Marty Lassman, DeACDA Treasurer and DMEA Jazz Rep
I worry that choir directors work in a vacuum when we could all be helping each other with recommendations and suggestions. To that end, here are some of the pieces that choir directors programmed for the first half of this school year. Maybe it will give you ideas for this Spring or next year.
Sanford School – Clint Williams, director
- Here We Come A-Caroling – trad., arr. Cristi Cary Miller.
- I’m using this for my 7/8 grade chorus. Perfect limited range for baritones, and once you learn the beginning, it returns a few times. My kids love it, it’s fast-paced, and fairly easy to learn and memorize.
- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Meredith Willson, arr. Huff
- I’m using this with my high school vocal ensemble. This is a fun, a cappella jazz arrangement of this tune. They love it, and they want to sing it at every rehearsal.
Selbyville Middle School – Eric Tsavdar, director
All listed are for my combined 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs.
- O Come All Ye Faithful — arr. Tony Alonso; SAB
- Just a really neat arrangement, and the kids like it.
- Season of Light — Jacob Narverud; SAB
- Really pretty, and I like how it speaks to the spirit of hope and light that the holiday season brings while being non-denominational
- Umoja Tunaimba – Victor C. Johnson; 3-part mixed
- Really grooves and my kids love it.
Cab Calloway School of the Arts Middle School – Julie Katz, director
The concert’s theme, in January, is ‘Music Through History’.
All pieces are for 6-8 grade.
- Renaissance – I’ll Say It Anyway
- SATB
- Baroque – Vivaldi Gloria
- SATB
- CPDL
- Classical – Schubert Gloria
- SATB
- CPDL
- Romantic – Winter Wind
- By Douglas E. Wagner
- Adapted from Vocalise (Opus 34, No.14) by Sergei Rachmaninoff
- SAB
- Contemporary – Does the World Say
- By Kyle Peterson
- SATB
- To be performed with the high school
Millsboro Middle School – Stephanie Buchert, director
- Kris Kringle’s Kazoos – Words and Music by Mary Donnelly and George L.O. Strid (2-part)
- I am using this piece with my 6th grade singers. The original melody is fun and simple, as are the harmonies, and I love having the traditional holiday melodies paired and played by the kazoos. Lots of fun!
For my advanced singers (7th & 8th grade)
- Jazzy Saint Nick – Arr, with new words by Russell Robinson (3-part mixed)
- A great introduction to scat singing! Swinging melody with scat counterpoint and finger snaps. This is one of my favorites.
- (Marty’s note: It is also available as a 2-part arrangement.)
- Sleigh Bells – Russian Folk Tune, Arr by Earlene Rentz (3-part mixed)
- Based on the tune often referred to as “Minka,” the ringing bell patterns that are sung add an element of difficulty, but it sounds wonderful when it comes together. Another go-to favorite of mine.
- Snow – Kenneth Riggs (3-part mixed)
- Text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This piece lends itself to poetry analysis and how that applies to the treatment of the text and the use of word painting. Very well written and a student favorite for me.
Springer Middle School – Ashley Ferrara, director
- Who Has Seen the Wind – Music by Bruce W. Tippette and Words by Christina Rosetti SAB
- 7th & 8th Grade Advanced Ensemble
- Great piece for working dynamics and has a very accessible baritone part for a section that does not have a wide range.
- Gloria in Excelsis Deo -Greg Gilpin SSAB
- 7th & 8th Grade Advanced Ensemble
- Very simple baritone part and a great 2 part split in the soprano section. Also has an alto-heavy B section that allows for that section to be featured in a unique way.
- I Heard the Bells – Music by Michael John Trotta, Words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. SAB
- Great use of counter melodies to create easy harmonies among the sections.
Cab Calloway School of the Arts High School – Marji Eldreth, director
The concert will be in January.
- Chopin Prelude arr. Michael Scott
- A Silence Haunts Me arr. by Jake Runestad
P.S. duPont Middle School – Nick Ronaghan, director
- Ding-a Ding-a Ding by Greg Gilpin
- I’ve done the SA and piano version before with larger sixth-grade groups (it still split into four parts), but this year I’m using the SSAA a cappella version with my seventh and eighth-grade sopranos and altos. Since they rehearse separately by grade level, they only hear two parts in the room. Once they are ready, you record one set of voices and play it back in the other class to rehearse so there aren’t any surprises with blend or harmony when you get to the concert. It sounds wonderfully complex without taking too long to put together.
These two pieces feature my seventh and eighth-grade tenors and basses:
- Set Me As a Seal Upon Your Heart – Laura Farnell
- Can You Hear the Bells? – Roger Emerson
- Both of these TB pieces have ranges for both voice parts that are easy to work with, especially for the younger seventh-grade tenors. If you want to feature lower voices but are limited in time or vocal range, these would be a great addition to your library. Set Me can also be done any time of year.
- Waves – arr. Alan Billingsley
- The combined seventh and eighth graders are singing the SAB version of Dean Lewis’s single. The rhythm takes a little time to iron out, but the easy melody and harmony make up for that. Listen to the original and pick out some rhythms to spice up Alan’s piano part. I have one of the classes in charge of adding hand drums (djembe, tubanos, etc.) based on what they hear in the original. With the addition of percussion and more support from the piano, this is easily the kids’ favorite piece in their folder right now.
