Youth Coordinator

Kristy Brumfield, Youth Coordinator

Birdsong

SA

Paul Read

Boosey & Hawkes CME

This is a haunting piece based on a poem written by an unknown child in the Terezin Concentration Camp during World War II.  It can be a bit challenging, but worth the extra time and effort for your older children’s choirs. There are beautiful harmonies set to a heavily syncopated accompaniment.  You will find so much joy in teaching this piece!

You Will Be Found

Two-Part

Benjamin Pasek & Justin Paul/arr. Mac Huff

Hal Leonard

This is the power ballad from the hit musical “Dear Evan Hansen”. The message of love and respect for our fellow human beings will resonate with your choirs as they learn this piece.  “You Will Be Found” will make a wonderful spring pop concert closer. Take the time to listen to one of the many recordings already posted on YouTube…you may find that you want to add this one to this year’s library. 

On a Starlit Night

Two-Part

Jill Galina

Shawnee Press

This beautiful partner song arrangement of “Silent Night” paired with an original melody by Jill Galina is simply beautiful for children’s voices.  Using partner songs is such a great way to reinforce harmonization skills, and this one is a crowd pleaser as well! Great for use in church or school, you and your students will be moved by its beauty. 

Julie’s Green Room

This is a Netflix original series that debuted last spring. I have enjoyed using it in my classroom as a tool for teaching musical theater, and have been able to build lessons around each episode.  Each week, a different concept is introduced, and special guest stars from the world of stage and screen visit Julie Andrews and her cast of children’s workshop characters all played by puppets.  Through the use of this series, I’ve taught numerous new vocabulary words as well as musical theater appreciation.  The characters show that each of us has our own gifts and talents to contribute to the body, and how we can all use those talents to work cooperatively for a common goal.  Each episode is roughly 35-40 minutes long, leaving time at the end for discussion and reinforcement of the day’s topic. This is also good to use for substitutes.  Enjoy!

Collegiate Coordinator

Phillip Stockton, Collegiate Coordinator

Lux orta est iusto

SATTB x 8 (40 voice motet)

David Bednall

Self published. Follow the link for information

http://www.davidbednall.com/contact.html

A few sentences describing why you chose the piece.

I heard this piece on a recording entitled Sudden Light by Delphian Records. I was struck with the complexity of this piece, and the beauty that is created. I would encourage you to look at it for your groups. He also has many other pieces that are beautiful that incorporate organ.

St. Cuthbert (oratorio)

SATB Chorus, S,T,B soli

Will Todd

Tyalgum Press

This is a powerful piece that tells the story of the Northumbrian Saint Cuthbert. It is scored for large orchestra and the voices listed above. There is a recording found on Will Todd’s website. I would encourage you to have a listen.

In His Care-O

SATB divisi

Stacey Gibbs

Santa Barbara Music Publishing

A few sentences describing why you chose the piece.

I like this piece because it embodies the spirit of William Dawson’s arrangement of Care-O, but brings it to the modern choral scene with a vocal jazz feel. It does this without compromising the integrity of the spiritual. This would be  a great piece for a traditional choral group, as well as a piece for a acapella group.

Resource:

“Set Upon the Rood”

This is a recording by Delphian Records featuring the Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. This album incorporates ancient instruments in new compositions. In essence, they are creating a new repertoire by combining modern choral writing with ancient instruments with excellent choral singing. It is an intriguing album and I would encourage you to listen to it. It can be found on iTunes.

Lifelong Coordinator

Mark Nabholz, Lifelong Coordinator

I've chosen to highlight three superlative settings by Eric Nelson, Director of Choral Activities at Emory University and conductor of the Atlanta Master Chorale, one of the premiere adult community choral organizations in the country.

When Memory Fades

SATB/piano

Arranger: Eric Nelson

Morningstar Music Publishers, MSM-50-8914

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/V_djkVTjdX8

Nelson's treatment of this graceful tune by Jayne Southwick Cool illuminates the meaning and emotional content of Mary Louise Bringle's rich text. Dealing with one of society's most prevalent end-of-life issues, dementia, this 5-minute work is suitable for either church or concert settings.

When memory fades and recognition falters,

when eyes we love grow dim, and minds, confused,

speak to our souls of love that never alters;

speak to our hearts by pain and fear abused.

