Historical Dictionary of Choral Music - (Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts) by Melvin P Unger (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Historical Dictionary of Choral Music focuses on choral music and practice in the Western world from the medieval era to the 21st century. This is done through a chronology, introduction, bibliography, and over 1000 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important composer...

Book Synopsis

The Historical Dictionary of Choral Music focuses on choral music and practice in the Western world from the medieval era to the 21st century. This is done through a chronology, introduction, bibliography, and over 1000 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important composers, genres, conductors, institutions, styles, and technical terms of choral music.

Review Quotes

The dictionary format is reader-friendly, giving potted biographies of a number of composers, specifically in relation to their choral works, and this is helpful in the case of those who are no longer known for this kind of composition. As with other series of this kind, there is a useful chronology of key dates in terms of musical change and significant publication or performance dates of choral music and foundation dates of some choirs....This will be a useful addition to general reference libraries and music libraries in particular; choral practitioners may also find it helpful for programming.

Highly recommended for academic libraries and serious choral enthusiasts.

The importance of Melvin Unger's new book, Historical Dictionary of Choral Music, is immeasurable. The breadth of the scope of material is what one would expect, but the succinct details of definitions, personalities, styles, and political and artistic attitudes elevate the book to the level of masterwork.

This book is an incredible accomplishment, successfully covering both familiar and lesser known individuals and repertoire, as well as the standard choral genres. It will prove useful for professionals and lay musicians alike, and will be particularly welcome in university graduate programs, which have long needed a resource of this type.

Unger (Handbook to Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts) opens this singular reference with a chronology locates the genesis of choral music in 590 CE. The 1000 fully cross-referenced, alphabetized entries define both religious and secular choral composers, composition styles, conductors, institutions, genres, and technical concerns. Each runs between a single and several paragraphs. While the guide covers Western music, the greatest emphasis is placed on work from Europe and America. Entries are concise. However, an exceptional 72-page, thematically organized bibliography closes the book and will prove immensely useful to musicologists.

Unger (Baldwin-Wallace College) provides basic information about important composers, genres, conductors, institutions, styles, and technical terms. This dictionary represents composers from all periods of Western music; Renaissance composers Josquin and Lassus receive as much attention as Handel and Brahms. Unger also discusses the accomplishments of composers active today (e.g., Pärt, Tormis, Tavener) in adequate detail....The articles on genres and terms are generally informative; 'Mass, ' 'motet, ' 'madrigal, ' and 'spiritual' are discussed thoroughly. The 'cantata' entry is also extensive....Unger provides an extensive bibliography, focusing mainly on recently published sources....Unger's dictionary is especially welcome....Unger's inclusion of secular music within his spectrum provides additional justification for purchasing this dictionary. Summing Up: Recommended.

What a wonderful resource for conductors and singers, teachers and students, professionals and amateurs alike! Speaking as a mixture of the above who never has enough time for the detailed research to which we all aspire, I will find this book a constant and invaluable resource and am grateful!

About the Author

Melvin P. Unger is director of the School of Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia.