Thursday, May 7, 2015
Repertoire Project Piece 7
"Songs of a Rainbow Nation"-- Alexander L'Estrange
I traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2013. I would love to share my experiences with students, especially this piece. I did an entire project on Nkosi Sikeleli Africa (God Bless Africa). Singing (umculo) is a huge part of the culture and every day life of many African peoples, none more so that in South Africa. Hamba Lulu is a wedding song with a gentle, comforting rhythm. Jesu Ukukhanya has a call-and-response structure where a simple solo line is followed by a choral answer. A joyful exuberant song with an infectious rhythm, Si Njay, Njay, Njay can also be performed a cappella with some optional percussion for greater effect. Weeping is a South African pop song from the band Bright Blue and uses as its chorus the refrain from the Zulu anthem Nkosi Sikeleli Africa (God Bless Africa).
http://www.amazon.com/More-Songs-Rainbow-Nation-Africa/dp/0571525164
I traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2013. I would love to share my experiences with students, especially this piece. I did an entire project on Nkosi Sikeleli Africa (God Bless Africa). Singing (umculo) is a huge part of the culture and every day life of many African peoples, none more so that in South Africa. Hamba Lulu is a wedding song with a gentle, comforting rhythm. Jesu Ukukhanya has a call-and-response structure where a simple solo line is followed by a choral answer. A joyful exuberant song with an infectious rhythm, Si Njay, Njay, Njay can also be performed a cappella with some optional percussion for greater effect. Weeping is a South African pop song from the band Bright Blue and uses as its chorus the refrain from the Zulu anthem Nkosi Sikeleli Africa (God Bless Africa).
http://www.amazon.com/More-Songs-Rainbow-Nation-Africa/dp/0571525164
Repertoire Project Piece 8
"Earth Song", Frank Ticheli.
This is great for SATB at the high school level. Wonderful sounds. The dissonances are fantastic. This piece is difficult harmonically. It would require the students to really listen and blend with each other. Such a great piece.
This is great for SATB at the high school level. Wonderful sounds. The dissonances are fantastic. This piece is difficult harmonically. It would require the students to really listen and blend with each other. Such a great piece.
Repertorie Project Piece 6
This past summer I traveled to Haiti. I would take one of the songs I learned there and work with a young middle school/upper elememtary school choir. It has two parts, and is very cyclical. If anyone is interested in the piece, I have a book of Haitian songs and would love show you the melodies.
The range is not too difficult, and is meant for all voice types to sing. With students that are still learning to sing, sometimes these songs can be taught by rote. That is how I taught it in Haiti.
It would be an interesting approach to teaching. Sometimes it can be fun to teach a piece by rote.
The range is not too difficult, and is meant for all voice types to sing. With students that are still learning to sing, sometimes these songs can be taught by rote. That is how I taught it in Haiti.
It would be an interesting approach to teaching. Sometimes it can be fun to teach a piece by rote.
Repertoire Project Piece 5
Do You Fear the Wind? (Leland Sateren)
A capella TTBB a cappella arrangement that I would give to a high school group.
The link below is to the music on JW Pepper.
Repertoire Project Piece 4
"Wade in the Water", Spritual, arr. Peter Hunt
I would give this to a group of 6th graders. "Wade in the Water" is a popular spiritual, and I like Peter Hunt's take on it. There are no YouTube videos I could find of this one. The attached link is a pdf of the page. This is good to get a group prepared for four-part harmony. It's not frightening to read.
http://www.msvma.org/Resources/Documents/MMC/HIBBARD%20Wade%20in%20the%20Water%20-%20%20Voiceworks%20(1).pdf
I would give this to a group of 6th graders. "Wade in the Water" is a popular spiritual, and I like Peter Hunt's take on it. There are no YouTube videos I could find of this one. The attached link is a pdf of the page. This is good to get a group prepared for four-part harmony. It's not frightening to read.
http://www.msvma.org/Resources/Documents/MMC/HIBBARD%20Wade%20in%20the%20Water%20-%20%20Voiceworks%20(1).pdf
Repertoire Project Piece 3
"Bring Me Little Water, Silvy", Huddie W. Ledbetter (Lead Belly), arr. Moira Smiley.
SAA and Body Percussion
Having the chance to use body percussion is new and exciting for a group of singers. I would give this to a group of 8th or 9th grade girls. This piece would also be new for me, and could be challenging. The piece is short, but fun. I would love to teach myself this piece in order to teach it to a group. Tuning the chords could be difficult while moving and singing. I would make sure the group could sing each part first before adding in any movements. Love this piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ikYFd9vTbk#action=share
SAA and Body Percussion
Having the chance to use body percussion is new and exciting for a group of singers. I would give this to a group of 8th or 9th grade girls. This piece would also be new for me, and could be challenging. The piece is short, but fun. I would love to teach myself this piece in order to teach it to a group. Tuning the chords could be difficult while moving and singing. I would make sure the group could sing each part first before adding in any movements. Love this piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ikYFd9vTbk#action=share
Repertiore Project Piece 2
"Letter From a Girl to the World", Andrea RamseyThis is a fantastic piece. I would give this to an 8th or 9th grade of girls. I love the lyrics. A very powerful piece, and I know if I ever had the chance to work with a group on this, I would be very passionate about it.
Another thing I love about this piece is that is features a djembe and shaker, which is fun and exciting for a choir.
This would be one of the first pieces I would love to direct.
Another thing I love about this piece is that is features a djembe and shaker, which is fun and exciting for a choir.
This would be one of the first pieces I would love to direct.
Repertoire Project Piece 1
"Ancient City". Paul Jarman and Andrew de Teliga Upper Middle School Choir or perhaps High School, SSAB.
This piece is not too difficult rhythmically, and the intervals between the notes are not challenging. What is important with this piece is the musicality and expression. Sopranos don't go higher than a D, but some of the low B's might be challenging. The parts stay in a limited range, which is good for this level.
This piece is not too difficult rhythmically, and the intervals between the notes are not challenging. What is important with this piece is the musicality and expression. Sopranos don't go higher than a D, but some of the low B's might be challenging. The parts stay in a limited range, which is good for this level.
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