ISBN 9781622776436.

Drawing from his five decades of success as a conductor and educator in the choral field, Will Kesling has compiled a comprehensive choral methods resource that addresses every necessary fundamental for achieving artistry in the choral art. Written in clear and conversational language, this resource covers: Building a healthy and beautiful choral sound Dealing with vocal issues Selecting repertoire and programming concerts Developing score study skills and interpretive insights Understanding the characteristics of musical periods and composers Planning, preparing for, and running rehearsals The Voices I Hear also explores important but often overlooked topics, including a discussion of performing sacred music in secular education settings, techniques for performing choral-orchestral works, choral versus orchestral conducting, and how to become a true “maestro.” Individual chapters also function as standalone topics of study. A valuable read for emerging and seasoned conductors alike, The Voices I Hear is an expert study of the aesthetic, intellectual, and practical aspects of the choral art. Dr. Will Kesling is Professor of Choral and Orchestral Conducting at the University of Florida, where he has taught for two decades. He has conducted hundreds of choral ensembles and nearly fifty of the world’s finest symphony orchestras. His ensembles have received international attention for their excellence and musical expression.   Thank you, Dr. Kesling, for the decade you gave of yourself to write the most complete and comprehensive writing on the topics of choral techniques, methods, and conducting I have seen. It is in-depth yet practical, to the point of being a valuable resource for both the young conductors entering the choral field to the well-established professionals. You have given us a solid foundation in all significant areas of the choral art, including, among many others, the production of beautiful vocal tone, detailed physical vocal production, textual and physical components of English diction, repertoire programming, appropriate style, interpretation and phrasing, and a pathway to successful conducting of combined choral and orchestral forces. Your enormous and highly successful career, with worldwide performances and numerous awards and honors, has enabled you to bring validity and integrity to the entire writing. —Donald Neuen     Distinguished Professor Emeritus, UCLA     Former member of the Robert Shaw Chorale     Mr. Shaw’s Assistant Conductor with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Choruses For more than 50 years, Dr. Will Kesling has been and continues to be a prominent figure and voice in the International and American choral profession. His new book, The Voices I Hear, is the distillation of his long and distinguished career as a conductor and choral music educator. The driving and consuming passion throughout Kesling’s life is the preparation and performance of the world’s rich and diverse choral and orchestral repertoire and the education, development, and growth of those who perform and conduct it. This book is a summation of a lifetime immersed in the choral art and all its many aspects. It overflows with insights into the choral art that will not only instruct the beginning conductor but also will enlighten and entertain the seasoned professional conductor and educator. It is filled with wit, wisdom, and practical advice to all practitioners of the choral arts. I enthusiastically recommend Kesling’s enlightening new book as an important addition to the choral pedagogy bibliography and for use as an invaluable new text for choral practicum classes for both graduate and undergraduate students. Dr. Kesling has brought to the choral profession significant new insights to all lovers of the choral art. —Craig Jessop     Professor of Music, University of Utah     Former Music Director of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square     and the United States Air Force Singing Sergeants Will Kesling’s book, The Voices I Hear, is practical and philosophical, useful and inspirational, focused and comprehensive. The observations and advice are based on his vast personal experiences on the podium with choirs and orchestras, and the book is a monumental resource for both the young conductor and the veteran. Containing a broad spectrum of musical styles, composers, and topics, Kesling’s direct and practical writing connects immediately with today’s choral musician. Keep The Voices I Hear nearby as there will be many times down the road where the information and opinions in Dr. Kesling’s book will answer the questions you have, as well as the ones you didn’t even know to ask! —Jerry Blackstone     Professor Emeritus of Music (conducting) and Director of Choirs (retired)     School of Music, Theatre & Dance, University of Michigan This is the textbook I wish had been available when I was beginning my studies. It is comprehensive in scope, practical and helpful in its suggestions, and, perhaps most surprising in a book from an academic, superbly written in clear and powerful English. Kesling speaks with conviction, clarity, and polish, and he finds colorful and memorable ways of making his points and presents the material from the perspective of one who has done all these things for decades at a highly professional level. I give this volume the highest possible recommendation. —Daniel Gawthrop     Composer & Conductor.

