Kaylee Argenna
Repertoire Project
11/8/2011
Middle School Choir Repertoire Selections:
Song: Five Hebrew Love Songs
Composer: composed by Eric Whitacre
Lyricist: Hila Plitmann
Publisher: Hal Leonard,
Voicing: SA Chorus
Instrumentation: Piano and Violin
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information: www.waltonmusic.com for $2.95
This song is a very good song because it is in Hebrew but it is not a sacred text. This is helpful
when looking for songs in the public school system. Also, Whitacre is a fantastic composer of the 20th
century. The song provides a translation by Hila Plitmann, the girlfriend at the time and current wife of
Eric Whitacre. He then took the song and put it to text. This story allows you to teach the students
about this important composer and get insight into his life
Song: Set Me as a Seal
Composer: Richard Nance
Publisher: Hal Leonard corporation
Voicing: SSAA or SATB
Instrumentation: French Horn and Piano or Organ
Level: Medium
Purchasing information: www.waltonmusic.com for $2.25
This is a beautiful piece that is not too difficult. It can be taught using solfege syllables to the
students. The melodies are clear and beautiful, giving the choir a chance to focus on their tone as a
whole choir. This song can focus on so many nuances of music. It also introduces changing meter. The
lyrics in this piece are from a poem in “Song of Solomon.” This piece contains an immense amount of
romantic nuance and is full of expression that supplements and enhances the text
Song: Put on Your Sunday Clothes, from the musical Hello, Dolly
Composer and Lyricist: Jerry Herman
Arranger: Mac Huff
Voicing: available for 3-part mixed and 2-Part
Instrumentation: Piano
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Level: Medium/Easy
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Put-on-Your-Sunday-Clothes/19221975
for $1.80
This song is a lot of fun and introduces a different genre to the students that would open their
eyes to the different styles of music available to them including musical theater. The tradition of this
song is a “song and dance.” It is in the style of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, the crooners. Movement
and dance can be added to this piece in a performance setting.
Song: Sing for Joy (Duet from the Oratorio “Judas Maccabaeus”)
Composer: George Frederick Handel
Editor and Arranger: Linda Spevacek-Avery
English text: L.S.A
Publisher: Heritage Choral Series: A division of the Lorenz Corporation
Voicing: 3-part mixed and 2-part.
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: 7th and 8th
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Sing-for-Joy/4672818 for $1.85
This song is a good choice because it introduces the kids to Handel’s style of music. This can be
used as a teaching tool to describe the way Handel’s melismas carry the song forward which is found in
several of his works. This could be introduced while the students are learning about the Baroque era
and be a great example to them of what they are learning about.
Song: Sleigh Bells
Arranger: Earlene Rentz
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Corporation
Voicing: Available SATB and Three Part Mixed
Instrumentation: Piano and sleigh bells
Level: difficult
Purchasing information: www.alfred.com for $1.95 or http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/SleighBells/5827311 for $1.75
This song is a Russian Folk Tune sung at Christmas time. It is a little more difficult so it would
need to be sung by an advanced middle school choir or a high school choir. It is fun, upbeat and has
several repeats with different parts singing over top of each other.
Song: Agnus Dei
Composer: Sonja Poorman
Publisher: BriLee music
Voicing: 3 part mixed
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium difficult
Duration: 2 minutes
Purchasing information: www.carlfischer.com for $1.65
This song has a beautiful melody and harmonies, expressive, chromatic alterations, and
repetition. It is sung in Latin and allows you to introduce a sacred text because it is so common. This
song should be song with a beautiful, warm tone which gives the conductor a chance to introduce tone
color and compare it to the different works. The 8th note rhythms in the piano part drive the rhythms
forward and are interesting against the quarter note rhythms in the voice parts. Compared to most
songs set to Agnus Dei. This setting is interesting because the final line, Dona Nobbys Pace (grant us
peace) is found in the middle of the piece unlike most settings where it is found at the end.