O God of life and healing peace, empower us

with patient courage, by your grace infused.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

SATB/flute/cello/piano

Arranger: Eric Nelson

Morningstar Music Publishers, MSM-50-8970

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/TuV8RUH79tM

Yes, this is the gospel hymn tune with which you're familiar (SHOWALTER), but Nelson's skillful instrumental writing casts it in an entirely new and refreshing light. His fragmentary inclusion "Amazing Grace" (NEW BRITAIN) adds to the tranquil charm. Suitable for church or concert, approximately 6 minutes.

How Do I Love Thee?

SSAATTBB/piano

Composer: Eric Nelson

E.C. Schirmer, E.C.1.3375

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/iy32wqJZH3M

Published in 2014, Nelson's setting features an accompaniment that is supportive of the voices and is at the same time eminently expressive and pianistic. Divisi is limited, and this piece is appropriate for a wide range of ensembles: advanced high school, community, and collegiate choirs will find themselves challenged and gratified by this well-crafted +-7 minute setting of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous Sonnet 43.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Repertoire Specific Coordinator

Angie Rawls, Repertoire Specific Coordinator

All Creatures Praise Him

SATB with some divisi   accompanied

Mary McDonald

Medallion Music

Pearl Singers sing for the annual Community Thanksgiving Service.  Appropriate text.  This piece lends itself to easy sightreading for the beginning of the year.  It reads easy yet sounds involved and impressive.  Perfect for a community religious service.

Voice Dance

SSAA  a cappella

Greg Jasperse

Shawnee Press

I was looking for a lighter piece to program opposite several heavy pieces.  “Voice Dance” offers some challenging tuning issues, but is very enjoyable for both the singer and the listener.

Lux Aurumque

TTBB    a cappella

Eric Whitacre

Walton Music

The 1^st tenors soar and the low basses plummet. The all-male timbre is a refreshing twise for the harmonies that are indicative of Whitacre’s writing.  A challenging yet enjoyable piece.

Contemporary and Commercial Music

Carol Joy Sparkman, Contemporary and Commercial

Killing Me Softly

SSAA

Arr. Deke Sharon

08747055 Hal Leonard

This is a piece that is accessible and a favorite with my girls. Inf act, they ask to sing it every year. Roberta Flack recorded it in 1973, but it was covered recently by The Fugees. The beautiful solo line is accompanied by interesting harmonies and a rhythmical bass line. Don’t be afraid to play with the keys. This key felt too low for my students, so I raised it a half step. Do what is best for your group…always.

One Call Away

Three-part with Solo

Arr. Bryan Sharpe

45689 Alfred Publishing

This piece, originally recorded by Charlie Puth, is great for beginning and middle school groups. The ranges are very accessible for middle school and for groups with a limited number of male singers.

Betteracappella.com

This resource provides arrangers a site to place their arrangements for the public to peruse. There are challenges… For instance, you can’t always hear, on the site, the arrangement you are interested in. You may need to Google the performing group or the arranger on YouTube. However, I have found that of the arrangers I have emailed, requesting a few pages of the arrangement, have responded rather quickly.

Acappella Education Association (Facebook and website)

This group is dedicated to promoting the art of a contemporary a cappella and providing resources for directors and members of a cappella groups. A yearly membership is only $39 and gives you access to arrangements and other resources unavailable to non-members.  The listing of state representatives, regional directors, and board members are listed and are available to help you with your group and answer questions regarding your a cappella program.

Ethnic and Multicultural Music

Scott Sexton, Ethnic Music

Tongo (Polynesian/South Pacific)

TB (also available in 2-part and SAB)

Traditional, arr. Greg Gilpin

Alfred

“Tongo” is a fun Polynesian piece for the beginning ensemble. My middle school guys have enjoyed singing the TB arrangement. It utilizes the pentatonic scale, the foreign language text is minimal, and it has lots of percussion and hand-clapping to give the piece an exciting texture. It is also a perfect beginning a capella piece, as most of the song is a call and response between the two parts. This is a great multicultural piece for a growing program or ensemble!

