There Is Hope In Me: New for Beginning Choir Monday, September 19, 2022
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
There Is Hope In Me by Jim Papoulis, Unison with piano
Kindergartners in Brookline, Massachusetts cut to the essence of music when they instructed the composer to write “Simplicity, beauty, love, and music” is the message they want to convey to the world. Here is a poignant song for your youngest singers.
Barnyard Jamboree arr. Patti Drennan, 2-part with piano and optional fiddle, string bass, guitar, tambourine & washboard
Drennan’s spirited arrangement of the Kentucky Mountain folk song “I Bought Me a Cat” will be a welcome addition to libraries of developing choirs everywhere! With generous sharing of the melody in both voice parts, this innovative arrangement is easily learned and fun to perform. The hoedown-style accompaniment, with its sturdy piano writing, and optional Fiddle, String Bass, Guitar, Tambourine, and Washboard will set every toe tapping in the house!
Foreign Lands by Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid, 2-part with piano and optional flute
Based on two children’s poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, this imaginative setting uses ample unison singing with an optional flute part included.
In That Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’! arr. Greg Gilpin, 2-part with piano
This rhythmic and lively two-part arrangement of a beloved spiritual is a great teaching piece. With many dynamic points and rhythmic phrases to explore and interpret, it is certain to lead to a satisfying and exciting performance.
Over the Sea to Skye arr. Roger Emerson, 2-part with piano and optional classical guitar
This beautiful Scottish folk song is here beautiful set with an optional classical guitar accompaniment – the piano accompaniment is modeled after a classical guitar. A QR code is provided with the music which takes you and your students to added content that includes SEL teaching resources and video from the arranger to help you identify intersections between the music and text.
The Water Is Wide arr. Andy Beck, 2-part with piano
Thoughtfully crafted to make your 2-part singers sound their best, this Andy Beck arrangement is like a great lesson plan or a choral curriculum, with built-in teaching tools. The lyrical tune is sung first in unison, then in canon, a gentle call and response bridge introduces a new key, eventually some parallel harmonies arrive, and an optional middle note at the end offers one three-part chord. Adapted lyrics sensitively honor “the bond of friend to friend.”
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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.
Lora Moore joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2018. A former middle school and high school director of 32 years and a former church choir director of 20 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. 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!