FA ’18: MUED 376: Choral Music, Methods and Materials

Dr. van der Vat-Chromy

23M. Concert Programming Assignment

● This assignment is the opportunity to design a major seasonal

concert program that will include three/four different ensembles of
different vocal settings.

● Each program must include 12 pieces, varying in voicing, style, and

difficulty. For example, plan to program 3 pieces for your SATB
choir, 3 for your Men’s Ensemble, 2 for your Children’s Choir, 3 for
your Women’s Choir and a combined Finale.

For example, you may choose from:

K-12 choirs: Fall/Winter/Spring/Graduation Concert

Church choirs: Advent/Easter Program, etc.
Grades 6 -12: Cabaret/MUTH/Opera Performance ​(“An Evening at the Opera”)

● Please give your concert ​a name or a theme​, which will serve as the
organizing principal for your concert.

● For each selection, please enter the necessary information into the
template found on the next page, re-titling “Piece 1”, “Piece 2”, etc.
as you proceed.

● After completing your assignment, please save your document as a

.pdf, and send it to everyone in the class. In this way, we will have 17
concert programs in our files!
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MUED 376: Choral Music, Methods and Materials

Concert Programming Assignment

Conductor Name: Douglas Ritcher

Date: 12-2-2018

Concert Theme/Title: Transformation

To be performed by: Men’s Choir, Treble Choir, SATB Choir, Combined Choirs (Grades
9-12)

Concert Rationale: Themes of transformation and growth are everywhere in music. There
are songs about the dark times, the journey through them and the bright times ahead. Each
Choir’s set shows transformation through these experiences. The treble choir’s music
transforms from celebratory worship (Sound the Trumpets) to quiet thoughtful prayer (At
the River, For the Beauty.) The men’s choir’s music transforms from silliness (Down
Among the Dead) to peace (Peace Like a River) and salvation (Salvation is Created). The
SATB choir showcases music’s ability to worship both joyfully (Jabula Jesu) and
thoughtfully (Esto Les Digo) and expresses gratitude that music can just be fun (Buffalo
Gals) while also having deep personal meaning (If Music Be The Food of Love.) All of the
choirs combine at the beginning to express that we are all together as children of the world
(Bonse Aba) and at the end to show that we can all grow to become agents of positive
change in the world (Hope for Resolution.)

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
(List pieces, composers, accompanists, soloists and instrumentalists as needed)

TITLE Composer/dates

1. Bonse Aba-Combined Choirs

2. Sound the Trumpet-Treble Choir
3. At the River-Treble Choir
4. For the Beauty of the Earth-Treble Choir
5. Down Among the Dead-Men’s Choir
6. Salvation is Created-Men’s Choir
7. I’ve Got Peace Like a River-Men’s Choir
8. Jabula Jesu-SATB Choir
9. Esto Les Digo-SATB Choir
10. Buffalo Gals-SATB Choir
11. If Music be the Food of Love-SATB Choir
12. Hope for Resolution-Combined Choirs
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PIECE #1
Title Bonse Aba
Composer Traditional
Arranger Andrew Fischer
Voicing SATB
Length 2’30”
Time period/genre/style Traditional Zambian Song
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) A Cappella
Difficulty level & age level Medium Low
Key(s) Db
Meter(s) 2/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alliance AN.AMP-0750
Cost per octavo $1.90
Miscellaneous Possible Solo Opportunities

Ranges: Unavailable

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

There are many interpretations of the Zambian lyrics but a widely accepted meaning is “All who sing have
the right to be called the children of God.” In this program, many different kinds of emotions and ideas will
expressed in song. Bonse Aba, an energetic chant with rich harmonies, sets the tone for the concert. This
song asserts that we are all children of the same god and earth no matter how we choose to express
ourselves through music.
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PIECE #2
Title Sound the Trumpet
Composer Henry Purcell
Arranger Steven Rickards
Voicing SA
Length 3’
Time period/genre/style Baroque Duet
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium Low
Key(s) D major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard 10844752
Cost per octavo $2.10
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

“Sound the Trumpet” is this concert’s first example of “celebrat[ing] the glories of this day.” Singers
celebrate their lives and others’ through difficult, rousing melismatic passages and joyful intertwining in
this choral duet.
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PIECE #3
Title At the River
Composer Aaron Copland
Arranger R. Wilding White
Voicing SSA
Length 3’45”
Time period/genre/style 20th century ballad
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium Low
Key(s) F major
Meter(s) 4/4, 3/4, 2/4
Publisher and Publisher # Boosey & Hawkes 48003499
Cost per octavo $1.95
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Not Available

