Sound familiar? It’s the day before winter break. At this point, you are running on fuel provided purely by coffee, determination, and those holiday cookies you ate for breakfast as you flew out the door. Your final holiday caroling gig is complete, and you are counting down the minutes until break! But wait- you have to get started on a whole new round of repertoire in January….lists that either are non-existent or filled with holes. What are you going to do?
Over the Rainbow- Harold Arlen, arr. Andy Beck, SATB (also SSAB and TTBB), Alfred Music Pub.
Very doable for a beginning level! Can add ukelele or get creative! Great for any portion of program!
Dide Ta Deo- Nigerian Folk Song, arr. Uzee Brown, Jr.- SATB, Roger Dean Music Co.
Go ‘Way From My Window- John Jacob Niles, arr. Purifoy, SATB (also SAB and SSA), Hal Leonard Corp.
Baba Yetu- Christopher Tin, SSATBB (also SATB, SSAA, and TTBB). Hal Leonard Corp.
Cantate Domino- Jay Althouse, SATB, Alfred Music Publishing
Also available SAB - Great opener!
O Occhi Manza Mia- Orlando di Lasso, arr. Robinson, 3 part mixed, Alfred
Intermediate/Advanced Mixed Ensemble
If Music Be the Food of Love, David Dickau, Jo-Michael Schiebe Choral Series
Also available SSAA and TTBB
Cradle Songs- Steven Stucky, SATB, Theodore Presser Co.
Rouxinol Do Pico Preto
Lulajze, Jezuniu
Buy, Baby Ribbon
The text of the 3 pieces come from widely varied sources. Brazilian lullaby, a Polish carol, and a lullaby from the Carribean island of Tobago.
Bumble Bee- Anders Edenroth, SSAATB, Walton Music - Also available SSAA
Exsultate Deo- Jacob Narverud, SATB, Alliance Music Pub.
Good festival piece with lots of changing meters and nice tone clusters. Would be a great opener for a set!
John the Revelator- Caldwell & Ivory, SSAATTBB, Earthsongs
A great tried and true closer for a set, but maybe you haven’t done it yet!
I’m a Train- Hammond & Hazelwood, arr. Peter Knight, it says SATB (but really SSAATBB), Hal Leonard Corp.
Treble Ensemble
Gerakina- Greek Folk song, arr. Henry Leck, 3 part treble, Hal Leonard Corp.
Great opener! 7/8 time!
There Is Sweet Music Here- Mary Lynn Lightfoot, SSA, Heritage Press
Also available SATB - Great for a spring concert!
Joy- Jocelyn Hagan, SSA, Boosey & Hawkes Inc.
My Heart for Any Fate- Michael John Trotta, SSAA
Even When He is Silent- Kim Andre Arnesen, SSAA
Witches’ chorus from Macbeth- Giuseppe Verdi, Ed. Rutter, SSA
We highly recommend you purchase the book Opera Choruses, Ed. by John Rutter, Oxford University Press. It’s a great book!
Want to share your favorites? Contact your R&R chair!