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: Ashley Starkston

Date: December 13, 2018

Concert Theme/Title: Singing and Dancing

To be performed by: FHS Chorale

FHS Women’s Chorus
FHS Men’s Chorus
All Choirs

Concert Rationale:
I chose these three choirs (plus combined choruses at the end) because they are common
groups that you would find in a high school choral program. I chose this theme because I
think it is something both fun and accessible to students. It also allows for a large variety
of music to be performed.

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

TITLE

1. Sing We and Chant It (SSA)

Words by Michael Grayton, music by Thomas Morley / arr. Russell Robinson
Possible accompanist or a capella

2. Let All Nations Sing (SSA)

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht
Piano accompaniment

3. El Ritmo de la Noche (SSA)

Music by Jay Althouse
Piano accompaniment

4. Sonatemi un Balletto (Play a Dance for Me) (TBB)

Music by Giovanni Gastoldi / ed. and arr., with English words, by Patrick M. Liebergen
Piano, flute, hand drum

5. Save the Last Dance for Me (TTB)

By Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman / arr. Jay Althouse

6. Rhythm of Love (TTB)

Words and music by Tim Lopez / arr. Andy Beck
Piano accompaniment

7. Brothers, Sing On! (TTBB)

By Edvard Grieg / arr. Howard D. McKinneyMusic by Jay Althouse
Piano accompaniment
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Intermission

8. . Sing With Pleasure (SAB)

Music by George Frideric Handel / arr. Patrick M. Liebergen
Piano and flute

9. Your Voices Tune (SATB)

By George Frideric Handel / ed. Don Malin
Piano accompaniment

10. Another Day of Sun (SATB)

Music by Justin Hurwitz, lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul / arr. Jacob Narverud
Piano accompaniment

11. When I Hear Music (SATB)

Words and music by Michael G. Martin

12. Dancing Queen (SATB)

Words and music by Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson, and Björn Ulvaeus / arr. Alan Billingsley
(2011)
All choirs, piano and drum set
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PIECE #1
Title Sing We and Chant It
Composer Words by Michael Grayton, music by Thomas Morley
Arranger Russell Robinson
Voicing SSA
Length 2 min
Time period/genre/style Renaissance Madrigal
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) A cappella (piano accompaniment if needed)
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) G major
Meter(s) 3/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-19263
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This work allows students the opportunity to work on Renaissance music. This piece has been arranged for
3-part women’s chorus from its original 5-part arrangement in a collection of chorus music from 1595.
Singing in this style is not something that is done often, so performing this piece gives the choir an
opportunity to learn and develop a wider range of musical technique and knowledge.
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PIECE #2
Title Let All Nations Sing
Composer Sally K. Albrecht
Arranger
Voicing SSA
Length 2 min
Time period/genre/style Fanfare, 2011
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano, possible instrumental
Difficulty level & age level High school, low difficulty
Key(s) F major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-35516
Cost per octavo $1.85
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This lively and triumphant fanfare gives the women’s chorus a chance to work on unison singing as well as
call and response singing. It can be used as a celebratory piece around the holidays or a regal and fun piece
about singing. The piece is very diverse in its uses. It is somewhat simple, but its heroic sound and
accompaniment make for a fun piece to perform.
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PIECE #3
Title El Ritmo de la Noche (The Rhythm of the Night)
Composer Jay Althouse
Arranger
Voicing SSA
Length 3 min
Time period/genre/style Latin, 2004
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano, optional instrumental
Difficulty level & age level High school, level 2
Key(s) C minor
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-23034
Cost per octavo $1.65
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This piece includes text in both English and Spanish which allows for the choir to work on singing in a
foreign language, but it does not happen the entire time so it isn’t an overwhelming amount of Spanish.
This piece also provides a chance for the choir to sing a piece with a Latin groove to it and works a lot on
their rhythmic accountability and counting.
 6

PIECE #4
Title Sonatemi un Balletto (Play a Dance for Me)
Composer Giovanni Gastoldi
Arranger Patrick M. Liebergen
Voicing TBB
Length 1.5 min
Time period/genre/style Renaissance Baletti
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano (optional), flute, hand drum
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) A minor
Meter(s) Cut time
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-39739
Cost per octavo $1.85
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This balletto from the Renaissance period should be performed lightly and energetically. Three-part
choirs of any gender may choose to sing in Italian or English, a cappella or accompanied. Optional
flute and hand drum parts are available from the publisher's website.
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PIECE #5
Title Save the Last Dance for Me
Composer Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Arranger Jay Althouse
Voicing TTB
Length 3 min
Time period/genre/style 1960s pop hit
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) piano
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) C major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-25152
Cost per octavo $1.75
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This pop hit from 1960 by "The Drifters" has been recorded by dozens of artists, from country to
R&B, including Dolly Parton and Michael Buble'. Jay's new arrangement has a light, almost Latin
groove, a fresh new approach for this pop classic.
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PIECE #6
Title Rhythm of Love
Composer Tim Lopez
Arranger Andy Beck
Voicing TTB
Length 3 min
Time period/genre/style Modern pop
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) piano
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) G major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-37868
Cost per octavo $1.90
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

