Nineteenth-Century Choral Music is an in-depth examination of the rich repertoire of choral music and the cultural phenomenon of choral music making throughout the period. The book is divided into three main sections. The first details the attraction to choral singing and the ways it was linked to different parts of society, and to the role of choral voices in the two principal large-scale genres of the period: the symphony and opera. A second section highlights ten choral-orchestral masterworks that are a central part of the repertoire. The final section presents overview and focus chapters covering composers, repertoire (both small and larger works), and performance life in an historical context from over a dozen regions of the world: Britain and Ireland, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latin America, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia and Finland, Spain, and the United States.

This diverse collection of essays brings together the work of 25 authors, many of whom have devoted much of their scholarly lives to the composers and music discussed, giving the reader a lively and unique perspective on this significant part of nineteenth-century musical life.

About the Author

Donna M. Di Grazia is the David J. Baldwin Professor of Music and Choral Conductor at Pomona College in Claremont, California, and a recipient of the Wig Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Reviews

"This book is a superb achievement. No other survey of the choral repertoire of the nineteenth century approaches it in breadth, or in the thoroughness of its documentation. No other book attempts to explore in such depth the choral culture of the nineteenth century - the era that established the chorus as we know it. This volume will likely serve as the central reference for the study of choral music of this period for the foreseeable future."

--William Weinert, University of Rochester in Nineteenth Century Music Review

"Nineteenth-Century Choral Music provides conductors with a fantastic start: important socio-political contextualization, analyses of standard repertoire, ideas for new repertoire, and authoritative recent resources in endnotes and selected bibliographies. Clearly many of the twenty-five scholar authors, like Di Grazia, have sung, conducted, or played in performances of the music about which they have gracefully and authoritatively written. Without question, the immense pleasure and satisfaction gained from Di Grazia's wonderful resource is in its inclusive scope so beautifully balanced with insightful detail."

--Melinda O'Neal, Dartmouth College in Choral Journal

"Written by 25 eminent music scholars, the essays offer new, enlightening insights into a variety of topics relating to a century of choral literature...Supplemented with music examples and bibliographies, this is an important, distinguished contribution to the literature on choral music. Summing Up: Essential."

-- J. J. Leary-Warsaw, Birmingham-Southern College in CHOICE

"Nineteenth-Century Choral Music is a most welcome addition to the field of both choral literature and music making. The essays are engaging, thought provoking, and meticulously researched, and there is surely something for anyone with an interest in nineteenth century choral literature...Recommended."

--Erik W. Goldstrom, The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians

Book Information
ISBN 9780415988537
Author Donna M. Di Grazia
Format Paperback
Page Count 544
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 929g