A Conductor's Guide to Tenor/Bass Choral Music by Canadian Composers

This study examines the presence of active tenor/bass choirs in Canada and the growing volume of repertoire for this voicing by Canadian composers. From Vancouver’s Chor Leoni to St. John’s Newman Sound, numerous tenor/bass choirs are thriving in Canada. Canadian tenor/bass choirs have long been actively commissioning some of the country’s finest choral composers to write specifically for tenor/bass voices. The result is a growing library of high-quality choral music by Canadian composers for tenor/bass voices that deserves greater recognition. Unfortunately, the contributions of Canadian composers have been greatly overlooked on recommended lists of tenor/bass choir music, however, and this research seeks to rectify that situation. This conductor’s guide contains analyses of one hundred selected works for tenor/bass ensembles by Canadian composers. All of the works have been written specifically for tenor/bass voices and are readily available to conductors and choirs. Both secular and sacred repertoire is represented. Analysis information includes date of composition, voicing, accompaniment, performance duration, publisher information, text source and complete texts, vocal ranges, general musical characteristics, and technical considerations. In addition, four of the selected works include an expanded analysis to assist conductors while preparing these specific works with tenor/bass choirs. This supplemental conductor’s guide includes background on the composer and composition, exploration of the text and connections with the music, and teaching strategies to help meet the identified challenges in the score. The music examined is appropriate for community and school ensembles comprising tenors and basses ranging in age from youth through adult groups. For the purposes of this study, it does not include barbershop style repertoire. Appendices include a representative list of active tenor/bass choirs in Canada, listings of the one hundred selected works by various parameters (i.e. sacred/secular, voicing, level, etc.), as well as a listing of additional original and re-voiced repertoire for tenor/bass choirs by Canadian composers.D.M.A