Song: And This Shall Be for Music
Composer: Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Lyricist: Robert Louis Stevenson
Publisher: Heritage Music Press a Division of the Lorenz Corporation
Voicing: 3 part Mixed SAB. Also available SSA and 2 parts.
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium Easy
Duration: 2:45
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/10047300.item for $1.95.
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/And-This-Shall-Be-for-Music/18130581 for $1.95
This song comes recommended by the ACDA and is fairly uncommon, so it will not be found in
every other middle school concert. The song is simple enough to introduce and practice solfege with
the students. It is very expressive and contains luscious harmonies and a beautiful accompaniment that
fit a middle school choir beautifully.
Song: Bonse Aba
Composer: Victor C. Johnson
Publisher: Heritage Music Press: Branch of the Lorenz company
Voicing: 3-part mixed and 2-part
Instrumentation: Piano and percussive instruments.
Level: Medium
Purchasing information: www.lorenz.com for $1.95 http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/And-ThisShall-Be-for-Music/18130581 for $1.95
This is a fun African piece with interesting rhythms. This is a great opener or closer to a
program, and is great for a multicultural program of music. The drum part is added in the music, but
one can improvise that part as well as introducing the students to improvisation with difficult rhythms.
Other instruments can also be added, which involves more students, and clapping and stomping can
become a part of the piece involving all members of the choir. One can use this piece to teach different
styles of music, and different tones and sounds are necessary for different songs.
It also comes with a pronunciation guide.
Song: Can You Hear: from Sounds of a Better World
Composer: Jim Papoulis
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Voicing: SAB
Instrumentation: piano
Level: Medium to Easy
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Can-You-Hear/4100916 for $1.95
http://www.jwpepper.com/3294677.item for $1.95
Papoulis’ work focuses on combining the music of his roots – classical and jazz – with the
rhythms and influence of world beat, folk, and multi-ethnic sounds. This song was written for children
around the world and how the small voices of the world can take small steps to improve it. This is a
good opportunity to teach the students a lesson while learning a new piece of music with beautiful
harmonies.
Song: Christmas… In About Three Minutes
Arranger: Mark Weston
Publisher: Heritage Music Press, a division of the Lorenz Corporation
Voicing: 3-part mixed SATB, SSA, and 2-part.
Instrumentation:
Level: Easy
Range: 9 notes
Duration: 3 minutes
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/3254208.item for $1.95
This is a fun number for a Christmas program. It is very unique and combines several Christmas
songs. It introduces 3-part harmony while not being too difficult giving the students practice at keeping
their parts while others are singing something different. This is a fun piece to sing in front of an
audience because the audience can count the familiar holiday songs as the songs fly by sometimes two
at a time.
Song: Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
Arranger: Roger Emerson
Publisher: Jenson Publications: a division of Hal Leonard
Voicing: 3-part mixed and 2-part
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium Easy
Duration: 2.23 minutes.
Purchasing information: http://jwpepper.com/1819325.item for $1.80
This song starts off slower and accelerates. This is a spiritual which is very important in music
history and American culture. It gives your students to understand why spirituals were written and what
they sound like. This piece is influenced by rock music with an upbeat tempo. The combination of these
two types of music makes an exhilarating, fun experience for your students and the audience.
Song: Ding-a-ding-a ding
Composer: Greg Gilpin
Publisher: Shawnee Press, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: SATB unaccompanied, SSA, unaccompanied, SSAB, unaccompanied and 2-part, descant,
Instrumentation: Optional accompaniment
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information:
http://shawnee.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=35005340&seriesfeature=&menuid=1
1029&subsiteid=204& for $1.95
This song is a good selection because it is a secular Christmas song that can be sung at a private
or public school. It is good to teach this to the students because it is a Capella which allows the
students to focus strictly on blending tuning with each other and not relying on another instrument to
tell them their parts. This piece has repetitive parts over top of each other allowing the student to sing
3 and 4 and even 5 parts against each other. This introduces a form of descant without it being too
difficult for the students.
