SKU: HL.125208

UPC: 884088988722. 5x5 inches.

The popular traditional carol gets a contemporary update with this fresh partner song arrangement! After a reflective introduction, the song rocks out with energy and excitement. Ideal for younger choirs and all types of holiday programming! Available separately: 3-Part Mixed, 2-Part, VoiceTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:45.

SKU: HL.194945

ISBN 9781495074059. UPC: 888680642105. 8.5x11.0x0.113 inches. By Cristi Cary Miller and Kathlyn Reynolds.

Are you ready for a way to set your students up for music success? Well, let's go Orff! Using Carl Orff's approach of sing, say, dance, play, this collection will give you multiple ways to introduce your children to the world of music making. Within the pages of this resource, you will find songs that involve singing games, Orff and unpitched instrumental accompaniments, simple choreography and extension activities. In addition, there are colorful interactive slides to assist in learning and playing games. The collection features reproducible singer songsheets and step-by-step teaching suggestions for the songs, games and Orff parts. For extra value, projectable, full color song charts are included via digital access and viewed in your browser, so there is no need for special software. Just download the files onto your computer and you're ready to go! These charts include song lyrics and interactive activities for enhanced learning. Songs include: Name Game, 'Round the Circle, Pay Allegiance to America, Little Turkey in the Woods, Decorate the Tree, Make New Friends, Do Your Best, We Are Marching, and more! Suggested for grades 1-3.

SKU: BT.ARMESDP017

SKU: HL.48021234

ISBN 9781458423542. UPC: 884088642037. 6.75x10.5 inches.

Text: in Latin compiled from the charter of the University, and from older orations in praise of Basle by Bernhard Wyss.

Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Difficulty level: 4 (for chorus)

Britten's genius lifts this work above being just a worthy celebration of the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Basle University. It is tongue-in-cheek and mockingly non-academic while referring all the time to academic musical forms and formulae. It is written in two parts (everything is in the statutory Latin including the titles of the parts - Pars I and Pars II). The titles of the movements show Britten's intention to show off a wide variety of techniques. Here are some examples: Chorale/Alla Rovescio (the theme is given and responded to with the same melody upside down)/Recitativo/Tema seriale con fuga/Canone ed ostinato. There is a good deal of humour here.

There are seven movements in Pars I and six in Pars II. The tenor soloist is given three florid recitatives, accompanied only by a piano, which act as bridges between other orchestrally accompanied movements. Of these the most noteworthy are the Arioso con canto popolare for soprano solo with tenors and basses who hum a student song; another terrific Britten scherzo; and a wonderfully raucous final pair of movements (Canon ed ostinato and Corale con canto) where Britten seems to be aping the Vivat Regina! cries in Parry's I was glad or encouraging the kind of noisy 'I'm from the best university' kind of student touchline shout. This has outrageously high notes for the tenors (top B) which further endorse this feeling. There are real echoes of the Spring Symphony (see separate entry) final movement here which are further underlined by the last section of the Cantata which brings in the bells, piano, huge percussion and the inevitable chorale in which the choir sings 'that a free academy may thrive in a free community, for ever the ornament and treasure of illustrious Basle'.

This may not be Britten at his most soul-searching but, as always, there is plenty here to enjoy, especially if the work is not taken too seriously. It is a celebratory, occasional piece and it could be well taken up by other academic establishments celebrating big anniversaries. The chorus parts are not very difficult, though they do present challenges for the choir - not least in having tenors capable of those very high notes at the end. The Tema seriale con fuga is sinewy and needs careful tuning. It also has the subject regularly given upside down after its initial sounding by the basses. All good fun.

Duration: 21 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011.