Selected Baroque compositions with instrumental accompaniment for amateur choir

Very often conductors of church choirs, high school choirs, and some college choirs find it necessary and appropriate to program music that is beyond the usual two or three minute octavo. In many cases, resources are limited: The ensembles are small or unbalanced with regard to parts; there may be a lack of male singers; singers are often inexperienced or new to choral ensemble singing; and amateur singers may lack the vocal stamina or technique necessary to perform large works. Additionally, rehearsal time may be limited yet music must be learned quickly. The purpose of this document is to examine original full-length choral works with instrumental accompaniment that are sustainable with limited vocal resources but will soar with talented singers, and will provide satisfactory experiences for both groups. The scope of this document is limited to works from the Baroque period much of which is rarely performed. The choral works of Dietrich Buxtehude, Andreas Hammerschmidt, Heinrich Schütz, and Georg Philipp Telemann are examined in light of specific selection criteria to identify works suitable for church choir, high school, and entry level college choirs. Included in this document is a selected and annotated list of the composers' works meeting these selection criteria.