My sixth grade:
- Bashana Haba’ah – arr V. Pasternak, ed. Henry Leck
- I have used this short, rich, two-part piece more than once as a stepping stone piece for sixth graders. Since it isn’t in English, you can introduce taller vowels before you have a chance to talk much technique with new singers. It’s short and the melody and harmony are pretty easily learned, so it’s a nice transition from partner songs or other beginning harmony solutions. There are also no dynamics, so we decide at what levels to sing after introducing dynamics to the ensemble (or reviewing depending on your situation). The text provides lots of room for the kids to make decisions about how they should sing it to make the story come across to the audience.
Talley Middle School – Beth Warfel, director
- Native American Blessing – Linda Spevacek
- It has a “winter” theme to the text, but isn’t Christmas.
- Jazz Waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy – arr. Pinkzebra
- It’s simple beginner jazz music that is accompanied which works better for my larger choir that rehearses in separate class periods by voice parts
- From An Irish Cabin – Ruth Sawyer Durand, music by Douglas Wagner
- Simple 3 part treble singing with an encouraging winter-themed text
- Throw Open Your Shutters – Amy F. Bernon, TTB
- Festive madrigal but can take out the “Christmas” words and replace them with winter seasonal text
- Sanctus, D696:3 – SATB
- This is the All-State audition for Jr. Choir but it fits my singers’ voices nicely. The simple Latin text encourages good vowel placement.
- Sisi Kushangilia – 2 pt. Victor Johnson
- Mixes in some 3 part singing and has a drumming accompaniment. It is intended to be acapella.
- I See A Star – Greg Gilpin
- 2-part
- Nice range of notes in part 1 for boys whose voices are dropping and need to sing down the octave.
- Good Cheer – arr. Audrey Snyder
- Madrigal style, concert opening text, appropriate for any season. It includes optional drumming/percussion in a different style from Sisi Kushangilia
Wilmington Friends Middle School – Sara Gaines, director
I have chosen a theme of Integrity and Light for this winter concert – here are a few of the pieces that fit that theme:
1) Adiemus – by Karl Jenkins
- A beautifully haunting piece that uses a created language (no meaning to the text); Originally a Delta Airlines commercial, but reworked for choral singers. 6-8 grade singing with candle choreography in the darkened theater.
2) Light – by Lisa Loeb, arr by Andy Beck
- SATB
- Folk-sounding Hanukkah selection – easy to learn – guitarist is picking out the accompaniment for us (7/8 grade)
- I highly recommend watching this video where Lisa Loeb describes how the song came to be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxZBjfW73Ao
3) Watch it Snow – Eric Tsavdar
- SATB
- A challenge for 7/8 grade but really highlights our integrity focus – fun to sing and teach rhythms
4) I Am Light – arr Mark Hayes/Kimberly Lilley
- Originally written/performed by India Arie. Another integrity piece
- 6th Grade
- 2pt
I am not the things my family did
I am not the voices in my head
I am not the pieces of the brokenness inside
I am light
I’m not the mistakes that I have made
Or any of the things that caused me pain
I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind
I am light
I am not the colour of my eyes
I am not the skin on the outside
I am not my age
I am not my race, my soul inside is all light
5) Go Light Your World – Kathy Traccoli
- We sing this at the end in unison & bring the candles back out. Taking your Light into the world to benefit others.
Concord High School – Melanie Mijares, director
- I Am Leaving by Miriam Sonstenes
- For unaccompanied SAB voices with my entry-level mixed choir
- This is a folksy tune that helps develop singers’ lower register! My students enjoy singing in this genre, which allows for a more relaxed style of vocal production than some of their other pieces.
- No Room, No Room by Ruth Morris Gray
- For unaccompanied SAB voices with my entry-level mixed choir
- My group LOVES singing this song––it’s incredibly accessible for developing singers, and it allows them to work on phrasing and high-contrast dynamics. This song is also about the Nativity, so perfect for my winter concert.
- On My Way arr. by Anthony Trecek King
- For SSA voices and piano for my intermediate treble choir
- This is a choral arrangement of Mahalia Jackson’s performance of this spiritual. It’s fast-paced and a little moody, and my singers LOVE the way they sound singing this together.
- JAM! by Tracy Wong
- For unaccompanied SSA voices for my intermediate treble choir
- This tune features body percussion, repetitive part layering, and a very “earworm”-y melody. My singers were on board with this piece immediately, and they were able to learn it in just a few rehearsals!
- Here’s some context about the title of the piece from the composer: “JAM! (Jom – Ayuh – Mari!) is a three-way play on words! (1) In Colloquial Malay, Jom, ayuh, and mari all have similar meanings – “come, let’s go!” Nada, in the context of singing, means vocal tone. (2) The catchy, repetitive, and conversation-like musical themes would also suggest a group of musicians coming together to make music (akin to a jam session). (3) “Jam” in Malay also translates to “clock” – suggesting a passing of time, represented by the consistent snapping of fingers in the music.”
