Choral Literature

 

 

Literature Choices

-          Best not to do an opera with high school

-          Avoid Pop Music

-          Maybe Broadway – careful of content and register problems

-          Careful with Romantic Pieces, especially Brahms – too dark, too heavy

 

Problems with Middle School Octavo Voicing

-          SAB – the bass is to low for some

-          3-part Mix – the bass is too high for some / soprano is too high for some / altos are in chest voice

 


 

SOLFEGGABLE PIECES – Fairly Easy – Gregory Gentry’s Suggestions

Soli Deo Gloria

-         SAT

-         Music: Michael Practons

-         Arranged:  Patrick M. Liebrgen

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

-         SAB

-         Mark Ray Hollmann

Song for Mother Earth

-         2 part

-         Arranged:  Lana Walter

Where the Earth Meets Sky

-         Z. Randall Stroope

No Nobis Domine

-         Round

-         Byrd

John Kanaka

-         SATB

-         Arranged:  Stephen Chatman

Érik A Som

-         SATB (minor)

-         Lajos Bárdos

He, Watching Over Isreal

-         SAB

-         Composed:  Mendelssohn (from “Elijah”)

-         Arranged:  Greg Gilpin

Banks of Doon

-         SATB

-         Donna Gartman Schultz

Ubi Lati Deo

-         Round

Hellulyan

-         Indian Song

-         Round

 

UPBEAT/JAZZY – Jim Hinton’s Suggestions

Occapella

-         Buck Buchholz

Home on that Rock

-         Kirby Shaw

Jump, Jive an’ Wail

-         Mac Huff

Rockin’ Jeursalem

-         André J. Thomas

When the Trumpet Sounds

-         André Thomas

Starts Fell on Alabama

-         Arranged:  Martin Behnke

Get Happy

-         Harold Allen & Ted Koehler

Save the Bones for Henry Jones

-         Kirby Shaw

North Country Folk Songs

-         Phillip Wilby

 

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY HIGH – Jim Hinton

Gute Nacht

-     SATB

-         Arranged:  James mcKelvy

-         Published:  Mark Foster (MF302)

Elijah Rock

-         SSTAB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Jester Hairston

-         Published:  Schumann Music Company (S-1017)

Fa Una Canzona

-         SATB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Robert Shaw

-         Composer:  Orazio Vecchi

-         Published:  Lawson-Gould Music (556)

-         Language:  Italian

-         Translation:  1. Sing me a song with not a not of sadness!  When all the pain of love drives me to madness / 2. Sing me a song to cool a lovers burning!  When to my heart the anguish keeps returning / Refrain. Sing me to sleep with a sweet serenading.  Oh, so gently, Oh, so gently to silence fading

When I Fall in Love

-         SATB / soloist / A Capella

-         Arranged:  Kirby Shaw

-         Composed:  Edward Heyman and Victor Young

-         Published:  Hal Leonard (08665912)

-         Also Available:  SATB and SAB

O Magnum Mysterium

-         SATB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Alice Parker & Robert Shaw

-         Composed:  Tomas Luis de Victoria

-         Published:  G. Schirmer, Inc. (10193 )

-         Recorded:  Robert Shaw Chorale / RCA Victor LM 1711, Volume II of Christmas Hymna and Charols

-         Language:  Latin

-         Translation:  O great Mystery and wondrous sacrament, That animals might see the birth of the Lord as he lay in the manger.  O Blessed Virgin, Who wast worthy of breaing our Lord Jesus Christ, Alleluia.

Soon-Ah Will Be Done

-         SATB / A Capella

-         Arranged:  William L. Dawson

-         Published:  Neil A. Kjos Music Company / Tuskegee Institute (T 102-A)

The Heart’s Cry

-         SATB / soprano soloist

-         Composed:  Bill Whelan (from “RiverDance”)

-         Published:  Shawnee Press, Inc. (A 2082)

Poor Man Lazrus

-         STAB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Jester Hairston

-         Published:  Schumann Music Co. (S-1001)

The Heavens are Telling

-         STAB / soprano, tenor and bass soloists

-         Composed:  Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

-         Published:  Schirmer (50322250)

Memory

-         SATB / Piano, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass / Percussion

-         Arranged:  ed Lojeski

-         Composed:  Andrew Lloyd Webber

-         Published:  Hal Leonard (08241000)

