Sound Effects Choir
Encyclopedia
The Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir, also popularly known as the Honda Choir, is an ensemble that can physically produce human sound effects without electronic means. They are well-known for two performances in a Honda
commercial and at the Academy Awards
. It is conducted by Steve Sidwell
, who is also the composer of their repertoire.
would make a high-pitched screeching sound.
for a Honda Civic
in 2006 called Choir, which gained immense popularity. The advertisement was made by the company Wieden and Kennedy, and shown mainly at countries in Europe
such as the United Kingdom
. This performance consisted of sixty vocalists and was filmed in a car park in late November 2005.
In February 2007, the Choir also appeared as performers in the 79th Academy Awards
, producing sound effects to a collection of different film clips in a piece called Elements and Motion. A video of these movie clips was shown behind the forty-person choir as they performed in Kodak Theater. Although much praise was given to this particular performance, it has received some criticism of not reaching the high expectations set in any Academy Award festival.
, generally regarded as the most prestigious international advertising festival. The advertisement was a contender for the Grand Prix during this event.
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
commercial and at the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. It is conducted by Steve Sidwell
Steve Sidwell (musician)
Steve Sidwell is a conductor, composer, and instrumentalist specialising in swing music. Renowned as an arranger and composer, Steve, has featured on numerous albums, television shows, advertising campaigns and films with his distinctive and innovative orchestrations and compositions.He is also a...
, who is also the composer of their repertoire.
Effects
Sound effects are produced primarily by means of using the mouth; the arms, fingers, and hands are also sometimes used. For example, the performers would tap their fingernails against their teeth to simulate rain falling on a car's windshield. To simulate wind, one would quickly blow air. To imitate the sound of tires squealing, a sopranoSoprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
would make a high-pitched screeching sound.
Performances
The ensemble was featured in a television advertisementTelevision advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for a Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
in 2006 called Choir, which gained immense popularity. The advertisement was made by the company Wieden and Kennedy, and shown mainly at countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. This performance consisted of sixty vocalists and was filmed in a car park in late November 2005.
In February 2007, the Choir also appeared as performers in the 79th Academy Awards
79th Academy Awards
The 79th Academy Awards ceremony , honored the best films of 2006 and took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on ABC. Ellen DeGeneres hosted the ceremony for the first time. The producer was Laura Ziskin. The announcers were Don LaFontaine and Gina Tuttle.The nominees were...
, producing sound effects to a collection of different film clips in a piece called Elements and Motion. A video of these movie clips was shown behind the forty-person choir as they performed in Kodak Theater. Although much praise was given to this particular performance, it has received some criticism of not reaching the high expectations set in any Academy Award festival.
Awards
The Honda Civic television commercial that the Sound Effects choir was featured in won the Gold Lion award in the Cannes Lions International Advertising FestivalCannes Lions International Advertising Festival
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising and related fields. The seven-day festival, incorporating the awarding of the Lions awards, is held yearly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France...
, generally regarded as the most prestigious international advertising festival. The advertisement was a contender for the Grand Prix during this event.
External links
- Elements & Motion - a performance at the 79th Academy Awards79th Academy AwardsThe 79th Academy Awards ceremony , honored the best films of 2006 and took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on ABC. Ellen DeGeneres hosted the ceremony for the first time. The producer was Laura Ziskin. The announcers were Don LaFontaine and Gina Tuttle.The nominees were...
- Choir - performance during a television advertisementTelevision advertisementA television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for a Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...