- Rosas Pandan arr. by George Hernandez
- For unaccompanied SATB voices for my advanced mixed choir
- This is a Visayan Folk Song from the Visayas region of the Philippines! The biggest challenge about this piece is the language, but my students enjoy the fact that this song is in minor tonality yet still lively and fast.
- Measure Me Sky by Elaine Hagenberg
- For SATB voices and piano for my advanced mixed choir
- This is a joy for my singers––every part gets to show off the best of their voices, and they ask to sing it every single rehearsal. My students found this challenging to learn, but enjoyed the process because it is so rewarding to sing!
Wilmington Friends Upper School – Margaret Anne Butterfield, director
Chorale
- Amid the Falling Snow – Enya and Nicky Ruyan, arr, Cristi Cary Miller
- Christmas Canon of Peace – Ruth Morris Gray (based on Pachelbel Canon in D)
- Mi Y’malel – Hebrew Folk Song, arr. Jill Gallina
- In the Bleak Midwinter – Ruth Morris Gray
Chamber Singers
- Carol of the Bells – M. Leontovich, arr. Peter J. Wilhousky
- Abreme la Puerta – Traditional from Puerto Rico, arr. Curtain Grases
- Beautiful December – Amy F. Bernon
- Sim Shalom – Jennaya Robison
- Twende Bethelehemu – Lynn Shaw Bailey
Combined Choirs
- Silent Night for All the World – Franz Gruber and Pepper Choplin
- Touch Hands (a table grace) – Abbie Betinis
Mt. Pleasant High School – Kelly Hanson, director
Chorale:
- Winter Breviary: Reena Esmail
- The Christmas Waltz: arr. Mark Hayes
Treble Choir:
- Silent Snowfall: Laura Farnell
- A Very Merry Christmas: Pinkzebra
Concert Choir:
- Nutcracker Jingles: Chuck Bridwell
- My Love is Always Here: Gerad McCann & Alexandre Desplat
Combined:
- Betelehemu: Barrington Brooks
MOT Charter School – DanSchimpf, director
- Riu, Riu Chiu, arr. Mark Burrows
- This is a Renaissance Spanish villancico that has always been a favorite of mine during the December holidays. I chose Mark Burrows’ arrangement because of the variety of textures. I was happy to find an advanced but attainable SSAB arrangement, because this year’s 9-12th grade choir has significantly more (and more experienced) treble singers than bass singers. This arrangement allowed for my small, inexperienced Baritone section to grow, while challenging my more advanced sopranos and altos with difficult three-part harmony and rhythmic variety. The arrangement is almost entirely in the original Spanish, except for two short English sections. We elected to sing those sections in the original Spanish instead, to keep the piece more authentic.
- Hanukkah Hayom, arr. Michael Larkin (a local conductor/composer)
- Michael Larkin’s arrangement of the traditional Hanukkah Hayom has been a hit with my developing high school choir. The verses are presented in Hebrew or English. We elected to sing the original Hebrew text. This was a great opportunity to sing in another language, sing in a minor key, and sing in contrasting lyrical and dance styles. There is a balance of unison, three-part (with two of the parts in octaves), three-part, and three-part with optional divisi. This gave our somewhat inexperienced choir an opportunity to be successful right away, while expanding into more challenging experiences when ready.
Keynote Jazz Singers – Marty Lassman, director
I realize that I am in a unique situation. I have a community, adult, jazz/pop choir that meets once a week. Circumstances require that the music we sing be in the 2-3+ range. However, there are some pieces that, even though they are easy to put together, might be useful to non-jazz choir directors. Here are a few suggestions; pieces that we are performing this year.
- A Holiday Road of Carols arr. By Greg Gilpin
- I heard a middle school sing this and it is pure fun! It is the song from National Lampoon’s Vacation movie and was written by Lindsey Buckingham who was the lead singer in Fleetwood Mac.
- A super easy learn! It is basically a Rondo with insertions of Winter and Christmas songs like Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
- I provided equal time by inserting and adding in a snippet of a Hanukkah song. Bigtime fun!
- Merry Christmas, Darling by Frank Pooler and Richard Carpenter, arr. Mac Huff
- SATB or SSA
- This is one of my favorite holiday songs. It was sung by the Carpenters. Mac Huff keeps the arrangement simple so it can be sung by middle or high schools. Sing it as an SAT arrangement if you do not have basses.
- Allow the pianist to improvise a bit and jazz it up in lieu of playing it exactly as written.
- It is pretty with interesting chords. Grandparents will love it!
- Snowbound by Dave Frishberg, arr. By Chris Buzzelli
- This chart is only available at AnchorMusic.com.
- This is a casually slow jazz song. It is not holiday-specific; it is a Winter snowed-in song.
- My choir loves it and it is one of those pieces that makes the choir sound great.
- Feel free to cut out the improvisational sections and leave in the ensemble sections. (I can help you do some judicious editing.)
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas arr. By Darmon Meader
- This is a New York Voices arrangement that sounds great but is one of their easier charts. It is not easy but it is well written.
- SATB acapella