SKU: CF.CM9634

ISBN 9781491157060. UPC: 680160915620. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: G major. English, English. Traditional Christmas Spiritual.

Berg's fantastic setting of this beloved American Christmas spiritual for advanced tenor-bass choirs tells a story of hope and meaning. The various textures throughout the a cappella arrangement with solos add much variety and musical interest. A holiday programming must!.
This beloved American Christmas Spiritual, like all spirituals and/or folk songs, tells a story. This is a story of hope and meaning. The introductory solo call and response (mm. 1-7) is hymnic in nature, just to get us started. (Think of it as an effective head fake!) The entrance at m. 8 from the upper three voices (we'll call them the trio part henceforth) is pivotal. They set the stage for the conversation between the singers and the soloist for the rest of the song. From this point, the song is basically a Jazz Trio in vocal form. The bass singers take on the role of the cool dude in the back wearing dark glasses and a beret playing the string bass. They provide the driving force for the forward movement of the entire song. The trio part, basically tenors 1 & 2 and baritones, take on the role of the keyboard providing chordal structure and syncopation. Their job is to fill the listener's ear with sound and rhythm. The soloist tells the story using the known melody and text with appropriate improv opportunities to keep the listeners focused on the message of the song. There is enough repetition to make for easy learning, but this also means that the chords need to snap into position cleanly every time. The Verses are easily identified (there are three) and presented with some small variations in Verse 3 (see mm. 56-58...this only happens once). The Refrain (mm. 30-37) is the part of the song where the singers switch from the Jazz Trio role and actually become a Men's Choral Ensemble. This Refrain is repeated after Verse 3 at mm. 66-71. Between verses 2 & 3, there is not a refrain. Instead, there is a bridge repeated from the introductory material, but used this time to move us into a new key signature. This can be a very exciting moment for the singers as well as the listeners! Measures 72-75 is known in the business as a vamp. It can be repeated once and then move on, OR it can be repeated multiple times, depending on the comfort level of the soloist and the response of the audience. It is important that there be a clear signal from the conductor as to how to end the vamp and move effectively to the actual coda of the song. The ending should be sung with tight control that only looks like reckless abandon! Faces bright; words clean; melody clear; rhythms precise! Enjoy.
This beloved American Christmas Spiritual, like all spirituals and/or folk songs, tells a story. This is a story of hope and meaning. The introductory solo call and response (mm. 1-7) is hymnic in nature, just to get us started. (Think of it as an effective head fake!)The entrance at m. 8 from the upper three voices (we’ll call them the “trio part” henceforth) is pivotal. They set the stage for the conversation between the singers and the soloist for the rest of the song. From this point, the song is basically a Jazz Trio in vocal form. The bass singers take on the role of the cool dude in the back wearing dark glasses and a beret playing the string bass. They provide the driving force for the forward movement of the entire song.The “trio part”, basically tenors 1 & 2 and baritones, take on the role of the keyboard providing chordal structure and syncopation. Their job is to fill the listener’s ear with sound and rhythm.The soloist tells the story using the known melody and text with appropriate improv opportunities to keep the listeners focused on the message of the song.There is enough repetition to make for easy learning, but this also means that the chords need to “snap into position” cleanly every time. The Verses are easily identified (there are three) and presented with some small variations in Verse 3 (see mm. 56-58…this only happens once).The Refrain (mm. 30-37) is the part of the song where the singers switch from the “Jazz Trio” role and actually become a “Men’s Choral Ensemble”. This Refrain is repeated after Verse 3 at mm. 66-71. Between verses 2 & 3, there is not a refrain. Instead, there is a bridge repeated from the introductory material, but used this time to move us into a new key signature. This can be a very exciting moment for the singers as well as the listeners!Measures 72-75 is known in the business as a “vamp”. It can be repeated once and then move on, OR it can be repeated multiple times, depending on the comfort level of the soloist and the response of the audience.It is important that there be a clear signal from the conductor as to how to end the “vamp” and move effectively to the actual coda of the song. The ending should be sung with tight control that only looks like reckless abandon!Faces bright; words clean; melody clear; rhythms precise! Enjoy.

SKU: CF.PPS51

ISBN 9781491151952. UPC: 680160909452.

