Choir

by Gareth Malone

The hugely popular Gareth Malone recounts the heart-warming stories and transformations behind the award-winning BBC2 series The Choir

Genres: Music, Biography, Autobiography

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars mostly for the tremendous enthusiasm that pours off these pages. By now, in the UK at least, Gareth Malone is almost a household name. Invited to front a TV program on making a choir out of nothing, as it were, he went on to be the powerhouse behind several seasons of the show, in each series taking on a bigger challenge than the previous time.
I've only ever seen part of one episode of one of the series, and that only by chance. I don't know that any of the series have been shown here in New Zealand. This is a pity because Malone has a rare gift, and for it to have been filmed at work over several years is a great thing.

[Camio.Dontchaknow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A running recap of all his tv choir projects up to the time of writing. It feels a bit rushed, because he's writing about every TV series and there's not enough space to write about them all and the people involved in great detail. So it ends up being a bit of a summary with retrospective comments and clarifications. Bless him, he must worry an awful lot about conversations he's just had because I felt like a large portion of his retelling was "I think it came across this way on screen, but what I meant was this." "She thought I meant this but I only said that because this." He spends a lot of time trying to explain himself and set the record straight in print. It seems to me to be a reflection of all the worry he must carry around with him about being misunderstood. Strange, I would have thought he'd be a bit more self assured as he clearly understands what he does, loves what he does, and he does it really well. I mean, the Queen thinks so, as does his growing string of Choir TV series.
I hope he continues.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this book, I went on YouTube to listen to the music and searched the Internet to see if I could watch the television series. He made them sound so good.
I felt the writing was a little clunky. He moved about in time within the stories. He put a lot of names of choir members in the book, which was nice of him but I thought it interfered with the flow of the writing.
I read the book in order to review it for the Big Eurovision Read. Gave it high marks as it so exemplified inclusivity and the unifying power of music.

[Mary Stagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book detailing the early part of Gareth Malone's TV career. It has anecdotes in it and a tiny bit about his personal life. Starting with the first TV series about getting a school choir established and competing in the Choir competition in China and finishing with the MWC at the Jubilee it's quite full and, unusually for a celebrity memoir not full of 'here's another famous person I've met and now we're best friends' . He still seems to be rather ordinary and down to earth.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about Gareth's Choir documentaries.

[Pippa Hawker · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Peter Mellalieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gareth reveals a compelling story. He describes himself as an animateur. As a teacher of entrepreneurship and innovation I view him as a serial entrepreneur. Not an entrepreneur that creates financial wealth, but an entrepreneur who creates social and cultural capital. His story reveals a classical example of an entrepreneur motivated to make a difference, through music education. He uses creativity and persistence to overcome an abundance of unanticipated obstacles. I am inspired by his story as I have been challenged by one of my students to set up a music performance group at my learning institution. I have been a chorister since I was seven years old, and have continued to sing in amateur choirs and productions. But I have never been the music director of a choir. So this book is greatly informing me, and inspiring me to take on the challenge.... Move over Simon Cowell and Andrew Lloyd Webber.... Here I come!

[Isobel Ridley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having watched all of Gareth Malone's Choir series it has been really nice to hear him talk about how the series began and all the behind the scenes trials and tribulations. The style of writing is not brilliant but you can hear Gareth's voice talking. It could also have done with some better proof reading. A good read and I would certainly recommend it .

[Janu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, and as a singer myself I could relate to the trials and tribulations. I didn't watch all of the series but what I did see impressed me. The book was easy to read but the jumping around in time annoyed me and some stories never really got finished.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have only seen his last 2 TV series but thoroughly enjoyed them - Gareth seems like such an inspirational chap - an intersting insight into his owrld of music.

[Charlotte Tobitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read detailing the ins and outs of the successful Choir series and many excellent Gareth monologues.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book. I did not watch the tv programmes thinking it wasn't really 'my thing' after reading the book I wished I had!!

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

What made this book more interesting for me was the thoughts of Gareth Malone about the people that he met along the way as well as how he got involved in each project and how it developed.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Inspiring, warm, interesting and an easy read. Lovely that someone can be so passionate about music without being elitist.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

great easy read, summation of all Dr Malone's oups Gareth's work till yhe last series. brought back fond memories of the series to date.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for the subject matter and enthusiasm. Not a literary masterpiece but loved this book.