Paul Spicer – författare

This unique book examines the physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that support or undermine healthy development in American Indian children, including economics, biology, and public policies.The reasons for mental health issues among American Indian and Alaska Native children have not been well understood by investigators outside of tribal communities. Developing appropriate methodological approaches and evidence-based programs for helping these youths is an urgent priority in developmental science. This work must be done in ways that are cognizant of how the negative consequences of colonization contribute to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal members' underutilization of mental health services, higher therapy dropout rates, and poor response to culturally insensitive treatment programs.This book examines the forces affecting psychological development and mental health in American Indian children today. Experts from leading universities discuss factors such as family conditions, economic status, and academic achievement, as well as political, social, national, and global influences, including racism. Specific attention is paid to topics such as the role of community in youth mental health issues, depression in American Indian parents, substance abuse and alcohol dependency, and the unique socioeconomic characteristics of this ethnic group.

Arthur Bliss (1891–1975) was one of the most important British musicians of his age. Born into a family where music played a highly significant role, his talent emerged early. He served with distinction in the Great War, in which he was both injured and gassed. After the War he set the musical world alight with ultra-modern works, earning himself the soubriquet enfant terrible and leading to his first major work, the Colour Symphony. His dual American/British birthright led to a close connection with the USA and marriage to an American girl, Trudy Hoffman, who would be a mainstay of his life. Before long he became the most performed British composer abroad and his portfolio of works included ballet, film (H.G. Wells’s Things to Come remains one of the finest film scores), opera, orchestral, chamber, choral works and song. He was a diplomat, a skill that was recognized in many appointments from the Government to travel using music as soft power, notably to Russia in 1956. He served as Director of Music at the BBC from 1942–4, was knighted and soon after appointed Master of the Queen’s Music. Bliss was a private figure who stated that the only way to get to know him was through his music. Paul Spicer takes this as his starting point for this pioneering biography, which underlines the timely importance of a complete reappraisal of this important composer’s music.

This book explores the multifaceted skill of choral conducting, from vocal training and gesture to interpretation and rehearsal techniques. It examines the core skills every budding conductor needs to confidently build and lead a choir, offering a thorough foundation for developing into a skilled conductor capable of shaping a cohesive, disciplined and effective choir.‘Whether you direct a school or community choir, or aspire to work with professionals, this book is a treasure trove of really useful information from one of the UK's leading choir directors.’ ~ Paul McCreesh Director, Gabrieli Consort and Players and ‘Roar’‘This book is one to be most grateful for. Paul Spicer gives priceless advice on all vital aspects of the craft, shares precious tools ranging from shaping colours of vowels to organizing and pacing a rehearsal. Eloquent yet straight to the point, this is an enjoyable and most useful read, and a must for any budding conductor.’ ~ Sofi Jeannin, Chief Conductor, BBC Singers‘This is a wonderful exposition of Paul’s inspiring teaching. Practical advice and philosophical musings are combined in a constantly engaging way, and there is challenge and reassurance at every step.’ ~ Neil Ferris, Chorus Director, BBC Symphony Chorus

The story of a fascinating, controversial man who influenced almost every sphere of musical life in Britain and helped to change the face of music performance and education in this country.Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award of Excellence - Certificate of Merit in Historical Recorded Sound Research in Classical Music.George Dyson (1883-1964) was a highly influential composer, educator and administrator, whose work touched the lives of millions. Yet today, apart from his Canterbury Pilgrims and two sets of canticles for Choral Evensong, his music is little known. In this comprehensive and detailed study, based not only on Dyson's own writings but on unpublished papers, personal correspondence, and interviews with his family and friends, Paul Spicer brings this remarkable man and his lyrical, passionate and engaging music to life once more.Born into a working class family in Halifax, West Yorkshire, he rose from humble beginnings to become the voice of public school music in Britain and Director of the RCM. As a scholarship student, he met and studied with some of the leading musicians of the day, including Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sir Hubert Parry. He went on to work in some of the country's greatest schools, where he established his reputation as a composer, particularly of choral and orchestral works, of which Quo Vadis was his most ambitious. A member of the BBC Brains Trust panel, Dyson was also the 'voice of music' on the radio for a number of years and helped to educate the nation through his regular broadcasts.A fascinating, controversial man, George Dyson touched almost every sphere of musical life in Britain and helped to change the face of music performance and education in this country. This seminal book, examining every aspect of his long, colourful career, re-establishes him as the towering figure he undoubtedly was in his time.PAUL SPICER was a composition student of Herbert Howells, whose biography he wrote in 1998. He is well-known as a choral conductor especially of British Music of the twentieth century onwards, a writer, composer, teacher, and producer.

Composer, organist, teacher, writer and broadcaster, Herbert Howells (1892-1983) is a major figure in English music. His three choral masterpieces, Hymnus Paradisi, the Stabat Mater and Missa Sabrinensis, are classics, while his ecclesiastical music - quite possibly sung daily in Britain - is the greatest contribution to Anglican Church music of the twentieth century. Born in humble circumstances in rural Gloucestershire, Howells held posts at Salisbury Cathedral, the Royal College of Music, St John's Cambridge and St Paul's Girls School. He was taught by Brewer, Stanford and Parry; a fellow student of Gurney and Bliss; a friend of the poet de la Mare and of composers such as Vaughan Williams and Finzi. Behind the outstanding compositions and a career in the 'establishment' lay a life-threatening disease, the death of Howell's nine year old son, and a forty-year period of mourning. There also lay personal insecurities: vanity, social climbing, an all-consuming attraction to women. Paul Spicer views these flaws with the same honesty and integrity he applies to his assessment of Howells' music."An engrossing, admirable written and important biography. Howells deserved a good and sympathetic biographer and he has found one in Spicer"Michael Kennedy "Howells the man is sensitively, even vividly drawn; his diaries and other sources have been thoroughly researched and used with perceptive care and great skill. His stature as composer is enhanced: moreover his complexities, his human strengths and weaknesses are captured in a meaningful way. The reader feels repeatedly drawn towards listening to the music - no better test of a musical biography"Terry Barfoot, BBC Music Magazine"Concise, superbly written, fulfilling and enjoyable, with enough detail and nuance about Howells to bring his personality to life" Jeffery Carver, Choral Journal"In the space of 204 very readable pages he paints as rounded a portrait of the man and his music as anyone could wish" Gurney Society JournalPaul Spicer is Organist at Lichfield Cathedral and Professor of Choral Conducting at the Royal College of Music. He is an acclaimed composer in his own right.