May Wind, Set Me Free: Creative Spring Programming for High School Choirs Thursday, February 15, 2024
recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists
May Wind (Set Me Free) by Jacob Narverud, SATB with piano
Narverud’s setting of this evocative Sara Teasdale poem tells a story about how experiencing nature and music can inspire deep love and happiness. Soaring vocal lines combined with rich, dissonant harmonies and a rocking piano accompaniment make this a powerful piece that will resonate with choirs of all ages. The duple-against-triple patterns represent the conflict between Love and Stubbornness, which ultimately ends with the triplet pattern (Stubbornness) surrendering to Love (duple pattern) for a beautiful, empowering ending – “Love: Set Me Free!”
Time by Jennifer Lucy Cook, SATB a cappella
The line between time’s reality and its invention is blurry. In this new piece, the lyrics disappear and phrases take on new meaning. We lose time when we try to keep it, we spend time as we try to save it. Time insists upon eluding us, we can only notice the fact that time has been wining at us all along. This music is a way of winking back.
Every Given Light by Dominick DiOrio, SSA with piano
“This is the day when every given light bears forth like a star.” A hopeful and inspirational message set to a rhythmic melody with a moving piano accompaniment. Ranging from unison to four parts, this is a charming sentiment for children’s choirs and developing treble ensembles.
Falling Star by Glenda E. Franklin, SSA with piano and optional flute
Sara Teasdale’s poem “The Falling Star” is blended with lines from childhood rhymes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Star Light, Star Bright” in a creative pairing of celestial texts. A minor key brings a mysterious feel, and the lyrical lines are enhanced with a flowing, delicate piano accompaniment and optional flute obbligato.
Little Alleluia by Grace O’Duffy, SATB a cappella
This is a rhythmic choral miniature, composed for the Chamber Choir Ireland Choral Postcards project. It opens with a sparkling soprano motif, joined quickly by the other treble voices in rhythmic and fragmented repetition of the world “alleluia.” The music alternates between 10/8 and 7/8, maintaining a feeling of spontaneity and exuberance.
Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
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.