Beginning High School Mixed Choir

Bonse Aba arr. Andrew Fischer

Program Note: Bonse Aba is a traditional South African piece written in the Zulu language. The
translation of the piece titles ‘All who sing have the right to be children of God.’ This piece is
written as a call and response, where the soloist begins and is then echoed by the choir. A
traditional performance of this piece is also performed with percussion.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXYScuq0RkM

Adoramus Te Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina

Program Note: Adoramus Te, translated to ‘We adore thee’, is a sacred text from the Catholic
tradition. This is a beautiful piece written in the Renaissance style and arranged by Palestrina,
one of the most well-known composers of the Renaissance era. It is known as a motet, an
unaccompanied choral piece written using a sacred text. Listen for the beautiful legato lines and
harmonies that Palestrina writes, particularly towards the ends of phrases.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFEf3pdxx-I

Elijah Rock arr. Jester Hairston

Program Note: Elijah Rock is a traditional arrangement of an African American spiritual whose
text bears similarity to an older spiritual, ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’. There are many arrangements
of ‘Elijah Rock’, but perhaps the best known version is that of spiritual composer Moses Hogan.
In this version, be sure to listen for the choir’s consistent use of accents (‘Elijah Rock, SHOUT,
SHOUT’) and a term called syncopation, or singing on the off-beat.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qMc9PcqRXs
Ad Astra Jacob Narverud
Program Note: Ad Astra is a gorgeous contemporary piece written by modern composer Jacob
Narverud. The text in this piece alternates between Latin (‘Ad Astra, per aspera’, or ‘movere de
inceps’) and English. Listen for the unison singing in the middle, where it tells us a beautiful
message to ‘move forward, look upward, leave all cares behind’.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDQn6KP94xs

Der Tanz Schubert arr. Patrick Liebergen

Program Note: Der Tanz is a German Romantic SAB piece originally composed by famed
German composer Franz Schubert. This arrangement is by Russell Robinson, a composition/
music education professor at the University of Florida. The translation of the title is ‘The
Dance’, so listen for its upbeat, waltz-like music and its charming piano accompaniment. This is
also a great piece for students to improve their skills in German diction.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5JEabz7pxk

Requiem Craig Hella Johnson

Program Note: Requiem, a beautiful SATB piece written by renowned contemporary composer
Craig Hella Johnson, was written in response to the Asian tsunami disaster of 2004. While the
harmonies seem simplistic, it creates a beautiful sense of reflection and remembrance, especially
with the beginning ‘ooh’. Pay particular attention the phrasing at the end of each sentence.
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySmoRzotXdA

Africa Toto arr. Roger Emerson

Program Note: Roger Emerson wrote an arrangement of this classic song by the rock band Toto.
Africa was released in 1981 as part of their fourth studio album and is a popular contemporary
choice among many high school and community choirs.. Feel free to sing along with us during
the chorus part!
Link to video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xacK0QgDyY