The march style is important to the heritage of the modern concert band. Why not get beginners off to a great start by teaching them this essential band style as early as possible? Achieve uses only the first six notes of the Bb-major scale and utilizes two repeated eighth notes as the most difficult rhythm. It is written in traditional march form and style, but without modulation in the trio.
The march style is important to the heritage of the modern concert band, and it is my opinion that even the youngest of students should be taught the march style and form as early as possible. This march sets out to give these students that opportunity. It uses only the first six notes of the Bb-major scale, and the most difficult rhythm is two repeated eighth notes. Yet it has all of the traditional march form and style. The form of this easy march is the traditional intro, first strain, second strain and trio. The only difference from more challenge marches is that the key does not change to the subdominant at the trio. Most everything else is the same as you would find in the American marches of Sousa, Fillmore or King.The march begins forte with a quote from the end of the second strain, something that is common in many marches. This is followed by the first strain at a softer dynamic level. Additional voices are added on the repeat for variety. The second strain has tradition changes in dynamics, first starting out loud, then getting soft with crescendos to the end of the strain. The trio following again in typical fashion with the first time being very soft and legato. There are some suggestions for changing the orchestration, but you can use your creativity to tailor the instrumentation to your musical taste. The repeat of the trio should then be back to a more marcato march style. This should start with the last note of the first ending in m. 70. The march then ends with the traditional stinger.It is my opinion that in marches with this form that the repeats should not be eliminated. By doing so, it changes the form and makes the march lopsided, with the first half of the marching being too short compared to the trio section.It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write this piece. I hope you and your students enjoy it and find it useful for your program.—Larry ClarkLakeland, FL 2018.

SKU: CA.221000

ISBN M-007-24681-5.

A compact multi-themed choral collection for unaccompanied mixed chorus - and in the best sense, a best of current song arrangements! With 35 contemporary song arrangements, the choral collection offers the right song for many occasions: for concerts, weddings, and other celebrations, for Christmas time, or even for ending a choir rehearsal with a nocturne. The focus of the collection lies in folk songs, love songs, nocturnes, and Christmas carols. All the song arrangements were composed in the last fifteen years, and were mainly commissioned for Carus choral collections published as part of the LIEDERPROJEKT - the charitable project supporting singing with children. the works of around 30 highly experienced arrangers are brought together in the volume, including Matt hias E. Becker, Ludwig Bohme, Wolfram Buchenberg, Thomas Gabriel, Gunther Martin Gottsche, John Hoybye, Veit Hubner, Burkhard Kinzler, Giacomo Mezzalira, Vytautas Miskinis, Vic Nees, Peter Schindler, Robert Sund, Christoph Schonherr, Jozef Świder and Alan Wilson. Their arrangements reflect the variety of styles - from contemporary arrangements in classic harmonisations to pieces from jazz, pop, folk, and dance music - with which today's composers can breathe new life into traditional melodies and texts. The song repertoire is also distinguished by its wide variety: classics of the German folk song and Christmas carol repertoire (Kein schoner Land, Leise rieselt der Schnee, etc.) are included in the choral collection as well as excursions into the song repertoire of other countries (La vie en rose, Twinkle, twinkle, little star, etc.) All the arrangements are of easy to medium difficulty, so making this new music, with its wide range of styles, accessible to as many choirs as possible. Audio samples of most of the arrangements are available at www.carus-verlag.com/2210 to get to know the works. Complete recordings are available as a separate digital album under the title LIEDER - folksongs for choir on all the popular music platforms. In short, a beautiful-sounding musical treasure trove of outstanding song settings for all sorts of occasions - at an attractive bargain price! 35 song arrangements for unaccompanied mixed choir by leading choral composers well-known tunes in contemporary, fresh styles for concerts, Christmas, weddings and other celebrations, for the end of rehearsals, or as an encore recordings available as a digital album attractive price The many specially commissioned song arrangements underline Carus-Verlag's promotion of new choral music, as impressive an endeavor as the nurturing of the traditional song repertoire. Jan Schumacher.

SKU: HL.365091

UPC: 840126960808. 6.75x10.5x0.029 inches. Isaiah 48:16, John 15:26.

This original Christmas offering is centered in the mystery of the Trinity. Somewhat unique for a seasonal selection, the music is traditional in style and filled with expressive hymnlike harmonies. A supportive accompaniment and an easy-to-ring handbell part build texture and depth before giving way to a stunning a cappella treatment. The anthem has an old soul that would be fully at home in a cathedral or a candlelight chapel. Graceful writing and grace-filled message!

SKU: WD.080689493171

UPC: 080689493171.

America is a nation that sings! And we are a people who have always shared our extraordinary story through song. This exhilarating musical heritage is beautifully celebrated in Word Music’s newest patriotic musical, It’s America! from the stellar creative team of Russell Mauldin and Deborah Craig-Claar. Brimming with patriotic exuberance and nostalgic charm, It’s America! includes a stirring George M. Cohan tribute, a rich medley of traditional folk songs, and a uniquely moving vocal setting of “Taps” to honor our fallen heroes. At a rehearsal-friendly 30 minutes in length, Russell Mauldin’s signature vocal arrangements and orchestrations and Deborah Craig-Claar’s well-crafted, historically flavored narrations make the musical accessible for choirs of any size. A spectacular DVD Accompaniment Track is the crowning touch, making this down-home, up-lifting slice of Americana the perfect choice for both community and church presentations.