Over the Sea to Skye: World Music for Choir Monday, January 16, 2023
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
FOLKSONGS FROM EUROPE
Over the Sea to Skye arr. Roger Emerson, 3-part mixed with piano or 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.
Waters Ripple and Flow arr. Ruth Elaine Schram, SSA with piano
This beloved Czech folk song has been skillfully and artistically set by master composer and arranger Ruth Elaine Schram. With carefully crafted vocal parts and an accompaniment that embodies a river’s gentle flow, this is a perfect selection to showcase your treble choir. A Learning Resource Page is included.
Scarborough Fair arr. C.E. Walz & Larry Shackley, SATB or SAB with piano
Flexibly voiced for SATB or SAB, this setting of the traditional English melody is an expressive and accessible arrangement. With rich voicing in comfortable ranges, this arrangement lends itself to focus on choral balance and blend to achieve lovely choral warmth to express the song’s minor tonality.
Skye Boat Song arr. Bryan Sharpe, SATB a cappella and optional hand drum & tambourine
This beautiful Scottish melody in an energetic a cappella setting incorporates percussion to enhance to lilting style of the tune. With a lyrical soprano solo for the opening, the arrangement drives forward with percussive textures and layers in the choral parts. With comfortable ranges and careful attention to voice leading and chord voicings, this is an a cappella setting that will set up your SATB choir for success.
Who Can Sail Without the Wind? arr. Sara Glick & Judith Herrington, TB with piano and optional C instrument or clarinet
The “Songs of the World” Series is hugely popular, and this trilogy introduces another wonderful set. This song is the first of three, and begins with a gentle quality that calls to the heart. As always, the choral parts are beautifully constructed, and the overall effect compelling.
Charlie Is My Darling arr. Cristi Cary Miller, 3-part treble with piano and optional fiddle
This Scottish folk song is skillfully arranged and perfect for treble choirs. An optional fiddle is included and brings style to this wonderful new arrangement.
Bella Ciao arr. Christi Jones, SA with piano (optional a cappella)
This arrangement of a traditional Italian folk song is a fun way to work on pure vowel formation and unity of tone. Whether sung with piano accompaniment or a cappella, this lighthearted, energetic selection is an approachable work for treble choirs.
FOLKSONGS FROM AFRICA
Shumayela arr. Charlotte Botha, SSAA a cappella
“Shumayela” is an isiZulu hymn from South Africa, arranged here for treble voices. Syncopated melody lines, rhythmic vitality, and percussive sounds of the text create a fun and exciting celebration through music. Improvisation and creativity on top of the written music is encouraged!
Famba Naye arr. Victor C. Johnson, 3-part mixed with piano and optional percussion
This exuberant arrangement of a popular Zimbabwean folk song is a multicultural programming winner! Easy-to-sing melodic and harmonic patterns, a rhythmic piano accompaniment, and accessible parts for shaker, hand drum, and djembe all combine to provide an exciting performance opportunity for developing choirs. A pronunciation guide and translation guide are included.
Baraka Na Wewe by Victor C. Johnson, TB a cappella with djembe
This joyous and rhythmic a cappella celebration of hope, joy and peace is perfect for developing mixed or treble choirs. Your students will appreciate the high performance value, and you’ll love the easy harmonic layering patterns and independent vocal lines that make learning a snap. Add the lively djembe part for an authentic East African flavor. A pronunciation guide and translation are included.
FOLKSONGS FROM ASIA
Moonlight on the Castle Ruins (Kojo No Tsuki) by Rentaro Taki/arr. Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid, 2-part with piano and optional glockenspiel & flute
Hauntingly beautiful setting of the Japanese tune “Kojo No Tsuki” provides a marvelous multicultural and creative programming gem for developing choirs. Parts (included) for flute and glockenspiel add wonderful color and texture, creating an authentic cultural experience. This setting also features an optional English text written by the arrangers as well as a pronunciation guide for the Japanese lyrics.
Arirang arr. Hyo-Won Woo, SSAA with piano and Korean percussion
Serving as an unofficial anthem, this beloved Korean folk song is creatively set by one of Korea’s top female composers. This arrangement begins with beautiful, flowing unison vocal lines and simple harmonies, then opens up into an exciting syncopated rhythmic section with Korean percussion, divisi, and descant. A truly wonderful presentation of this anthem that captures both the lyrical and the celebratory aspects of this well-known piece!
TaReKiTa by Reena Esmail, TTBB a cappella
“TaReKiTa” is a refreshing concert piece that effortlessly fuses the Hindustani (North Indian) and Western classical music styles. The composer’s scats are combined with a fast triple metre, vocal slides, and captivating melodies built on the Jog raga.
Hisakata (The Gentle Light of Spring) by Victor C. Johnson, SAB with piano and optional flute, wind chimes & triangle
This superb setting of a traditional Japanese text captures the ancient mystery of Japan through haunting melodies and simple harmonies. Parts (included) for flute, wind chimes and triangle add wonderful color and texture, creating an authentic cultural experience. A pronunciation guide is included for the four Japanese words; the middle section is in English: “Spring has come, and once again the sun shines in the sky…”
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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!