Alice Parker’s book trilogy is complete!
The Anatomy of Melody is, in my opinion, the essential missing text of undergraduate music literacy. It teaches what a strong melody is and how they’re constructed. In a music theory world obsessed with verticality, this book teaches horizontality.
The Answering Voice is the sequel, and its subtitle tells you what you need to know. “the Beginnings of Counterpoint” shows you how to forget the “rules” of counterpoint by understanding how strong melodies apply to second voices, and third, and beyond. It profoundly changed the way I think about my own writing.
Now, her third volume is out, thanks to the work of Alison Seaton. Sharing the Song, subtitled “Becoming a Song Leader” explores her work leading SINGS. From the description, “In this final volume, Parker distills a lifetime of wisdom into four concise chapters that guide readers through the art of communal singing.”
It is to my eternal regret that during my decade-long friendship with Alice, I never got to be in a proper SING with her, watching her create a community of song in real time. I am so looking forward to reading her brilliant writing applied to this topic; I have no doubt it will be brilliant.
Will you be reading it with me?