Song: Sinfuni Mungu
Composer and Lyricist: David Maddux, Marty MCall, MMunga MWenebulongo Mulongoy and Asukulu
‘Yunu Mukalay
Arranger: Roger Emerson
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: SATB, SAB and 2-Part
Instrumentation: percussion instruments, claves, shaker, congas or Toms or a keyboard with these
sound effects.
Level: Medium/Difficult
Duration 4:25
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/1914183.item for $1.95
Translation: The translation is the Hymn, All Creatures of Our God and King.
This is a good piece because you can have different students playing the varying percussion
instruments and allow someone to sing the solo. This allows the more advanced students to grow and
improve their musicianship without getting bored. This song is exciting and a good blend of African
tradition and popular music. The kids will have a lot of fun with this song and it introduces a different
culture that they are not used to, which broadens their mind to the world around them. The rhythms in
this piece are very interesting. It might be a good idea to teach this by rote and show them the music so
they can see what they are singing and understand what varying rhythms look like on paper.
Song: Jubilate Deo
Composer: Vicki Tucker Courney
Publisher: Carl Fischer
Voicing: 3-part mixed
Instrumentation: Keyboard and optional Flute
Level: medium/difficult
Purchasing Information: www.carlfischer.com for $1.95.
This piece is a sacred worshipful piece that could be sung at a Christian/Private school. This
piece is not too difficult but the ranges are rather wide so it is important to do this for kids that are a
little older. This will allow the conductor to focus on music technique and musicality rather than on
chasing notes. This piece is also a very good piece for introducing solfege to the choir.
There is an MP3 rehearsal and accompaniments available at www.carlfischer.com, which is
helpful for the students to learn their parts and for you to be able to focus on the kids and not playing
the music in a rehearsal setting
Song: Et In Terra Pax
Composer: Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Publisher: Heritage Choral Series: a division of The Lorenz Corporation
Voicing: 3-part mixed edition: also available for 2-part
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Difficult
Duration: 3:00
Purchasing Information: www.lorenz.com for $1.85 http://www.jwpepper.com/10006358.item for
$1.95
The translation is “and on earth peace, to all those of good will, Lord
God, we give thanks to thee, we praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we bless Thee.”
This Traditional Latin piece uses a sacred text. This is another great piece for a Christian or private
school. This piece is really beautiful, and has moments of changing keys which is good for the students
to hear and understand. This piece is great for working with the students on rounded vowels. It also
has a fairly large range to stretch the students’ singing voices.
Song: Durme, Durme
Arranger: Audrey Snyder
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: 2-part music
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Easy
Purchasing Information: http://www.musicmart.com/Durme-Durme-Audrey-Snyder-P30405.aspx for
$1.60
This music provides a translation and Phonetic pronunciation. This is a Sephardic Folk lullaby
from Latino origin, a Judeo-Spanish Romance language of Sephardic Jews. It is based on old Spanish and
written in Hebrew script. The parts are not too difficult and have a lot of unison but breaks apart from
each other at the ends of phrases which is good when introducing 2-part music.
Song: A Festive Fa La La
Composer and lyricist: Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Publisher: Heritage Music Press, a division of the Lorenz Company
Voicing: 3-part mixed/SAB
Instrumentation: Piano and finger cymbals
Level: medium easy
Duration: 1:45
Purchasing Information: http://www.jwpepper.com/10047762.item for $1.95
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/A-Festive-Fa-La-La/18130824 for $1.95
Other: A Performance/ Accompaniment CD is available
This song is in a minor key but is not too difficult for the students because a lot of it is in unison.
The song includes synchronization which makes the piece rhythmically interesting. It is a secular
Christmas piece that can be sung for the Holiday season. Its roots come from Deck the Halls which is
made clearer on the last page.
