The Chorusmaster: A Practical Guide

Before one can undertake the work of a chorusmaster or choirmaster, certain definite qualifications, natural or acquired, are necessary. First among them comes a talent for leadership, an ability to convince others that a certain way of doing things is the best, and to arouse their enthusiasm for it, and with this there must be musical taste and a keen ear. From these all the others may be developed; without them we can do nothing.

—from 'The Chorusmaster: A Practical Guide to Organising and Conducting Choirs and Choral Societies' by Herbert Antcliffe

I'm not sure how this oddly daunting little volume came into my possession, but I can say that if I had read it before I began conducting, I think it would have put me off the idea altogether. I'm looking forward to sharing some more of its gems with you on this blog—like Sir Henry Coward's view that 'Choral singing is the most socialistic—using this term in its proper anti-Bolshevik sense—of all the amenities of life, except religion'.

I'm planning to use this blog to look behind the scenes of choral conducting, from the process of programming repertoire through to performance, and to give you a glimpse of day-to-day life with what I firmly believe is Canberra's best chamber choir. I'm also hoping that some other Oriana characters might be persuaded to write here, too. 

Thanks for reading!