Suggestions for Choral Adjudications 2014 Thursday, January 23, 2014
The beginning of 2014 is a perfect opportunity to look back at what your students have learned so far this school year, and to look forward to the new and exciting musical challenges you will present to them in the coming months. As you prepare for your upcoming concerts, festivals or adjudicated events, Stanton’s Sheet Music’s School Choral Music staff would like to recommend these repertoire choices, carefully chosen from many new and classic publications as “the best of the best!”
For advanced SATB groups, Ubi Caritas II: Through Infinite Ages is an excellent example of Ola Gjeilo’s skillful style for a cappella divisi voices. Exultabunt Sancti in Gloria by Johann Michael Haydn is an exciting choice for developing groups – the lilting 3/8 meter brings vibrancy and sparkle to the vocal parts. Feature an exciting concert original with Alleluia! by Mark Hayes, or a setting of the classic John Masefield text Sea Fever by David Brunner.
Capable treble choirs will excel with Moses Hogan’s I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart, a multi-layered and challenging spiritual, and younger groups can work on part-singing and ensemble skills with the expressive You Are My Music by Laura Farnell or The Wayfaring Stranger, a haunting arrangement by Greg Gilpin. Tim Sarsany’s Listen to a Jubilant Song is another strong choice for advanced groups – it’s a perfect concert opener!
The original spiritual Ain’t Judgin’ No Man is a great choice for accomplished men’s ensembles, or try Andrea Ramsey’s setting of a sensitive Helen Keller text, That Which Remains. For younger choirs, We Shall Not Sleep by Laura Farnell offers a moving setting of the “In Flanders Fields” text, or try the creative Neil Ginsberg arrangement of This Old Hammer.
Click here for all of our suggestions for select pieces for adjudicated events – while we have specifically geared these selections to be appropriate for Ohio Music Education Association events, this quality repertoire is sure to be successful on any spring concert or other event as well! For even more recommendations, please contact us.