Song: Steppin’ Out with My Baby, found in Easter Parade
Words and Music: Irving Berlin
Arranger: Mac Huff
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: 3-Part mixed and 2-Part
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium
Purchasing Information: www.irvingberlin.com for $1.60
This song is a Jazzy number that is sung in the minor scale. It introduces the students to the
style of Fred Astaire and the crooners. It also gives the students the ability to hear music by Irving Berlin
and become familiar with his music. The song is meant to be sung with accents on beats two and four
and to have the Bridge sung in a legato style for contrast. The harmony is not too difficult, so it is a good
way to introduce 2 and 3-part harmony to the kids in different scales.
Song: Children of the World
Words and Music: Berta Poorman and Sonja Poorman
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Co., Inc
Voicing: 2 part music and 3 part
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Easy
Purchasing Information: www.alfred.com $1.60
Others: CD Track Available
This song provides easy solfege parts and is in the major pentatonic scale. It introduces the
students to musical culture of other parts of the world. The simple melody is played in a descant in two
parts and then three parts. This allows the students to be responsible for their own part of the music. It
allows them to sing in a sweet soft voice that does not hurt their vocal chords. The range is not very
large so the students can concentrate on their tone quality. It would be an excellent choice for a middle
school choir.
Song: O Occhi Manza Mia (O Eyes of My Beloved)
Composer: Orlando di Lasso
Arranger: Russell Robinson (done with a English translation)
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Cooperation
Voicing: Available in 3-Part, and SSA
Instrumentation: A cappella
Level: Moderate
Purchasing information: http://www.alfred.com/Products/O-Occhi-Manza-Mia-O-Eyes-of-My-Beloved-00-30920.aspx for $1.75
O Occhi Manza Mia is an Italian Madrigal written during the Renaissance period. This is a great
way to introduce madrigal singing. The harmonies of this piece are chordal and have excellent voiceleading. This arrangement comes with a pronunciation guide and can be sung in either English or Latin.
This piece gives your choir a chance to improve their musicality in their performance through dynamic
contrast. It also gives your choir a chance to understand varying dynamics in the Renaissance period
versus the Romantic period.
High School Choir Repertoire Selections
Song: Old American Songs: Choral Suite II, this choral suite includes “I Bought Me a Cat,” “The Little
Horses”, and “Zion’s Walls.”
Composer: Aaron Copland
Adapted by: Janet Klevberg Day
Publisher: Hal-Leonard Corporation
Voicing: 3-Part Mixed
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information: http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=48019368 for
$2.25
Duration: Approximately 4.50
This song is a great way to introduce the students to the music of Aaron Copland. He
incorporated American jazz and folk elements and helped form American music. The song has several
different time signatures which are good for the students to practice and feel.
Song: Jazz Cantate
Composer: Andy Beck
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Cooperation
Voicing: Available in SATB, SAB, and 2-part
Instrumentation: Piano, and available for saxophone, guitar, bass, and the drum-set.
Level: Easy
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/10068193.item for $1.75
An audio CD is available along with a score and set of parts for alto saxophone, guitar, bass, and
the drum set. It also has a pronunciation guide for the Latin text and a performance recording at
www.alfred.com/downloads.
This piece contains a nice blend of Latin and English text, verses in canon, and jazz resonance.
This piece can be performed at a concert, contest or festival. Andy Beck, the composer, is a trustworthy
composer who writes quality music. The piece should be played at an easy jazz-waltz tempo. That
brings together jazz music and a cantata.
Song: The Word was God
Composer: Rosephanye Powell
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: Available for SATB, SSAATTBB, a cappella and TTBB
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Moderate
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/The-Word-Was-God/6720015 for $2.00
This is a religious piece based using the text from John 3:16. It is very rhythmic and allows the
students to focus on their consonant sounds and timing. It is a lot of fun to sing starting with a fast
rhythmic pulse then a slower middle section that allows the students to show the staccato and legato
contrast. The dynamics in this piece are also very important and vary throughout the piece.