-         Also Available:  SATB, SAB, Three-part treble

Annie Laurie

-         SATB / Accapella

-         Arranged:  Robert Shaw & Alice Parker

-         Music:  Scotch Folk Tune attributed to Lady John Scott, 1847

-         Published:  Lawson-Gould (L.G. Co. 647)

Frostiana – Seven Country Songs

-         SATB, Men’s and Women’s / Piano

-         Included:  The Road Not Taken (SATB - 2485) / The Pasture (TTB - 2181) / Come in (SAA - 2539) / The Telephone (Dialogue (SSA / TTBB - 2486) / A Girl’s Garden (SSA - 2540) / Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening (TTB - 2182) / Choose Something Like a Star (SATB – 2487 or SSAA - 2588)

-         Words:  Robert Frost

-         Composed:  Randall Thompson

-         Published:  E. C. Schirmer Music Company

-         Number:  2181

Yesterday

-         TTBB soloists / a ccapella

-         Arranged:  Mac Huff

-         Composed:  John Lenon & Paul McCartney

-         Recorded:  Boyz II Men

-         Published:  Hal Leonard (08200471)

Down in the Valley

-         TTBB / Piano

-         Arranged:  George Mead

-         Composed: Kentucky Folk Tune (Harlan County, KY)

-         Published:  ECS Publishing (1.1716)

The Great Pretender

-         TBB / Piano

-         Arranged:  Kirby Shaw

-         Composed:  Buck Ram

-         Published:  Panther Music Corp. (5745GC4x)

-         Accompaniment Tape #5745GCTX / #5745GRHX / #5745GC1X / #5745GC3X

The Longest Time

-         TTBB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Roger Emerson

-         Composed:  Bily Joel

-         Recorded:  Billy Joel

-         Published:  Jenson Publications (40326166)

Three Chanteys

-         TTBB / a capella

-         Included:  Eight Bells / Away to Rio / Old Man Noah

-         Arranged:  Marshall Bartholomew & Fenno Heath

-         Published:  G. Shirmer, Inc. (HL50297330)

-         Yale Glee Club Series

What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor

-         TTBB / piano

-         Arranged:  Marshall Bartholomew

-         Composed:  Traditional Sea Shanty

-         Published:  G. Shirmer, Inc. (G.S. 8vo Choruses 7422)

-         Yale Glee Club Series

Calendar Girl

-         TTB / Piano

-         Arranged:  Alan Billingsly

-         Composed:  Howard Greenfield & Neil Sedaka

-         Recorded:  Neil Sedaka

-         Published:  Warner Brothers (43225132)

-         Available:  TTB, 2-part

-         Accompanient Tape #43225132

 

Cry Me A River

-         SSA / Piano

-         Arranged:  Kirby Shaw

-         Composed:  Arthur Hamilton

-         Published:  Hal Leonard (08666071)

-         Accompanient Tape #08666072

A Capella

-         SATB / a capella optional vocal percussion

-         Composed:  Kirby Shaw

-         Published: Hal Leonard (08749012)

-         Accompanient Number:  08740915

-         Also Available:  TTBB and SSA

All the Things You Are

-         SATB / acapella

-         Arranged: Kirby Shaw

-         Composed: Oscar Hammerstien II & Jerome Kern

-         Published:  Poly Gram Music Publishing (0870244)

-         From:  Very Warm For May

Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit

-         SATB / A Capella

-         Arranged:  William L. Dawson

-         Published:  Neil A. Kjos Music Company / Tuskegee Institute (T 117)

Ain’t Got Time to Die

-         SATB / A Capella

-         Composed:  Hall Johnson

-         Published: G. Schirmer (10301)

Time Is My Friend

-         SATB / Piano

-         Arranged:  Fred Bock

-         Composed:  Leslie Bricusse & Julie Andrews

-         Published:  Gentry Publications (G-207)

-         Performed:  Julie Andrews

Now Let Me Fly

-         SATB / Piano

-         Arranged:  Raymond Rhea

-         Composed:  Negro Spiritual

-         Published:  Bourne, Inc. (2556-7)

 

SHELTON SINGERS – Glinda Blackshear

 The First Noel/Pachelbel’s Canon

-         Arranged:  Michael Clawson

Away in a Manger

-         Arranged:  Paul Sjolund

The Twelve Days After Christmas

            -           Composed:  Frederick Silver

 

ANNUAL SACRED CONCERT:  February 11, 1997

Come, Christians, Join to Sing

-         Composed;  Gordon Young

Cantate Domino

-         Composed:  Giuseppi Pitoni

Cantique de Jean Racine

-         SATB / Piano / Orchestral Parts Available

-         Composed:  Gabriel Fauré

-         Published:  Broude Brothers Limited (B.B. 801)

-         Language:  French

Rejoice!

