VIII

Title: Haida

Unison/Two-part Canon with Piano Accompaniment

Composer: anon. Chassidic Round, arr. Henry Leck, accompaniment, Thomas Gerber

Text: Nonsense syllables

Publisher: Plymouth Music Co. 1994, 33334

Background Information: From www. askmoses.com: A Chassidic melody or “Nigun” melody is a wordless tune or

a tune using meaningless syllables. Unlike Western music, Chassidic music does not

provide narrative or description. The select group of sounds in a set pattern is said to

evoke a sense of timelessness or inner space. It is suggested that this provides a stronger

transcendental communication. To the Chassidim, it wasn’t what you did but how you

did it – with true happiness, positivism, and good cheer.

www.angelfire.com/nb2/musicedresources/ElemRepe.htm: A recording of Haida,

performed by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, conducted by Henry Leck, can be

ordered at this site.

Musical Elements:

Meter: 4/4

Tempo: Andantino; with a swagger

Form: Piano Intro, A (a a) B (b b), repeat, Voice II begins A when Voice I

begins B, repeat, Coda A-a1, piano cadence.

Tonality: g minor

Phrasing and Harmony: Marked in the score

Dynamics: p, f

Vocal Technique Elements:

Range: d – d1

Tessitura: g- d1

Pitch set: Melody - g la: M1 Si1 L1 T1 D R M

Rhythm: !, ç, ", å , ti-ti-ka ti-ti, and eighth rest-ti ti-ti patterns repeated in A and

B

Harmony: canon and piano accompaniment provide traditional harmonic functions

Text: nonsense syllables

Elements Related to Teaching:

Appropriate Grade Level: Advanced 3rd – Adult

Difficult Sections: ti-ti-ka ti-ti and eighth rest-ti ti-ti patterns, tuning of the minor

and major seconds

Possible Teaching sequence:

Objective: To perform Haida with true happiness and good cheer.

Warm-up activities: use of rhythmic patterns and g minor sol-fa pattern used in

piece

Motivation: Discuss the meaning of a Chassidic Tune using background info.

Teacher sings melody; ask students to listen for Chassidic or Nigun qualities

Procedure: Students clap and say rhythm patterns of Aa and Bb from overhead.

(Use a snap on eighth note rests.) Sing phrases with more difficult sol-fa marked

in score on overhead. Sing phrases on neutral vowel. Find phrases and mark form

in score. Echo words many different ways. Put words to melody. Teacher begins

canon at A after class sings A. Switch parts. Divide choir and perform 2-part

canon.

This piece would need 4-6 15-minute rehearsals to learn.