Sto Mi E Milo (Balkan Europe- Macedonian)

SSA (also available in TTB)

Traditional, arr. Daniel Hughes

Earthsongs

Sto Mi E Milo is a folk song left over from the Ottoman Empire (an empire that ruled Balkan Europe for hundreds of years). It is about a village on the shores of a beautiful Macedonian lake and depicts the beauty of village girls by the lake collecting water in their pitchers. Macedonian is easier to sing that you think- the vowels are pure and the consonant pronunciations are very predictable. This piece is in 7/8 time (the meter alone is full of teaching opportunities!). Because the alto part almost exclusively uses a so to do motif, it would be a great piece for an SA ensemble wishing to try some SSA repertoire.

Mangisondele Nkosi Yam (South Africa-isiZulu)
SATB divsi with Alto and Baritone solos
Traditional, arr. Michael Barrett
Santa Barbara

In this traditional Zulu setting of the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee”, South African composer and conductor Michael Barrett has masterfully arranged this piece to capture the spirit of his country’s choral tradition. Also the piece is SATB divisi, the ranges and harmonies are very singable and therefore are very accessible, even to a younger high school choir. My students enjoy singing the Zulu text and it has a fun and rhythmic “Amen” section. The piece definitely does not have a “manufactured” feel and feels very organic and true to the original hymn.

Balkan Bridges: Traditional Music of the Former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria

Mary Cay Brass has published two book resources on Balkan choral music and this is the second book. Ms. Brass spent time in Former Yugoslavia as a Fulbright Scholar and these books are a result of many years collecting this music. I like this resource because it includes multiple voicings (great for people that teach multiple levels of choir!). Balkan music has fun meters (7/8, 9.8, etc) and much of its music is set in gorgeous minor and modal tonalities. The harmonies are both simple and challenging (you have anything from simple thirds to dissonant seconds… if anything, this book would be great for sight-reading practice)!

Junior High School

Tammy Maxie, Junior High

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

SA

Deanna Wehrspann

Choristers Guild

We are loving this piece!  The poem is one of my favorites and part of the Language Arts curriculum at my school.  Musically it sings easily and is great for the first concert in October.   I also enjoy the learning resource page that the publisher provides for their pieces.  

Keep A Goin’

TB

Frank L. Stanton 1857-1927  arr. Paul David Thomas

Brilee Publishing

This men’s piece is great for the middle school male singer because the range is perfect for each voice!   The vocal line helps with  independence within the part as it features tenor and bass alone using echo part writing.  This piece offers opportunity to teach dynamics and if simply fun to sing! 

Happy Together

SATB

Arr. Audrey Synder

Hal Leonard

Easy A Cappella piece for young voices!  My baritones were not ready for this until spring so be careful to not start this too early.  Add a fun beat boxer and it will work for a great light number in your programs.

Sight-reading Factory

Love this website!  Extremely affordable and it gives you so many options at your fingertips!  Combine these exercises with other sight reading materials you already have in your classroom.  My favorite feature is the ability for my students to work independently at home.  

Men's Choir

Terry Walker, Men’s Choir

Nine Hundred Miles

TTB

Philip Silvey

Santa Barbara Music Publising

This piece is immediately emotionally expressive. Also, it is melodically interesting without being difficult or detached. It also provides an opportunity to the division of the sixteenth note at a slow tempo.

My God Is A Rock

TTB

Ruth Morris Gray

Alfred Music Publishing

This selection will keep students engaged because of tempo and rhythmic quality. There are also opportunities for solos. Independent singing and counterpoint may be introduced in this piece. Lastly, it provides an opportunity to learn sol fege in a minor tonality.

Ubi Caritas

TTBB

Ola Gjeilo

Walton Music Publishing

This piece is a challenge for men’s choir, but the results are worth the challenge. This piece provides the opportunity to teach traditional latin text. Listening across the section and the entire choir is paramount to perform this piece successfully.

Music in Worship

Slater Murphy, Music in Worship

Our God is God

SATB

Words by J. Paul Williams, Music by Joseph M. Martin

GlorySound/Shawnee Press, A8542, Orchestration available

This symphonic setting, with questions (“who holds the wind in His hands?”) voiced in the first part of the anthem, followed by answers in the second section (“have you not heard, do you not know, our God is God!”) is one of Joseph Martin’s best choral pieces for the church.  The orchestral accompaniment definitely adds to its beauty.  A moderately skilled church choir/orchestra will find this song to be within reach; it also would be appropriate for festival occasions or with senior high and university groups.  Martin also has scored this for TTBB.

