Rhythmic Grouping: Rests

The term 'rhythmic grouping' or simply, 'grouping' describes the way in which notes, motives, phrases and larger units are organized in a specific composition.

In the opening of Symphony No. 4 by Brahms, quarter rests delineate each statement of a two-note motive. Four rhythmically equal gestures connect to form a single phrase. This is perhaps the simplest possible illustration of how rests are part of a rhythmic group, rather than separate from the group. There is no question that the violinists here will taper each half note into the ensuing rest, stopping the motion of the bow for the duration of the rest. A change of bow direction takes place during the rest as well.

Now on to the main point of this post: in my experience as a collaborative pianist/organist with singers and as an avid listener of lieder and opera, I am troubled by the fact that, most of the time, singers do not observe rests at the ends of rhythmic groups. The biggest names in vocal performance are just as remiss in this regard as the most amateur singer. What could possibly be the reason behind this disregard for the composers' markings?

Anyone who has sung in a chorus knows the hard work that goes into making all cutoffs perfectly together. Choral directors are constantly reminding the singers to watch especially at the ends of phrases - why? so that the sound turns into silence at a precise moment in time. One would think that highly trained 'professional' singers would take this wonderful structural aspect of the music more seriously, but they do not. I'm relatively certain that they are unaware of the problem.

All comments are welcome.