Creative Programming: Choral “Chestnuts” for New Teachers Monday, June 15, 2020
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
As a new teacher in the first few years of your career, one of the challenges facing you is building knowledge of repertoire for your ensembles. While you enter the classroom as an experienced musician yourself, the pieces you sang in your own high school and college choirs may not be the right fit for the choir actually in front of you. Exploring some treasures from the past is a worthwhile pursuit! Here are some of our favorites:
Choose Something Like a Star by Randall Thompson, SATB with piano or band or orchestra
Robert Frost’s outstanding text is magnificently enhanced by Randall Thompson’s music in this choral standard for concerts and commencements. Thompson’s setting of the entire Frost work “Frostiana” is a keystone of the choral literature.
Cry Out and Shout by Knut Nystedt, SSATTB a cappella
This bright and festive a cappella anthem is set for SSATTB voices. Since 1956 “Cry Out and Shout” has become a standard in choral literature for both school and church choirs.
Beati Quorum Via by Charles Villiers Stanford, SSATBB a cappella
This beautiful, but challenging, octavo is a must for the college and more advanced high school repertoire. Basically written as a double choir piece, the women form Choir I and the men Choir II.
Canticle of Praise by John Ness Beck, SATB with piano or organ
Composed in 1960, the exciting anthem “Canticle of Praise” demonstrates John Ness Beck’s mid-century style, with powerful orchestration and musical contrasts of all kinds.
Sing Joyfully by William Byrd, SSAATB a cappella
William Byrd was the foremost English composer in the decades around 1600. “Sing Joyfully” is a beautiful example of his polyphonic writing.
Flower of Beauty by John Clements, SATB divisi a cappella
Beginning “She is my slender small love, my flow’r of beauty,” this is a sweet and expressive piece. A good teaching and performance piece, basically written in unaccompanied four parts with each part dividing at some point along the way. A testimony to its popularity is that it is on countless contest and festival lists all over the United States.
Sing Unto God by G.F. Handel, SATB with piano
Composed for the wedding of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Goltha in 1736, “Sing Unto God” is an excellent example of Handel’s choral style.
Verleih uns Frieden by Felix Mendelssohn/ed. John Rutter, SATB with organ or orchestra
A gentle and melodious setting of a Lutheran hymn.
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About the Authors:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.
Lora Moore joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2018. A former middle school and high school director of 32 years, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music from Capital University and a Master’s of Arts in Choral Music from The Ohio State University. Currently she is a church choir director, operates a private voice/piano studio and is active as a clinician and accompanist. During the off hours, Lora enjoys scouting out new day trips in Ohio to balance what her budget allows for her frequent trips to New York City to visit family and take in a Broadway show or two!