-         Composed:  Craig Courtney

The Lamb

-         Composed:  Kenneth Mahy

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal

-         Arranged:  Alice Parker

A Gaelic Blessing

            -           Composed:  John Rutter

 

A CONCERT OF SPIRITUALS:  February 12, 1998

I Hear American Singing

            -           Composed:  Andre J. Thomas

Ain’-a That Good News

­            -           Composed:  William L. Dawson

My Lord, What a Mourning

-         Composed:  Sam Batt Owens

Elijah Rock

-         SSTAB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Jester Hairston

-         Published:  Schumann Music Company (S-1017)

In Bright Mansions Above

-         Arranged:  K. Lee Scott

-         Composed:  African American Spiritual

-         Published:  Augsburg Fortress (11-4512)

The Old Ship of Zion

-         Arranged:  K. Lee Scott

Give Me Jesus

-         Arranged:  L. L. Flemming

Witness

-         Arranged:  jack Halloran

Soon and Very Soon

            -           Composed:  Andrae Crouch

 

A SPRING CONCERT:  May 5, 1998

Hallelujah, Amen

-         SATB / a capella / optional accompanient

-         Arranged:  Donald Moore

-         Composed:  Georg Gottfried Wagner (1698-1759)

Published:  BellWin-Mills Publishing (OCT9608)

Kyrie (from Missa Brevis in C – K. 220)

-         Composed:  W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)

-         Published:  Arista Music Co. (AE 260)

-         Language:  Latin

-         Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

Salvation is Created

-         Composed:  Paul Tchesnekoff

Saints Bound for Heaven

-         SATB / Keyboard

-         Arranged:  Howard Helvy

-         Composed:  American Folk Hymn attributed to Peter Cartwright, 1835

-         Published:  Beckenhorst press, Inc. (BP1485-1)

Agnus Dei

-         SATB / Keyboard

-         Composed:  Douglas Wagner

-         Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.  Grant us peace.

He is Not Here!

-         SATB / Keyboard / Optional Brass Quartet

-         Composed:  Russel Nagy

-         Published:

-         Number:

O Vos Omnes

-         Composed:  Pablo Casals

-         Behold, all who are passing by, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow

Jericho

-         SATB / Accompanient (Trumpets, Timpani, Organ)

-         Composed:  Daniel E. Gawthrop

-         Text:  Jane Griner

-         Published:

-         Number:

-         Commissioned for the Shelton Singers to perform at the May 1997 Manhattan Choral Festival

 

 

POETRY IN MUSIC:  November 12, 1996

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind

            -           Poetry: William Shakespear

-         Music:  Juhn Rutter

At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners

-         Poetry: John Donne

-         Music: Williametta Spencer

Things That Never Die

-         Poetry: Charles Dickens

-         Music: Lee Dengler

The Lamb

-         Poetry:  William Blake

-         Music:  Kenneth Mahy

The Silence of the Night

-         Poetry: Christina Rosetti

-         Music: Eugene Butler

Prairie Waters at Night

-         Poetry:  Carl Sandberg

-         Music: John Leavitt

One perfect Rose

-         Poetry: Dorothy Parker

-         Music: Paul Sjolund

April Rain Song

-         Poetry: Langston Hughes

-         Music: Julie Gardner Bray

I Hear America Singing

-         Poetry: Walt Whitman

-         Music: Gregg Smith

 

SPRING PROGRAM:  March 18, 1997

Come, Christians, Join to Sing

-         Composed:  Gordon Young

Cantate Domino

-         Composed:  Giuseppi Pitoni

Cantique de Jean Racine

-         Composed:  Gabriel Fauré

Rejoice

-         Composed:  Craig Courtney

A Gaelic Blessing

-         Composed: John Rutter

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal

-         SATB / a capella

-         Arranged:  Alice Parker

-         Composed:  Traditional Humn

-         Recorded:  Robert Shaw Chorale / RCA Victor Albumn #LM-LSC 2942

The Lamb

-         Composed:  Kenneth Mahy

Witness

-         Arranged:  Jack Halloran

Psalm 46

            -           Composed:  John Ness Beck

 

