Historical Dictionary of Choral Music

Throughout the ages, people have wanted to sing in a communal context. This desire apparently stems from a deeply rooted human instinct. Consequently, choral performance historically has often been related to human rituals and ceremonies, especially rites of a religious nature.Historical Dictionary of Choral Music, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 1,300 cross-referenced entries on composers, conductors, choral ensembles, choral genres, and choral repertoire. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about choral music.

This welcome new edition of Mel Unger’s Historical Dictionary of Choral Music, like the first, will no doubt prove to be an indispensable resource for choral conductors and choral music enthusiasts, students and professionals alike. A wealth of practical information, carefully curated and organized by a seasoned conductor and teacher.

Melvin P. Unger is Director Emeritus of the School of Music at the State University of New York (Fredonia). He previously served as Director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea Ohio. During his career in Canada and the USA, he has directed choirs of all types and ages.