Saturday, September 10, 2016

Youth Coordinator

Kristy Brumfield, Youth Coordinator

Clap Your Hands, Rejoice!
Two part
Andy Beck
Alfred Music Publishing 30917
This exciting piece for children’s choir or younger youth is a wonderful concert opener! It has an easy melody that lends itself to Solfege reinforcement during teaching. The middle section uses a simple, yet impressive layering of clapped rhythm patterns and introduces a descant that continues through the ending. Choirs will enjoy singing,  clapping, and being challenged by this fun piece of music.  The excitement of the text will set the tone for the remainder of the concert. 

All Things Bright and Beautiful
Unison/2-pt. (also available SATB and SSA)
John Rutter
Oxford University Press 9780193420625
There is no better way to begin the choir year with young singers than to program a John Rutter piece.  This beautiful standard is perfect for teaching and reinforcing proper head tone.  The two-part harmonies are simple, yet effective for teaching beginners to sing in two parts.  The melody is an effective teaching tool for intervals that may sometimes go beyond the “norm” in children’s choral music.  Audiences and singers alike will enjoy this piece time after time. Consider making it a staple in your music library.  

Mama, A Rainbow
Two part (also available SAB)
Grossman/Hackady, arr. Ed Lojeski
Hal Leonard Publishing 08551680
This beautiful ballad from the Broadway show “Minnie’s Boys” is not your typical showtune!  This piece is perfect as a dedication to the mothers in the audience at your spring concert. The melody and optional harmonies are extremely simple to teach, and Lojeski has provided beautiful piano accompaniment; however, the text is what truly makes this piece unforgettable.  Lines such as “What can I give you, that I can give you?.....Mama young and beautiful, that’s the Mama I’ll always see…” are woven throughout this touching piece. It is sure to be a favorite!

John Jacobson’s Music Express Magazine

Music Express Magazine is so much more than a student magazine. This classroom resource features a different composer each month, complete with a listening map for the highlighted piece. Also featured each month is a different country with a featured folk song, and access to a video with pictures of the people and points of interest.  In each installment, a professional musician is interviewed and there is an accompanying video available. In the teacher’s guide, a multitude of extensions are given for every plan, and each lesson coincides with the national standards for music education. For each of the songs in the student magazine, online choreography with John Jacobson teaching is available, making your music class more fun and active. Also included are lessons for recorders, cross-curricular activities, and lessons that teach harmonization and sight reading skills. A school-year subscription is $195.00, and well worth the investment, as these magazines can be used for years.  I heartily recommend this resource for your elementary music classes as well as middle school music appreciation classes. There are always more plans than you could need, and all of them are easily adaptable to many different grade levels. 

Lifelong Coordinator

Dr. Mark Nabholz, Lifelong Coordinator

Three Psalms for Church Choirs or Civic Choruses

Psalm 42, Op. 42 “Like As the Hart” (German or English text)
Soprano solo, SATB Choir, orchestra or organ
Felix Mendelssohn
Bärenreiter, ed. John Michael Cooper, 2014.
Mendelssohn (1809-1847) set nineteen Psalms to music during his brief career, and had 
a deep, personal connection to these ancient texts. This particular setting celebrates its 
180th anniversary this year, written in the spring of 1837 while he and his wife were on their honeymoon. Mendelssohn himself considered it to be his very best sacred composition, which is all the more impressive considering that he had just completed his oratorio, St. Paul  the year before. As with all of Mendelssohn’s music, you will find it inventive, gracious to the voice, and beautifully crafted. Well suited to developed community chorus or capable church choir. Duration: +-25 minutes.

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation (Psalm 27)
SATB (some divisi)
John Rutter
Hinshaw HMC1064
One of his most well-crafted anthems, John Rutter’s setting of Psalm 27 features inspiring vocal writing and a solo clarinet part that adds expressive, musical depth to the text. While this piece presents some challenges to an average church choir (your men must be capable of a well-blended unison), it is well worth the effort required. Duration: +-7 minutes.