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

After energetic celebration, we gather for a more reverent search for internal and external peace. We can
celebrate by singing, but we can also use it to call others to gather with us to help improve the world. “At
the River”’s lyrics and flowing structure encourage us to work together with harmony in the world and
amongst ourselves as the ultimate goal.
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PIECE #4
Title For the Beauty of the Earth
Composer John Rutter
Arranger
Voicing SA
Length 3’30”
Time period/genre/style Modern Anthem
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) Bb major, G major, B major
Meter(s) 2/2
Publisher and Publisher # Oxford University Press 9780193405721
Cost per octavo $2.70
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The Treble Choir finishes their set with this John Rutter anthem. One way we can move towards the kind of
world we seek in “At the River” is by showing appreciation for the world we live on. We would be lost in
our attempt to improve our lives if examples of beauty were not so readily available in the natural world
around us. Each stanza of “For the Beauty of the Earth” describes an aspect of our world we can both
appreciate and learn from.
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PIECE #5
Title Down Among the Dead Men
Composer Ralph Vaughan Williams
Arranger
Voicing TTBB
Length 2’
Time period/genre/style 18th century English folk song
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) G major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # E.C. Schirmer 1.5025
Cost per octavo $1.95
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

“Down Among the Dead Men” is an over 200 year old tavern song. It reminds us to have fun while we are
alive. It also reminds that if we are having to much fun (at the tavern or otherwise) we can not stay upright
in our lives. This is a fun song, but also has a few challenging harmonies to keep us upright.
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PIECE #6
Title Salvation is Created
Composer Pavel Tschesnokoff
Arranger
Voicing TTB
Length 3’
Time period/genre/style Early 20th century chorale
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) A Cappella
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) D major, B minor
Meter(s) 4/4, 3/4,, 2/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred OCT9804
Cost per octavo $1.30
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

This beautiful hymn, full of subtle harmony and dynamic range, expresses salvation on earth. Tschesnokoff
uses chant from the Russian orthodox church. “Salvation is made in the midst of earth, O God. Alleluia.”
Soviet Russia was trying to suppress Christianity at this time so this was one of his last sacred. In fact, he
never even heard it performed (Rommereim).
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PIECE #7
Title I’ve Got Peace Like a River
Composer Traditional
Arranger D. Shawn Berry
Voicing TBB
Length 4’30”
Time period/genre/style Spiritual
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy
Key(s) G major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Santa Barbara 1419
Cost per octavo $2.15
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The Men’s Choir will sing about the joys of the earth in their first two selections and about inner peace in
their last selection. We have a lot going on all around us good and bad, but we must approach it from a
place of peace with ourselves. If we have peace like a river, love like an ocean and joy like a fountain, we
can only add to the beauty around us.
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PIECE #8
Title Jabula Jesu
Composer Traditional
Arranger Stephen Hatfield
Voicing SSATB
Length 3’
Time period/genre/style Zulu Folk Song
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and hand drums
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) Bb
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Boosey & Hawkes 48004481
Cost per octavo $2.15
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The SATB Choir also begins their portion of the concert with joy. This Zulu folk song includes exciting
syncopations and harmonies accentuated by students playing hand drums.
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PIECE #9
Title Esto Les Digo
Composer Kinley Lange
Arranger
Voicing SATB
Length 3’30”
Time period/genre/style 21st century choral work
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) A Capella (Sop. soloist at end)
Difficulty level & age level Medium High
Key(s) C major
Meter(s) 3/4, 4/4, 2/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alliance AMP0402
Cost per octavo $1.70
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

“Esto Les Digo” is a scriptural work based around Matthew 18:19 saying that if we agree on something on
Earth and pray about it, it shall happen in heaven. This is another reminder to us that we can transform the
world by finding common ground with each other and working towards it. The choir must come together in
the push and pull of this piece to give it a feeling of longing.
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PIECE #10
Title Buffalo Gals
Composer Bob Chilcott
Arranger
Voicing SATB
Length 2’30”
Time period/genre/style American folk song
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) F major
Meter(s) 2/4
Publisher and Publisher # Oxford University Press 9780193432314
Cost per octavo $3.25
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

“Buffalo Gals” is a song about timeless, simple joys. Its jaunty feel, speedy, silly words and catchy,
repeated chorus bring us all to an old-timey dance floor. Though we may not all be able to relate to this
experience, we can clearly hear the kind of celebration they were having in this song.
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PIECE #11
Title If Music be the Food of Love
Composer David Dickau
Arranger
Voicing SATB
Length 4’30”
Time period/genre/style 21st century choral ballad
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium
Key(s) Ab Major, Gb Major, Eb Major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Jo-Michael Scheibe Choral Series 36-20109
Cost per octavo $1.90
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

In Shakespeare’s ​Twelfth Night, ​Duke Orsino finds music as a cure for his lovesickness. Just as Orsino
becomes worn down by his obsession with love, we can become worn down, tired and hungry as we work
hard toward our passions and goals. Music is a food that can fill us back up. David Dickau’s setting of
Shakespeare’s text replenishes our souls with rich harmony. The choir also has an opportunity to add
sensitive contrast to the setting.
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PIECE #12
Title Hope for Resolution
Composer Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory
Arranger
Voicing SATB
Length 6’30”
Time period/genre/style South African song/English Chant
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces ​(a cappella, instruments?) Voices and Piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy
Key(s) Eb major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Earthsongs W-34
Cost per octavo $2.10
Miscellaneous

Ranges:

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

All members from the three choirs will join for one final song. “Hope for Resolution” moves between and
combines the English hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” to the South African song “Thula Sizwe.”
This finale continues to deliver the program’s message that we are all born of the same world and must
work together transform it for the better. “Be still my country, do not cry… Freedom, we will find it.”