This engaging and fun arrangement by Philip Lawson will be a treat for all choirs. Accessible and fun to learn it is a welcome addition to any choir's repertoire.

Arrangé pour chorale SSATBB A Cappella par Gene Puerling. / Voix / niveau : Intermédiaire / Partition Séparée

This edition of a vocal jazz original for the Real Group works just as well for choirs at the high school level and beyond as for vocal jazz ensembles. With friendship as a theme the lyrics offer advice for those setting out on their lives' journey aboard the ship Destiny. A beautiful melody line and cool background rhythms make this piece a standout program addition. Duration: ca. 4:45.

Written for the King's Singers, A Hymn To The Virgin won the 'A Carol for Christmas' competition run by the vocal sextet and Classic FM.Re-edited for SSATBB, the two languages of the text are set in contrasting styles of solo lines and chordal harmony, coming together at the end of each verse.A meditative work that would make an excellent concert ending. / Choeur SSATBB

Composer's notes:The Fool is a time-honoured Orthodox religious figure: a Saint the highest of all who discards everything for Christ's sake. He discards all convention all decency all wealth actual and spiritual and turns himself into a figure of fun - defying all acceptable behaviour - and all religious decency. He stands in the square and lets down his trousers - he stuffs himself with food on Good Friday - he gets drunk - he 'appears'to fornicate wildly. There is a faint possibility (in not the highest of 'Fools') of gaining worldly popularity by such flagrant denial of all moral behaviour. Can such behaviour be too interesting? The true fool however embraces all of this and also (unseen) shrinks before the face of his God. By his behaviour he plucks out all hypocrisy false piety and corruption. He is a figure much needed in our times!!! The way I have tried to tacklethis extraordinary subject is to show him in seven stages from an obscene huge fat traditional clown who is drunk fornicating etc. through a stumbling frail agonized figure to a sallow-faced gaunt business man in a formalsuit staring at an empty glass. Having first revered him then mocked him the 'people' while they get drunk and jabber away at 'Christmas' and at the Feast of Feasts 'Easter' are no longer aware of him. But the audience seeshim - a tiny ragged scrap of mortality lying in a corner and faintly so faintly the voice of the Fool the true Fool for Christ's sake sings above the ribald crowd. 'He has given His life'. The Gogmagogs are the 'people' 'priests' 'singers' etc. and one male singer who can 'create' or 'uncreate' this vast role (singing and acting miming etc.) John Tavener Arranged for SSATBB chorus. Date of composition 2000. Chorus part only.

Arrangeur : Kirchner, Shawn / No. 3 from Heavenly Home: Three American Songs / mixed choir (SSATBB) a cappella