditional for the choral director not to come across snotty and condescending to the audience when performing a sacred work.
But I'll cut some slack for this director...perhaps she hadn't heard this before.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I only learned this last year when the community orchestra that I am in played select pieces of the Messiah, including this one. Assuming that some folks may not know to stand, there was a notation in the program that it is customary to stand. I had no idea about it before that, though.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Did not know that, BUT if the reasons given for standing are true, that a monarch stood and customs dictates all his subjects stand, then as an American, It would not be upon me to stand, as an american citizen does not acknowledge a monarch authority over an american citizen and would not follow that ON american soil!!

However, if visiting, a forign country, it is customery, as a courtsey, to follow custom...

All that aside, I think the director needs to have a dose of reality, most programs usually state when to stand, and being rude to the audience is not warrented!

 

[Disney Doll]

Never knew that. I am usually standing for it because I find it to be such a moving piece that I start my standing ovation for the choir early.

The director was rude.

 

[christineann]

It's a tradition that has its origins in England, not a mandate by the English monarchy.

 

[Becky2005]

Interesting. I had no idea and I'm a Christian.

Although, in a public school setting you would definitely think there would be people there that didn't follow that tradition because they aren't Christian.

Looking at this thread several Christians don't even know it's a tradition to stand, so it's quite presumptious to assume everyone in the audience knows the tradition.

I agree with everyone else that she should have informed you to rise or put a note in the program (if there was one). My DD is in Middle School so we haven't gotten to HS choir yet but I know at her concerts, all etiquette items are printed on there and the order/information about songs they will be singing.