News & Views Tuesday, March 19, 2024

New for Middle School Choirs for Fall 2014 Tuesday, August 26, 2014

As you prepare for your first concert of the school year, Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you consider one of these outstanding selections for your middle school choir:

Autumn Fires by Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid
Your younger choirs will build important choral skills with this tender setting of a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Alternating between modal and major key tonality, the part-writing is carefully crafted, making this an excellent choice for that first concert of the year.

Cangia, Cangia Tue Voglie by Fasolo/arr. Tom Shelton
Here is a beautiful arrangement of an Italian Baroque tenor aria, scored for voices with piano and flute. It’s a great selection for introducing your students to singing in Italian, complete with a pronunciation guide and translation.

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? arr. Roger Emerson
Now available in a flexible SATB voicing, this driving rock spiritual features a subdued opening that explodes into high-powered energy sure to be a hit with your developing mixed choirs in middle and high school.

Dragonfly by Cristi Cary Miller
This vivid concert work for young voices portrays the emergence of the adult dragonfly with the dazzling, jewel-like sapphire wings through layered vocal lines and shifting 6/8 to 3/4 metric feel. Accessible but satisfying, this selection will be perfect for concert, contest and festival!

Hopsa! Lisella! arr. Russell Robinson
“Hopsa! Lisella!,” an 18th century Alsatian folk song, quite literally sways back and forth as it is sung. The feeling of acceleration typical of 18th century song is captured through ritards, accelerandos and tempo changes at the beginning of each verse. Add tambourine and triangle to enhance the French character of the song. In two parts, this accessible setting will work nicely with any treble group.

Jambo arr. Jacob Narverud
Kenyan composer Teddy Kalanda Harrison and his group Them Mushrooms received world-wide recognition with their platinum-certified recording of his piece. Now available in an exciting choral arrangement, it is bound to be a favorite.

Lascia Ch’io Pianga by Handel/arr. Russell Robinson
Singers have long cherished this staple of the solo repertoire, and now it is beautifully set for choral groups of any size. Teach all of the same lessons you learned from your favorite vocal instructor as you share this baroque aria with a new generation. Not difficult, but rewarding.

Laudate Dominum by Mozart/arr. Russell Robinson
From Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers K. 339,” this lovely 2-part setting captures the intention of the original while creating an accessible work for young voices. With its recognizable melody and supportive piano accompaniment, this arrangement is a classic for your choir to learn and enjoy, and a staple for your choral library.

Li’l Liza Jane arr. Catherine DeLanoy
Spirited and fun for young voices, this folksong favorite sparkles with rhythmic energy! Individual part-singing as well as chordal and polyphonic passages fill the work, creating teaching moments for your rehearsal and ultimately an entertaining performance. Your guys will love it too!

Mysterious Moon by Janet Gardner
Longfellow’s mysterious words are beautifully set with a minor-mode melody, designed specifically for developing choirs. Staggered entrances create a canon effect, and independent voice parts form partner song moments. Stays comfortably within a one-octave range for all.

Pie Jesu by Victor C. Johnson
This luscious and sensitive setting of the traditional Latin text exudes a gentle simplicity with soaring melodic lines and a fluid accompaniment. A pronunciation and translation guide is provided.

Uskudar arr. Audrey Snyder
Expand your students’ horizons with this arrangement of a popular Turkish folksong that depicts the colorful, energetic music of the Middle East. Well-crafted and effective in performance, it includes an easily learned section in Turkish with additional English lyrics, pronunciation guide and translation. With oboe and tambourine.

When Midnight Mists Are Creeping by Greg Gilpin
This evocative text setting makes it easy for developing concert choirs to impress. Modest vocal ranges, logical voice leading, and manageable phrase lengths allow musicality to be the focus of rehearsal and the hallmark of performance.

Witness arr. Victor C. Johnson
Contemporary harmonies, cool syncopations in the vocal parts, and a rhythmically supportive accompaniment grace Victor C. Johnson’s high-energy setting of this favorite spiritual. This work is a marvelous choice for developing choirs in both concert and festival settings.

For more suggestions, check out our video below, click here to view our complete Middle School Choral promotion for Fall 2014, or contact us!


< Previous|Next >