Your guys will enjoy singing this Plain White T's certified platinum hit! The video received millions of
hits on YouTube, and the song charted in the top 5 of multiple Billboard charts! It's a great choice for
men's choirs!
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PIECE #7
Title Brothers, Sing On!
Composer Edvard Grieg
Arranger Howard D. McKinney
Voicing TTBB
Length 2 min
Time period/genre/style “a choral salutation” 1935
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) A cappella
Difficulty level & age level High school, moderate
Key(s) A major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-FEC06927
Cost per octavo $2.05
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This choral salutation is a triumphant tune for men’s choir that is both fun to sing and to listen to. It is a
more traditional, hymn-like arrangement that allows the men’s chorus to show off their full and bold
singing voice as well as their softer and more delicate side.
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PIECE #8
Title Sing with Pleasure from Saul
Composer Handel
Arranger Patrick M. Liebergen
Voicing SAB
Length 2 min
Time period/genre/style Choral work from oratorio
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano and opt flute
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) G major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-22961
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

A classic choral work from the oratorio Saul, skillfully edited and arranged for school choirs by
Patrick Liebergen. The new secular text by the arranger makes it ideal for school use, and the
optional easy flute part is simple to add. The SAB voicing has optional bass notes to fill out the
harmony. An excellent introduction to the Baroque style!
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PIECE #9
Title Your Voices Tune from Alexander’s Feast
Composer Handel
Arranger Don Malin
Voicing SATB
Length 4 min
Time period/genre/style Concerto chorus
Sacred/secular Sacred
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) piano
Difficulty level & age level High school
Key(s) Bb major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-OCT02408
Cost per octavo $2.95
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This jubilant final chorus from Handel's "Alexander's Feast" will enhance any concert program as it
offers many excellent teaching opportunities for developing Baroque style.
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PIECE #10
Title Another Day of Sun from La La Land
Composer Music by Justin Hurwitz, lyrics by Benj Pasek and
Justin Paul
Arranger Jacob Narverud
Voicing SATB
Length 3.5 min
Time period/genre/style Modern Pop/Musical
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) Eb major/E major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-46485
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

Who can forget those boisterous singing and dancing motorists on L.A.’s jammed 110 freeway at the
opening of the 2016 box office smash "La La Land"? This dynamic arrangement captures the
excitement of the score with rhythmic drive, varied choral textures, and a rousing accompaniment. A
perfect opener or closer, and a golden opportunity for choreography!
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PIECE #11
Title When I Hear Music
Composer Michael G. Martin
Arranger
Voicing SATB
Length 4 min
Time period/genre/style Modern choral ballad
Sacred/secular secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano
Difficulty level & age level High school, moderately difficult
Key(s) Not listed
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-SVM03100
Cost per octavo $1.85
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

You'll have your audience transfixed with this contemporary ballad that is an emotive tribute to the
place that music has in our lives. It's an expressive gem within the ballad style that contains some
challenges but will be a welcome addition to any concert. Very well done!
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PIECE #12
Title Dancing Queen from Mamma Mia!
Composer Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson, and Björn Ulvaeus
Arranger Alan Billingsley
Voicing SATB
Length 3.5 min
Time period/genre/style 1970s pop
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano and drum set
Difficulty level & age level High school, mid-range
Key(s) A major
Meter(s) 4/4
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred, 00-37899
Cost per octavo $2.10
Miscellaneous

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: (not listed)

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

This trademark ABBA song from the smash hit musical "Mamma Mia" is a great choice for both
concert and show choirs. Featured on the Prom Queen episode of Glee, it's a healthy dose of energetic
disco fun!
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Programming:

The programming idea for this concert was to provide the choirs with many

different genres and styles under the category of singing and dancing. The category is

broad and applies to many different things on purpose. I wanted to create a concert that was

diverse and fun for the performers but that also allowed them to learn and grow as

musicians in many different styles. Therefore, I have chosen music from Renaissance

Madrigals to Latin grooves to Modern Pop songs.

Logistics:

For the logistics of this concert, there would be a stage set for the first half: the

women’s chorus and the men’s chorus. Immediately following the Men’s chorus would be

an intermission where the stage could be reset for the Chorale and Combined Choirs. There

would need to be some stage hands for moving music stands and other necessary things

when there are instrumentalists in the pieces (such as the flute and drum set players). This

program also provides lots of space for fun lighting and choralography that could be a great

project for students to put together.