Synopsis
Renowned choral conductor and educator André J. Thomas has crafted a book that the conductor of any choral ensemble-be it church, high school, university, or professional-will want close at hand when preparing to program any concert spiritual. Understanding the Spiritual, the first of the book's two sections, includes an exploration of the beginnings of the spiritual, its role in society and its transition into art music. Issues of interpretation-text, diction, rhythm and tempo-are addressed in the second section, Performing the Spiritual. In addition to interviews with noted conductors Dr. Anton Armstrong and Prof. Judith Willoughby as to matters of performance and selection, the centerpiece of this section is Dr. Thomas's personal reflections on several spiritual arrangements, including his rehearsal techniques (with specific examples and measure-number references to the included scores), as well as an insightful look into his decisions of interpretation.
About the Author
Dr. André J. Thomas, Owen F. Sellers, Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. He previously served on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Thomas received the baccalaureate degree in Music Education from Friends University, the Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Northwestern University, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois. He is frequently in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician and director of Honor Choirs and All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. He has conducted choirs at the state, division and national conventions of Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has served as a conductor and clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians. In 1998, Dr. Thomas conducted the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines, and returned in 1999-2000 to conduct the winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe. In 1999, he and the Florida State University Singers performed in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, at the invitation of the Vietnamese government. Besides his extensive conducting credits, he has distinguished himself as a composer/arranger. His compositions and arrangements are published by Heritage Music Press, Hinshaw Music Company, Mark Foster Music Company, Fitzsimmon Music Company, Lawson-Gould, earthsongs, Laurel Press, and Choristers Guild. Dr. Thomas conducts several choral ensembles at the Florida State campus and teaches choral conducting. In November 1995, the Florida chapter of the ACDA presented Dr. Thomas with the prestigious Wayne Hugobloom Distinguished Service Award for his Dedicated Service, Leadership and Consistent Example of Excellence to his Profession The Choral Art. On January 13, 1996, Florida State University honored Dr. Thomas with the Dr
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