Creative Programming: For Middle School Boys Monday, March 29, 2021
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
Especially for middle school tenor/bass ensembles, check out these Five Star Features for changing voices!
Desperta Ferro! (Rise, Iron!) by Christopher Fox, TTB with piano and optional percussion
“Desperta Ferro!” – literally, “Rise, iron!” in medieval Catalan – was one of the battle cries employed by the fierce Almogàvers as they struck the earth with their weapons, causing sparks to fly from the stones. Here, it becomes the main idea of a thrilling work for Tenor/Bass voices, piano, and optional percussion. Bravado and confidence surge with each additive cry of the powerful, newly composed text. Sure to spark a lifelong love of choral singing!
Vive la Compagnie arr. Audrey Snyder, TB with piano
Translating to “long live the company,” this traditional English 6/8 ode to camaraderie and friendship is an exercise in French pronunciation as well as a call to success for your burgeoning young men!
Dover Beach (Tales from the North) by Meredith Tompkins & Ashley Dame, TT unchanged voices and piano
For unchanged tenor voices, “Dover Beach” contains rolling and weaving melodies within the framework of an undulating piano accompaniment. Energetic and musically charged, the driving melodic passages will challenge the young tenor performers to be their very best!
The Cambiata Collection by Lon Beery, TTB reproducible collection
The transition from treble to changed voice can be a unique and challenging time for developing male singers. Dr. Lon Beery brings years of expertise as a middle school choral educator and clinician to this collection of eight carefully curated chorals, written specifically to meet the needs of young tenors and basses. Narrow vocal ranges for each voice part allow singers to find success as they navigate the shifting demands of an evolving vocal instrument. Reproducible student pages plus complete demo and accompaniment tracks make “The Cambiata Collection” an exceptional value! Titles include: “Arirang,” “Brothers in Song,” “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes,” “Fillimiooriay,” “Hava Nagila,” “My Heart’s in the Highlands,” “Vive L’Amour,” and “When I First Put This Uniform On.”
Gentle Annie arr. Andrew Parr, TB with piano
Young men’s choirs will love learning and performing this Stephen Foster gem. The interesting melody that moves from one voice to the other serves for great vocal teaching and production. The text though romantic lends itself to interpretation by the singer leading to moving musical moments. Your guys will sound great with this choral!
No matter what your in-person or remote teaching requires, shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
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!