Psalm of Ascension
SATB (divisi)
Dan Forrest
Self-published. Available by direct order from the composer at www.danforrest.com.) 
This setting of texts excerpted from Psalm 124 and 126, for SATB divisi chorus and orchestra, was premiered by the Phoenix Symphony Chorus last spring.  A TTBB opening chorale leads into a fughetta section for the full chorus. Eventually both ideas combine to create an exalting fusion that will serve for many years as a festive concert closer. The accompaniment is orchestral (no keyboard reduction is provided) with two options: full orchestra or small orchestra with organ. Duration: +-6 minutes.


College and University Coordinator

Philip Stockton, College and University R&R Chair
Pure Imagination 
arr. Matthew D. Nielsen
SATB with divisi and piano
Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. SBMP1214
This piece was introduced by Jo Michael Scheibe at the Summer Conference in Natchez in 2015. I was taken by the piece then, but in the current climate of world I feel that more imagination is not a bad thing. 

Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes by Reynaldo Hahn 
arr. Tucker Biddlecombe
SSA with piano
Walton 00151937
A beautiful arrangement of Reynaldo Hahn’s song sung by many. A great piece for a small group or ensemble to give a change of pace to the concert. I hope you enjoy the piece.

Rilling. Helmuth & Kathy Saltzman Romey. Messiah Understanding and Performing Handel’s Masterpiece. Carus-Verlag, 2015.

 I have added this book to my reading list before preparing for Messiah this season. I have not personally read this yet, but will soon and have always enjoyed Helmuth’s thoughts on Baroque choral music. I hope you will enjoy it as well.

Repertoire Specific Coordinator

Angie Rawls, Repertoire Specific Coordinator

Battle Hymn of the Republic
SSAATTBB baritone solo (also available SAB, SSA, TTBB)
Arranged by Roy Ringwald
Shawnee Press, Inc. 35001707
The Pearl High School Choral department provides music for our annual Veteran’s Day program.  This is the only chance many in our student body will be exposed to our choir program.  This arrangement is impressive yet easily accessible.  A former student transcribed the primo piano part for brass, so this will be a great collaborate effort with our band department.  One of our high school history teachers is singing the baritone solo.

Shenandoah
SSAATTBB
Arranged by James Erb
G. Schirmer, Inc. LG51846
This is such a beautiful arrangement of this folksong.  It begins with the simple melody, then flowers into 7 and 8 parts; thick luscious, yet traditional chords. There is a canonic section led by the women’s voices, supported by men’s voices including a rumbling bass line.  All the beautiful chords finally come together on a unison tonic at the end.  Great for contest!!

Dancing Queen
SATB (also available SSAA)
Arranger Deke Sharon
Hal Leonard 08747050

This year’s theme for our “Dessert and a Concert” event is “On Broadway”. This a cappella arrangement of the “Mamma Mia” favorite provided just enough of a rhythmic and stylistic challenge for my advanced group who is fairly new to the a cappella craze.  It is definitely a fun, energetic piece.  I know the audience will love it!!

Music and Worship

Slater Murphy, Music and Worship R&R Chair

Let There Be Worship, Let There Be Praise
SATB
Joseph M. Martin
GlorySound/Shawnee Press 35012630
One of Joseph Martin’s best texts, set to a compelling melody with creative harmonic treatments.  The song presents the reminder that all throughout the day, and in whatever circumstance, we can find opportunities to worship.  This setting works well with a student group.

At the Name of Jesus
SATB
Cindy Berry
Word Music 3010473168
For many, this beautiful selection has achieved “classic” status.  It is a wonderful paraphrase of Philippians 2:6-11, one of the Apostle Paul’s personal moments of worship as he, in hymnic form, digs deep regarding the theology of Christ.  It’s hard to believe Cindy wrote this song 31 years ago!  I’ve used this with many groups over the years.  The orchestration is superb. 

Wings of the Dawn
SATB
Linda Spencer
Shawnee Press 35025960
Based on Psalm 139, this well-crafted and thoughtful setting reminds the singer of God’s constant and unfailing presence with us, no matter how we may rise and fall in the turbulence of life.  I’ve used this with several student groups, each of which gained a great appreciation of the depth of truth contained in this song.  

Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace
By Paul B. Clark, Jr.
Crossbooks

I cannot highly enough recommend this text for today’s Music Minister or Worship Leader.  The central focus throughout the book is on leading your church to renewal in congregational singing.  Paul’s discourse on worship history and the theological background of why we do what we do informs all of his admonitions, suggestions, and passionate pleas.  Written by one of our leading thinkers and expositors, it has proven to be extremely helpful to many churches who have struggled with the chronic problem of disconnect between the platform and the pew. 

