GENERAL SECULAR
And I Can Sing (The Gift to Sing)
SATB and Piano
Using the poem The Gift to Sing by James Weldon Johnson, this dramatic composition takes the singers and audience alike on an adventure discovering their own unique voice. Beginning as a lyrical melody in minor, the piece builds to its parallel major with a declaration from the poem’s text and evolves even further to an epic and dramatic statement universal to everybody. This will be a great addition to your concert or festival repertoire celebrating the art of singing.
Casey At the Bat
TTBB, a cappella
Reminiscent of the treasured Robert Shaw sea chanty and glee club arrangements, this jovial work will bring joy and brotherhood to your men’s choir rehearsals and performances. In 6/8 meter and an accessible melodic range, the work evolves into a new texture with each new stanza of the famous Ernest Lawrence Thayer poem. There are opportunities for solos and a small ensemble for singers to be in the spotlight. Take a swing with your men’s choir, and your audience will enjoy this work like it’s a night out at the ballpark! This composition is the Second Prize winner (Tenor/Bass Choir) in the 2023 ACDA Composition Focus Prize.
(This is) Christmas Morning
SATB, a cappella
An upbeat and inviting song for the Christmas season, your choir will have a fun time performing this work! This playful illustration of Edwin Waugh’s text features a lilting beat and lyrical voice leading, along with a short quotation of Deck the Hall and a solo opportunity.
December
This gentle and lyrical setting of Harriett Blodgett’s poem evokes a whimsical remembrance and thankfulness in the yuletide season. The folk-like melody is supported by the legato arpeggiations of the piano and the blossoming texture of the vocal harmonies that enliven the poetic text. Suitable for school choirs and community choruses of any size, let this song be a reminder of the many gifts the Christmas season continues to give for all of us.
Score Preview SATB SAB SSA TTB Unison/Two-Part
Everywhere, Everywhere, Christmas Tonight!
SATB, a cappella
The Phillips Brooks poem creates a beautiful picture of the winter wonderland usually associated with the Christmas season, and singing its praises are the yuletide carolers. This uplifting a cappella setting, akin to singing a yuletide carol, gives the choral ensemble the opportunity to perform anywhere of the winter holiday and all its wonderment. Singers will have a delight performing this work at your next concert and special events in your community.
Four Witticisms
SATB and Piano
This set of four short pieces was inspired by various word puzzle solutions. Each piece presents a humorous pun set in a unique musical style to highlight the lyric presentation. Four Witticisms makes a great concert closer that provides no better “alto-rnative” than a smile or giggle!
I. I Bought Me a Bakery
II. Fish in a Basket
III. My Friend’s Dog
IV. The Fence Builders
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May
SATB, a cappella
With inspiration from John Barlet’s madrigal “Of All the Birds”, this a cappella setting creates a Renaissance whimsical feel (like a madrigal) to match the text by Robert Herrick. Homophonic and in comfortable ranges for all voices, this is an attainable choral piece for your choir to perform. Have some fun singing this song at your next concert!
I Am In Need of Music
SATB and Piano
The timeless words of Elizabeth Bishop receive a classical treatment with this lyrical melody supported by light, arpeggiated accompaniment (though written in 3/4 meter feels like 9/8 meter because of the consistant triplets). Suitable for any occasion and concert performance.
I Am the World
The poet’s powerful words are fully encapsulated in this new choral anthem. The beginning declaration segues into a fast traveling waltz with a fervent and adventurous piano accompaniment. A slower, introspective section then returns to the fast waltz toward a final callback of the opening.
Score Previews: SATB SAB SSA TBB Two-Part
Facebook: @Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir – Virtual Singers
Instagram: @RMCCVC
YouTube: @rockymountainchamberchoir3528
X (formerly Twitter): #RMCC, #RMCCVC
Irish Prayer
SATB and Piano
A simple and short, yet effective setting of the traditional Irish prayer text. The men and women begin separately, but join together for the last phrases of the song “and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
The Joy of Giving
(Benediction)
This deceptively simple Christmas tune is rich with its nontraditional key signature, homophonic texture, and harmonic suspensions. It can be performed with or without piano accompaniment, making it accessible for singers to perform anywhere. Set like a benediction, this work would be perfect as a concert closer for your entire choir department to sing together at the end of your holiday concert. The text by John Whittier reminds us to be thankful for the Christmas season and share that same sentiment with others “all the year through”.
Score Previews: SATB SAB SSAA TTBB Unison/Two-Part
Let Me Make the Songs for the People
Two-Part, a cappella
This proud anthem will help your chorus achieve the ability to perform a cappella works at your next concert. With an extended range and differing rhythmic passages, this work will be a rewarding challenge to perform. The song begins with parallel verse-like stanzas then diverting to a new harmonic that builds toward the climactic end.
Loch Lomond
SATB and Baritone Solo, a cappella
The familiar Scottish folk song receives a new and refreshing arrangement. Featuring a baritone solo mostly throughout the work, the chorus adds a whimsical setting with lyrical voice-leading and sustained dominant cadences. This work will take you to a fantastical image where true loves may meet again and will have your audiences entranced with your performance.
Love and Friendship
SSA and Piano
With text by the English novelist and poet Emily Bronte, this composition for SSA chorus will be perfect for your women’s chorus at your next concert. Everybody starts with the melody in unison, then branch out into three-part harmony. The bridge begins with the altos on melody by themselves, then handing that off to the Soprano II, then handing that off to the Soprano I leading to the culmination for all three (3) parts singing together. An alto split is optional on the last verse of the song. Your choir and audience will enjoy this song!
The Moment of Magic
SSA and Piano
Your women’s choir will embrace the beauty and power that music can bring with this work. The choir fully illustrates Victoria Safford’s timeless text and creates a wonderful picture of sound. The piano steadily accompanies the voices throughout the piece.
Petrichor
SATB, Piano and Rainstick
pet·ri·chor (petrīkôr) (noun) A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
What an incredible feeling and sense of wonder to be out in the world after a rainstorm! Using a rain stick and finger snaps to further illustrate the weather, the choir is also encouraged to take audible breaths (where they are written in the music), giving a place for them to enjoy this phenomena also. This original composition will be perfect for your choir to demonstrate the concept of “word painting” and your audience will be entranced by the beauty of your performance and feel like they’re outside after a rainstorm as well.
The Swan
SSAATTBB, unaccompanied
Set in a whimsical contemporary setting of the beloved poem, this choral setting of The Swan invokes the vivid imagery of its text by utilizing various textures and voice groupings as well as word painting. Each voice gets the chance (even if for a short while) to sing the melody and propel the song forward before returning to the supportive background. The chorus should perform the seemless harmonies and gentle nature of this work with the same gracefulness as a swan gliding on top of the water.
Time Is
SATB and One-Hand Piano
Henry Van Dyke’s text illustrates the relentless nature of time and its many blessings and perils. The staccato repetition of “time is” is constant throughout the work, and while everybody’s notes may happen at different times and may seem odd by themselves they wll fit together in performance. Every voice part gets a chance to shine in their own line from the poem and leading the other voices to modulate toward a new key center each time. Though seemingly a cappella, the one-hand piano part simulates the never-ending ticking of the clock while also being a root to the chording harmonizations happening with the voices. A unique challenge for advanced high school and collegiate choirs. Enjoy!