Song: Rodgers and Hammerstein On Broadway
Arranger: Mac Huff
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Music: Richard Rodgers
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Voicing: Available in SATB, SAB and 2-Part.
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium
Duration: 12:30
Purchasing information: http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=8736401 for
$3.95, http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Rodgers-And-Hammerstein-On-BroadwayMedley/3073474 for $3.95
This piece will introduce the students to pieces like “The Sound of Music”, “Oh, What a Beautiful
Morning”, “Edelweiss”, “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top”, “I’m Gonna wash that Man Right out of my
Hair”, “Oklahoma”, and “Do-Re-Mi”. I personally love musical theater and would want my students to
be introduced to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Song: Old American Songs (Choral Suite II)
Composer: Aaron Copland
Adaptor: Janet Klevberg Day
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation
Voicing: 3-Part Mixed
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Easy
Duration: 4:50
Purchasing information: http://www.computermusicshop.com/Old-American-Songs-Choral-Suitep/zhl48019138.htm for $2.25 http://www.compumusic.com/aaron-copland-boosey-hawkes-janetklevberg-day-old-american-songs-choral-suite-ii-48019369-i276379.htm for $2.25
This piece is a medley of Zion’s Walls, The Little Horses, and I Bought Me a Cat. It is a great piece
to do for a beginning High school choir. Aaron Copland is one of the most loved American Composers.
This piece incorporates American jazz and fold elements. It preserves the original accompaniment and
makes an excellent concert feature.
Song: Instrument of Peace
Composer: Greg Gilpin
Publisher: Alfred Publishing
Voicing: This is available in SATB, TTBB, 3-Part mixed, and 2-Part.
Lyrics: Francis of Assisi
Instrumentation: Piano, comes with score for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, 2 French Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3
Trombones, Tuba, Harp, Percussion 1 and 2, Piano, Bass, Drums, El. Guitar, Synthesizer, violins 1 and 2,
Viola, Cello, and Double Bass.
Level: Easy
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Instrument-of-Peace/7635396 for $1.70
This piece is a secular piece about love, faith, and being an instrument of peace. It
would give me an opportunity to help the students grow emotionally and as kind and loving
human beings. This compassionate sentiment will inspire generosity of the human spirit in the
students and audience.
Song: Homage
Composer: Z. Randall Stroope
Publisher: Heritage Music Press
Voicing: Available in TTBB, SATB, and SSA.
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium
Duration: 4:00
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/10067610.item for $1.95
This song has beautiful harmonies and requires the students to have great control over their
voices. The unison allows the students to concentrate on blend and the unification of vowels
throughout the choir. This song addresses those who have affected us in our journeys and gives tribute
to them. The piece is not too difficult but has very intricate harmonies and a large range of dynamics. I
would definitely recommend this piece for any high school choir
Song: Ding! Dong! Merrily on High
Tune by: Thoinot Arbeau
Arranger: Howard Helvey
Lyricist: G. R. Woodard
Publisher: Beckenhorst Press
Voicing: Available for SATB, SSA, and TTBB
Instrumentation: 2 piano players
Level: Medium
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/8064421.item for $2.25
This familiar tune is a great song to sing on the holidays. It contains several melismatic passages
which will force the students to sight-read and follow along with the music in order to stay together. It
improves flexibility of voice while keeping a nice, bright, cheerful sound. This setting constantly changes
texture, harmonization, and includes a two-part texture on the piano.
Song: African Noel
Arranger: Brad Holmes
Composer: Todd Smith
Publisher: Milton University Publisher
Voicing: SATB
Instrumentation: Djembe, cowbell, egg shakers
Level: Medium
Purchasing information:
http://www.firststeprecords.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=71 for 1-5 copies is 10.00
6-10 copies is $20.00. This song is not available in hard copy. When you buy it they give you the link so
that you can print however many copies you bought.
