Author: Ursula Geïsler
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Published: 2014-10-16
Total Pages: 295
ISBN-13: 144386904X
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →What role does contemporary choral activity play in the construction of social and musical meaning? How can historical knowledge and analysis shed light on contemporary choral problems and possibilities? And how can choral research promote the development and expansion of new music today? Questions like these are addressed in this anthology from a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. The book comprises a selection of papers presented at the International Conference on the Concepts and Practices of Choral Singing in Lund, Sweden, in October 2012. The aim of the conference was to highlight the contemporary dynamic developments in choral research, and to explore interdisciplinary investigations and interaction between practice-based and historical approaches. The conference was also the fourth meeting of the network “Choir in Focus”, which was initiated in 2009 at Southern Choral Centre (Körcentrum Syd), a joint venture between Malmö Academy of Music, the Department of Musicology, Odeum (all at Lund University), Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Music South (Musik i Syd), Sweden. The continuous ambition of the network has been to provide a forum for co-operation across national and disciplinary borders and to encourage debates around the musical and social function of choirs in modern society as mirroring collective and individual needs for meaning, music-making and well-being. In the introductory chapter, the editors describe choral practice as a field of simultaneous (re)presentation, (re)production and (re)creation, and suggest that these three aspects may be seen as umbrella themes for the fifteen chapters of the anthology. The authors come from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal and Belgium, and explore choral practice from differing theoretical and methodological starting points. Together, they contribute to a transdisciplinary discussion about the origins, functions and meanings of choral singing.
Author: James Mark Jordan
Publisher:
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 82
ISBN-13: 9781579998202
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Distills the essentials of good choral vocal technique into eleven concise lessons.--
Author: Charles W. Beale
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2024-02-02
Total Pages: 257
ISBN-13: 019765780X
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Choral conductors and clinicians often focus on honing the technical and artistic elements of their choir's performance, but what is the true purpose of choral singing? Choral performances sound beautiful, but they also tell stories, "say something" to someone, and create change in them. In that fundamental sense, they are always activist. In Transforming Choral Singing: An Activist's Guide for Choir Directors, author Charles W. Beale draws from his nearly 20 years of leading major choirs in the LGBTQIA+ choral movement internationally as well as his long experience as a singer, organist, conductor, and educator to put forth a new vision for choral singing: to move audiences and change the world. Four main principles underpin this vision: connection, impact, social justice, and stylistic openness. Beale lays down a non-canonical and inclusive framework, grounded in critical musicology and pedagogy, for mission-driven and activist-oriented engagement with the choral arts, and provides practical takeaways for choral practitioners and conductors through a lively mix of practical, rigorous, and fun workshops, tips, and suggestions. Starting from the premise that all styles deserve equal space, the nine chapters cover the core aspects of choral directing, including mission, vocal sound, rhythm and groove, improvising, programming, conducting, and leading a choral community, teaching and learning, and the daily practice of equity and inclusion. The book closes with a series of calls to action and lays out a potentially transformative activist vision for the whole field, which foregrounds participation and engagement, and conceives of all choral singing as a powerful catalyst for musical and social change. The result is a provocative and contemporary approach to building choral communities with profound implications for why we sing, what we sing, how we sing, and how we conduct, teach, rehearse, and lead a choral community.
Author: Charles W. Beale
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2024
Total Pages: 257
ISBN-13: 0197657788
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In Transforming Choral Singing: An Activist's Guide for Choir Directors, author Charles W. Beale draws from his many years of choral directing experience to put forth a new vision for choral singing: to move audiences and change the world. He lays down a non-canonical and inclusive framework, grounded in critical musicology and pedagogy, for mission-driven and activist-oriented engagement with the choral arts and provides practical takeaways for choral practitioners and conductors through a lively mix of practical workshops, tips, and suggestions.
Author: Sigmund Spaeth
Publisher: Suzuki Method International
Published: 1995-04
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9780874870824
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →The idea for FIFTY-FIVE ART SONGS was conceived by Carl O. Thompson, head of The Division of Fine and Applied Arts at the State Teachers College, Bemidji, Minnesota. From his experience as a choral conductor, he knew how much choral groups enjoyed the chance to sing beautiful solos in unison instead of always being confined to their individual parts. But this collection isn't designed just for unison choral singing: It is equally valuable for class or individual vocal teaching, for amateurs and professionals. Sigmund Spaeth, well known for his writings, lectures, and radio talks on music, collaborated with Dr. Thompson in assembling this collection. He best describes its scope in the foreword: "This book is a cross section of the entire literature of Art Song. Every one of the 55 numbers is a classic of its kind and each is by a different composer, which in itself makes the collection unique." Also unique are Spaeth's new singable translations of the German, French, Italian, and Russian songs.
Author: Wendy K. Moy
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2024-04-02
Total Pages: 172
ISBN-13: 1040010989
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Through a collection of extensive interviews with choral conductors, educators, singers, and professional leaders, this book documents the choral music community’s journey through crisis and change during the COVID-19 pandemic and aids in its rebuilding in a new era where COVID-19 is endemic. When the pandemic emerged in early 2020, the impact on choral music was immediate and devastating, as the act of gathering and singing together became a source of contagion and potential severe illness or death. Weaving together a wide range of first-person accounts, this book addresses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on choral music across contexts including community choruses, professional choirs, children and youth choirs, school choirs, and choral organizations. In their own words, we hear how the community responded to the challenges and banded together to innovate, use technology in new ways, and generate changes to practice. The book also explores how the pandemic caused many directors to realize that they needed to create a more inclusive place of belonging in their rehearsals, and provides reflections on the philosophy of singing and creating a choral community. Documenting both pandemic experiences and the lessons learned from surviving and thriving, this book showcases the resilience of choral music and helps point the way to new directions for the choral community in the wake of the pandemic.
Author: Sharon J. Paul
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2020-04-01
Total Pages: 241
ISBN-13: 0190863765
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In recent decades, cognitive neuroscience research has increased our understanding of how the brain learns, retains, and recalls information. At the same time, social psychologists have developed insights into group dynamics, exploring what motivates individuals in a group to give their full effort, or conversely, what might instead inspire them to become free loaders. Art and Science in the Choral Rehearsal explores the idea that choral conductors who better understand how the brain learns, and how individuals within groups function, can lead more efficient, productive, and enjoyable rehearsals. Armed with this knowledge, conductors can create rehearsal techniques which take advantage of certain fundamental brain and social psychology principles. Through such approaches, singers will become increasingly engaged physically and mentally in the rehearsal process. Art and Science in the Choral Rehearsal draws from a range of scientific studies to suggest and encourage effective, evidence-based techniques, and can help serve to reset and inspire new approaches toward teaching. Each chapter outlines exercises and creative ideas for conductors and music teachers, including the importance of embedding problem solving into rehearsal, the use of multiple entry points for newly acquired information, techniques to encourage an emotional connection to the music, and ways to incorporate writing exercises into rehearsal. Additional topics include brain-compatible teaching strategies to complement thorough score study, the science behind motivation, the role imagination plays in teaching, the psychology of rehearsal, and conducting tips and advice. All of these brain-friendly strategies serve to encourage singers' active participation in rehearsals, with the goal of motivating beautiful, inspired, and memorable performances.