SKU: BT.PMC3603

Four poems sharing a common motif of 'Night' provide the texts for my choral cycle Nocturnes, the American Choral Directors Association's commissioned work for its 2005 national convention. For Rilke's atmospheric Sa nuit d'ete,several melodic themes are supported by dense, colorful harmonies in both the choral and piano parts, leading to a climactic section where all are combined and stated simultaneously. Neruda's Soneto de la Noche, from his CienSonetos de Amor, speaks of an eternal love that transcends death while reaffirming life. My a cappella setting of this gorgeous poem is predominantly quiet, serene and folk-like, utilizing direct harmonies accompanying long,lyrical vocal lines. Agee's wondrous Sure on this Shining Night is set much like a song from the American musical theater, a genre for which I have held a life-long esteem. Rilke's poignant Voici le soir recalls the opening bellsounds and jazz-tinged chords of the first movement and serves as an epilogue, quietly concluding this cycle of night songs as darkness descends. --Morten Lauridsen.

SKU: HL.323563

ISBN 9781540071507. UPC: 840126910568. 6.0x9.0x0.204 inches.

Keeping singers in our ensembles excited and energized during the warm-up process is a consistent hurdle for educators across the nation. By using songs that are indigenous to different parts of our country, teachers in choral classrooms can help students prepare their minds, bodies and voices while sharing a bit of our culture and history from different areas of the United States. All of the songs can be used with both inexperienced beginners and advanced singers. The lesson suggestions introduced with each song are intended to be a springboard for teachers to modify and adapt to their own students' needs and skill levels. Each melody includes strategies that are accessible for those who are just learning how to use their voices, and also for those more sophisticated singers who enjoy a good challenge.