African Noel is a wonderful piece to perform at any concert. It’s fun, rhythmic, exciting, and
exuberant. In contrast to the dark tones called for in many pieces, this song calls for a bright, colorful
tone. This piece also introduces the students to a new cultural style of music in an upbeat and jubilant
manner. The students can stomp and clap to feel the rhythm of the piece. It gives an African account of
the Christmas story.
Song: Blackbird
Composer and lyricist: John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Arranged: Mark Brymer
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Voicing: Available for SATB with soloist, SAB, and SSA
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Easy
Duration: 3:05
Purchasing information: http://www.computermusicshop.com/Blackbird-p/zhl8637401.htm for $1.90
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Blackbird/3061685 for $1.75
This is a popular Beatle’s song arranged by Mark Brymer. The guitar part is sung by the choir
and the melody is sung by the soloist at times and the choir during the chorus. This is a beautiful
arrangement of this popular song. This song is a relevant piece of music which is very popular and fun
for the students to sing.
Song: Ngana
Composer: Stephen Leek
Publisher: Morton Music
Voicing: SATB
Instrumentation: Optional clave
Level: Medium
Duration: 4:49
Purchasing information: http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/id/7977 for $4.09
This piece should be performed with a bright tone and getting this tone exactly correct is
difficult for most Western New York choirs. In the piece, there are extended notes with percussion roll
symbols over them. There are a few ways to solve this: you can have the choir sing a tongue or lip trill,
have them sing 16th notes on 'ah' and 'ih' without moving the jaw, or sing the note while moving the
tongue around inside of the mouth.
This piece is an Aboriginal (Australian) piece meaning sharp. It is about a piece that tries to
transform you into a sound picture. There are moments of silence after fortissimo phrases that ring
throughout the room. This piece is fun for the students because it involves chanting and stomping
which is an interesting addition to a performance.
Song: Regina Coeli
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Publisher: G. Schirmer
Voicing: 4-Part Chorus of Mixed Voices and 4 solo voices
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Difficult
Duration: 4:13
Purchasing information: http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/157443.html for $3.97
This piece is based off of the sacred text from an ancient Latin Marian Hymn of the Christian
Church. It is one of the four Marian antiphons of the Virgin Mary. It was composed by Mozart during the
classical era. This song pushes the students in several ways. The students are required to breathe well
to get the volume and sound necessary. The students also have to have decent control over their voices
to sing all of the melismatic passages. They also have an understanding of the Latin text being sung. It
also has sections for a solo voice giving the students a chance to audition for a solo.
Song: If Music be the Food of Love
Composer: David Dickau
Text: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Jo- Michael Schiebe Choral Series
Voicing: Available in SATB and SSAA
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Medium Easy
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/5570528.item for $1.70
This Romantic secular piece is full of lush, expressive and beautiful harmonies that fit the text
perfectly. This would be a great song so sing as a finale piece or in a concert where the theme is music.
The melody is rich and beautiful while the choir builds to a climax of dynamics and contrasting
harmonies. This would be a great piece to work on tone color and dynamics in the choir. The piece is
moving and a perfect selection for a high school choir.
Song: Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Composer: Dolly Parton
Arranger: Craig Hella Johnson
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Voicing: SATB and Solo
Instrumentation: Piano and Flute (optional)
Level: Medium
Duration: 4:30
Purchasing information:
http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=8750799&lid=1&menuid=3184&subsiteid
=5& for $1.90
This is a beautiful piece that requires a soprano soloist with a clear, bright voice. It starts with
the soloist then the choir comes in and takes over the melody. It climaxes into an 8-part harmony, each
part layering on top of the last part until everyone is singing fortissimo. Then the conductor stops the
choir and you are left with just the soloist and the choir sings the last few notes as if to say “now the
clear blue morning is just a memory.” This song reaches the souls of its listeners by showing the
audience a glimpse of hope in a fallen world and showing how that hope can be a bright light for all to
see.
