Time and concord: Purcellian influences on Britten's Choral Dances from Gloriana and a conductor's guide to the work

The choral music of Benjamin Britten is a vast, diverse body of repertoire. Although Britten's compositions are commonly found on concert programs, the Choral Dances from Gloriana are an underperformed piece. The Choral Dances include many compositional traits found in the music of Henry Purcell and other English Baroque repertoire; these include imitation, dotted rhythmic figures, and hemiola. This thesis draws comparisons between Purcell's and Britten's compositions and their use of these musical devices. Additionally, this thesis includes a conductor's guide to the Choral Dances with recommendations for rehearsal and conducting gesture, with the aim of providing resources and aid for those considering programming the Choral Dances. Supplemental material consists of a recording of my complete recital project, which includes footage of the Choral Dances from Gloriana performed by the Ball State Concert Choir and guest musicians in 2025.