Ronald Corp's Companion was warmly received when it first appeared in 1987. Here is a completely revised and updated edition which will be indispensable to all who participate - as conductors, singers and administrators - in the world of choral singing, both amateur and professional.

Essential information is provided on composers, works, technical terms, and how to run a choir. All this is brought together in an easily consulted format. There is a wealth of advice on repertoire and on such matters as how to conduct successful rehearsals and build balanced concert programmes.

This Companion offers a complete guide to a branch of music which continues to thrive despite the many changes in the world of music generally.

 

Foreword to The Choral Singer's Companion
In The Choral Singer's Companion, Ronald Corp has accomplished the rare feat of writing an essential reference book that is also a pleasure to read. Information on choral music - the repertoire, the composers, the texts, the instrumentations, the durations - can be surprisingly hard to find. What is the playing time of the Mozart Requiem? What is the exact orchestral requirement for Handel's Saul? How many soloists does the Bach St John Passion call for? What choral repertoire is there with brass accompaniment? Anyone involved in planning a choral concert needs answers to such questions, and The Choral Singer's Companion provides them.

Yet there is more to this deceptively slim volume than a compendium of statistics. For the programme-note writer, there are succinct biographies of the composers, useful descriptions of their main choral works, and some frequently-set texts written out with translations. For the conductor, there are wise words of advice on conducting itself and on the often neglected art of programme building. For the singer, there is a valuable chapter on vocal technique and a glossary of musical terms. And, last but not least, any lover of choral music can browse with pleasure through the entire book.

Choral music has possibly a longer history and more diverse repertoire than any other musical genre. Choral singing remains one of the most richly rewarding of corporate experiences. In an age where the solitude of the computer screen drives people apart and threatens to oust real group activity, the world needs its choirs more than ever before, in church, in school, in the concert hall, and in the community. This excellent book will help to inform and nourish all who are interested in choral music, whether as participants or listeners. It deserves the warmest of welcomes.

John Rutter

The Choral Singer's Companion
Published by Thames/Elkin
ISBN 0 905210 63 8