SKU: BT.DHP-1175789-140

English-German-French-Dutch.

Glorioso was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, the ‘Siena Wind Orchestra’. The work opens after a short aleatoric intro, with an energetic and brassy ‘one tone fanfare’. The note F acts as an omnipresent note, and is also used as a bridge into the second, rather static movement. A noble sounding theme leads to an impressive climax, shortly followed by the spectacular and virtuoso finale, which is built on the musical elements that have been heard before. Stylistically, this sparkling finale is clearly influenced by Dmitri Shostakovich, hence the use of the famous signature used by the Russian Master: C D E flat B (or C flat). A glorious finish to a special workthat highlights various facets of the modern concert band.

Glorioso werd geschreven in opdracht van en is opgedragen aan het Japanse Siena Wind Orchestra. Het werk opent na een korte aleatorische intro met een energieke ‘one tone fanfare’, waarin voornamelijk het koper aan zet is. De noot F, als een pedaaltoon alomtegenwoordig, blijft nog even klinken in het aansluitende langzame deel. Na een nobel thema volgt de spectaculaire en virtuoze finale, die voortbouwt op de muzikale componenten die al eerder te horen waren. Stilistisch is in deze wervelende finale onmiskenbaar de invloed van Dmitri Sjostakovitsj aanwezig, het hoofdmotief is tot C D Eb B (of Cb) getransformeerd: het anagram dat de Russische meester vaak als muzikalehandtekening heeft gebruikt. Een glorieus slot aan een bijzonder werk dat diverse facetten van het moderne harmonieorkest aan bod laat komen.

Glorioso wurde vom Siena Wind Orchestra in Auftrag gegeben und ist diesem gewidmet. Das Werk beginnt nach einer kurzen, aleatorischen Einleitung mit einer schwungvollen Blechbläser-Fanfare auf nur einem Ton. Dabei ist der Ton F allgegenwärtig und leitet in den langsamen, eher statischen Satz über. Nachdem das nobel klingende Thema zu einem beeindruckenden Höhepunkt geführt hat, setzt sich das fantastische und virtuose Finale aus den zuvor erklungenen Elementen zusammen. Stilistisch ist dieses schwungvolle Finale deutlich von Dmitri Schostakowitsch beeinflusst, daher wird die berühmte musikalische Unterschrift des russischen Meisters verwendet, die dieser oftbenutzte: C D Es H (oder Ces). Ein eindrucksvolles Ende eines besonderen Werkes, das verschiedene Facetten des modernen Blasorchesters hervorhebt.

Glorioso est une commande du, et dédicacée au ‘Siena Wind Orchestra’. L’œuvre commence après une courte introduction aléatoire qui comprend une fanfare énergique et cuivrée « sur une note », puisque la note fa est omniprésente et est utilisée comme pont dans le deuxième mouvement plutôt statique. Un thème noble mène vers une apogée impressionnante et le final spectaculaire et virtuose se compose d’éléments musicaux entendus plus tôt. Le style de ce final bouillonnant est évidemment influencé par Dmitri Chostakovitch, ce qui explique l’usage de sa célèbre signature fréquemment utilisée : do ré mi bémol si (ou do bémol). Une fin glorieuse d’uneœuvre spéciale qui met en scène les nombreuses facettes d’un orchestre d’harmonie moderne.

Glorioso è stato commissionatodalla Siena Wind Orchestra, ed è a loro dedicato. Il lavoro si apre dopo una breve introduzione aleatoria, con una fanfara energica e dai suoni simili agli ottoni. La nota Fa agisce come una nota onnipresente, ed è anche usata come un ponte nel secondo movimento piuttosto statico. Un tema sonoro nobile porta ad un climax impressionante, seguito a breve distanza dal finale spettacolare e virtuoso, che è costruito sugli elementi musicali che sono stati ascoltati precedentemente. Stilisticamente, questo frizzante finale è chiaramente influenzato da Dmitri Shostakovich, da qui l'uso della famosa firma usata dal Maestro russo: Do Re Mib Si (oDob). Un finale glorioso per un'opera speciale che mette in risalto varie sfaccettature della banda moderna.