Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/imperfect-harmony-finding-happiness.html

Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness Singing With Others tells a story on many different levels. It is the story of Stacy Horn and the role music plays in her life, through the good times and the bad. It is the story of the Choral Society of Grace Church in New York City where Stacy has been a member for many years. It is the story of significant pieces of choral music such as Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah. It is the story of formal and informal singing groups such as the People's Chorale Union and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. It is a story of choral music overall and its place in history such as the story of the 9/11 rescue workers singing as they dealt with their efforts.

This book contains a lot of research and a lot of information. It is an insider's look at this artistic endeavor, and it has something for singers and non-singers alike. Did you know that over 32 million adults in the US participate in a chorus? Did you know that people join often join choirs regardless of religious beliefs because of the joy music brings? Did you know that the Metropolitan Museum in New York City hosted its first Christmas concert in 1955? Did you know that German composer Franz Xaver Biebl wrote Ave Maria for a company of firemen competing in a local competition?

The conversational tone of this book makes it easy to read and absorb the information. Stacy Horn's personal story lends to the tone of the book and prevents it from becoming a textbook look at the topic. A fascinating look into a popular pastime.

*** Reviewed for the Library Thing Early Reviewers program ***

I picked this up (free at ALA Midwinter) because one of my dearest friends is a singer in a choir, and my son also sang when he was in high school. I enjoyed parts of this very much. I loved Horn's descriptions of what it is like to sing, how the feelings one has when creating music are different from (and probably superior to) the feelings one gets when listening to music. I really enjoyed her discussions of various pieces of music, and the music history in general. I didn't like the memoir parts nearly so well. 2.5

Last week, I was browsing NetGalley for the very first time. I was so excited to find "Imperfect Harmony" by Stacy Horn. The subtitle and description grabbed me immediately; I had to read this book. I was thrilled to receive an email letting me know my request had been approved.

Professionally, I'm an instrumentalist, not a singer. I'm in the flute section of a symphony, I work as a church pianist, I teach private lessons, and I play chamber music, weddings, and other gigs. The church choir where I work is small, and often there aren't enough altos to carry the part. So in the past year or so, I've tried my best to help from the piano whenever I can, singing along with my amateur-but-nice-enough voice; and I've discovered that I love to sing! So it was interesting to read Imperfect Harmony from the perspective of a professional in classical music, yet also as a (very) amateur singer.

Horn's experiences in the Choral Society of Grace Church are vividly brought to life in her book. I often felt that I was right there in the room, in the choir, having the very same experiences. She seamlessly and naturally interlaces music history with her stories. Before I knew it, I realized I'd just read pages of - gasp! - music history, and didn't find one bit of it dry. I couldn't stop turning the pages. I wish my own college music history texts had been as captivating. Horn also does a wonderful job describing more advanced musical concepts in layman's terms, which helps to keep the book accessible to all music lovers. She cites studies that give insight into why singing feels so good and how it affects us emotionally and physiologically. Even with the inclusion of history, a bit of music theory, and science, the flow of her words is never once broken. The reading never felt bogged down.

I cried while reading stories about how song came forth, often spontaneously, out of moments of deep grief to help carry people through. I laughed while reading some of the interactions between choir members, especially the "where to sit" and "someone's in my chair" antics. I texted my soprano best friend during that chapter and asked her, "Do you all have assigned seats in Choral Society?" She replied with, "No... but no one better ever sit in my chair!" I highlighted on my Nook like mad, taking special note of the many thought-provoking quotes by famous composers, conductors, and music educators; gems of knowledge and experience that I'm sure I'll pass on to my own music students.

Imperfect Harmony inspired me to listen more often, too. More often than I care to admit, I find myself listening to music out of necessity: I'll soon be performing the piece and need to study the score, or I have a student is learning a piece and I need to get to know it again. Horn's honest and heartfelt appreciation of each piece highlighted in the book compelled me to find recordings of each, put them in one playlist, and simply take in the music. We professionals forget to do that at times.

I have a few friends who will be receiving this book as a gift when it is released (April 9, 2013, Algonquin Books). If you love to sing with others...actually, disregard "to sing." If you love making music with others, you will love this book.