Thou, O Lord

SATB

Lisa Ireland

Arranged by Carol Cymbala

Brooklyn Tabernacle Music, 0 80689 97127 3, from the collection I’m Amazed, Orchestration available

The words are lifted from a much-quoted Biblical text highlighting God’s protection and care during times of difficulty.  Even though those in opposition to you may torment you with troubling words and actions, the song continually states that the Lord is a shield and the lifter of one’s countenance.  The musical setting fuses gospel and jazz chords throughout.  If you are familiar with the Brooklyn Tabernacle style of worship music, you may already know that this song is one of their earliest classics.  It has become one of my favorites; still you will hear it used all over the world.  The orchestration is interesting and quite challenging in certain sections.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

SATB

Thomas Dorsey

Arranged by J. Reese Norris, not yet published

SSAA arrangement published by Alfred Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane

Reese Norris was commissioned this year to reset this arrangement for SATB divisi, by the Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir & Orchestra.  Hopefully we will see it published in a few months.  If you heard the SSAA arrangement he did for his Hernando Middle School choir, you will have some working knowledge of the beauty of this song.  It requires much attention to detail, discipline, sensitivity, and will increase the musicianship of all who take to heart this marvelous addition to the choral repertoire.  Do not miss this piece once it goes to press!

Worship Old & New

By Robert E. Webber

Zondervan Publishing House/HarperCollins

Churches of nearly every tradition are discovering the worship of the Biblical and historical traditions.  Many churches, representing most denominations, are recognizing that elements of worship preserved in other traditions are relevant to today’s worship.  These trends are giving rise to a convergence of worship traditions, blending worship old and new.  This is an excellent text for the student of worship who seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the themes of Old Testament and New Testament worship, each of which guided the formation of early Christian worship.  As the centuries unfold, Webber describes and explains ancient and medieval worship, the reformation, and the free church movement.  He skillfully connects the strength of the historical liturgy to the current worship renewal emphasis, particularly to the importance of the arts in worship expression.  Church musicians will find this to be a valued resource in their ongoing efforts to maintain a sense of musical and theological balance.

High School

Carrie Owens, High School

When I Hear Music

SATB

Michael G. Martin

Alfred

The text of this piece speaks about those people in our lives who have touched us with music. The texture is homophonic.  The harmonies traditional with a few chromatic notes to enhance the harmonies. This is a great piece to work on the men’s head voice and the transition from high to low. Altos will enjoy the many suspensions in their line. Sopranos will focus their attention on the passagio. This piece is very accessible for most high school choirs with a strong men’s section.

Sing Dem Herrn

2-5 Canon

Praetorius  arr. Wallace DePue

Alfred

This is my “go to” piece on the years that my men’s section is rebuilding. I have used this piece in middle school and high school and students love it! The German text is easy to master and repetitive. This piece can be performed in two to five parts. The biggest challenge is teaching the transition from the canon to the ending. Once students understand the ending, they will flourish on this piece. 

Cool Moon

SATB

Richard Williamson

Heritage Music Press

This is a great piece to work on sight-reading literature with dissonance. Most of the dissonances are approached from a unison with oblique movement. The basses will work on approaching the head voice to match the tenor line. Singers will need to pay careful attention to dynamics and phrasing. This is a great piece to start the year off with your top singers to get them listening and tuning with each other.

Choral Charisma – Singing with Expression by Tom Carter

Choral Charisma is a wonderful book to move your students from singing notes and words and begin connecting to the music. The first idea Tom Carter has is to create a safe environment where students are willing to take musical risks. He then writes about emotional vulnerability, analyzing the text, creating a singer that acts and many other topics that will breathe new life into your classroom.

Two Year College

Suzanne VanDyke, Two Year College

Ubi Caritas with Piano Improvisation(Pianist/Conductor Score)

This edition features Ola Gjeilo's piano improvisation over his original Ubi Caritas for SATB voices. I was introduced to this added piano improvisation at a community college mass choir weekend. It came together really quickly and the students responded well musically to the almost jazz like quality of the piano.

Walton Music WW1386A

This is paired with:

Ubi Caritas SATB

Walton Music WW1386

I would also strongly recommend downloading his piano Improvisations album on iTunes that includes not only Ubi Caritas but several other of his choral compositions including  Tota Pulchra Es and Prelude.

