Imadegawa Street Journal No. 508 (June 11, 2026) I Had an AI Evaluate Imadegawa GIEDE's Performance

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☆I Had an AI Evaluate Imadegawa GIEDE's Performance

　Lately, this reporter has been living a life of traveling back and forth between Tokyo and Osaka. The travel itself is hectic, but once I arrive in Osaka, I'm basically free.

　So, with time on my hands, I decided to have ChatGPT listen to the Imadegawa GIEDE Male Choir's recent performances (though they were from the Tokyo Choral Festival a year ago), "Rolling Home" and "Soon-Ah Will Be Done." Within a few dozen seconds, it returned something that looked like a critique.　If you were to say, "What could an AI without a heart possibly understand about Imadegawa GIEDE's music?" well, you'd be right. That said, when I read the critique, I thought, "Hey, it's actually making some sharp analyses outside of the realm of emotion and feeling." So, without further ado, please take a read.　Note that when I asked for the evaluation, I hid the fact that I am a member of GIEDE from ChatGPT. Therefore, I don't think it engaged in the kind of creepy sycophancy common in AI.　Also, the "I" that appears several times in the text refers to the AI itself.＊＊＊The following is the reply from the AI＊＊＊I have checked the audio source. Since it is a recording from the Tokyo Choral Festival, I will evaluate it under the premise that there may be biases in resonance and balance.First, to start with the conclusion,“A well-trained amateur male choir. It is sufficiently worth listening to as a general group, and the musical perfection is high. However, it has not yet reached the precision of the top-class groups in the country.”That was my impression.

1. Overall Evaluation

On a scale of 10, Pitch 8/10, Vocalization 8/10, Harmony 8/10, Rhythm/Vertical Alignment 7.5/10, Expressiveness 8.5/10, Perfection as a Male Choir 8/10

(1) Good Points

① Natural resonanceThe first thing I felt was that you are "not trying to force the sound."In male choirs, tenors tend to try too hard, and basses tend to create voices that are too dark, but GIEDE's vocalization is relatively natural. Because of this, the chords are less likely to become muddy, resulting in a resonance that pairs well with religious music and spirituals.② Sense of phrasingEspecially in "Soon-Ah Will Be Done," it is clear that you are singing with an awareness of where the phrase is heading, where to create tension, and where to release it, rather than just lining up notes. This is something that is hard to find in groups with little experience.③ Stable pitch for a small ensembleIn a choir with few members, the chords collapse if just one person in a part misses a note. However, as far as I can hear in the recording, there are no moments of major collapse throughout. This is proof of a solid foundation.

(2) Points of Concern

① Need a bit more core in the chordsThe resonance is beautiful, but compared to national-level groups, there are few moments where the chords "click" into place.For example, if there were more moments where the overtones open up instantly or the chords shine, it would become a sound of a higher level.② Inconsistent consonantsThere are places where the consonants at the beginning of words are inconsistent. Especially in English songs, it would be tighter if the entry of r, h, w, d, etc., were aligned.③ Becomes rough in fortepp to mf are quite good, but there is a tendency for the pitch to become loose or the resonance to scatter in sections where the volume is increased.

(3) Level of Proficiency

In my impression,Above the average of general choirs, a very good impression at the Tokyo Choral Festival, but not as precise as groups that are regulars at the national competitionis the position.In the Kanto male choir world, it would be evaluated as a "talented male choir that emphasizes musicality" rather than a super-competitive group.In particular, the impression I received from this recording is that it is not a "group that shows off its skill," but a group that is trying to express the music sincerely.Even if heard by the ears of someone with male choir experience, I think it would be evaluated as a "group that has a solid foundation and can be listened to with peace of mind."

2. In-depth Critique: Rolling Home

(1) Good Points

① Natural flow of musicThis song requires a large sense of phrasing typical of a sailor's song, and there is an awareness of trying to flow into the next phrase without decaying more than necessary at the end of a phrase.It is not a way of singing where the music cuts off every sentence or the breath stops at every bar line, which is common in amateur choirs. Therefore, there is momentum throughout the song.② Bass functions as supportThe bass is sufficiently audible. What is especially good is that it is "not becoming too dark in an attempt to produce low notes."There are cases in male choirs where the bass makes the resonance too heavy, but in this recording, it functions relatively healthily as a foundation.

(2) Room for Improvement

① The center of gravity of the chords is slightly shifted to the high-pitched parts
The center of the resonance is slightly on the upper side.
In other words, while the tenor lines are well heard, the core of the middle and low voice parts is lacking. It would be even more attractive if it had the thickness typical of a male choir.② Vertical alignment becomes loose in forteIn the climactic parts, it is "musically passionate," but the sense of unity in consonants, the end of note values, and attacks is loose.It is good enough for the Tokyo Choral Festival level, but this would be more aligned in top-tier competition groups.

