Choral Conducting: Philosophy and Practice, Second Edition is an updated resource for conductors and singers alike, a college-level text for students of choral conducting that considers conducting and singing from a holistic perspective. This singer-friendly and voice-healthy approach examines the rehearsal environment alongside its musical performance counterpart. The author explores what is involved in leading a choral group, examining theories of learning and human behavior to understand the impact choral conductors have on the act of singing.
Divided into two main parts—Philosophy and Practice—the text begins with an historical look at conducting, exploring questions of why people sing and why they sing together, and ultimately presents the application of this philosophy, showing how a conductor’s gestures and patterns can influence vocal outcomes. In addressing how singers learn and respond to choral music, as well as how conductors communicate with singers in rehearsal and performance, Choral Conducting turns an eye to learning how we learn and the role successful choral conductors play in motivating singers, developing healthy singing habits, and improving individual and ensemble vocal quality—all with the aims of enhancing musical understanding.
New to this edition:
- Updated diagrams, photos, and musical examples
- Revised sample choral programs
- Increased consideration of the orchestral conductor
- A renewed focus on the intersections of learning, health and well-being, and the social perspective, supported by new and recent research
Part I. Philosophy
Chapter 1 - Swimming with the Tide
Chapter 2 - Human Learning and Behavior
Chapter 3 - Why Do People Sing?
Chapter 4 - The Role of the Conductor
Chapter 5 - The Choral Conducting Phenomenon
Chapter 6 - Toward a Super-Model Choral Conductor
Part II. Practice
Chapter 7 - The Conductors’ Craft: Rehearsing
Chapter 8 - Less Is More: Conducting Gesture
Chapter 9 - Conducting and Vocal Development and Health
Chapter 10 - Teaching Choral Conducting: Philosophy and Practice
Chapter 11 - Last Movement
Biography
Colin Durrant is Conductor of the University of London Chamber Choir and the Imperial College London Choir. He has led conducting and choral singing workshops in the US, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Kenya, as well as in Europe and the UK.
