SKU: AP.28697

UPC: 038081312415. English.

A rhythmic piano ostinato grows into an exciting choral celebration for the changing seasons of the year. Modal harmonies and accented rhythms contribute to the contemporary sounds of this joyful fanfare and tribute to nature. Program with other Andy Beck seasons songs to create a choral song cycle.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.49651

UPC: 038081567389. English.

Stacked vocal lines and counterpoint handclaps sound (and look) stunning! Each voice part introduces its own independent melody with claps, until everything combines in joyful polyphony. Some chordal singing and a call-and-response section provide contrast before an energized reprise leads to the brilliant final flourish. A remarkably effective concert/contest feature, newly available for SSAA groups.

SKU: HL.48023324

UPC: 888680033248. 6.75x10.5 inches.

This Ojibwa text, adapted by the composer, explores the beloved “flower of the forest, Sky-treading bird of the prairie, wonderful fawn-eyed one.” Opening with a joyful fanfare-like exclamation of the word “Awake” and ending as though in soaring flight, this is an excellent selection for advanced women's choir repertoire.

SKU: HL.49043921

ISBN 9790001197427. German.

The a cappella choral setting Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich for four-part women's choir written by the 1553-born composer Johannes Eccard from Muhlhausen in Thuringia is, indeed, a real pleasure. The German-language text is borrowed from an old Latin Christmas carol, singing of the miracle of Nativity in two verses. Eccard manages, in an engaging manner, to musically express the joyous atmosphere of this poem. All four female voices (SSAA) join imitatively in the angelic chant of joy one after the other, while central words like 'freudenreich' [joyful], 'Himmelreich' [kingdom of heaven], 'Jungfrau' [virgin] or 'Mutter' [mother] are particularly embellished. This is exhilarating and easy-to-perform utility music for Christmas church services.