I Shall Not Live In Vain

SATB

J. Reese Norris

Musicspoke.com

Commissioned by the Sycamore Arts Council in honor of the NWCC Singers in the Spring of 2017, the composer offers the following description on his website:

The profound text from American poet, Emily Dickinson is married perfectly to the scripture found in Matthew 25. This SATB setting features a soloist and is set for string quartet and suspended cymbal. This is a powerful, compelling song of statement and purpose.  

I Shall Not Live in Vain is available for SATB and piano or SATB, piano, string quartet, and percussion. If you are doing the version with string quartet, purchase one copy of the full score and parts and as many copies of the piano/vocal version as you need to print for the choir.

I Love You/What A Wonderful World

TTBB

arr. Craig Hella Johnson

Hal Leonard 00138213

A beautiful juxtaposition of two haunting melodies with equally compelling texts arranged for TTBB choir. Challenging with the need for an ensemble that can divide and sing independently of each other. This took considerable rehearsal time but was well worth the effort. My men's ensemble loved singing this!

Resource:

My choir is collaborating with others in our community to present the Christmas portion of the Messiah in late November. It has been several years since I have conducted this work so I was glad to see a new resource for the rehearsal process. It offers not only a Director score with full text and warmups with piano accompaniment but also a code for accessing downloadable singer parts online. There is also an SATB Singer's Edition that includes a folder-sized print edition of the warmups

Messiah: Warm-ups for Successful Performance by Ryan Kelly and Jason Paulk

Director's Score 00152409 $39.99 

Singer's Edition 00152410 $2.95

Hal Leonard Corporation

Women's Choir

Rachel Upton, Women’s Choir

The Road Home

SSAA, a cappella

Stephen Paulus

Paulus Publications

The Road Home features harmonies and text that will warm the hearts of your singers and listeners. The pentatonic tune is taken from The Southern Harmony Songbook of 1835. The theme of “wandering”, “returning” and “coming home” unite with the pentatonic melody and create a timeless and universal appeal that is powerful to all.

Light of a Clear Blue Morning

SSAA divisi, a cappella

Craig Hella Johnson

Hal Leonard

Not only for SATB choir! Let your ladies shine with this arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning. With a great opportunity to showcase a soloist, this work is sure to put smiles on the faces of your listeners.

Lorelei

SSA, piano

Clara Schuman, arr. Brandon Williams

Hal Leonard

Lorelei provides your ladies an opportunity to sing authentic Romantic-era lied composed by a female composer! This piece was a birthday gift from Clara Schumann to her husband, Robert, in 1843. Your accompanist will also enjoy this piece as it artfully displays Clara Schumann’s mastery of keyboard technique.

The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults

James C. McKinney

Popular for more than two decades among college voice teachers and their students, this outstanding, authoritative vocal pedagogy text is an invaluable manual. It thoroughly examines the vocal problems prospective voice teachers will encounter daily in the teaching studio and choral rehearsal. The author’s approach is a unique one, based on diagnostic procedures similar to those used by doctors. As each vocal fault is presented, its identifying characteristics or symptoms are stated, its possible causes are discussed, and corrective procedures are suggested.

Show Choir

Debbie Wolfe, Show Choir

Stand In The Light

SATB (also available in SAB and SSA)

Stephan Moccio and Lauren Christy, arr. By Roger Emerson

Hal Leonard , Publisher ID: 00202485 

I sang this song this past summer with a group of teachers and fell in love with the message….. stand up, be who you are, don’t hide, take the risk, stand in the light and be seen as you are!  My students will be singing this is their fall show.  They have really enjoyed learning this song.

Run To You

SATBB

Pentatonix

Madison Gate Boulevard Music, Inc.

This is beautiful a cappella piece some of my former students had the privilege of doing at SICC several years ago.  My students will be performing this song in their fall show as well. It has wonderful harmonies and a fabulous bass line.

The Final Countdown

SATB

Joey Tempest, arr. By Jeff Bowen

The first time my students did this song, it was chosen to be part of a time themed show.  It will be performed again simply because it’s a great song of the 80s! 

Resources:

The Southern Experience Show Choir  & Choral Camp

Educators and students learn and perform shows as well as participate in reading sessions, round table discussions, etc.

Southern Invitational Choral Conference (SICC)

This conference involves students from high school and community colleges. Educators spend their days in sessions learning from other educators.