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Conducting A Choir: A Guide For Amateurs

Imogen Holst (1907-1984), the daughter of the composer Gustav Holst, was a much-loved source of inspiration for the many musicians and students who encountered her over the years at the Dartington Summer School of Music and the Aldeburgh Festival. In this book, originally published in 1973, she sets out clearly and concisely--and often amusingly--a wealth of practical information that will be of particular interest to the amateur conductor. She gives precise and detailed advice on the technique of conducting, how to form and train a choir, the presentation and rehearsal of music, and how to approach public performances and competitions. Her final chapter offers suggestions for the actual rehearsal of choruses from Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, Handel's l'Allegro, and Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb.

Paperback: 176 pages

Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (April 19, 1990)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0193134071

ISBN-13: 978-0193134072

Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.9 inches

Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #1,692,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Holst #189 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Conducting #590 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Late Romantic

I bought this book to compare it to other "how to" conducting sources such as "What to Listen for In Music" by Aaron Copland and Anthony Maiello's "Conducting: A Hands-On Approach". Though compact and in simplistic language, I would recommend this as a quick read for any beginning choral conductor because Imogen Holst takes the basic of directing music and applies it specifically to the woes/problems of the choral world.

This book will function very well as a kind of 'extended' introduction to choral conduction.Although it is short on (drawings of) different beat patterns and other technical stuff it presents a lot of other subjects to consider and that can be applied in practice: how to set up a rehearsel, how to organize a concert, joining festivals and so on.For the real technical stuff you need to consult more detailed books. But 'Conducting a choir' gives an excellent overview of subjects the (starting) conductor have to master.LH, The Netherlands

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