Scenes of Winter for Middle School Choir Friday, October 18, 2024
recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists
Scenes of Winter arr. Glenda E. Franklin, 3-part mixed with piano
This traditional English carol, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” breathes new life with original lyrics in this gentle choral for winter. Vocal echoing and simple harmonies beautifully paint the text, creating a lovely holiday selection that is unique yet familiar.
Where the North Wind Blows arr. Cristi Cary Miller, 3-part mixed with piano
The beautiful, haunting melody in this piece comes from a traditional Irish tune. Its slow and lyrical tempo gives choirs a chance to develop breath control when singing long phrases. The wintry lyrics make the selection a perfect choice for concert and festival events.
December Canon by Mark Burrows, 3-part mixed with piano
“The wind is cold, the branches bare, but hearts are warm and bright.” Despite the chill of December, it” all about hope, peace, and kindling kindness. As you’d expect from a round, a simple melody easily stacks into a complete choral texture. Even better, the conservative-range tune ensures a good fit for all voices. Groups of any age will master the canonic form and enjoy delivering the heartfelt, non-holiday message.
Here We Come A-Caroling arr. Becki Slagle Mayo, 3-part mixed with piano
From the rollicking piano and vocal introduction until the final “fa-la-la-la!” mixed ensembles will experience the joy of the season while learning this well-known carol, also known as “Here We Come A-Wassailing.” What a wonderful expression of the happiness and prosperity we all hope to find during the holidays!
Sing We Now of Fife and Drum arr. Roger Emerson, 3-part mixed with piano and optional flute, snare drum & chimes
Filled with energy and drive, this mashup of “Sing We Now of Christmas” and “Pat-a-Pan” brings new life to these familiar holiday carols. A generous measure of unison singing along with repetitive text and melodic phrases provide strength and confidence to growing singers and choirs.
Together in Song at Christmas, Volume 2 by Greg Gilpin, Cynthia Gray, Victor C. Johnson, Ruth Elaine Schram & Bruce W. Tippette, 3-part mixed with piano
These fully reproducible collections are both unique in value and a great resource for exceptional concert pieces for Three-part Mixed choirs. This collection is fully reproducible and includes an Accompaniment MP3 for each title. Featuring the works of today’s leading educational choral composers, these collections offer a wide array of diverse musical styles while being a budget-friendly resource. Titles include: “A Yuletide Greeting,” “Pat-a-Pan Noel,” “Please Don’t Sing Another Fa La La!,” “Winter Reflections,” “Lullay, Infant Holy,” “A Calypso Noel,” “Tiny Little Baby Born in Bethlehem,” and “Ale Pun.”
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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.