Historical Dictionary of Choral Music

A Library Journal Starred Review (March 2024) praises the book as a "remarkable resource that will please both musical professionals and amateurs, along with teachers and their students, and conductors and singers."
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.

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.

Acknowledgments
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction
The Dictionary
Bibliography
General Music Reference Works
General Studies of Choral Music
Studies of Genres and Styles
Studies of Choral Performance Practice
Studies of Religious Music Traditions
Studies of Choral Traditions and Activities by Region
Bibliographies, Indexes, Anthologies, and General Guides to
Choral Repertoire
Studies of Individual Composers and Conductors
Interviews with Choral Composers and Conductors
Studies of Other Composers, Conductors, Choirs, Choral Events, and Choral Developments
Choral Journals
Websites
About the Author