SKU: PR.362034230
ISBN 9781598069556. UPC: 680160624225. Letter inches. English.
When the Texas Choral Consort asked Welcher to write a short prologue to Haydn's The Creation, his first reaction was that Haydn already presents Chaos in his introductory movement. As he thought about it, Welcher began envisioning a truer void to precede Haydn's depiction of Chaos within the scope of 18th-century classical style - quoting some of Haydn's themes and showing human voices and inhuman sounds in a kind of pre-creation melange of color, mood, and atmosphere. Welcher accepted this challenge with the proviso that his prologue would lead directly into Haydn's masterpiece without stopping, and certainly without applause in between. Scored for mixed chorus and Haydn's instrumentation, Without Form and Void is a dramatically fresh yet pragmatic enhancement to deepen any performance of Haydn's The Creation. Orchestral score and parts are available on rental.When Brent Baldwin asked me to consider writing a short prologue to THE CREATION, my first response was “Why?â€Â THE CREATION already contains a prologue; it’s called “Representation of Chaosâ€, and it’s Haydn’s way of showing the formless universe. How could a new piece do anything but get in the way? But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The Age of Enlightenment’s idea of “Chaos†was just extended chromaticism, no more than Bach used (in fact, Bach went further).Perhaps there might be a way to use the full resources of the modern orchestra (or at least, a Haydn-sized orchestra) and the modern chorus to really present a cosmic soup of unborn musical atoms, just waiting for Haydn’s sure touch to animate them. Perhaps it could even quote some of Haydn’s themes before he knew them himself, and also show human voices and inhuman sounds in a kind of pre-creation mélange of color, mood, and atmosphere. So I accepted the challenge, with the proviso that my new piece not be treated as some kind of “overtureâ€, but would instead be allowed to lead directly into Haydn’s masterpiece without stopping, and certainly without applause. I crafted this five minute piece to begin with a kind of “music of the spheres†universe-hum, created by tuned wine glasses and violin harmonics. The chorus enters very soon after, with the opening words of Genesis whispered simultaneously in as many languages as can be found in a chorus. The first two minutes of my work are all about unborn human voices and unfocused planetary sounds, gradually becoming more and more “coherent†until we finally hear actual pitches, melodies, and words. Three of Haydn’s melodies will be heard, to be specific, but not in the way he will present them an hour from now. It’s almost as if we are listening inside the womb of the universe, looking for a faint heartbeat of worlds, animals, and people to come. At the end of the piece, the chorus finally finds its voice with a single word: “God!â€, and the orchestra finally finds its own pulse as well. The unstoppable desire for birth must now be answered, and it is----by Haydn’s marvelous oratorio. I am not a religious man in any traditional sense. Neither was Haydn, nor Mozart, nor Beethoven. But all of them, as well as I, share in what is now called a humanistic view of how things came to be, how life in its many forms developed on this planet, and how Man became the recorder of history. The gospel according to John begins with a parody of Genesis: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.â€Â  I love that phrase, and it’s in that spirit that I offer my humble “opener†to the finest work of one of the greatest composers Western music has ever known. My piece is not supposed to sound like Haydn. It’s supposed to sound like a giant palette, on which a composer in 1798 might find more outrageous colors than his era would permit…but which, I hope, he would have been delighted to hear.
SKU: CF.CM9740
ISBN 9781491161203. UPC: 680160919789. Key: Bb major. English. Siegfried Sasson.
Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom... These opening lines to Everyone Sang by the British war poet Siegfried Sassoon feel as relevant today as they did when the poem was first published in 1919. It was after the end of World War I and these words capture so much of the collective exhilaration, relief, and pure joy about the Great War finally coming to an end. And yet Sassoon himself felt none of that when he wrote this poem. In his own words, he was feeling dull-minded and depressed. Perhaps his time in the trenches was still too recent. One of the reasons the creative arts are so powerful is that a poet like Sassoon (or a painter like Van Gogh or a composer like Mahler) can take their own feelings of deep sadness or pain and transform them into something beautiful, even uplifting. Everyone Sang is a celebration of the promise that things can get better, that there are things worth looking forward to. The poem itself has so much rhythm and musicality. The appearance of suddenly in the first line of each verse gives those verses a rush of energy. Attention to the crescendo in measure 7, and again in measure 37, from mf to f will help the listener experience that rush. There are expressive opportunities with so many of the poet's bold choices of action words - burst, winging, and shaken. Then there's alliteration - a poetic device that can be overdone, but Sassoon strikes a wonderful balance. Suddenly/singing (measures 6-7 and 10-11) Find/freedom (measure 21-22) Winging/wildly (measure 23) Setting/sun (measures 47-49) Was/wordless (measures 65-75) Give these alliterations just a hint of emphasis (without overdoing) to bring out the natural rhythm of the text. And just as O is set apart in the poem by punctuation, I wanted the musical setting - in measure 57 - to honor that feeling of wonder - ...O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will Never be done. Friends, there is so much good ahead, so much to be excited about. May the singing never be done.Everyone suddenly burst out singingAnd I was filled with such delightAs prisoned birds must find in freedom…These opening lines to Everyone Sang by the British war poet Siegfried Sassoon feel as relevant today as they did when the poem was first published in 1919. It was after the end of World War I and these words capture so much of the collective exhilaration, relief, and pure joy about the “Great War†finally coming to an end. And yet Sassoon himself felt none of that when he wrote this poem. In his own words, he “was feeling dull-minded and depressed.†Perhaps his time in the trenches was still too recent.One of the reasons the creative arts are so powerful is that a poet like Sassoon (or a painter like Van Gogh or a composer like Mahler) can take their own feelings of deep sadness or pain and transform them into something beautiful, even uplifting. Everyone Sang is a celebration of the promise that things can get better, that there are things worth looking forward to. The poem itself has so much rhythm and musicality.The appearance of “suddenly†in the first line of each verse gives those verses a rush of energy. Attention to the crescendo in measure 7, and again in measure 37, from mf to f will help the listener experience that rush.There are expressive opportunities with so many of the poet’s bold choices of action words – burst, winging, and shaken.Then there’s alliteration - a poetic device that can be overdone, but Sassoon strikes a wonderful balance.Suddenly/singing (measures 6-7 and 10-11)Find/freedom (measure 21-22)Winging/wildly (measure 23)Setting/sun (measures 47-49)Was/wordless (measures 65-75)Give these alliterations just a hint of emphasis (without overdoing) to bring out the natural rhythm of the text. And just as “O†is set apart in the poem by punctuation, I wanted the musical setting – in measure 57 - to honor that feeling of wonder –…O, but EveryoneWas a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing willNever be done. Friends, there is so much good ahead, so much to be excited about.May the singing never be done.
SKU: CR.984388
ISBN 9780758672858. 7 X 10.25 inches.
A text by Lisa M. Clark set for SATB and piano by Jeffrey Blersch. The text was inspired by the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1 - 13) and will help Christians wrestle with the concepts of living in a broken world to make an eternal difference. The music presents a warm melodic setting of the text, and each choral part gets to sing the melody.
Look with eyes that see forever,Faithful to the Lord's design.Work within the world, but neverChoose its call o'er things divine.Nothing on this earth can sever You from love that will refine,You from love that will refine.
Serve with hands that toil unceasing,Diligent in great and small.With the Kingdom's realm increasing,Rob the devil's lair of all.Joyous souls, their bonds releasing,Sing their rescue from the fall,Sing their rescue from the fall.
Love with hearts that will not waverUnderneath the fearsome fight.Show the weary Jesus' favor, Won to make creation right. By all means, bring all to savorMercies rich and glories bright,Mercies rich and glories bright.
Text copyright © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
SKU: HL.277282
UPC: 840126915006. 6.75x10.5 inches.
Program note:Looking Up is a piece for large chorus and orchestra, and is in three sections, played without pause. In the 16th century, a variety of psalters in meter were printed in England, with the idea of making psalm-singing something that could happen easily at home, with the rhyming meter being an aid to memorization. These translations are wonderful exercises in brevity and sometimes clumsy rhymemaking, and were usually prefaced by a lengthy explanation as to their merits; the title of one of the first such volumes in English is: The Psalter of Dauid newely translated into Englysh metre in such sort that it maye the more decently, and wyth more delyte of the mynde, be reade and songe of al men. I thought it would be appropriate to set one of these introductions, and the first section of Looking Up sets the preface to Thomas Ravenscroft's psalter (1621), in which he writes: “The singing of Psalmes (assay the Doctors) comforteth the sorrowfull, pacifieth the angry, strengtheneth the weake, humbleth the proud, gladdeth the humble, stirres up the slow, reconcileth enemies, lifteth up the heart to heavenly things, and uniteth the Creature to his Creator.”It begins meditatively, but eventually grows agitated and fervent, with a vision of the “quire of Angels and Saints” “redoubling anddescanting” - an ecstatic and terrifying vision of the skies opening up. Ravenscroft then encourages the use of instrumental musicfor worship, at which point, a long, acrobatic orchestral interlude with jagged edges antagonizes the choir, who sing a kind of private, anxious meditation on two pitches.One of the most delicious biblical texts is an Apocryphal prayer known as the Benedicite or the Prayer of the Three Children (the same who were rescued by an angel after King Nebuchadnezzar tried to have them burnt in an oven for not bowing to his image). The text is repetitive, obsessive, and a gift to composers - each line is an invocation of an element of the natural world, followed by the phrase, “blesse ye the Lord, praise him & magnify him for ever.” In Looking Up, the setting begins with three solo voices, and then grows to include the whole choir, itemizing the whole of creation. The idea that these boys are spared from the furnace and then five minutes later are saying, “O ye the fire and warming heate, blesse ye the Lord...” has always felt very loaded to me, and the orchestra plays with this conflict between joyful praise and a more terrible (in the 16th-century sense) awefor the divine.The text for the third, and shortest, section is taken from Christopher Smart's (1722-1771) A Song to David, purportedly written during his confinement in a mental asylum. This ode to King David points out how David, as the author of some of the Psalms, observes the whole world from the “clustering spheres” to the “nosegay in the vale.&rdquo.
