Kaylee ArgennaRepertoire Project11/8/2011

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 20 th 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/Sleigh-Bells/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-This-Shall-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=11029&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 voice-leading. 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-Broadway-Medley/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-Suite-p/zhl48019138.htm for $2.25 http://www.compumusic.com/aaron-copland-boosey-hawkes-janet-klevberg-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.