Commercial and Contemporary

Carol Joy Sparkman, Commercial and Contemporary R&R Chair

Thankful
SATB (also available SSA, SAB, 2-part, TTB)
Arr. Mark Hayes
Shawnee 35029994
I have a student in my choir who is a Jehovah’s Witness and cannot participate when I choose traditional holiday pieces. We were competing in a caroling contest and I wanted to include this student. “Thankful” is a beautiful piece, with a lovely melody, and soaring lines. It is very accessible for HS choirs, and perfect for a holiday concert, or end-of-the-year concert. 

I Feel the Earth
SSAA
Arr. Deke Sharon
Hal Leonard 00114543
I enjoy using this piece to teach the contemporary a cappella style of singing. Sometimes it is difficult for students to “switch gears” from good tall vowels and round sounds, to the more narrow vowels of pop singing. This piece is not very difficult and includes all of the elements of contemporary a cappella: solo, neutral syllable accompaniment, and close harmonies. You could even add a vocal percussion improv! 

The Star Spangled Banner
SSAA
Arr. Deke Sharon
Dekesharon.com
If you are looking for a non-traditional arrangement of our national anthem, look no further than Deke Sharon’s website. Students enjoy singing it and it comes in various voicings. Best part?? It’s free…but only on Deke’s website. ms

A Cappella Pop: A Complete Guide to Contemporary A Cappella Singing by Brody McDonald. 

This book gives an introduction to the world of contemporary a cappella singing. This book will answer the basic questions of how to audition a group, how to select much and many more. For the techies, it is available as a Kindle download. It is a great reference for the novice or experienced a cappella director. 

Ethnic Music

Harlan Zachary, Ethnic Music R&R Chair

For many of us, the singing and teaching of black gospel music is second nature.  For others of us, we'd like do more, but don't know where to go to get resources.  For a large part of it's history, this genre was almost completely orally/aurally transmitted, meaning, very little in terms of printed sheet music.  Thankfully, there are several great resources for easy access to this great music.  

NTime Music. www.ntimemusic.com
NTime music offers a large array of choral transcriptions of black gospel, contemporary christian and hymn arrangements.  They also offer transcription services for any existing recording that is not currently available in their print catalog.  Many of their titles are available for immediate print on demand.  While this is a tremendously helpful resource, many of their titles are not "exact" transcriptions and many times will require editing of rhythms, text underlay or appropriate use of repeat signs (D.S, coda, DC, etc.).

MusicNotes.  www.musicnotes.com
Musicnotes, based on price per copy, is bit expensive.  However, very few outlets provide transcriptions of gospel choral arrangements as accurate as musicnotes.  I am a fan of their transcriptions mostly for the authenticity of the piano/accompaniment parts.  Whereas other transcriptions, often provide a basic chordal accompaniment, music notes will often take care to transcribe parts exactly as performed on the original audio.  It is also helpful that Musicnotes will often allow you to change the key of the printed music to better suit the needs of your ensemble.  

Word Music

I mention Word Music specifically for their Brooklyn Tabernacle series of arrangements and transcriptions.  The Brooklyn Tabernacle series is known for its accurate transcriptions of standard gospel pieces, such as "Total Praise," "For Every Mountain" and "Order My Steps."  While I am not a fan of performance tracks, Word also has these available for those who might find them useful or necessary.  

Junior High

Tammy Maxie, Junior High R&R

Come to the Music
SSA/2-part 35030121 (also available SATB and SAB)
Joseph M. Martin
Shawnee Press
Years ago I had the opportunity to meet Joseph M. Martin.  He visited our church to work with our choir and he was one of the most engaging musicians I have ever met!  Since then I have always looked to his music because his accompaniments are always beautiful and his arrangements exciting.  Come to the Music is alive and electric with driving rhythm, memorable melodies, mixed meter, and joyful text. Optional percussion and piccolo accompaniment (parts included) enhance the medieval dance quality of this exciting piece.

Banks of Doon
SSA (also available SATB)
Donna Gartman Schultz
Boosey and Hawkes 48004736
Beautiful arrangement of a famous Robert Burns poem, The Banks o’ Doon.  The melody is new but it still has a flair of a Scottish air.  An instrumental obligato is also added to the choral score.

