Spirituals for Choirs (. . . for Choirs Collections) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0193435373 ISBN 13: 9780193435377

Publisher: Oxford University Press Music, 2001

Synopsis

An exciting collection of twenty new spiritual arrangements for SATB choirs, specially commissioned for this volume, compiled and edited by Bob Chilcott. Taking a fresh look at these timeless songs, including both familiar favorites and less well-known gems, the ten arrangers bring to these pieces the fruits of their diverse musical backgrounds and experiences. The arrangements feature a wide range of styles, from introspective to ecstatic, with a mixture of large- and small-scale pieces, both unaccompanied and accompanied. Spirituals for Choirs provides singers with an inspirational, moving, and above all, enjoyable repertoire. Arrangers: Lydia Adams, Steve Barnett, David Blackwell, Bob Chilcott, Peter Louis van Dijk, Paul Hart, Andrew Pryce-Jackman, Joseph Jennings, John Washburn, Roderick Williams

About this title

About the Author:

Bob Chilcott has a established an international reputation as one of Britain's most versatile and popular composers of choral music. He began his career as a chorister and choral scholar in the choir of King's College, Cambridge, under the leadership of Sir David Wilcocks and Philip Ledger. For twelve years, he was a member of the renowned vocal ensemble The King's Singers, for whom he wrote numerous a cappella and accompanied pieces and arrangements, many of which have been featured on the group's recordings for BMG and EMI Records. It was this experience that led him to full-time composition, fulfilling a desire to extend his commitment to young and to amateur choirs through his own brand of accessible music, which allows him to share his deep belief in the communicative and social aspects of music. Bob Chilcott currently conducts the chorus at the Royal College of Music in London and is in great demand as a guest conductor and leader of choral workshops worldwide.

Review:

These specially commissioned choral arrangements are wonderfully passionate and evocative as well as superbly crafted; they often throw a completely new light upon familiar melodies (rather as Tippett does in his five spirituals from A Child of our time) . . . It seems invidious to single out any particular arrangement - they are all extremely effective - but I particularly enjoyed Chilcott's arrangements of 'All my trials', 'Evr'y time I feel the Spirit' and 'Nobody knows the trouble' . . . If you have the vocal resources, this book is a must. * Church Music Quarterly December 2001 * 'Deep river' (Paul Hart) has some wonderfully surprising harmonies in spite of the number of times the tune must have been re-worked by different arrangers over the years. The same arranger's extrovert version of 'Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel' is superb. The harmonies are chromatic but always right for the style and make this the sort of music which choirs would really enjoy working at, every voice having moments of interest . . . The whole book is strongly recommended and I would suggest that choral directors should obtain a copy to see for themselves the superb standard of the arrangements. * Ensemble (MMA) Jan 02 * Chilcott contributes five arrangements to this collection, which is one of the many strengths of the publication. The other arrangers represent stellar choral arrangers, making this one of the best collections of its kind . . . With the roster of arrangers in this publication comes a wide range of styles, from the spirited to the introspective . . . There is something for every choir in this collection. They make strong demands on any choir, but will give strong rewards as well. * Choral Journal (US) Vol. 43, No. 8 * Oxford University Press has issued another of its excellent anthologies of choral music, always well chosen, well edited, and extremely well bound, a consideration not to be taken lightly in this age of all too often shoddy workmanship in the world's binderies. In the hands of experienced cathedral or collegiate choirs or choral societies, these settings are virtually guaranteed to restore the jaded Christian, and bring to the unconvinced a new message of hope and joy. I congratulate Bob Chilcott and his excellent team of nine for adding to the Christian ministry in such a positive way. * Henry Howell, Australian Music Teacher Jun 2003 * Eight favourites come up sparkling in new arrangements by Ken Burton and Bob Chilcott . . . In short, this is a splendid collection for adventurous choirs prepared to let their hair down and forget their traditional British reserve. * Christopher Field, Music Teacher, Feb 2004 *

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press Music
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0193435373
• ISBN 13: 9780193435377
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 180
• Editor: Chilcott Bob