SHELTON SINGERS REUNION CONCERT:  November 7, 1999

The Road Not Taken (From Frostiana)

-         SATB / Piano

-         Text:Robert Frost

-         Composed:  Randall Thompson

-         Published:  E

-         Number:  E.C.S. Choral Music No. 2485

All Creatures of our God and King

-         SATB / organ

-         Arranged:  Robert Shaw

-         Composed:  Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

-         Published:  G. Schirmer, Inc. (423420)

-         From:  Geistliche Kirchengesäng, Cologne, 1623

All My Trials

-         SATB / Piano and opt. Guitar, Percussion and String Bass

-         Arranged:  Ed Lojeski

-         Published:  Hal Leonard

Ave Verum Corpus

-         SATB / optional piano accompaniment

-         Composed:  William Byrd (1543-1623)

-         Published:  Blandford Press Ltd. (AB 824)

My Lord, What a Mourning

-         Arranged:  Sam Batt Owens

-         Composed:  Spiritual

-         Published:  Augsburg Publishing House

The Silver Swan

-         SSATB / a capella

-         Composed:  Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

-         Published:  E.C. Schirmer Music Co. (E.C.S. No. 395)

-         Also Available:  SSAA (E.C.S. no. 1054)

Lord of the Dance

-         SSATB / a capella

-         Words:  Sydney Carter

-         Arranged:  David Wilcocks

-         Composed:  Traditional Shaker Song

-         Published:  Stainer & Bell Ltd.

The Cloths of Heaven

-         SATB / Piano

-         Words:  William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)

-         Composed:  Z. Randall Stroope (1984)

-         Published:  Aberdeen Music, Inc.

Shenandoah

-         SSAATTBB / A capella

-         Arranged:  James Erb

-         Composed: American Folk Song

-         Published:  Lawson-Gould Music (L.G. Co. 51846)

Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal

-         Arranged:  Alice Parker

Witness

-         SSAATTBB / Accompanied

-         Arranged:  Jack Halloran

-         Composed:  Traditional Spiritual

-         Published:  Gentry Publications (JG2010)

 

UNIVERSITY CHORUS – Julie Skadsem

CONCERT:  November 24, 1998

Hallelujah

      -     SATB / Soloist

      -     Arranged:  Robert De Cormiert

The Heavens are Telling

-         STAB / sop

-         rano, tenor and bass soloists

-         Composed:  Joseph Haydn (The Creation)

-         Published:  Schirmer

At The River

      -     Composed:  Aaron Copland

Long Time Ago

      -     Composed:  Aaron Copland

The Promise of Living

      -     Composed:  Aaron Copland

North Country Folk Songs

-         The Farmer’s Boy / Marianne / Byker Hill

-         Arranged:  Phillip Wilby

Hellulyan

-         Traditional Native American

-         Round

Allelujah

-         Traditional Israeli

-         Round

Joseph, lieber Joeseph mein

-         Composed:  Samuel Scheidt

Mary, Mary

-         Arranged:  Carolyn Jennings

Child of Peace

-         SATB / soprano soloist / guitar

-         Composed:  Jeffery Van

African Noel

       -     Arranged:  Andre Thomas

 

 

UNIVERSITY CHORUS – Julie Skadsem

CONCERT:  October 18, 2001

Fanfare For A Festival

            -           SATB /

-         Composed:  Ron Nelson

-         Published: Boosey & Hawkes (M-051-45388-7)

Cantate Domino

-         SATB / Acapella

-         Arranged: Greg Norman

-         Published:  Bourne, Inc. (2737-6)

Sing Unto God

-         STAB / alto solo / tenor solo / piano or organ

-         Composed:  Handel (from Judas Maccabaeus)

-         Published:  Carl Fisher Music (N4321)

Die Nachtigall

-         SATB

-         Composed:  Felix Mendelssohn

-         Edited:  Ray Robinson

-         Published: Hinshaw Music, Inc. (HMC-407)

Pilgrim’s Hymn

-         SSAATTBB

-         Composed:  Stephen Paulus (from The Three Hermits)

-