Stand by Me
TB
Roger Emerson
Hal Leonard 00155636
This 1961 hit has been recorded by over 400 artists and my boys love singing it!  The bass line is perfect for my changing baritone/bass and my unchanged boy soars on the melody line!  Written specifically for the boys in middle school!  Add a bass guitar and drums and the girls will swoon! 

Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart
TB
Laura Farnell
Hal Leonard 08551864
Perfect beginning piece for my boys!  Not demanding, very singable and easy to teach!  

Simplifying our Sight Reading- SOS for beginning Choirs
Laura Farnell and Mary Jane Phillips

This resource is new to me this year!  Over the past few weeks I have enjoyed using it with my beginners.  I have always started with rhythm first and this series separates rhythm and pitch without notation giving my students confidence here at the start of school.   It is well sequenced and starts truly from the beginning but gives my high achievers an engaging experience due to the  design of the exercises.  Highly recommend! 

Men's Choir

Dr. Adam Potter, R&R Chair

The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child
T(T)BB, piano, optional cello
Dan Forrest
Beckenhorst Press, Inc. BP1991
Dan Forrest’s abilities to write singable and tuneful yet original melodies is unparalleled. In this gorgeous setting of Thomas Troeger’s equally gorgeous Christmas poem, that ability is on full display. As is typical of Dan Forrest’s anthem-length pieces, this piece is structured to begin and end reverently with a glorious and dramatic climax in between. It is scored for piano and optional cello and a full orchestration is also available for purchase. 

Betelehemu
TTBB a cappella with ad lib percussion
Via Olatunji, arr. Wendell Whalum
Lawson-Gould 52647
In all likelihood, you’re already familiar with this Christmas classic from Nigeria, but if you haven’t performed it recently it’s worth revisiting! Teaching opportunities abound—it features both simple and compound meters and, because all pitches are diatonic, is perfect for practicing reading on solfège syllables in the key of B♭ major. And it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Kuimba!
TTB unaccompanied with optional percussion
Victor C. Johnson
Heritage Music Press 15/3058H
Students are captivated by multicultural and ethnic music, and Victor Johnson has written this piece as an accessible approximation for your middle school or beginning high school guys. The text is about the joys of music and will be at home in a concert with any theme.

Score & rehearsal preparation: A realistic approach for instrumental conductors. Stith, G. (2011) Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications.
I’m including this book as my recommended resource this month because, even if you’ve seen it, you’ve probably overlooked it. It’s aimed at instrumental conductors but is an invaluable text for choral conductors who are striving to approach their score study more methodically and comprehensively. Stith breaks the score study process into three phases encompassing a total of 23 steps that will ensure success on whatever music you’re preparing to teach. I’ve found it the perfect “refresher course” in score study as I’ve prepared my own rehearsals this semester!


High School

Claire Leeke, R&R Chair

Peze Kafe
SATB
arr. Sten Kallman
Walton Music 08501819 
This Haitian folk song is sure to be a hit among your high school singers! It is a cappella with interesting percussion parts that give it that extra bit of “groove.” Some of the rhythms are a bit complex but the same patterns repeat throughout the piece. The catchy melody will be one that your students will continue to sing even as they leave your classroom!

No Time
SATB/SSAA
Susan Brumfield
Colla Voce 21-20114
This piece has quickly become one of my favorites over the past year. The singable melody combined with lush harmonies and a beautiful message will be one that both you and your singers can connect with. Each voice part sits in a rather comfortable range and the accompaniment adds necessary support throughout. Don’t miss out on this gorgeous piece!

How Great Our Joy!
SATB/SSAA/TTBB
arr. Craig Courtney
Beckenhorst Press CU1012
This haunting setting of the German carol is written for choir, piano and optional string quartet. The piece begins with first men, then women singing the melody. All singers then come together as the piece builds through a couple of key changes to a beautiful climax. There is a bit of divisi among the voice parts toward the end, but nothing outrageous. This would be a lovely addition to your holiday concert!

