Choral Music Guide: Websites, Bibliographies & Repertoire Lists

Annotated bibliography of almost 2,000 choral works by 76 composers active in the United States between 1920 and 1993, along with an annotated bibliography of more than 200 selected writings.

Bibliography of more than 7,000 choral works arranged in biblical order. Divided into three main sections: Old Testament, the Apocrypha, and New Testament. Majority of the works are choral octavos. Extended works, with few exceptions, are excluded. Provides King James biblical reference: book, chapter, verse(s); additional scripture used, or author of paraphrased text, or translator; composer, arranger, or editor; title; voicing, solos, and accompaniment; and publication information. Cross-references texts from other biblical locations. Expansive composer and title indexes. A supplement was published in 2002, also available at HSU.

Annotated bibliography of 785 choral music resources. Eight sections: (1) general music reference, (2) choral music reference, (3) choral and church music periodicals, (4) choral technique, (5) surveys of choral music, sacred and secular, (6) studies of choral genres, (7) studies of individual composers and works, and (8) choral music Web sites. Expansive subject, author, and title indices.

Annotated list of compositions by 102 African-American composers and arrangers. Entries are graded for difficulty. Information provided includes title, copyright date, number of pages, voicing and soloists, vocal ranges, range of difficulty, accompaniment (if applicable), publisher, and catalog number. Also includes a selected listing of 25 collections of Negro spirituals and brief biographical sketches of 84 composers. Various appendices.

Annotated bibliography of approximately 130 original compositions and 140 arrangements. Limited inclusion of folksongs and carols; excludes works intended exclusively for the Roman Catholic Church service. Gives composer/arranger, title, publisher and catalog number, number of vocal parts, grade of difficulty, approximate length, type of accompaniment, vocal range (lowest alto note to highest soprano note), and available editions. Various indices.

Selective bibliography of approximately 900 sources pertinent to choral music in the United States from the 1820s through the early years of the 20th century.

Multiaccessed index to reviews of choral works in 16 English-language journals. Synopsizes reviews published 1983–1985 of more than 2,000 recently published or reissued octavos, choral collections, and extended choral works. Numerous indices.

Annotated bibliography of nearly 600 opera choruses. Intentions: “to add to the body of choral repertory, and not necessarily to annotate opera scenes that make extensive use of chorus.” Citations include composer, title of opera, date of composition, librettist(s), publisher(s), act, scene, number, title or first line of text, performing forces, duration, level of difficulty (easy, medium, moderately difficult, and difficult), description of scene, and other notes as needed. Various indices.

Annotated bibliography (along with discography) of Haydn’s and Mozart’s choral-orchestral works. Provides duration, text, scoring, first performance, editions and autographs, and performance issues. Various indices.

A companion to Choral Music: A Research and Information Guide. An annotated bibliography of 753 resources with focus on church and worship music in the United States. 10 main sections: (1) general music reference; (2) church music reference; (3) church music in periodicals; (4) historical studies; (5) regional studies (regions of the U. S.); (6) religious and ethnic groups; (7) church and sacred music genres; (8) music ministry; (9) tradition, change, and conflict; and, (10) church and worship music Web sites. Includes approximately 120 dissertations on specific topics in American church music.

Annotated bibliography of 644 choral works. Criteria for selection limited to works for the Protestant worship service and works for mixed chorus, excluding mixed quartets and works for men’s voices and women’s voices. Bibliography, now quite dated, divided into four classifications: standard list, a cappella standard list, current list, and a cappella current list. Basic bibliographic information included for each work with brief annotation. Four helpful indexes: (1) topical index of the church year; (2) first lines; (3) composers, arrangers, musical sources; and (4) authors, translators, textual sources.

The first edition is held at Hardin-Simmons University; the second edition is held at Howard Payne University and McMurry University (see next entry). Similar to the second edition, except for fewer composition listed in the bibliography (537 works), and there are no essays. Various indices.

Two parts. Part I contains a bibliography of 795 compositions and a number of collections of music for men’s voices. Limited to original works for male chorus and based on “availability” and “practicality.” Provides basic bibliographic information, including publisher and catalog numbers, for each entry. Also provides a list of publishers, with addresses and telephone numbers, and a list of service and professional music organizations. Part II presents essays on a variety of topics.

Bibliography of all sacred choral music in print organized alphabetically by composer. Updated by supplements. International in scope, though works published in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe are emphasized. Each entry provides composer, title, voicing, accompaniment, remarks, and pricing information (U. S. dollars). Heavily cross-referenced.

Bibliography of all secular choral music in print organized alphabetically by composer. Updated by supplements. International in scope, though works published in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe are emphasized. Each entry provides composer, title, voicing, accompaniment, remarks, and pricing information (U.S. dollars). Heavily cross-referenced.

Annotated bibliography of 367 choral works, classified as SATB, SATB divisi, SAB, SSA, and TTBB. Provides composer, title, voicing, accompaniment, text, range, level of difficulty, style and general comments, publisher, duration, recommended usage (i.e., Christmas, festival, secular concert, etc.), date of composition, and recommended performance group (high school to college).