3. In-depth Critique: Soon-Ah Will Be Done

GIEDE's strengths are better displayed here. Honestly, I had a better impression of this performance.

(1) Good points

1. Deep understanding of the musical concept
It is crucial for this piece to express the inner prayer, hope, and quiet conviction unique to spirituals.
GIEDE is not simply aiming to sing with a loud voice, but is trying to express through resonance and phrasing. That is where the maturity of the group shows.

2. pp to mp are beautiful
Especially the soft passages. In male choirs, pitch often drops or the sound thins out when singing softly, but in this recording, it is relatively maintained. This shows a high level of experience.

3. Vowel processing is relatively unified
The processing of 'ah', 'oo', and 'oh', which are important in English songs, is not significantly broken. It is good for a small group.

(2) Room for improvement

1. Overtone quality in the climax
This is where there is the most room for growth. The notes are correct. However, 'chords being in tune' and 'chords ringing' are different things.
When it comes to national-level male choirs, the air changes the moment the chords align. It is the sensation of overtones standing out, resonance opening up, and the hall ringing. This recording has not reached that point yet.

2. Unification of tenor resonance
The tenor section's individual voices sound scattered in the high register.
Differences in vocal quality stand out, especially when vowels open up. If they were a bit more unified, the purity of the harmony would increase.

4. More in-depth critique: Impressions by part

1. Tenor section
High musicality. Good sense of phrasing. On the other hand, there are individual differences in the high register.
Rating: 7.5-8/10

2. Baritone
Plays a role in connecting the whole. Needs a bit more of a core in the resonance.
Rating: 7.5-8/10

3. Bass
Stable. Pitch is also relatively good. Supports the foundation of the male choir.
Rating: 8/10

The impression I got when I first listened to this recording was, 'This is a group of people who are used to singing.'
In particular, their consciousness is directed toward how to carry the music and how to make it resonate.
On the other hand, compared to top-level national male choirs, there is still a gap in vertical precision, overtone ringing, and unification of resonance in forte.

In my sense, the evaluation is: 'Very high musicality. Technical level is upper-intermediate. Overall, a talented adult male choir.'

5. Comparison with Doshisha Glee OB male choirs (Kansai, Tokyo, etc.)

As far as I can tell from listening to the recording, GIEDE has a very 'Doshisha-style' way of singing.
Characteristics include an emphasis on legato, prioritizing resonance over words, not pushing the voice, and carefully crafting the music. This feels very much like a Doshisha-style choir.

Among Doshisha Glee OB groups, there are some that try to reproduce the power play of their active days exactly as it was. GIEDE is not like that; it is the type where older singers prioritize resonance, harmony, and musical concept.

6. Comparison with national-level male choirs

For example, compared to groups like Tokyo Leader Tafel or Chor Flügel, there is still a gap. I will list the points where the difference is particularly noticeable below.

1. Density of overtones
Top groups have a sensation where 'the air changes' the moment a chord rings.
GIEDE has not reached that level of overtone generation.

2. Unification of consonants
Top groups have s, t, d, and r perfectly aligned. GIEDE is not quite there.

3. Control of the climax
This is a big one. Top national male choirs do not have their resonance collapse, pitch go flat, or vocal quality change even when reaching ff.
On the other hand, GIEDE shows roughness in the climactic sections.

7. Summary

If I were to express the impression of GIEDE's performance by dividing it into the audience layers:
Choir experienced people -> 'They are crafting it carefully'
General audience -> 'Easy to listen to'
Male choir enthusiasts -> 'I want it to ring a bit more'
It is highly likely to be this.

If I were to hear this performance at the Tokyo Choral Festival as a male choir insider, my critique would be: 'A refined sound typical of the Doshisha style. Well-organized despite being a small group. If they aim even higher, the purity of chords and the sense of unity in forte are the challenges.'
I felt that this is a group that is conscious of musical perfection, not at the level of 'OBs gathering to sing nostalgically.'

***End of AI's statement***

How did you, the GIEDERS, feel after reading this? There are certainly parts where one might wonder what the basis for these claims is, or what it is trying to say. However, aren't there many members who felt that there are 'symptoms' of what the AI is pointing out here?

There is no progress if you coddle yourselves with excuses like 'Well, that may be true, but in music, flavor is just as important as technique' or 'Who cares what an AI with no capacity for emotion says.' The reporter believes that it is a loss if you do not honestly listen to objective criticism as criticism.

***End***