CJ Replay: Dubious Choral Publications

     “There’s no denying: we’ve done it to ourselves. It’s time to admit our guilt and try to make restitution.  I refer to the inescapable conclusion that the quality of literature being purveyed by the music dealers and publishers of America is the direct result of the sloth of America’s choral directors.”

     “I recently received a flyer from a major music dealer – a reliable, established company. In bold type, I found “Bored By Bach? Hung On Handel? Vague on Vaughan Williams? ,” followed by the recommendation that titles by the mentioned composers be discarded in favor of “The Monotone Angel,” “Swinging King Wenceslas,” or “Santa Claus, You Are Much Too Fat.” I promptly fired off a letter to the company, citing their affront to the profession and asking to be removed from their mailing list; Appalled as I may be by their obvious slur to good literature, the longer I consider this, the more I realize that the blame lies at the feet of those of us in the profession who encourage such slurs.”

 

(From the Choral Journal article “From the Associate Editor,” by Sandra Chapman)