SKU: CF.CM9765
ISBN 9781491162538. UPC: 680160921287. Key: A major. Original.
I composed Sing with Me during the summer of 2020 as my own personal response to the relentless series of heartaches that we faced: the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the anguish of not being able to sing together and the rise of social justice crises across the country. It is the first piece for which I have also written the text. At the time, I was unsure of what the fall semester would look like for my own choir. Would we be in person? If so, for how long? Therefore, I designed the piece to be accessible and adaptable to whatever situation we faced. It is my wish that the message of hope and unity will resonate with all who sing or hear it.Sing with me, as I sing with you,Let the music revive us anew;Yearning for beautiful harmony,Come and sing with me. All the world is longing for peace,For all meaningless hatred to cease;Joining together, your hand in mine,Let our voices shine! Dream with us, together as one,For the day when the battle is done;Fervently striving for unity,Come and dream with me.Come and sing with me. .
SKU: AP.47676
UPC: 038081543697. English. Adam Podd; Matt Podd.
The shimmering winter-themed text and lilting 6/8 rhythms dance right off the page in this contemporary choral like none other. Accessible yet unexpected harmonies provide warmth, and a full dynamic range takes us on a journey from a single voice to full ensemble singing. The breathtaking add-on section weaves three independent lines into one radiant tapestry of sound and suggests that the light we search for may be found within.
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: HL.1311456
UPC: 196288177326. 6.75x10.5x0.029 inches.
Written for a festival featuring the award-winning Bach Children's Choir of Toronto (directed by Linda Beaupré) and the Amabile Young Men's Choir of London, Ontario (directed by Carol Beynon), the opening verse of this evocative text from the Philippines marvels at the beauty of the universe: the stars, the deep blue ocean, and the green forest. The reflective middle section highlights the profound connection humans share with all living creatures. The joyful conclusion reminds us of the gift of freedom - a blessing that emanates from within each one of us, and made more powerful in unity with our brothers and sisters. Suitable for high school, collegiate, and community choirs.
SKU: CA.3104605
ISBN 9790007042950. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition. Score available separately - see item CA.3104600.
SKU: LO.15-3690H
ISBN 9780787768218.
My heart is full, my mind is still, and I am strong! Within the music I belong, and I am one within the song. Inspired, forward-looking lyrics by Herb Frombach and Patti Drennan combined with a creative and musically varied piano part display the power of music in our personal lives. The linear vocal parts can be easily grasped, so rehearsals can focus on dynamic contrast, phrasing, and general musical presentation.
SKU: CA.3104612
ISBN 9790007042981. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3104600.
SKU: CA.3104649
ISBN 9790007043018. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
SKU: CA.3104609
ISBN 9790007042967. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3104600.
SKU: CA.3104619
ISBN 9790007136154. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
SKU: CA.3104613
ISBN 9790007042998. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
SKU: CA.3104603
ISBN 9790007042943. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
SKU: CA.3104600
ISBN 9790007042936. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.
The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition.
SKU: CA.3100205
ISBN 9790007041311. Key: D minor. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther.
Bach composed the cantata O God, from heaven look on us BWV 2 for the 2nd Trinity Sunday 1724 as the second cantata of the annual cycle of chorale cantatas. It is based on Martin Luther's rewriting of Psalm 112. The opening movement is one of a group of cantata opening movements which are not concertante but kept entirely in the motet style, with the instruments serving only to reinforce the singers. The archaic character of this movement is heightened by the addition of a trombone quartet. The concertante style is all the more significant in the first aria for contralto, solo violin and continuo. The first secco recitative represents a special feature: two fragments of the chorale are woven as arioso into the recitative, both in text and melody; futhermore, they are also taken up canonically by the continuo. Score available separately - see item CA.3100200.
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