Celebrate the Season! Especially for Beginning Choir Friday, October 13, 2023
recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists
Celebrate the Season (with Patapan) arr. Audrey Snyder, 2-part with piano
Two lively and fun French carols are paired together in this sparkling new arrangement filled with joy and jubilation. Showcase your choir; the vocal parts are easy to learn, yet the performance sounds much more advanced than it really is!
Figgy Pudding! (incorporating We Wish You a Merry Christmas) by Ruth Morris Gray, 2-part 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.
French Carol Duet arr. Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid, 2-part with piano and optional glockenspiel
Seasoned directors know they can count on this writing team for quality developmental literature, like this piece – a perfect pairing for holiday concerts: “Il Est Né” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Sing in English throughout, or include some French text using the included pronunciation guide. Optional lyrics allow you to sing some French or entirely in English.
Gatatumba arr. Emily Crocker, 2-part with piano
This Spanish song is a type of Christmas song called a “villancico.” The title suggests a rhythm that is played on various rhythm instruments. This is a wonderful first song to introduce part singing to your choir.
Eight Lights for Hanukkah by Andy Beck, 2-part with piano
This peaceful Hanukkah original warmly counts each menorah candle, recognizing the nights of the meaningful holiday. Conservative ranges, manageable phrase lengths, and foundational part singing techniques are designed for quick learning. As a special touch, interludes and counterlines reference the traditional Hebrew song “Oy, Khanike,” and “Shalom Chaverim” is sung in a round just before the hushed ending.
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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.
Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.