Joy in the Morning: for Middle School Choir Wednesday, October 21, 2020
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
Whether you’re planning for an in-person, remote, or virtual holiday performance, we recommend these exciting new arrangements to inspire you and your students!
Joy in the Morning arr. Emily Crocker, SAB divisi with piano and optional piccolo
With lyrics excerpted and adapted from the classic Scottish novel “Wind in the Willows,” here is a wonderful winter concert piece that is upbeat and energetic.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Bruce W. Tippette, SAB with piano
Robert Frost’s poem is a literary work loved and interpreted for decades making this an important choral for singers to learn and perform. The serene piano accompaniment establishes the introspective mood and tranquil vocal lines weave with dynamic interest within melodic and harmonic beauty. A gorgeous selection for winter holidays and any time inspirational texts are programmed.
In the Bleak Midwinter by Ruth Morris Gray, SAB with piano and optional drum
This rhythmic setting of the Christina Rossetti text is a truly unique approach. Set in a minor key with light syncopations, the triadic harmony quickly falls into place. Program as a processional and add the optional drum part to make the most of this singular seasonal song.
The Candle Is a Symbol by Andy Beck, 3-part mixed with piano
An emblem that transcends cultures, religions, and time periods, the flickering candle offers a message of joy, hope, and peace that can reach every human heart. Start with the spark of a single voice on the opening solo, and then light your choir’s inner flame when the entire group joins. Simple, with a folk-like quality; artful, as the composer explores dark versus light, major versus minor.
Under Winter Moon by Andy Beck, 2-part with piano and optional cello
Accompanied by a delicate piano (symbolizing falling snow) and an optional cello (the lustrous moon), expressively rich choral parts capture the beauty of a winter night. It quiets the mind and touches the soul.
Silent Snowfall by Laura Farnell, S(S)A with piano
Farnell captures the exquisite beauty, wonder, and starkness of the falling snow through both picture painting and melodic treatment in this poignant and accessible piece for treble choirs. The optional notes throughout provide opportunities to “fill out” chords at the discretion of the director. “Silent Snowfall” is a holiday programming must.
Figgy Pudding! (with We Wish You a Merry Christmas) by Ruth Morris Gray, TTB with piano
We won’t go until we get some – but how exactly do you make that holiday confection, anyway? Find the answer in this playful, original (and completely secular) holiday canon loosely based on a fragment from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Prepared with old English Dickensian flair, the round stacks in three, a perfect recipe for building harmony skills.
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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!