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Book Reviews
Book Reviews

The traditional “sink or swim” method of training fully managed a liturgical performance of the
young directors and organists—where “[conductors] Frank Martin Mass for double choir on just 60
are simply told to stand in front of the choir, or to sit minutes rehearsal time, in the middle of Uni-
at an organ console, and get on with it” (p. 36)—is versity examinations (p. 93).
discussed and remedied in her second chapter, “Edu-
cation and Examinations.” Chapter 3 (“Trials and The fourth and fifth chapters discuss, in turn, the
Tribulations”) concerns the rigors of practice and ex- constant preparation of anthems for multiple weekly
pectations of the singers in her care, and her efforts services (referred to by the author as “heat and serve”);
to keep standards high (and ever higher) from year to as well as her very different experiences with American
year. Of course, the level of music making she can coax college choirs who typically take more time for polish.
from her singers is far beyond the dreams of most of (She, of course, has a different standard for her groups
us, yet her struggles prove one can always aspire for when on tour.) Chapter 6 (“Counterpoint, Composition,
greater results. An example from one of her best years and Choosing Music”) includes the article “So you want
is particularly inspiring (or at least astonishing): to write a fugue,” which details the rigor of just this for
her Cambridge students. She also has sage advice on
Eleven of the 26 singers had perfect pitch, and separating the wheat from the chaff in the huge volume
they were even conveniently well distributed of new works: “I’m afraid I enthusiastically shred and
across all of the sections. That group success- recycle anything saccharine, vacuous, pointlessly sim-

80 CHORAL JOURNAL February 2024 Volume 64 Number 6