Progressive Sight-Singing
Carol Krueger
Oxford University Press

Dr. Krueger’s systematic approach to teaching literacy is like none other. This comprehensive text provides endless exercises and examples for you to use in your classroom. It is divided into two sections, rhythmic exercises and melodic exercises, that can be used concurrently. Dr. Krueger regularly presents literacy workshops around the country. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of her workshops, do it. She will turn your world upside down and you will become a better teacher for it!

Two-Year College

LaDona Tyson, R&R Chair

“That Ever I Saw”
SATB
Darmon Meader
Carl Fischer LLC CM8971
Darmon Meader is a founding member of New York Voices.  This particular piece lends itself well to teaching about expression and text stress.  It also is an introduction into some new harmonic sounds for many of our community college students.  My students loved this piece.

In Dulci Jubilo
SATB/SSA/TTBB
Matthew Culloton
MorningStar 50-0090
A beautiful piece for Christmas concerts with lots of opportunity to develop expressive qualities in our choirs.

Jeremiah’s Fire
SATB
Rollo Dilworth
Hal Leonard 08744973
This is a fun, yet not often performed, spiritual that is a crowd pleaser for a concert closer.

Evoking Sound: Fundamentals of Choral Conducting and Rehearsing
James Jordan

Though this book can get quite technical, the first few chapters serve as a great reminder of the opportunities we have in rehearsals each day.  For me, it also served as a great refresher course in choral conducting.

Women's Choirs

Rachel Upton, R&R Chair 

This Little Babe
SSA
Benjamin Britten
Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. 48009018
“This Little Babe” features a minor-mode melody that my girls just devoured. The melody is used as a canon first with two parts and then with three at a very quick tempo. It rests in a healthy tessitura for all women and encourages girls who normally sing at the bottom or below the staff to open up and sing up through the top. This classic is on at least six different states’ approved repertoire lists and is appropriate for Christmas-time and festival. I used it for both! It calls for harp accompaniment, but piano works just as well. 

Rosas Pandan
SSAA
George G. Hernandez
Pavane Publishing P1524
“Rosas Pandan” has such a sassy Spanish flare. This piece allows for a variety of movement such as simple dance steps or the incorporation of some fans, scarves, skirt swings, or castanets. It is featured on the North Carolina repertoire list and has been a selection at several choral conventions including TCDA, NJEA, and PMEA. “Rosas Pandan” challenges female students to sing with energy and percussiveness, especially if they do not have the melody.  

Rockin’ Jerusalem
SSAA
Tawn Thomas
Alliance Music Publications AMP 0791
This piece is a powerful a cappella spiritual that is a great closer for a concert. The singers will really have to listen and internalize the beat as the melody is exchanged throughout the voices. Directors can incorporate a myriad of techniques with phrasing and dynamics with “weep” and “mourn”. I threw in a sforzando on the last note and a high Bb to really top it all off. 

Progressive Sight Singing 
Carol Krueger

I have recently done an overhaul with how to introduce and teach sight-reading with my choirs. Carol Krueger, an advocate of sound before sight before theory, has created an all-inclusive method to teaching music literacy with emphasis on aural skills, dictation, and improvisation. The book is divided into two sections, rhythmic and tonal, and are meant to be taught together in spiral fashion. A companion website provides additional resources for teachers and students including vocal-pitch exercises, charts, and graphs, all of which are printable. The book also comes with a CD to facilitate independent study and practice outside the classroom. 

Show Choir

Debbie Wolfe, R&R Chair

Geronimo
SATB (also available SSA/2-part)
arr. Roger Emerson
Hal Leonard Corporation 00151461
From the Australian pop band Sheppard, this uplifting song has a driving rhythm fused with folk elements and powerful vocals for great dramatic impact and mainstream appeal.  This piece is being done by a middle school show choir It’s familiarity makes it a quick learn for the students.

Shop Around
SSA
arr. Alan Billingsley
Hal Leonard 08201331
SSA arrangement by Alan Billingsley is a great blast from the past perfect for a women’s group with lots of attitude!!!  This piece will be fun and pleasing to the teenagers of the 60s-80s!

Come Sail Away
SATB (also available SAB/2-part)
arr. Kirby Shaw
Hal Leonard Corporation 08201659
The group Styx had a big hit with this tune in 1978. The lyric still sounds fresh today, and the power-rock feel gives it a heroic, dramatic feeling that today’s students will find inspiring!