Camerata: A Guide to Organizing and Directing Small Choruses

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Description

Camerata: A Guide to Organizing and Directing Small Choruses distinguishes itself from all other works on choral conducting by starting at the very beginningthe conception and purpose of an ensembleand continuing through all other aspects of rehearsing and organizing a chorus to performance and reception. Wenk offers basic information on getting started, recruiting singers, planning programs, rehearsing music, publicizing concerts, sharing responsibilities, financing the operation, knowing the law, and finally getting better. He also offers detailed suggestions for creating an executive group to manage the choir as well ideas for repertoire and programming. In addition to a step-by-step guide, Camerata provides a wealth of supplementary material including a prospectus, a statement of goals and means, programs, organizational documents, a singers guide, documents for organizing a folksong competition, a list of websites for publishers and choral federations, and an annotated bibliography of works on choral conducting. Wenk also includes more than twenty original Christmas carols and carol arrangements for performance by your small chorus. This work will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in starting a new choral organization or improving an existing ensemble. Although the book focuses on chamber choirs, Wenks practical suggestions, based on more than forty years of experience as a choral conductor, can be easily applied to any choral organization.

Reviews

Arthur Wenk shares with us his long and successful experience organizing and conducting small, quality choruses, especially the Toronto Camerata. A well written, practical guide to getting groups off the ground and operating efficientlymaterial generally not found elsewhereit includes sample programs, a wealth of actual music composed or arranged by Wenk himself, and more. The book is a fine addition to the choral scene. Sing on! -- Dr. J. Heywood Alexander, Cleveland State University

Author Bio

Arthur Wenk has founded and directed a cappella chamber choirs in Boston, Pittsburgh, Qubec City, and Toronto. His choirs have broadcast over WGBH and NPR in the United States and Radio Canada (the French broadcasting arm of CBC) in Canada. Dr. Wenk is the author of books on Claude Debussy, musical bibliographies, and cultural history.