The choral music of James E. Fritschel with a conductor's special focus on the preparation of his polychoral compositions

Polychoral compositions have been present since the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Oftentimes, the polychoral compositions performed today are compositions written during these early musical periods. In the latter half of the twentieth century, James Erwin Fritschel (b. 1929) wrote polychoral compositions that match the level of difficulty and excitement of the early polychoral compositions of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Fritschel's compositions have been celebrated by leading choral programs throughout the world, yet there is a notable lack of academic analysis of his works. The purpose of this document is to serve as a resource for conductors regarding James Fritschel's choral compositions and a guide for score study and rehearsal preparation of his polychoral compositions. Also included are modern digital versions of each polychoral composition (with the exception of Credo and Psalm 19 due to lack of instrumental parts) and transcriptions of interviews with the composer.