Song: Where Your Bare Foot Walks
Composer: David N. Childs
Text: Coleman Barks
Publisher: Walton Music
Voicing: SATB Divisi
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Difficult
Duration: 5:20
Purchasing information:
http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=8501695&promotion=362&subsiteid=5&
for $2.05
This piece is a difficult piece with beautiful harmonies. The range is fairly extensive going to a
high A, so it is necessary that the choir have the range to perform this piece. This romantic work was
love poetry written for David N. Childs’ bride. It is necessary for the choir to have a mature sound and
should be done for an advanced high school choir, college choir and beyond. It can be sung at concerts
year-round and for a spring concert.
Song: In Remembrance
Composer: Jeffery L. Ames
Series Editor: Lynne Gackle
Publisher: Walton Music
Voicing: SATB divisi
Instrumentation: Piano and (optional) horn in F, Bb, or C
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/In-Remembrance/5808839 for $3.99
This is a moving and emotional piece. The horn part is gorgeous and works excellently with the
vocals. The harmonies are difficult to sing because of the close intervals with dissonance and release of
dissonance. In order to use this piece the choir must listen closely and be able to hold their part in the
dissonance. In Remembrance is a powerful testament to the difficulties of grief and loss.
Jeffery Ames is an important new composer who writes similar to the style of Eric Whitacre and
continues to write beautiful new music.
Song: Famine Song
Composer. A quartet of women named VIDA
Arranger: Matthew Culloton
Publisher: Santa Barbara Music Publishing
Voicing: Available in SSAA and SATB
Instrumentation: A cappella
Level: Medium
Duration: 5:30
Purchasing information: http://www.sbmp.com/SR2.php?CatalogNumber=1007 for $1.85
This piece is inspired by the stories of Sudanese basket weavers who expressed the pain and
hope experienced by those in the famine of the 1980s. It is such an interesting and unusual piece that
would be great to perform at any concert. The piece can performed using several visual affects
including hand motions and movement on the stage in order to paint the story. This ACDA performance
is a great example of what the piece sounds like and what it can look like on the stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUJb-GtgeZ0&feature=related
Song: Tres Cantos Nativos
Composer: – Marcos Leite
Publisher: Earthsongs
Voicing: Available in SATB
Instrumentation: A Canella, improvisation of percussion parts
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information: http://www.jwpepper.com/5539655.item $1.70
This Brazilian piece is fun, interesting and unique. It is based off of melodies from the Kurao
tribe, a group who lives in the forests of northern Brazil. The students get to sound like monkeys and
sing using an extremely bright sound. There are effective hand claps and movements that can bring a
unique musical color to the concert and make it more interesting and fun to perform and watch.
Song: Les Chansons des Roses: Dirait-on
Composer: Morten Lauridsen
Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke
Publisher: Peermusic/Theodore Presser
Voicing: Available in SATB and TTBB, lyrics in French
Instrumentation: Piano
Level: Difficult
Purchasing information: http://www.a-cappella.com/product/11705/morten_lauridsen_sheet_music
for $1.40
This piece is a secular French art song. The Les Chansons des Roses is a collection of poems by
Rainer Maria Rilke based on roses. It contains beautiful lyricism and imagery. The musical setting
enhances the peacefulness and captures the delicate beauty. The Dirait is written like a folksong that
takes parts of the previous movements and weaves them together.
Song: Candlelight Carol
Composer: John Rutter
Publisher: Hinshaw music inc.,
Voicing: 4 part SSAA and available for SATB
Instrumentation: Piano or organ and flute, oboe, harp, and strings
Level: Medium
Duration: 3:39
Purchasing information: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Candlelight-Carol/521223 for $1.55
This is a good song to be sung around Christmastime. It can be performed in SSAA or SATB and
is played with the organ or piano. It starts in unison with the women as if there was just one candle;
however, when the rest of the choir comes in, the light spreads for all to see in the rich and beautiful
harmonies. This piece requires that your choir have a mature sound because of its deep, rich
harmonies.