Choral Composition: A Handbook for Composers, Arrangers, Conductors, and Singers

This comprehensive handbook details the fundamentals and forms of choral composition and expands upon the coverage and number of topics in Archibald T. Davison’s 1945 classic text Choral Conducting. Historical trends in choral composition are traced with a special emphasis on the profusion of changes that occurred throughout the twentieth century, particularly since 1950. Early chapters focus on characteristics of voice, notation, text, devices, part writing, a cappella and instrumental accompaniments, and choral forms. Hines goes on to analyze the utilization of soloists and choruses with keyboard and diverse instrumental chamber ensembles, ful orchestra, and the role of the chorus in opera, operetta, musicals, and music theater. The final chapter focuses on practical concerns, such as music publication and how the artist can function effectively in that world.